Ranked: The 15 Countries With the Most Solar Power Installed

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Ranked: The 15 Countries With the Most Solar Power Installed​

Published 10 hours ago on August 27, 2024

This graphic visualizes the top 15 countries by cumulative megawatts of installed photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) as of 2023. In the graphic, each solar panel shows the total megawatts of solar energy installations installed as of 2023 for each country and the average annual growth rate from 2013 to 2023.

The figures come from the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy 2024 report.

China is far outpacing any other country in solar energy expansion, having a total of 609,921 MW of solar capacity installed so far.

The difference between China and second-place U.S. is almost four times greater than the difference between the U.S. and 15th-placed United Kingdom.

With an average annual growth rate of 42%, China’s solar energy sector shows no signs of slowing down.

However, other smaller countries are seeing even greater growth rates. Brazil, Vietnam, and Poland are recording extraordinary growth rates in the past 10 years, each exceeding an annual average growth rate of 120%. Solar power is now Brazil’s second-largest source of electricity.

Overall, the Asia Pacific region is leading the solar energy transition, with six countries in this region: China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Vietnam, ranking among the top 15.

Asian countries are making a concerted effort to transition to renewable energies, given their high energy demand and heavy reliance on coal for energy. China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore, all have made carbon neutrality or net zero pledges.

Asia-Pacific investments into renewable energy are expected to double to $1.3 trillion by 2030, according to Wood Mackenzie.