What is renewable power generation capacity?

Renewable power generation capacity is measured as the maximum net generating capacity of power plants and other installations that use renewable energy sources to produce electricity. For most countries and technologies, the data reflects the capacity installed and connected at the end of the calendar year.

What is total solar power installed capacity?

Total solar (on- and off-grid) electricity installed capacity, measured in gigawatts. This includes solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar power. IRENA (2024) – processed by Our World in Data

How many gigawatts of solar power are there in China?

Only in that last year, installations increased by almost 40 percent. In 2023, cumulative solar PV capacity reached some 649 gigawatts in China alone. Investments in solar photovoltaic energy has grown during the last years and the technology remains one of the most heavily funded renewable sources.

Which countries have the most solar PV installed capacity in 2022?

In 2022, the most significant expansion in the solar PV market occurred in China, the US, and India, with increments of 86.1 GW, 17.8 GW, and 13.5 GW, respectively (IRENA, 2023). Fig. 2 shows the contribution of each continent in the world's solar PV installed capacity in 2018, followed by 2030 and 2050 based on IRENA’s REmap analysis.

What is the contribution of solar energy to global electricity production?

While the contribution of solar energy to global electricity production remains generally low at 3.6%, it has firmly established itself among other renewable energy technologies, comprising nearly 31% of the total installed renewable energy capacity in 2022 (IRENA, 2023).

What is the difference between solar energy generation and installed solar capacity?

Solar energy generation, measured in gigawatt-hours (GWh) versus installed solar capacity, measured in gigawatts (GW).