Solar Self-Consumption Hits 900 Gigawatts Worldwide

For the first time ever, the world's distributed solar power capacity hit nearly 900 gigawatts in 2025, proving that clean energy is becoming the people's power source.

This milestone means that 42% of all existing and planned solar capacity worldwide now comes from self-consumption installations, according to Global Energy Monitor. These are the solar panels on homes, businesses, and community buildings that let people generate their own clean electricity instead of relying entirely on utility companies.

The numbers tell a remarkable story of momentum. The global portfolio of wind and solar projects reached a record 4,900 gigawatts in 2025, representing 11% growth from the previous year. This surge puts the world on track to meet the commitment made at COP28 to triple renewable power capacity by 2030.

The biggest surprise is who's leading this energy revolution. China, India, and Brazil now dominate the global table for distributed solar installations, flipping the script on which countries drive innovation. China alone has 488 gigawatts of large-scale renewable projects under construction, which is half the world's total and three times more than any competitor.

Meanwhile, the world's wealthiest nations are struggling to keep pace. The G7 countries, despite controlling roughly half of global wealth, account for only 11% of large-scale wind and solar projects in development. Their project portfolio has remained stuck at around 520 gigawatts since 2023, showing a troubling gap between climate promises and actual action.

"Wind and solar are growing at a dizzying speed, and largely that growth is now coming from economies that not long ago were followers and not leaders," said Diren Kocakuşak, research analyst at Global Energy Monitor. The data reveals that 89% of current renewable projects are happening outside G7 nations.

The Ripple Effect

This shift represents more than just energy statistics. When families and businesses generate their own solar power, they gain energy independence, lower their electricity bills, and reduce carbon emissions all at once. Communities in emerging economies are proving that you don't need to be the richest to be the greenest.

The International Energy Agency confirms that self-consumption solar is now integral to the global energy future, not a side experiment. Countries like Australia, Spain, and the Philippines are following the leaders with ambitious projects of their own.

Kocakuşak poses the defining question for this decade: "Are the richest countries going to close the gap between their ambitions and the execution of projects, or are they going to cede the leadership of a sector that is experiencing a boom?" The race is on, and right now, the underdogs are winning.