Visualizing Future Solar Power Capacity by Country
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Key Takeaways
- With 671 GW of prospective solar capacity, China alone represents nearly 35% of the global pipeline, more than the next five countries combined.
- Countries like Mauritania, and Colombia have entered the top 15 recently.
- The top 15 countries account for over 80% of all planned solar capacity.
The global solar energy landscape is rapidly transforming as countries race to expand clean energy capacity. This visualization breaks down total solar power by country, combining both operational and prospective (planned) projects.
The data for this visualization comes from the Global Energy Monitor’s Solar Power Tracker. It compiles every known solar project around the world, measured in megawatts alternating current (MWac), a measure of how much usable electricity a solar farm delivers to the grid.
China Leads by a Massive Margin
Total global solar capacity, including all projects in construction and planned, is expected to reach almost 2.9 terawatts (TWac), with 80% concentrated in just 15 countries.
| Country | Operational (MWac) | Prospective | Total Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
 China |
447,508 | 670,935 | 1,118,442 |
 U.S. |
121,311 | 116,636 | 237,947 |
 India |
72,300 | 98,442 | 170,742 |
 Brazil |
20,165 | 139,376 | 159,541 |
 Spain |
28,014 | 103,062 | 131,076 |
 Australia |
11,626 | 114,147 | 125,772 |
 Greece |
1,397 | 64,512 | 65,908 |
 Mauritania |
133 | 47,032 | 47,165 |
 Philippines |
3,188 | 40,359 | 43,547 |
 Oman |
1,688 | 39,508 | 41,196 |
 Colombia |
3,451 | 31,955 | 35,406 |
 Germany |
26,283 | 8,879 | 35,161 |
 Chile |
9,982 | 24,830 | 34,812 |
 UK |
9,031 | 25,070 | 34,100 |
 Mexico |
12,787 | 20,943 | 33,731 |
 Japan |
31,095 | 1,587 | 32,682 |
 Libya |
460 | 28,039 | 28,499 |
 Morocco |
794 | 26,219 | 27,013 |
 Saudi Arabia |
3,305 | 21,363 | 24,668 |
 Egypt |
3,125 | 17,320 | 20,445 |
 Vietnam |
12,902 | 7,305 | 20,207 |
 Rest of World |
104,623 | 280,093 | 384,716 |
| Global Total | 925,166 | 1,927,613 | 2,852,779 |
China dominates both operational and planned solar power, with a total capacity exceeding 1.1 million MWac. Its prospective projects alone account for about 35% of all global planned solar.
Beyond installation capacity, China also produces over 80% of the world’s solar panel materials and components.
The U.S. and India Follow
The United States and India follow distantly, at 237,947 MWac and 170,742 MWac of total future capacity respectively. Both countries are seeing strong growth in utility-scale projects, driven by policy support like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and India’s National Solar Mission.
Still, their combined future capacity equals less than half of China’s.
Emerging Solar Frontiers in Africa and Latin America
While traditional solar leaders remain in North America, Europe, and Asia, several emerging markets are gaining momentum. Mauritania, and Colombia, for example, now appear among the top 15, each with over 35,000 MWac in planned projects.
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