by Catie Owen | Jun 9, 2025 | Africa, Americas, Asia, Commercial & Industrial Solar, Europe, Middle East, Oceania
The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) PVPS 2025 Snapshot of Global PV Markets reveals record-breaking growth in solar PV worldwide, with over 600GW of new PV capacity added in 2024.
This pushed global cumulative installed capacity to more than 2.2TW, up from 1.6 TW the previous year.
China accounted for nearly 60% of all new PV installations, commissioning between 309GW and a possible 357GW, bringing its cumulative total to over 1TW – almost half the global total.
The rest of the world contributed 244.6GW, with strong growth in Europe (71.4GW), the USA (47.1GW), India (31.9GW), and Brazil (14.3GW).
Expansion and fall
While the global PV market expanded by over 30%, the growth rate fell from 89% in 2023.
Oversupply in module manufacturing has driven prices down but strained profitability for producers. According to IEA’s data, this price drop catalysed market growth, especially in utility-scale segments, which dominated 2024 installations.
PV provided over 10% of global electricity consumption for the first time. In 27 countries – including Greece, the Netherlands, and Germany – solar generation surpassed 10% of national electricity use, though curtailment is increasingly an issue where grid flexibility lags behind deployment.
Policy developments in 2024 focused on energy transition goals, storage integration, and boosting local manufacturing.
However, local production faces challenges amid intense price competition from Chinese imports. The USA, India, Türkiye, and Brazil responded with tariffs and incentives to protect or stimulate domestic PV industries.
Forecast
Looking ahead, the IEA expects steady growth in most markets, though local policy shifts and infrastructure bottlenecks may influence deployment.
As storage, hybrid systems, and new applications like green hydrogen scale up, global solar deployment must exceed 1 TW annually to match manufacturing output and decarbonisation targets.
For stakeholders in the international solar and storage industry, 2024 underscored the urgency of grid adaptation, the risks of supply chain overcapacity, and the continued rise of solar as the dominant renewable power source.
Infographic credit: IEA-PVPs
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by Catie Owen | May 8, 2025 | Africa, Large Scale Utility Solar
Grid Africa and TCL Solar have announced a strategic partnership to deploy distributed energy solutions in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The initiative leverages solar and battery storage technologies to address the region’s ongoing energy shortfalls and drive economic development.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces a significant power deficit, with demand for reliable electricity outpacing supply. Norman Moyo, CEO of Grid Africa, said: “There is a solution to the crisis if we embrace new emerging technologies that are immediately available and quick to deploy.
“We have a unique opportunity to reverse engineer our over-reliance on utilities by deploying distributed solutions that leverage existing transmission and distribution infrastructure.
“Just as we successfully revolutionised telecommunications with GSM technology, we can apply the same mindset to solve our energy security challenges.”
Grid Africa specialises in distributed energy systems for data centres, telecoms, and industrial users across Africa. The partnership will benefit from Zimbabwe and Zambia’s existing transmission infrastructure and recent regulatory reforms that have eased grid access.
TCL Solar, known for its high-efficiency photovoltaic modules, will contribute technology and logistical support. “In partnering with Grid Africa, we are excited to contribute to a sustainable energy future for the region,” said Tian, GM, MEA of TCL Solar.
“Targeting the high temperature and high irradiation environment of Zimbabwe and Zambia, TCL Solar optimised the existing module design by following the advanced TOPCon passivation structural technology patents of SunPower, improved the thermal resistance and power generation capacity of the modules.”
TCL Solar has committed to supporting the rollout of 100 MW of distributed energy capacity in both countries.
The partners aim to capitalise on the momentum in regional energy trading and the growth of the Southern Africa Power Pool to deliver long-term, resilient energy solutions.
by Catie Owen | May 7, 2025 | Africa, Large Scale Utility Solar, Middle East, Press Release
Press Release
LONGi, a world-leading solar technology company, has secured a significant agreement with ENGIE, a renowned global energy group, to deploy its advanced Hi-MO 9 modules for major utility-scale solar projects in Middle-East and North-Africa (MENA) region.
This collaboration signifies a pivotal moment in the evolution of large-scale solar energy, highlighting the industry’s increasing recognition of back contact (BC) technology as a game-changing solution for high-performance renewable energy installations.
Why Hi-MO 9 stands apart
LONGi and ENGIE Forge Powerful Partnership to Drive Solar Innovation
This landmark partnership between LONGi and ENGIE underscores the transformative potential of Hi-MO 9 modules, powered by cutting-edge BC technology.
LONGi’s Hi-MO 9 modules with its highest power of 670W, a 24.8% major efficiency and its superior bifaciality up to 80%, represent a leap forward in photovoltaic innovation.
By relocating all cell electrodes to the rear of the module, this revolutionary design eliminates shading losses and maximises light capture, resulting in industry-leading conversion efficiency.
Furthermore, this design enhances temperature coefficient performance, ensuring consistent power output even in challenging environmental conditions.
Combined with LONGi’s stringent quality standards, Hi-MO 9 offers developers unparalleled reliability and optimal long-term returns.
This collaboration between LONGi and ENGIE is set to redefine the standards of efficiency, durability, and sustainability in the solar sector.
“ENGIE’s selection of Hi-MO 9 is a testament to the global energy sector’s recognition of BC technology as the ultimate frontier in solar innovation.” Stated Dennis She, Vice President of LONGi.
“LONGi’s collaboration with ENGIE sets a new benchmark for utility-scale solar deployments worldwide. This partnership reaffirms our commitment to delivering solutions that redefine efficiency, durability, and sustainability.”
“For ENGIE, this partnership with LONGi reflects our commitment to lead the global energy transition through the adoption of cutting-edge, innovative and sustainable solutions.
This collaboration agreement will serve as a model for large-scale solar development in Middle-East and North-Africa, driving progress toward a carbon-neutral future,” said François-Xavier BOUL, ENGIE Managing Director MENA Renewables & Batteries.
This collaboration reflects LONGi’s dedication to harmonising technological advancement with environmental responsibility.
The high-power density of Hi-MO 9 modules optimises land use, contributing to more sustainable development practices. LONGi and ENGIE are committed to upholding rigorous environmental protocols throughout the project lifecycle.
[Image caption: LONGi and ENGIE Forge Powerful Partnership to Drive Solar Innovation. Image credit: LONGi]
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