Asia-Pacific dominates global solar growth with 68% share, GlobalData says
Wednesday, May 6 2026 - 07:57 AM WIB
By Romel S. Gurky
Asia-Pacific has emerged as the world’s leading solar power market, accounting for about 68% of global solar photovoltaic installations by the mid-2020s, according to a report by GlobalData.
The report, Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Policy Handbook 2026, highlights China as the main driver of growth, adding 278.9 gigawatts of solar capacity in 2025 alone. India followed with about 31 gigawatts of new installations, while Japan and Australia added 6.5 gigawatts and 4.6 gigawatts, respectively.
Solar expansion has also accelerated across South Korea and Southeast Asia, with Vietnam and neighboring markets contributing to rising capacity in recent years.
GlobalData said declining equipment costs and supportive government policies have helped sustain growth, making solar one of the cheapest sources of new power generation. Incentives, renewable targets, and competitive auctions continue to support deployment across the region.
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The report also noted that Asia-Pacific benefits from strong supply chains, led by China’s dominance in solar manufacturing, which has improved equipment availability and reduced project costs.
Analyst Sudeshna Sarmah said investor confidence and financing access have improved as developers gain experience in large-scale projects.
Looking ahead, GlobalData expects China to remain the largest contributor to renewable capacity additions through the late 2020s, while India and other regional markets pursue ambitious expansion targets.
Despite challenges such as grid integration and land constraints, the report said policy adjustments and new applications, including floating solar, are expected to sustain growth and keep Asia-Pacific at the forefront of global solar development.
Editing by Alexander Ginting