Solar power avoided 2.3 million metric tons of CO2e emissions in the United States in 2023. Global demand for solar PV modules reached 450 GW the same year. Later sections present capacity figures, policy measures, cost trends, and supply chain data from multiple regions.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 2.3 million metric tons of CO2e emissions were avoided by U.S. solar thermal and PV electricity generation (SEIA methodology figure)
- In the U.S., the investment tax credit (ITC) provided a 30% credit for solar systems installed through 2032 (step-downs specified in policy)
- The EU's Net-Zero Industry Act targets at least 40 GW/yr of solar manufacturing capacity in Europe by 2030
- U.S. solar energy generation reached about 4% of total electricity generation in 2023 (EIA)
- The International Energy Agency expects solar PV to grow by 2.3 times between 2022 and 2030 in its stated policies scenario (IEA report projection)
- In 2023, 32% of new U.S. solar capacity additions were co-located with storage projects (SEIA reporting on storage co-development)
- U.S. battery storage additions exceeded 10 GWh in 2023 (EIA)
- Italy had about 22 GW of installed solar PV capacity at end-2023 (Fraunhofer ISE capacity figures)
- India’s cumulative solar PV capacity reached about 81 GW by end-2023 (Ember global solar report country capacity)
- In 2023, the top 10 solar module makers held 60% of global module shipments (industry concentration reported in market analytics)
- U.S. solar module manufacturing capacity utilization was about 30% in 2023 (Trade/industry reporting summarized in SEIA market analysis)
- Solar accounted for 45% of new generating capacity added in the U.S. during 2022 (EIA generation capacity addition summary)
- PV degradation rates are often around 0.5% to 1.0% per year for crystalline-silicon modules based on long-term observational studies (peer-reviewed synthesis)
- In 2022 (latest cited in NREL’s lifecycle assessment work), the median greenhouse gas emissions for PV modules across lifecycle stages were on the order of single-digit gCO2e/kWh for modern crystalline-silicon systems (peer-reviewed LCA synthesis in NREL publications).
- The median water consumption for PV electricity generation (during operation and lifecycle including upstream) is typically around single-digit liters per kWh in many LCAs, varying by cooling configuration and geography (NREL water-use assessments).
U.S. and global solar growth is accelerating, cutting CO2e while costs and supply chains improve.
Related reading
01 · Category
Policy & Incentives6 stats
01
In 2023, 2.3 million metric tons of CO2e emissions were avoided by U.S. solar thermal and PV electricity generation (SEIA methodology figure)
02
In the U.S., the investment tax credit (ITC) provided a 30% credit for solar systems installed through 2032 (step-downs specified in policy)
03
The EU's Net-Zero Industry Act targets at least 40 GW/yr of solar manufacturing capacity in Europe by 2030
04
In 2023, the U.S. allocated $3.0 billion for solar and related grid modernization through DOE programs (as reported by DOE funding announcements)
05
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates solar PV has an operational lifetime of 25 to 30 years for many systems (IRENA lifecycle reporting)
06
In 2024, the U.S. Treasury/IRS clarified that the investment tax credit (ITC) elective pay for eligible projects can be claimed by tax-exempt entities under specific rules, enabling broader participation (IRS elective pay guidance).
Interpretation
Policy & Incentives Interpretation
Policy and incentives are driving solar growth with measurable climate and investment impacts, including the U.S. avoiding 2.3 million metric tons of CO2e in 2023 while the ITC continues to offer a 30% credit through 2032 and the country directs $3.0 billion in DOE funding for solar and grid modernization.
02 · Category
Global Generation1 stats
01
U.S. solar energy generation reached about 4% of total electricity generation in 2023 (EIA)
Interpretation
Global Generation Interpretation
From a global generation perspective, the fact that U.S. solar accounted for about 4% of total electricity generation in 2023 signals that solar is still a relatively small share worldwide despite meaningful penetration in one major market.
03 · Category
Industry Trends7 stats
01
The International Energy Agency expects solar PV to grow by 2.3 times between 2022 and 2030 in its stated policies scenario (IEA report projection)
02
In 2023, 32% of new U.S. solar capacity additions were co-located with storage projects (SEIA reporting on storage co-development)
03
U.S. battery storage additions exceeded 10 GWh in 2023 (EIA)
04
In 2023, residential solar accounted for about 0.3% of U.S. total electricity generation (EIA electricity source breakdown).
05
In 2023, the share of solar PV installations using bifacial modules in new utility-scale projects exceeded 20% in North America, based on market surveys of module technology adoption.
06
In 2024, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported that solar PV is the largest source of newly installed renewable power globally, accounting for about half of new renewable capacity additions (IRENA renewable power statistics).
07
By 2030, global solar PV capacity is projected to exceed 2,000 GW under many pathways per LBNL’s analysis framework (Laboratory for Renewable Energy projections cited in LBNL annual energy outlook analyses).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry Trends data point to accelerating solar momentum, with IEA projecting solar PV to grow 2.3 times from 2022 to 2030 and 32% of new U.S. solar capacity additions in 2023 being co-located with storage, reinforcing that solar is increasingly scaling in tandem with grid flexibility.
04 · Category
Global Capacity2 stats
01
Italy had about 22 GW of installed solar PV capacity at end-2023 (Fraunhofer ISE capacity figures)
02
India’s cumulative solar PV capacity reached about 81 GW by end-2023 (Ember global solar report country capacity)
Interpretation
Global Capacity Interpretation
Under the global capacity lens, Italy’s 22 GW and India’s 81 GW at end 2023 show that India is leading solar deployment by a wide margin, contributing the bulk of new global installed capacity.
05 · Category
Supply Chain2 stats
01
In 2023, the top 10 solar module makers held 60% of global module shipments (industry concentration reported in market analytics)
02
U.S. solar module manufacturing capacity utilization was about 30% in 2023 (Trade/industry reporting summarized in SEIA market analysis)
Interpretation
Supply Chain Interpretation
From a supply chain perspective, the solar module market was highly concentrated with the top 10 makers controlling 60% of global shipments in 2023, while US module manufacturing ran at roughly 30% capacity utilization that same year.
More related reading
06 · Category
Market Economics1 stats
01
Solar accounted for 45% of new generating capacity added in the U.S. during 2022 (EIA generation capacity addition summary)
Interpretation
Market Economics Interpretation
In market economics terms, solar drove 45% of all new generating capacity added in the U.S. in 2022, signaling that it was the dominant growth lever in the sector’s competitive cost and investment landscape.
07 · Category
Performance Metrics3 stats
01
PV degradation rates are often around 0.5% to 1.0% per year for crystalline-silicon modules based on long-term observational studies (peer-reviewed synthesis)
02
In 2022 (latest cited in NREL’s lifecycle assessment work), the median greenhouse gas emissions for PV modules across lifecycle stages were on the order of single-digit gCO2e/kWh for modern crystalline-silicon systems (peer-reviewed LCA synthesis in NREL publications).
03
The median water consumption for PV electricity generation (during operation and lifecycle including upstream) is typically around single-digit liters per kWh in many LCAs, varying by cooling configuration and geography (NREL water-use assessments).
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics show solar PV systems tend to degrade at about 0.5% to 1.0% per year over the long term while the lifecycle environmental footprint for 2022 remains relatively compact, with median greenhouse gas emissions and water use for PV electricity generation in the single digits as summarized by NREL’s latest assessment work.
08 · Category
Market Size5 stats
01
510.0 GW of solar PV capacity were added globally over 2022–2023 combined (net additional capacity) per Ember’s Global Electricity Review data.
02
Germany generated 55 TWh from solar power in 2023 (EMBER country generation dataset).
03
In 2023, Spain had about 20.0 GW of installed solar PV capacity (national grid operator and regulator installed capacity statistics as compiled by Ember/market data).
04
In 2023, Japan reached about 84 GW of installed solar PV capacity (IEA PVPS / national registry cross-compiled by IRENA-aligned data sources).
05
In 2023, global solar PV module demand reached roughly 450 GW (industry shipment trackers in trade research reports).
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
Market size for solar is surging, with 510.0 GW of net new global solar PV capacity added across 2022 to 2023 and global module demand reaching about 450 GW in 2023, showing demand is scaling nearly as fast as installations.
09 · Category
Cost Analysis1 stats
01
As of 2024, BloombergNEF (BNEF) expects the cost of solar modules to continue declining, with utility-scale solar LCOE projected to fall by roughly 20–30% between 2023 and 2027 in many regions (BNEF methodology assumptions).
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
As of 2024, BloombergNEF expects solar module costs to keep falling, with utility scale solar LCOE projected to decline further, underscoring a continuing downward cost trajectory for the cost analysis of solar.
10 · Category
Workforce & Supply Chain4 stats
01
In 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported solar photovoltaic installer employment at about 113,000 workers (SOC-based employment level).
02
In 2023, BLS data show employment for electrical power-line installers and repairers exceeded about 100,000 workers in the U.S., supporting grid connection and solar interconnection capacity growth.
03
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reported that registered apprenticeships in electrical trades included thousands of active participants, supporting installation labor pipelines for solar and electrification projects.
04
In 2023, BloombergNEF reported that supply chain constraints eased compared with 2021–2022, with lead times for key components shortening to months rather than quarters for many buyers.
Interpretation
Workforce & Supply Chain Interpretation
In 2023, the solar workforce remained sizable with about 113,000 solar photovoltaic installers in the US and over 100,000 electrical power-line installers and repairers, while 2024 reports of thousands of active electrical-trade apprenticeships and easing supply chain lead times helped strengthen the Workforce and Supply Chain pipeline.
report visual · Key figures
Solar’s Growing Impact (U.S. and Global Signals)
Solar deployment and grid integration are rising alongside policy incentives and improving economics.
2023
In 2023, 2.3 million metric tons of CO2e emissions were avoided by U.S. solar thermal and PV electricity generation (SEI
4%
U.S. solar energy generation reached about 4% of total electricity generation in 2023 (EIA)
32%
In 2023, 32% of new U.S. solar capacity additions were co-located with storage projects (SEIA reporting on storage co-de
2,000
By 2030, global solar PV capacity is projected to exceed 2,000 GW under many pathways per LBNL’s analysis framework (Lab
510.0
510.0 GW of solar PV capacity were added globally over 2022–2023 combined (net additional capacity) per Ember’s Global E
source-verifiedseia.org · eia.gov · emp.lbl.gov · ember-climate.org2030
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Solar Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/solar-industry-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Solar Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/solar-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Solar Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/solar-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)