Solar power has grown from a niche technology to a global energy powerhouse, expanding from 228 gigawatts in 2015 to an estimated 2,919 GW in 2025. Once limited to space travel and calculators, solar modules now generate cheap electricity worldwide, with capacity growing exponentially and projected to hit 9,000 GW by 2030.

China leads the solar revolution, installing 315 GW of new panels in 2025 alone and producing over 80% of the world's solar panels. The country's solar share has grown to 11% of electricity generation while coal's share dropped from 70% to 56% over the past decade. The European Union ranks second with 406 GW capacity, with countries like Greece, Cyprus, and Spain generating over 20% of their electricity from solar.

Solar's economic advantage is reshaping energy markets. Large-scale solar parks in sun-drenched regions can produce electricity for around 1 euro cent per kilowatt-hour, compared to nuclear power's 14-49 cents and coal's 15-29 cents. Rooftop solar panels now cost less than half the average electricity price in many European countries, making solar the cheapest form of electricity in numerous markets.