How has global solar PV manufacturing capacity changed over the last decade?

Global solar PV manufacturing capacity has increasingly moved from Europe, Japan and the United States to China over the last decade. China has invested over USD 50 billion in new PV supply capacity – ten times more than Europe − and created more than 300 000 manufacturing jobs across the solar PV value chain since 2011.

What is the global PV production capacity in 2023?

BNEF reports that at the end of 2023, global PV manufacturing capacity was between 650 and 750 GW―a growth of 2–3x in the past five years, 90% of which occurred in China. In 2023, global PV production was between 400 and 500 GW.

What is a solar photovoltaic system?

Solar photovoltaic is a renewable energy technology that utilizes sunlight in order to generate electricity. A photovoltaic system is comprised of one or multiple solar panels, made up of solar photovoltaic cells, and a solar inverter.

Are solar PV supply chains cost-competitive?

Currently, the cost competitiveness of existing solar PV manufacturing is a key challenge to diversifying supply chains. China is the most cost-competitive location to manufacture all components of the solar PV supply chain. Costs in China are 10% lower than in India, 20% lower than in the United States, and 35% lower than in Europe.

What is a snapshot of global PV markets?

This 12th edition of the “Snapshot of Global PV Markets” aims at providing preliminary information on how the PV market developed in 2023. The 29th edition of the PVPS complete “Trends in Photovoltaic Applications” report will be published in Q4 2024.

How much does PV contribute to electricity consumption?

The increasingly large volumes of installed capacity are making a tangible contribution to electricity consumption around the world. The two principal PV markets, China and the Europe Union, demonstrate this with approximately 10% each. In total, PV contribution amounts to over 8% of the electricity demand in the world.