Photovoltaic Barometer 2018

106 606 MW Cumulative photovoltaic capacity in the European Union at the end of 2017

The spectacular growth of solar power based on solid industrial bases, makes photovoltaic one of the mainstays of global energy transition. In 2017, roughly 100 GW was installed worldwide, and just over half of that in China. The global market amounted to slightly less than half the European Union’s installed base. The EU ended the year at 106.6 GW, i.e. 5.6 GW more than in 2016. While at just over 2% in 2017 solar photovoltaic output may still seem negligible on a global level, photovoltaic already supplies about 6% of the electricity mix in Japan, and more than 7% in Germany and Italy.