Ten Years Since the Paris Agreement: How Many Times Has Solar Power Grown?

Ten years after the signing of the Paris Agreement, when countries first made universal commitments to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the development of solar energy has been the most compelling response. Solar energy is the fastest-growing source of electricity in world history, now providing about ten times the electricity it did in 2015, when it supplied only 1% of global generation. By 2024, solar energy will account for 6.9% of global generation, rising further to 8.8% by the first half of 2025, and in many countries, its share in the electricity mix is ​​much higher.

In the decade since the Paris COP21 summit, solar energy leadership has shifted from the wealthiest countries to emerging economies. In 2015, mature economies accounted for three-quarters of global solar power generation; today, they account for less than half. Of the three countries highlighted in this report, solar energy growth is far outpacing the global average—India has grown nearly 20 times, and China more than 20 times. Brazil has built one of the world's fastest-growing solar expansion projects, with capacity growing by an average of about 70% annually.

The Paris Agreement facilitated these trends by setting national goals, raising funds, establishing alliances to lower barriers, and developing industrial policies, thereby significantly reducing costs. Also during COP21 in Paris, the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an intergovernmental organization of multiple member states led by India and France, and the Global Solar Council, an industry association comprised of members across the solar value chain, promoted policy and cooperation.

China, India, and Brazil all contributed by increasing national solar deployments, building manufacturing, launching ISAs, and developing policies that were later replicated globally.

In the decade following the Paris Agreement, solar energy became the fastest-growing energy source. The Paris Agreement helped solar become the world's fastest-growing source of electricity—emerging economies are now leading the way.

Solar energy's share has grown exponentially from just 1% of global electricity in 2015, doubling every three years. By 2024, it will supply 6.9% of global electricity (2,129 terawatt-hours). This performance significantly exceeded forecasts, a decade ahead of predictions made after the 2016 summit. At the time, the scenario underestimated the speed of cost declines, policy momentum, and the expansion of the manufacturing sector. By the first half of 2025, solar power's share of global electricity generation had risen to 8.8%.

The Power of Three: How Paris Shapes the Solar Destiny of Brazil, China, and India

Since 2015, these three economies have accounted for more than half of new solar capacity installations and are now among the largest solar power producers. The Paris Summit was a pivotal moment for all three countries, helping to drive global deployment.

The BRICS leaders Brazil, India, and China have become the true "building blocks" of global solar growth, more than tripling their installed capacity since the signing of the Paris Agreement. Together, they account for 60% of all new solar capacity installations, or approximately 1 TW of new solar capacity globally since 2015. So far, by the third quarter of 2025, these three countries have generated about one-tenth of the world's solar power: Brazil at 12%, China at 11%, and India at nearly 9%.