Global Solar Market Outlook Launch

Recording of Monday, June 22, 2026 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Language: English | Duration: 9:57 .

Significant Growth and Future Projections in Solar Energy

Solar energy production has seen a remarkable increase, reaching 3 terawatts in 2024, tripling its contribution to global electricity from 3% in 2020 to 9% now. The solar energy market deployed 664 gigawatts in a year, marking a 12% increase, with solar energy representing 80% of the total installed capacity. China's performance significantly impacted this growth, contributing over 100 gigawatts in just one month, leading to its dominance with nearly 50% of global solar capacity. Solar technology addresses the energy trilemma of sustainability, energy security, and affordability, making it a key component in achieving sustainable energy goals. The market is projected to experience fluctuations due to anticipated declines in China, yet long-term demand is expected to increase to 860 gigawatts per year by 2027, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The renewable sector aims for a total of 7.1 terawatts and remains pivotal in reaching the 11 terawatt goal established at COP28. Challenges like curtailments and permitting issues need to be addressed for sustained growth.

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Speaker

Michael Schmela
Executive Advisor & Director of Market Intelligence
SolarPower Europe
Belgium

Talk of session: Global Solar Market Outlook: What is Powering Sustained Solar Growth Around the World?

After another record year for global PV installations in 2025 - largely driven by China - the outlook for 2026 is more complex. Policy shifts in China, political headwinds in mature markets and rising geopolitical tensions are altering growth dynamics, while emerging markets are showing accelerated growth on the back of low-cost modules. This session brings together leaders from major solar markets to assess risks, opportunities and strategies in the context of sustained global expansion.

Key topics:

Launch of the Global Solar Market Outlook 2026-2030
China's new solar strategy and policy
Growth drivers in emerging markets
Positioning solar in a shifting geopolitical landscape

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome and Introduction

Speaker

Sonia Dunlop
CEO
Global Solar Council

To Talk

The Solar & Storage Superpower: China's Next Chapter

Speaker

Corrine Lin
CEO
InfoLink Consulting Co,. Ltd.
China

To Talk

Executive Panel: How Has the New Energy Crisis Changed Solar Growth Dynamics Around the World

Speaker

Barbara Rubim
Chair of Board
ABSOLAR - Associação Brasileira de Energia Solar Fotovoltaica
Brazil

Subrahmanyam Pulipaka
CEO
National Solar Energy Federation of India: NSEFI
India

David McElrea
CEO
Smart Energy Council
Australia

Walburga Hemetsberger
CEO
SolarPower Europe
Belgium

Stacy J. Ettinger
Senior Vice President of Supply Chain & Trade
Solar Energy Industries Association
United States

To Talk

To Program Overview

Further Content

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Learn about Malawi, Zambia & Rwanda.

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January 28, 2026

Across East Africa, well‑designed and consistent public policy is proving essential to accelerating the clean‑energy transition by building investor confidence, enabling new business models, and driving inclusive green growth.

Webinar Collection

Kenya’s Solar Landscape 2025: Policy Shifts, Market Signals, and Opportunities for Scalable PV Deployment

December 2, 2025

Join our free webinar on December 2 and learn about the current situation of the Kenyan solar industry, its opportunities, and challenges.

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025

Welcome of of the Session Off-Grid: When Will Off-Grid PV Follow the Affordability Trend?(BSW)

Wednesday, May 07, 2025, 04:00 pm - 05:30 pm

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program

Photovoltaic prices have fallen continuously in recent years - a trend that should translate into a growing market for off-grid solutions. Declining costs are crucial for rural electrification in particular, making sustainable energy supply economically viable in remote regions. However, so far many of these price advantages have not yet reached the people that need them most. Do existing framework conditions to foster rural electrification still work in this new market reality? Which measures are needed to ensure that cost reductions reach our target group? This session discusses strategies for improving the availability of low-cost off-grid solutions, financing and innovative business models. A look at successful practical examples shows which political, economic and technological levers need to be pulled to make off-grid PV accessible on a large scale.

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026

Panel Discussion of the Session: Off-Grid to the Rescue

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 04:30 pm

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Conference Program

In this urgent and forward-looking session of the Intersolar Europe Conference, we bring together voices from the frontlines of decentralized energy: representatives from Syria, Ukraine and Ethiopia - spanning immediate crisis response and longer-term energy market development - alongside practitioners who build and operate these systems at scale. What unites all perspectives is a shared insight: decentralized renewable energy proves its reliability precisely where conventional grids are absent, destroyed or isolated - from war-torn regions to island communities cut off from mainland supply.The initial focus is on the immediate, life-saving needs: hospitals, schools and water supply systems. We then move to the medium-term goal - interconnecting mini-grids, rebuilding resilient infrastructure, creating new jobs and livelihoods. A central question runs through both phases: how do we train local workforces through vocational training, apprenticeships and certification programs, so that rebuilding is not only about hardware, but about people and enduring capacity?Join us to examine how off-grid solar transitions from emergency stop-gap to the sustainable backbone of recovery and growth.