Global solar PV market trends

In mid‑2026 the solar photovoltaic industry recorded its first decline in module shipments, falling 6 % in 2025 after four years of rapid expansion. Installations still hit a record 664 GW, pushing cumulative capacity toward 2.9 TW, while manufacturers such as LONGi reclaimed the lead and others saw mixed performance. The market also faced tightening utilisation rates, stable module prices in Europe, and growing interest in back‑contact and perovskite tandem technologies.

A few weeks later analysts highlighted emerging pricing risks: levelized electricity costs for solar were stagnating or rising, capture rates were slipping as renewable penetration grew, and new financing models were needed. Shifts in power‑purchase‑agreement buyers and rising data‑centre and AI power demand added pressure to long‑term price forecasts. At the same time, manufacturers announced over 2 GW of overseas orders across the Middle East, Bhutan, Bangladesh and other regions, and a perovskite rooftop system was connected to the grid, underscoring diversification of both technology and market outreach.