Solar Power Projected to Lead Massive Surge in Global Renewable Capacity by 2031
The global renewable energy landscape is on the verge of a massive expansion, with total capacity projected to more than double over the next few years. According to a recent analysis by GlobalData, worldwide green energy capacity is expected to climb from a 2025 baseline of 4.1 TW to an impressive 8.4 TW by 2031.
This rapid expansion is being overwhelmingly spearheaded by solar photovoltaics (PV), which is forecasted to grow at a compound annual rate of 13%, ultimately approaching nearly 6 TW of the total mix by 2031.
Solar Ascends as the Primary Green Energy Driver
As detailed in GlobalData’s “Renewable Energy: Strategic Intelligence” report, plunging technology costs alongside aggressive clean energy policies have pushed solar to the forefront of the global transition. In a historic shift in 2025, solar PV generation reached 2,800 TWh, officially overtaking wind power, which produced 2,770 TWh.
In terms of overall infrastructure footprint in 2025:
Solar PV held the majority share, making up 56.1% of global renewable capacity with over 2.5 TW installed.
Wind Power followed as the second-largest contributor at 33.5%.
Bioenergy made up a smaller fraction, accounting for roughly 5.3%.
Regional Highlights: Asia-Pacific Outpaces the World
Geographically, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region continues to dominate the deployment of clean infrastructure. By 2025, APAC boasted 1,550 GW of solar installations and 699.5 GW of wind capacity.
China remains the undisputed powerhouse of solar generation, producing approximately 1,150 TWh in 2025—roughly 41% of the entire world's PV output. The United States and India secured the second and third spots, contributing 486 TWh and 189 TWh of solar electricity, respectively.
Geopolitical Headwinds and the Role of AI
While the overall outlook is robust, GlobalData notes that the energy transition is moving at a highly uneven pace across different borders. For instance, shifting political dynamics in the United States under President Donald Trump could potentially weaken federal backing for renewables, even as deployment in other parts of the world continues to accelerate.
Concurrently, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a dual-natured catalyst for the sector. On one hand, power grids are increasingly relying on AI to enhance weather and generation forecasting, streamline energy storage distribution, and manage smart grid efficiency. On the other hand, the explosive proliferation of AI-driven data centers is rapidly inflating global electricity demands, presenting a massive new consumption challenge that these expanding renewable networks will need to meet.
