Solar photovoltaic generation made the largest increase among global electricity sources in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency. Its Global Energy Review 2025 reports an increase of approximately 480 terawatt-hours. The figure measures electricity produced, not the amount of generating equipment installed. IEA electricity review
The review says global electricity generation rose by more than 1,200 terawatt-hours during 2024. Renewables and nuclear power together accounted for more than 80% of the growth. Those figures describe changes in electricity supply over a year, with solar PV contributing a major part of the increase.
Capacity is a separate concept. It describes the power rating of installed equipment and is commonly reported in gigawatts. Generation is energy delivered over time and is reported here in terawatt-hours. The two units cannot be exchanged or combined into a single installation total.
IRENA’s Renewable Capacity Statistics 2025 provides country- and technology-level installed-capacity data, with tables expressed in megawatts. Its notes say most figures reflect capacity installed and connected at the end of the calendar year. Readers checking an installation claim should retain that reporting basis rather than relabel a generation increase. These sources support a 2024 comparison, not an unverified first-half 2026 construction milestone. IRENA capacity statistics PDF
Archive note: the earlier installation total, country breakdown and forecast were not substantiated.