Solar energy generation vs. capacity in OECD (EI)
OECD (EI): Solar energy generation vs. capacity was 1.11 million terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in OECD (EI), 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
OECD (EI) recorded 1.11 million terawatt-hours for solar energy generation vs. capacity in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.7% on the previous year and up 467.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar energy generation vs. capacity in OECD (EI) peaked at 1.11 million terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in OECD (EI), year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1966 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1967 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1968 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1969 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1970 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1971 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1973 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1974 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1975 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1976 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1977 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1978 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1979 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1980 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 3 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 6.31 terawatt-hours | +110.4% |
| 1985 | 11.75 terawatt-hours | +86.1% |
| 1986 | 15.18 terawatt-hours | +29.3% |
| 1987 | 10.6 terawatt-hours | -30.2% |
| 1988 | 10.2 terawatt-hours | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 262.22 terawatt-hours | +2471.8% |
| 1990 | 386.25 terawatt-hours | +47.3% |
| 1991 | 503.22 terawatt-hours | +30.3% |
| 1992 | 463.58 terawatt-hours | -7.9% |
| 1993 | 552.67 terawatt-hours | +19.2% |
| 1994 | 591.97 terawatt-hours | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 630.84 terawatt-hours | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 684.13 terawatt-hours | +8.4% |
| 1997 | 732.53 terawatt-hours | +7.1% |
| 1998 | 791.69 terawatt-hours | +8.1% |
| 1999 | 882.02 terawatt-hours | +11.4% |
| 2000 | 1,014 terawatt-hours | +15.0% |
| 2001 | 1,359 terawatt-hours | +34.0% |
| 2002 | 1,711 terawatt-hours | +26.0% |
| 2003 | 2,141 terawatt-hours | +25.1% |
| 2004 | 2,834 terawatt-hours | +32.4% |
| 2005 | 4,024 terawatt-hours | +42.0% |
| 2006 | 5,548 terawatt-hours | +37.8% |
| 2007 | 7,507 terawatt-hours | +35.3% |
| 2008 | 12,294 terawatt-hours | +63.8% |
| 2009 | 20,456 terawatt-hours | +66.4% |
| 2010 | 32,597 terawatt-hours | +59.4% |
| 2011 | 61,007 terawatt-hours | +87.2% |
| 2012 | 92,274 terawatt-hours | +51.2% |
| 2013 | 120,602 terawatt-hours | +30.7% |
| 2014 | 159,092 terawatt-hours | +31.9% |
| 2015 | 195,045 terawatt-hours | +22.6% |
| 2016 | 228,416 terawatt-hours | +17.1% |
| 2017 | 276,733 terawatt-hours | +21.2% |
| 2018 | 324,351 terawatt-hours | +17.2% |
| 2019 | 375,388 terawatt-hours | +15.7% |
| 2020 | 449,695 terawatt-hours | +19.8% |
| 2021 | 536,938 terawatt-hours | +19.4% |
| 2022 | 655,204 terawatt-hours | +22.0% |
| 2023 | 763,781 terawatt-hours | +16.6% |
| 2024 | 909,386 terawatt-hours | +19.1% |
| 2025 | 1.11 million terawatt-hours | +21.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Solar energy generation vs. capacity in OECD (EI) changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +2471.8% | 10.2 terawatt-hours | 262.22 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 31.93 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 262.22 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 621.89 terawatt-hours | 386.25 terawatt-hours | 882.02 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,889 terawatt-hours | 1,014 terawatt-hours | 20,456 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 186,550 terawatt-hours | 32,597 terawatt-hours | 375,388 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 736,917 terawatt-hours | 449,695 terawatt-hours | 1.11 million terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near OECD (EI)
More energy & mining data for OECD (EI)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.7889 % change on previous year (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 16,830 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production 16,830 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.7889 % change on previous year (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption, annual growth rate 0.6864 % change on previous year (2025)
- Annual change in primary energy use, annual growth rate -12.51 % change on previous year (2025)
- Oil consumption, annual growth rate 0.0378 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.7889 % change on previous year (2025)
- Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels 47.5% (2025)
- Coal consumption, annual growth rate 0.8368 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is solar energy generation vs. capacity in OECD (EI)?
- Solar energy generation vs. capacity in OECD (EI) was 1.11 million terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in OECD (EI)?
- The highest recorded value was 1.11 million terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in OECD (EI)?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does OECD (EI) rank for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- OECD (EI) ranks 1st out of 2 groups with data for 2025.
- Is solar energy generation vs. capacity rising or falling in OECD (EI)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 467.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this OECD (EI) data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Solar energy generation vs. capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Figures are based on gross generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.