In 2024, the median size of a home solar system in California was 5.7 kilowatts direct current. The state had one of the lowest median system sizes with Colorado, New Mexico, and Arkansas. By comparison, Ohio recorded a median system size of 15.8 kilowatts direct current. The cost of solar photovoltaics has declined steadily in the last decade.

The median system size for residential solar photovoltaics in the United States has increased over the last few years. In 2024, the median size of a home solar system in the U.S. stood at 7.2 kilowatts direct current. In comparison, the median size in 2010 was just over five kilowatts direct current. The cost of solar photovoltaics has declined steadily in the last decade.

This statistic represents the average solar system size among utilities in the United States in 2016, by segment. During this year, utility-owned residential solar systems had an average size of *** kilowatts.

The surging popularity of solar power amid environmental concerns has led to an uptick in installations. As electricity prices skyrocket, consumers and businesses seek ways to reduce their utility bills. Solar energy not only helps reduce costs but also cuts down on carbon emissions while promoting sustainability. Revenue for installation services swelled at a CAGR of 6.2% to 22.4 billion over the past five years, including a 3.6% hike in 2025 alone. The introduction of the investment tax credit (ITC), which offered a 30.0% tax credit, became a catalyst for installations. Initially, the tax credit was set to dip and expire in 2024. The Inflation Reduction Act reverted the credit to 30.0% and extended it until 2032. Nonetheless, this credit was recently cut and is set to expire at the end of 2025, amid the passed Big Beautiful Bill. Even so, state and local governments offer additional incentives for switching to solar. Increasing residential construction in 2020 and 2021 led to more installations, as many new housing projects included solar panels to receive LEED certification and meet green initiatives targets. Low-cost imports from Asia and favorable regulations like the 24-month tariff pause led to the price of panels falling, causing installation services to charge less and attracting more customers. Profit remained afloat because of the influx of new installations. The Inflation Reduction Act significantly boosted domestic solar panel manufacturing, allowing installation companies to diversify their supply chains. Production and investment tax credits incentivized manufacturers to expand or establish new facilities, reducing dependence on foreign products. By sourcing panels domestically, installers now benefit from lower costs and are better prepared for future tariffs on China and Southeast Asian countries, especially as existing tariff waivers have expired. With the termination of residential tax credits in 2025, installation companies are set to shift their focus toward other clients, as rising environmental concerns and the push to go green drive more commercial and government buildings to adopt solar panels to meet ESG standards and sustainability goals. Nonetheless, local and regional tax incentives will help sustain some residential growth, although it will not reach the levels seen in the current period. Overall, solar panel installation revenue is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.8%, reaching $25.7 billion by 2030.

In 2023, the average cost of residential solar systems in the United States stood at **** U.S. dollars per watt. Although the cost of residential solar has slightly increased in the last three years, it is still less than **** the average cost registered in 2010. The decrease in the cost of residential solar systems has contributed to the great increase in the solar capacity installed in U.S. households across the country.

In 2024, the cost of home solar photovoltaic systems in the U.S. decreased with an increase in system size. The installed price for a system with capacity of more than ** kilowatts was some *** U.S. dollars per watt. The median system size for residential photovoltaics in the United States was roughly *** kilowatts in 2023.

Solar Power Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global solar power market size reached USD 257.2 billion in 2024, reflecting a robust expansion driven by increasing adoption of renewable energy solutions worldwide. The market is projected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 11.7% from 2025 to 2033, indicating sustained momentum in the sector. By 2033, the solar power market is forecasted to attain a value of USD 635.4 billion, underscoring the sector’s pivotal role in the global energy transition. This growth is primarily attributed to the declining costs of solar technologies, favorable government policies, and rising environmental awareness across both developed and emerging economies.

The growth trajectory of the solar power market is primarily fueled by the rapid advancement and cost reduction of photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Over the past decade, the average cost of solar modules has dropped by more than 80%, making solar power increasingly competitive with traditional energy sources. This price decline, combined with improved energy conversion efficiencies, has significantly broadened the adoption of solar systems in residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications. Furthermore, ongoing investments in research and development are enabling the creation of more durable and efficient solar panels, which are expected to further accelerate market growth over the forecast period.

Another critical growth factor is the robust policy support from governments worldwide. Many countries have implemented ambitious renewable energy targets, feed-in tariffs, tax incentives, and net metering programs to stimulate solar adoption. For instance, the European Union’s Green Deal and the United States’ Inflation Reduction Act have set clear pathways for increased solar deployment. Additionally, emerging economies in Asia Pacific and Latin America are introducing large-scale solar projects to meet rising electricity demand while reducing carbon emissions. These policy frameworks not only incentivize investment in solar infrastructure but also create a stable environment for long-term market expansion.

The increasing urgency to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions has also emerged as a key driver of the solar power market. Corporations and utilities are under mounting pressure to decarbonize their operations, leading to a surge in solar power purchase agreements and on-site solar installations. Moreover, the electrification of sectors such as transportation and industry is amplifying the demand for clean energy sources, with solar power positioned as a cornerstone of the global energy mix. This shift towards sustainability is expected to further propel the adoption of solar technologies across various end-user segments.

Regionally, Asia Pacific continues to dominate the global solar power market, accounting for more than 45% of the total market share in 2024. China, India, and Japan are leading the charge, driven by large-scale utility projects and supportive policy frameworks. North America and Europe are also experiencing strong growth, with the United States and Germany being major contributors. Meanwhile, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are emerging as high-potential markets, thanks to abundant solar resources and increasing investments in renewable infrastructure. This regional diversification is expected to enhance the resilience and dynamism of the global solar power industry throughout the forecast period.

Technology Analysis

The solar power market is primarily segmented by technology into Photovoltaic (PV) Systems and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). Photovoltaic systems dominate the market, accounting for over 85% of the total installed solar capacity in 2024. PV technology's popularity stems from its versatility, scalability, and rapidly declining costs. Residential rooftops, commercial buildings, and utility-scale solar farms all benefit from PV modules, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. The ongoing evolution of PV technology, including the adoption of bifacial panels, perovskite cells, and thin-film modules, is further driving efficiency gains and cost reductions, thereby broadening the application spectrum of solar power.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) represents a smaller but significant segment of the solar power market. CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to concentrate sunlight ont

Through the Residential Solar Investment Program (RSIP), the Connecticut Green Bank, in partnership with a network of contractors and inspectors, helped more than 46,300 households access solar energy since 2012, surpassing the statutory target of 350 MW (reaching 378 MW) one year ahead of the December 2022 deadline.

Highlights - $1.43B total investment - $156M total incentive - $0.41/W average incentive - $3.79/W installed cost

How it works - RSIP provided rebates and incentives to make rooftop solar more affordable for homeowners. - When panels produce electricity, they save money and create Solar Home Renewable Energy Credits (SHRECs). - Utilities entered into Master Purchase Agreements (MPAs) with the Green bank to buy SHRECs to comply with policy programs. - Green bonds are created via SHREC revenue and purchased by both individual and institutional buyers. - Revenue from MPAs and Green Bonds support RSIP incentives and cover administrative costs.

This dataset is an anonymized comprehensive listing of all approved and completed projects supported by the RSIP. It contains information on system costs, sizes, participating contractors, and other details gathered during the RSIP. More information and program evaluation reports can be found at https://www.ctgreenbank.com/strategy-impact/societal-impact/successful-legacy-programs/residential-solar-investment-program-rsip

Solar Footprints in California

This GIS dataset consists of polygons that represent the footprints of solar powered electric generation facilities and related infrastructure in California called Solar Footprints. The location of solar footprints was identified using other existing solar footprint datasets from various sources along with imagery interpretation. CEC staff reviewed footprints identified with imagery and digitized polygons to match the visual extent of each facility. Previous datasets of existing solar footprints used to locate solar facilities include:

GIS Layers: (1) California Solar Footprints, (2) UC Berkeley Solar Points, (3) Kruitwagen et al. 2021, (4) BLM Renewable Project Facilities, (5) Quarterly Fuel and Energy Report (QFER)

Imagery Datasets: Esri World Imagery, USGS National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP), 2020 SENTINEL 2 Satellite Imagery, 2023

Solar facilities with large footprints such as parking lot solar, large rooftop solar, and ground solar were included in the solar footprint dataset. Small scale solar (approximately less than 0.5 acre) and residential footprints were not included. No other data was used in the production of these shapes. Definitions for the solar facilities identified via imagery are subjective and described as follows:

Rooftop Solar: Solar arrays located on rooftops of large buildings.

Parking lot Solar: Solar panels on parking lots roughly larger than 1 acre, or clusters of solar panels in adjacent parking lots.

Ground Solar: Solar panels located on ground roughly larger than 1 acre, or large clusters of smaller scale footprints.

Once all footprints identified by the above criteria were digitized for all California counties, the features were visually classified into ground, parking and rooftop categories. The features were also classified into rural and urban types using the 42 U.S. Code § 1490 definition for rural. In addition, the distance to the closest substation and the percentile category of this distance (e.g. 0-25th percentile, 25th-50th percentile) was also calculated. The coverage provided by this data set should not be assumed to be a complete accounting of solar footprints in California. Rather, this dataset represents an attempt to improve upon existing solar feature datasets and to update the inventory of "large" solar footprints via imagery, especially in recent years since previous datasets were published.

This procedure produced a total solar project footprint of 150,250 acres. Attempts to classify these footprints and isolate the large utility-scale projects from the smaller rooftop solar projects identified in the data set is difficult. The data was gathered based on imagery, and project information that could link multiple adjacent solar footprints under one larger project is not known. However, partitioning all solar footprints that are at least partly outside of the techno-economic exclusions and greater than 7 acres yields a total footprint size of 133,493 acres. These can be approximated as utility-scale footprints.

Metadata: (1) CBI Solar Footprints

Abstract: Conservation Biology Institute (CBI) created this dataset of solar footprints in California after it was found that no such dataset was publicly available at the time (Dec 2015-Jan 2016). This dataset is used to help identify where current ground based, mostly utility scale, solar facilities are being constructed and will be used in a larger landscape intactness model to help guide future development of renewable energy projects. The process of digitizing these footprints first began by utilizing an excel file from the California Energy Commission with lat/long coordinates of some of the older and bigger locations. After projecting those points and locating the facilities utilizing NAIP 2014 imagery, the developed area around each facility was digitized. While interpreting imagery, there were some instances where a fenced perimeter was clearly seen and was slightly larger than the actual footprint. For those cases the footprint followed the fenced perimeter since it limits wildlife movement through the area. In other instances, it was clear that the top soil had been scraped of any vegetation, even outside of the primary facility footprint. These footprints included the areas that were scraped within the fencing since, especially in desert systems, it has been near permanently altered. Other sources that guided the search for solar facilities included the Energy Justice Map, developed by the Energy Justice Network which can be found here:

https://www.energyjustice.net/map/searchobject.php?gsMapsize=large&giCurrentpageiFacilityid;=1&gsTable;=facility&gsSearchtype;=advanced

The Solar Energy Industries Association’s “Project Location Map” which can be found here:

https://www.seia.org/map/majorprojectsmap.php

also assisted in locating newer facilities along with the "Power Plants" shapefile, updated in December 16th, 2015, downloaded from the U.S. Energy Information Administration located here:

https://www.eia.gov/maps/layer_info-m.cfm

There were some facilities that were stumbled upon while searching for others, most of these are smaller scale sites located near farm infrastructure. Other sites were located by contacting counties that had solar developments within the county. Still, others

Austin Energy has provided solar incentives to help residential and commercial customers install solar energy systems. View the number of rebates, average rebate per customer, and average size since the program’s start in fiscal year 2004. Go to austinenergy.com/go/solar and austinenergy.com/go/solarincentives to learn more about solar solutions and incentives from Austin Energy.

Solar Wafer Recycling Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global solar wafer recycling market size reached USD 432 million in 2024, demonstrating robust expansion driven by the urgent need for sustainable waste management in the solar industry. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17.2% from 2025 to 2033, resulting in a forecasted market size of USD 1,457 million by 2033. This growth is primarily fueled by the increasing volume of end-of-life solar panels, stringent environmental regulations, and the rising adoption of circular economy principles within the photovoltaic sector. As per our latest research, the solar wafer recycling market is witnessing a paradigm shift, with manufacturers and governments worldwide prioritizing resource recovery and the reduction of electronic waste.

One of the primary growth factors for the solar wafer recycling market is the exponential rise in solar energy adoption globally. As solar panel installations accelerate, so does the volume of decommissioned or damaged solar wafers. The average lifespan of solar panels, typically around 25-30 years, means that the wave of early installations is now reaching end-of-life, creating a significant demand for efficient recycling solutions. Furthermore, the high intrinsic value of materials such as silicon and silver in solar wafers incentivizes recycling, both to recover valuable resources and to minimize the environmental impact associated with mining and raw material extraction. This confluence of economic and ecological drivers is pushing stakeholders to invest in advanced recycling technologies and infrastructure.

Another key factor propelling market growth is the tightening of environmental regulations across major economies. Governments in regions such as Europe, North America, and parts of Asia Pacific are introducing stringent directives mandating the responsible disposal and recycling of photovoltaic waste. For instance, the European Union’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive specifically includes solar panels, compelling manufacturers to ensure proper recycling and recovery of materials. Such regulations not only create compliance obligations but also open up new business opportunities for specialized recycling companies and technology providers. As regulatory frameworks evolve, market participants are compelled to innovate and collaborate to achieve higher recycling rates and resource efficiency.

Technological advancements are also playing a pivotal role in shaping the solar wafer recycling market. The development of sophisticated mechanical, chemical, and thermal recycling processes has significantly improved the recovery rates and purity of extracted materials. Innovations such as automated dismantling systems, selective etching chemicals, and energy-efficient thermal treatments are making recycling more economically viable and environmentally friendly. Additionally, the integration of digital tracking and data analytics is enabling better monitoring of end-of-life solar products, facilitating more efficient collection and processing. These technological improvements are expected to further enhance the scalability and profitability of solar wafer recycling operations, attracting increased investment and participation from both established companies and new entrants.

From a regional perspective, the Asia Pacific region is emerging as a dominant force in the solar wafer recycling market, accounting for the largest share of global installations and end-of-life panels. China, Japan, and India are at the forefront, driven by massive solar deployment and supportive government policies. Europe follows closely, with robust regulatory frameworks and a mature recycling ecosystem. North America is also witnessing significant growth, particularly in the United States, where state-level mandates and corporate sustainability initiatives are accelerating recycling activities. Meanwhile, Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are gradually ramping up their solar recycling capacities, supported by increasing renewable energy investments and international collaborations. This dynamic regional landscape underscores the global nature of the solar wafer recycling challenge and the diverse approaches being adopted to address it.

The South Africa Solar Energy Market Report is Segmented by Technology (Solar Photovoltaic and Concentrated Solar Power), Grid Type (On-Grid and Off-Grid), and End-User (Utility-Scale, Commercial and Industrial, and Residential). The Market Sizes and Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Installed Capacity (GW).

California has by far the greatest installed capacity of solar photovoltaic (PV) power of any U.S. state. As of March 2025, the Golden State had a cumulative solar power capacity of over ***** gigawatts. Texas followed with a capacity of roughly ***** gigawatts. Both U.S. states also had the largest solar PV capacity additions in 2024. Solar power across the U.S. Solar power accounts for around **** percent of the total electricity generated in the United States. Since the turn of the century, the solar PV capacity installed in the North American country has experienced exponential growth, surpassing *** gigawatts as of 2024, which is enough to power the equivalent of ** million average homes in the country. Even though the U.S. energy mix is still dominated by fossil fuels, renewable sources are forecast to grow in the upcoming years. Employment in the U.S. solar market The solar sector is an incubator for job growth across the United States. Over the last decade, employment figures in the U.S. solar market have increased nearly threefold. More than ******* people worked in the solar industry in 2023, with the state of California concentrating the largest solar workforce in the country.

{"ABSTRACT In CubeSats, because the size is limited, the estimation of the incident solar energy according to the orbital parameters and satellite attitude is more critical for the design process of the electrical power system. This estimation is helpful either for sizing of the power sources and energy storage or for defining the operation modes of the CubeSat with the energy available. This paper describes the kinematic and dynamic equations to derive the CubeSat attitude; similarly, the mathematical models of solar cells and batteries are also derived to calculate the energy harvested and stored. By determining the attitude of a 3U CubeSat over one orbit, we estimated the incident solar energy and thus the energy generated by the solar cells and energy stored in batteries when a direct energy-transfer architecture is used. In addition, these estimations where performed for three orientation scenarios: nadir-pointing, Sun-pointing and free-orientation. The estimated incident average solar energy for the three scenarios indicated that the Sun-pointing and free-orientation scenarios harvest more energy than the nadir-pointing one. This estimation is also helpful to predict the state of charge of the batteries in standby mode, allowing for determination of the time required for charging the batteries and, hence, the operating modes of the CubeSat. We expect to include the consumed energy while considering all of the operating modes of the satellite as well as different orbital parameters."}

The Australia Solar Power Market Report is Segmented by Technology (Solar Photovoltaic and Concentrated Solar Power), Grid Type (On-Grid and Off-Grid), and End-User (Utility-Scale, Commercial and Industrial, Residential). The Market Sizes and Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Installed Capacity (GW).

Developed by SOLARGIS and provided by the Global Solar Atlas (GSA), this data resource contains photovoltaic power potential (PVOUT) in kWh/kWp covering the globe. Data is provided in a geographic spatial reference (EPSG:4326). The resolution (pixel size) of solar resource data (GHI, DIF, GTI, DNI) is 9 arcsec (nominally 250 m), PVOUT and TEMP 30 arcsec (nominally 1 km) and OPTA 2 arcmin (nominally 4 km). The data is hyperlinked under 'resources' with the following characteristics: PVOUT LTAy_AvgDailyTotals (GeoTIFF) Data format: GEOTIFF File size : 3.6 GB There are two temporal representation of solar resource and PVOUT data available: • Longterm yearly/monthly average of daily totals (LTAym_AvgDailyTotals) • Longterm average of yearly/monthly totals (LTAym_YearlyMonthlyTotals) Both type of data are equivalent, you can select the summarization of your preference. The relation between datasets is described by simple equations: • LTAy_YearlyTotals = LTAy_DailyTotals * 365.25 • LTAy_MonthlyTotals = LTAy_DailyTotals * Number_of_Days_In_The_Month For individual country or regional data downloads please see: https://globalsolaratlas.info/download (use the drop-down menu to select country or region of interest) For data provided in AAIGrid please see: https://globalsolaratlas.info/download/world. For more information and terms of use, please, read metadata, provided in PDF and XML format for each data layer in a download file. For other data formats, resolution or time aggregation, please, visit Solargis website. Data can be used for visualization, further processing, and geo-analysis in all mainstream GIS software with raster data processing capabilities (such as open source QGIS, commercial ESRI ArcGIS products and others).

The market was valued about USD 173.8 million in 2025 and it is projected to be USD 385.8 million in 2035, at a CAGR of 8.3% during the forecasted period.

State - Wise Outlook

Competitive Outlook

This web layer provides relevant information of solar power potential for energy generation. It is a project administered by the World Bank Group as part of the Energy Sector Assistance Program (ESMAP). The Global Solar Atlas was implemented by Solargis. The goal of the atlas is to expose solar resource and photovoltaic power potential data.Output variables as processing templates:PV electricity output: Total electrical energy produced per capacity installed (kWh/kWp) per yearMonthly PV electricity output (12 layers): Average monthly electrical energy produced per capacity installed (x1,000 kWh/kWp) per day.Direct normal irradiation: Amount of solar energy per unit area (kWh/m2) coming from a direct (i.e. perpendicular) pathDiffuse horizontal irradiation: Amount of solar energy per unit area (kWh/m2) received from scattered sources (e.g. clouds)Global horizontal irradiation: Amount of solar radiation received (kWh/m2) at a theoretical plane horizontal to the groundGlobal tilted irradiation at optimum angle: Largest amount of solar radiation that can be received (kWh/m2) at the ground at the optimum angle (i.e. OPTA)Optimum tilt of PV modules: Optimal angle (segrees) of a plane that receives the highest solar radiation.Air temperature: Annual average of air temperature (°C) at 2m from the groundElevation: Elevation (m) above mean sea level.What can you do with this layer?This layer can be used to primarily to estimate the total energy yield of a PV system and its inter-annual variation or compare energy yield between sites. The layer can also be used to determine the optimal angle of PV panels and quantify the gap between received radiation at a horizontal plane against the radiation received in a plane tilted at the optimal angle. This layer can also be used to quantify the difference between direct and diffuse irradiation for a given location. Additionally, the layer provides information on the mean air temperature and elevation used in the model.Associated web mapsPV electricity outputHorizontal and tilted irradiationsDirect and diffuse irradiationsCell Size: 30 arc-secondsSource Type: ContinousPixel Type: IntegerProjection: GCS WGS84Extent: GlobalSource: Global Solar AtlasArcGIS Server URL: https://earthobs3.arcgis.com/arcgis

Solar Generators for Emergency Response Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global solar generators for emergency response market size reached USD 1.62 billion in 2024, reflecting robust adoption across both developed and developing regions. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2025 to 2033, with the total value forecasted to reach USD 4.03 billion by 2033. This growth is primarily driven by the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, heightened awareness of the need for resilient emergency infrastructure, and the global shift toward renewable energy solutions for critical response operations.

One of the major growth factors for the solar generators for emergency response market is the rising occurrence of extreme weather events and natural disasters worldwide. Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes have become more frequent and severe, often resulting in prolonged power outages that can severely hamper relief efforts. In such scenarios, solar generators provide a reliable, mobile, and clean power source to support critical services, including medical care, communication, and shelter operations. The increasing unpredictability of climate events has prompted government agencies, NGOs, and humanitarian organizations to invest in advanced, portable solar power solutions as part of their disaster preparedness and response strategies. This trend is further amplified by growing public and private funding directed toward climate resilience and emergency response infrastructure.

Technological advancements in solar generator systems are also significantly propelling market growth. Modern solar generators are now more efficient, lightweight, and capable of delivering higher power output, making them ideal for rapid deployment in emergency situations. Innovations in energy storage, such as lithium-ion and solid-state batteries, have enhanced the reliability and runtime of these systems, enabling them to power critical equipment for extended periods. Furthermore, integration with smart energy management systems and IoT-based monitoring allows for remote control and diagnostics, optimizing performance in dynamic emergency environments. The falling cost of solar panels and storage batteries has made these solutions more accessible, encouraging widespread adoption across diverse end-user segments.

Another key driver is the increasing emphasis on sustainability and carbon neutrality within emergency response operations. Traditional diesel generators, while effective, are associated with significant greenhouse gas emissions, logistical challenges, and fuel supply constraints during disasters. In contrast, solar generators offer a clean, silent, and low-maintenance alternative, aligning with global sustainability goals and reducing the environmental footprint of emergency relief activities. International agencies and donor organizations are increasingly mandating the use of renewable energy solutions in their procurement policies, further accelerating the shift toward solar-powered emergency response systems. The convergence of environmental, regulatory, and operational benefits is expected to sustain the strong growth trajectory of this market in the coming years.

From a regional perspective, North America and Asia Pacific are leading the adoption of solar generators for emergency response, driven by their high vulnerability to natural disasters and strong policy support for renewable energy integration. In North America, the United States has seen significant investments in resilient infrastructure following recent hurricanes and wildfires, while countries like Japan, India, and the Philippines in Asia Pacific are prioritizing solar-based emergency solutions to address frequent typhoons, earthquakes, and floods. Europe is also witnessing steady growth, supported by stringent emission regulations and robust disaster management frameworks. The Middle East & Africa and Latin America, though currently smaller markets, are expected to experience above-average growth rates due to increasing disaster preparedness initiatives and international aid programs.

In the realm of emergency response, Portable Power Stations for First Responders are becoming indispensable tools. These compact and versatile units provide crucial power support in the field,