Solar adoption curves
Solar: 26 of 54 countries reached 10%, from 2 years (Vietnam) to 13 years (Slovenia) after 1%.
- Countries past 1%
- 54
- Highest share now
- 27.1%
- 馃嚟馃嚭 Hungary
- Median years, 1% to 10%
- 8.5 years
Adoption Curves: How Fast Solar and Wind Grew After Passing 1%
How long does it take a fuel to grow from a footnote to a major source? These pages line countries up by the year solar or wind first reached 1% of generation, then count the years to 5%, 10% and 20%. Solar: 26 of 54 countries reached 10%, from 2 years (Vietnam) to 13 years (Slovenia) after 1%. Wind: 24 of 50 countries reached 10%, from 1 year (Kenya) to 18 years (the Netherlands) after 1%. The median country took 8.5 years to go from 1% to 10% solar (26 countries) against 9 years for wind (24 countries). Data as of 2025, Ember annual statistics.
Key Facts
- 54 countries generating at least 10 TWh passed 1% solar and have at least 5 years of data since, to 2025.
- Hungary had the highest solar share in its latest year, 27.1% in 2025; it passed 1% in 2017.
- Pakistan took 6 years from 1% to 20% solar, Spain 15 years; 5 countries have reached 20%.
- 50 countries generating at least 10 TWh passed 1% wind and have at least 5 years of data since, to 2025.
- Uruguay had the highest wind share in its latest year, 40.6% in 2025; it passed 1% in 2011.
- Uruguay took 5 years from 1% to 20% wind, the Netherlands 21 years; 11 countries have reached 20%.
Adoption Curves by Fuel
Ember, to 2025Wind adoption curves
Wind: 24 of 50 countries reached 10%, from 1 year (Kenya) to 18 years (the Netherlands) after 1%.
- Countries past 1%
- 50
- Highest share now
- 40.6%
- 馃嚭馃嚲 Uruguay
- Median years, 1% to 10%
- 9 years
Solar and Wind Compared
Countries at or above 10 TWh| Fuel | Passed 1% | Reached 5% | Reached 10% | Reached 20% | Fastest to 10% | Slowest to 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar | 54 | 43 | 26 | 5 | 馃嚮馃嚦 Vietnam, 2 years | 馃嚫馃嚠 Slovenia, 13 years |
| Wind | 50 | 37 | 24 | 11 | 馃嚢馃嚜 Kenya, 1 year | 馃嚦馃嚤 Netherlands, 18 years |
A country counts when it generated at least 10 TWh in its latest year, its series began below 1%, and it has at least 5 years of data after first reaching 1%. Years are counted from the year each country first reached 1%.
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. Annual statistics from Ember; each country is measured to its own latest year.