Global solar thermal energy cumulative capacity 2006-2018
The global cumulative capacity of solar thermal energy has increased dramatically since 2006 until 2018, from around 127 gigawatts thermal to approximately 480 gigawatts thermal. Capacity additions for solar thermal energy reached their peak between 2012 and 2013, and since then, new installations have decreased. China and Europe have played a major role in the installation of solar thermal energy globally.