Global solar: key themes through H1 2026

Six months into 2026, global solar is navigating a landscape that is more complex - and more consequential - than ever. Demand for new capacity keeps climbing, but the path to deployment is being shaped by technology shifts, geopolitical disruption and an evolving policy environment that is moving at very different speeds across markets. 

What have the first six months revealed? And what does it mean for developers, investors and owners heading into the second half of the year? 

Wood Mackenzie's Head of Global Solar, Michelle Davis, reviews the predictions made at the start of the year and takes stock of the key developments shaping the industry in 2026, drawing on data and analysis from Wood Mackenzie Lens Power & Renewables. 

Key themes covered in this report include: 

• Demand growth raises the stakes for solar: US power demand forecasts have been revised upward again, with data centres now driving two-thirds of load growth over the next decade, and solar remains second only to gas as the largest source of new generation capacity 
• Solar technology at a crossroads: TOPCon dominates today, but manufacturers are racing toward perovskite-silicon tandem cells as the next frontier, while rising silver prices have turned input cost management into a strategic imperative 
• Balcony solar gains ground across the US: More than half of all US states are now actively considering balcony solar legislation, with bipartisan momentum building, though organised labour opposition is proving a more significant obstacle than anticipated in some markets 
• Middle East conflict hits regional pipelines hard: Supply chain disruption from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has driven a reduction in near-term solar installation forecasts for the region, with multiple gigawatts of projects delayed or cancelled, though the long-term Gulf outlook remains resilient 

To read the full analysis, fill in the form on this page to download your complimentary copy of ‘Global solar: key themes through H1 2026’.