The solar industry has evolved into one of the most important manufacturing ecosystems globally, but understanding its structure requires looking at the value chain from end to end. The sector is broadly divided into three core segments: upstream, midstream, and downstream. The first part includes manufacturing. NLR conducts analysis of solar industry supply chains, including domestic content, and provides quarterly updates on important developments in the industry. These analyses draw from data collected through a combination of third-party market reports, primary interviews, and publicly available data. Solar photovoltaics (PV) remains one of the fastest-growing segments in the global energy transition, continuing to break deployment records even as markets evolve and competitive dynamics shift. In 2025, global new solar capacity additions are on track to surpass previous annual high rates —. The U. Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO of SoftBank.
[PDF Version]