In 2024, the cumulative capacity of solar district heating systems installed across the world reached ****gigawatts thermal in 2024, up from *** gigawatts thermal a year earlier. Denmark is the country with the largest operational solar district heating capacity worldwide. In 2024, the Scandinavian country reached a capacity of **** gigawatts thermal and was followed by China and Germany with solar district heating capacities of ****and ****megawatts thermal, respectively.Â
Solar district heating plants worldwide
In total, there were *** large-scale solar district heating plants in operation worldwide in 2023. Denmark, China, and Germany were also the countries with the highest number of solar thermal energy plants for district heating that year. As of end of 2023, the Danish city of Silkeborg was home to the largest district heating solar plant worldwide. With a capacity of *** megawatts thermal and a solar collector area of over ** square meters, the plant covers ** percent of the network’s demand, which provides heat to * ³Ü²õ±ð°ù²õ.Ìý
Global solar thermal industry
Between 2010 and 2024, global solar thermal heat capacity grew from ****to ****gigawatts thermal. This yielded a supply of some ****terawatt hours thermal in the latter year. Solar thermal systems can be used to meet water and space heating needs in residential, commercial, and public buildings worldwide, as well as in solar district heating networks and in industrial settings. Â
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International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme. (June 24, 2025). Capacity of large-scale solar district heating systems in operation worldwide from 2020 to 2024 (in gigawatts thermal) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 22, 2026, from /statistics/1537249/global-solar-district-heating-capacity/
International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme. "Capacity of large-scale solar district heating systems in operation worldwide from 2020 to 2024 (in gigawatts thermal)." Chart. June 24, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 22, 2026. /statistics/1537249/global-solar-district-heating-capacity/
International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme. (2025). Capacity of large-scale solar district heating systems in operation worldwide from 2020 to 2024 (in gigawatts thermal). ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 22, 2026. /statistics/1537249/global-solar-district-heating-capacity/
International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme. "Capacity of Large-scale Solar District Heating Systems in Operation Worldwide from 2020 to 2024 (in Gigawatts Thermal)." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 24 Jun 2025, /statistics/1537249/global-solar-district-heating-capacity/
International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme, Capacity of large-scale solar district heating systems in operation worldwide from 2020 to 2024 (in gigawatts thermal) ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/1537249/global-solar-district-heating-capacity/ (last visited July 22, 2026)
Capacity of large-scale solar district heating systems in operation worldwide from 2020 to 2024 (in gigawatts thermal) [Graph], International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme, June 24, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1537249/global-solar-district-heating-capacity/