China has been the world leader in installed solar PV capacity since 2013, and its lead has continued to grow in recent years.

The rapid growth of the solar energy industry is being driven by a combination of factors, including decreasing cost of solar panels, government subsidies and incentives, and increasing demand for renewable energy.

Polycrystalline silicon solar panels are currently the most widely used type of solar panel technology, accounting for over 90% of the global market.

Monocrystalline silicon solar panels have a higher efficiency than polycrystalline silicon solar panels, meaning they can convert more sunlight into electricity.

Thin-film solar panels have a lower efficiency than crystalline silicon solar panels, meaning they can convert less sunlight into electricity.

The primary challenge facing the solar energy industry is the intermittency of solar power, as solar panels can only generate electricity when the sun is shining.

All of the above technologies are being developed to address the intermittency of solar power.

All of the above policy mechanisms are used to promote the adoption of solar energy.

China has the most ambitious solar energy target, aiming to install 1,200 gigawatts of solar PV capacity by 2030.

The future outlook for the solar energy industry is continued growth, as the cost of solar panels continues to decline and governments around the world adopt policies to promote the adoption of solar energy.