Solar EPC sector continues to fragment - IHS Markit

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The market research firm noted that the three leading EPC firms in 2018, Sterling and Wilson, TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis and Sungrow Power Supply Co had global market shares of 2.9%, 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively. Image: NextEra

According to the latest ‘Solar EPC and O&M Provider Tracker’ report from IHS Markit, the EPC sector has yet to experience any effective market leaders or consolidation. 

IHS Markit noted that the largest 30 EPC companies installed 19GW of non-residential PV in 2018, which accounted for just 21% of the total global market, down from 23% in 2017, highlighting the ongoing fragmentation of the sector. 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The market research firm noted that the three leading EPC firms in 2018, Sterling and Wilson, TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis and Sungrow Power Supply Co had global market shares of 2.9%, 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively.

The big change was India-based Sterling and Wilson overtaking long-term market leader, TBEA, installing 2.7GW of PV systems in 2018, up 127% from the previous year. 

Josefin Berg, research & analysis manager, Solar & Energy Storage, at IHS Markit  said, “Sterling and Wilson’s rising market share come partly as the result of the company’s continued leadership in India’s expanding photovoltaic (PV) market. EPC solar installations in the country rose by 39 percent last year. However, Sterling and Wilson also benefitted from large overseas projects, most notably the 1.2-gigawatt (GW) Sweihan project in Abu Dhabi—which will be the world’s largest solar plant when operating.”

IHS Markit also noted that the non-residential PV market outside of China increased 34% in 2018, driven by growth in India, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, expanding the global footprint for the EPC and O&M business. 

As a result, seven of the 15 largest companies outside of China—including Sterling and Wilson, ACS, Acciona and BayWa—installed projects in more than one geographical region.

Read Next

June 17, 2026
Foresight Group-backed developer NZ Clean Energy (NZCE) and Fonterra have signed a long-term virtual power purchase agreement (PPA) under which the dairy cooperative will purchase electricity generated by NZCE's Darfield solar-plus-storage project in Canterbury.
June 15, 2026
HVR Solar has signed a series of agreements to develop of a 1.2GW TOPCon solar cell manufacturing plant in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. 
June 15, 2026
SECI is inviting bids for 4,800MWh of firm and dispatchable renewable energy capacity supported by co-located energy storage systems. 
June 15, 2026
SmartHelio, the Swiss solar predictive analytics specialists, has secured new investment from the technology funder quantumEDGE Ventures to develop its technology and expand into new markets.
June 15, 2026
New Zealand gentailer Contact Energy has completed installation of all solar modules at the 150MW Kōwhai Park solar PV power plant at Christchurch Airport.
June 12, 2026
Silicon valley tech giant Meta has signed another power purchase agreement (PPA) with RWE for a solar project in Texas.

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
June 30, 2026
Sacramento, California
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
August 25, 2026
São Paulo, Brazil
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 1, 2026
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 9, 2026
Schaumburg, Illinois
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 9, 2026