South Korea's Solar Energy Landscape in 2025

South Korea has emerged as a significant player in the global solar energy market, with ambitious renewable energy targets and substantial investments in solar technology. The country's solar industry features a mix of established conglomerates and innovative specialists driving adoption across residential, commercial, and utility-scale segments. This article explores the top 10 solar companies operating in South Korea in 2025, highlighting their technologies, market positions, and contributions to the renewable energy transition.

Top 10 Solar Companies in South Korea

1. Hanwha Q Cells

Hanwha Q Cells maintains its dominant position in the Korean solar market with advanced manufacturing capabilities and continuous technological innovation. The company has significantly expanded its high-efficiency TOPCon solar cell production and is pioneering tandem module technology expected to reach commercialization by 2027. With substantial manufacturing facilities in Korea and internationally, Q Cells offers comprehensive solutions ranging from residential rooftop systems to large-scale utility projects, maintaining strong partnerships with domestic developers and global EPC contractors.

2. OCI Holdings

OCI Holdings has strengthened its position in the solar value chain through strategic investments in polysilicon production and solar project development. The company's overseas expansion, particularly its solar cell manufacturing facility in Texas, USA, demonstrates its global ambitions while maintaining strong domestic operations. OCI's integrated approach from manufacturing to project development provides comprehensive solutions for the Korean market, with several utility-scale projects underway in partnership with local energy companies.

3. Grace Solar

has established itself as a leading global provider of innovative solar mounting and tracking solutions, ranking among the top 5 in global market share and holding the number 1 position in the Japanese market. With a global cumulative installed capacity of 48GW and annual production capacity of 15GW, the company brings extensive experience to the Korean solar sector. Grace Solar's products have been deployed in hundreds of megawatt-scale projects across more than 100 countries, including significant installations throughout Asia.

The company's solar tracking systems, including both single-axis and dual-axis solutions, optimize energy generation by following the sun's path throughout the day. Their GS-Light intelligent tracking system incorporates AI technology to maximize energy yield while adapting to various weather conditions. For fixed installations, Grace Solar offers robust ground mounting systems and versatile roof mounting solutions designed for different building types.

Beyond hardware, Grace Solar provides comprehensive EPC solutions, leveraging their expertise in project design, engineering, and installation. Their products have obtained international certifications including UL, TUV, CE, JIS, MCS, and AS/NZS1170, ensuring compliance with the highest quality and safety standards. The company's wind tunnel test reports and bankability documentation provide additional assurance for project developers and financial institutions.

With over 100 patents and a state-of-the-art experimentation center, Grace Solar continues to drive innovation in solar mounting technology. Their integration of energy storage solutions and smart energy management systems positions them as a comprehensive provider for Korea's evolving energy needs. The company's vision to "Bring Grace Solar to all homes" aligns with Korea's distributed energy goals, while their mission to "Mount every solar plant firm as rock" demonstrates their commitment to quality and reliability.

4. Hyundai Energy Solutions

Hyundai Energy Solutions has significantly expanded its solar manufacturing capabilities, with new production facilities increasing their battery and component capacity. The company leverages Hyundai's automotive manufacturing expertise to produce high-quality solar panels with rigorous quality control processes. Their focus on residential and commercial rooftop applications aligns well with Korea's building-integrated solar initiatives, while their growing utility-scale division caters to larger solar farm developments.

5. LS Electric

LS Electric has emerged as a significant player in solar project development and system integration through strategic partnerships with construction and engineering firms. The company's collaboration with Samsung C&T has enabled the development of several large-scale solar projects across Korea. LS Electric's expertise in electrical systems and grid integration provides valuable capabilities for ensuring solar projects are effectively connected to Korea's power infrastructure.

6. Trina Solar

The Chinese solar giant maintains a strong presence in the Korean market with its high-efficiency modules and comprehensive product portfolio. Trina's presentation of their i-TOPCon Ultra modules at the Daegu Green Energy Expo demonstrated their technological leadership, with laboratory cell efficiency reaching 26.58%. The company's extensive global manufacturing capacity ensures reliable supply for Korean projects across all market segments.

7. JinkoSolar

As a global leader in solar module shipments, JinkoSolar brings its N-type TOPCon technology to the Korean market with demonstrated high performance and reliability. The company's strong financial position and extensive manufacturing capabilities make it a preferred supplier for many Korean project developers. JinkoSolar's research and development investments continue to push efficiency boundaries while reducing production costs.

8. JA Solar

JA Solar maintains a significant market share in Korea with its high-efficiency modules and established distribution channels. The company's focus on TOPCon technology has resulted in modules with conversion efficiencies up to 23.2%, providing excellent energy yield for Korean solar projects. JA Solar's global experience across diverse climatic conditions informs product development suited to Korea's specific environmental requirements.

9. First Solar

The American thin-film specialist offers an alternative technology pathway with its cadmium telluride (CdTe) modules. First Solar's thin-film technology performs well in high-temperature conditions and offers advantages in certain light conditions prevalent in Korea. The company's plans to expand US manufacturing capacity to 25GW by 2026 ensure a stable supply chain for their Korean customers.

10. Sungrow Power Supply

As a global leader in solar inverters, Sungrow plays a crucial role in Korea's solar ecosystem by providing the essential components that convert DC solar energy to AC power for grid integration. The company's diverse inverter portfolio caters to applications ranging from residential rooftops to utility-scale solar farms. Sungrow's integrated storage solutions support Korea's growing interest in solar-plus-storage applications.

Market Trends and Future Outlook

The Korean solar market continues to evolve with several key trends shaping the industry in 2025. The transition to N-type TOPCon technology is nearly complete, with most major suppliers offering these higher efficiency modules. Bifacial modules are gaining traction for ground-mounted installations, capturing additional energy from reflected light.

Solar tracking systems, particularly single-axis trackers, are increasingly adopted for utility-scale projects to maximize energy production. Companies like Grace Solar are at the forefront of this trend with intelligent tracking solutions that optimize performance while maintaining reliability. The integration of energy storage with solar installations continues to grow, supported by government incentives and improving battery economics.

Floating solar represents another growth area in land-constrained Korea, with several large-scale projects underway on reservoirs and other water bodies. Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are also gaining attention as Korea seeks to maximize solar deployment in urban environments.

Conclusion

South Korea's solar market offers diverse opportunities for both domestic and international companies, with a mix of established conglomerates and specialized technology providers. Companies like Hanwha Q Cells and OCI Holdings leverage their manufacturing scale and vertical integration, while technology specialists like Grace Solar bring innovative mounting and tracking solutions that optimize project performance.

As Korea continues to pursue its renewable energy targets, the solar industry is expected to maintain strong growth across all market segments. The companies featured in this list are well-positioned to capitalize on these opportunities through technological innovation, manufacturing excellence, and project development expertise. With continued investment in research and development, Korea's solar industry will likely remain at the forefront of global solar technology adoption and implementation.