Solar Powered Drones Global Market Report 2025

The solar powered drones market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $2.17 billion in 2024 to $2.58 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing environmental concerns and emphasis on sustainability, military and defense applications, reduction in the cost of solar panels, government incentives and policies promoting renewable energy adoption, expansion of applications such as agriculture, surveillance, and disaster management.

The solar powered drones market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.19 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for long-endurance drones for various commercial applications, the emergence of new regulatory frameworks supporting solar-powered drone deployment, increasing focus on precision agriculture and crop monitoring, growth in infrastructure inspection and maintenance applications, expansion of the telecommunications industry. Major trends in the forecast period include a shift towards hybrid solar-electric propulsion systems, the adoption of lightweight materials for improved performance and payload capacity, the integration of advanced sensors and imaging technologies for enhanced data collection, the evolution of solar-powered drone-as-a-service (DaaS) business models, the rise of solar-powered drones for emergency response and disaster recovery.

The forecast of 19% growth over the next five years reflects a modest reduction of 0.3% from the previous estimate for this market.This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. This is likely to directly affect the US through supply chain disruptions for high-efficiency photovoltaic cells, sourced from key regions such as China, Germany, and Japan, which could limit endurance drone operations.The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.

The rising military and defense investments are expected to drive the growth of the solar-powered drones market in the coming years. Military and defense spending refers to the financial resources allocated by a country to build and maintain its armed forces, which includes funding for weapons, equipment, and personnel. Countries are increasing their military investments to deter potential threats, protect national security, and prevent conflicts. This increased expenditure is enhancing the development and deployment of solar-powered drones, which are increasingly used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and tactical operations, thereby boosting their capabilities and fostering innovation. For instance, in April 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Sweden-based independent research organization, reported that global military expenditure reached $2.443 trillion in 2023, marking a 6.8% increase from 2022. Consequently, rising military and defense spending is fueling the growth of the solar-powered drones market.

The growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions is expected to drive the growth of the solar-powered drones market in the future. Sustainable and eco-friendly solutions are designed to minimize environmental impact by conserving resources, reducing waste, and maintaining ecological balance. This trend is fueled by increasing environmental awareness, regulatory pressures, and rising consumer demand for greener products. For example, in July 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA), a France-based autonomous intergovernmental organization, reported that in 2022, solar photovoltaic systems generated a record 270 TWh, a 26% increase from 2021. Solar PV remains the third-largest renewable electricity technology, after wind and hydropower, contributing 4.5% of global electricity generation. As a result, the growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions is driving the expansion of the solar-powered drones market.

Major companies operating in the solar-powered drones market are increasing their focus on developing advanced solutions, such as solar-powered stratospheric aircraft, to gain a competitive edge in the market. A solar-powered stratospheric aircraft is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is designed to fly in the stratosphere using solar power as its primary energy source, enabling long-endurance flights for high-altitude data collection and monitoring purposes. For instance, in April 2023, Kea Aerospace, a New Zealand-based tech company, launched the Kea Atmos Mk 1, the first solar-powered drone or stratospheric aircraft designed and built in the Southern Hemisphere. This has a wingspan of 12.5 meters, a weight under 40 kilograms, and the capability to fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. It offers long-endurance flight capabilities for months and high-altitude data collection, making it a game-changer in the solar-powered drones market for applications requiring extended, high-altitude data collection.

Solar-powered drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with photovoltaic panels to harness solar energy for propulsion and operation. These drones offer sustainable and long-endurance flight capabilities, making them ideal for various applications such as environmental monitoring, agriculture, surveillance, and telecommunications.

The main types of solar powered drones are vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), fixed wing, rotary wing, and hybrid. Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones refer to a type of machine that is capable of taking off and landing vertically, eliminating the need for runways. Various types of components include payload, motors, energy systems, frames, and controller and navigation, which are used for several services, including data analysis, data collection, and drone leasing. These are used for various applications, such as agriculture, energy, military, telecommunication, research and exploration, surveillance, and disaster management, by several end-users, including commercial, government, and non-profit organizations.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp increase in U.S. tariffs and resulting trade disputes in spring 2025 are significantly affecting the aerospace and defense sector. Prices for key materials such as titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics primarily sourced from international suppliers have surged. Defense contractors, constrained by fixed-price government contracts, are forced to absorb these rising costs. Meanwhile, commercial aerospace companies are encountering resistance from airlines over increased aircraft prices. In addition, customs delays are disrupting already tight production timelines for jets and satellites. In response, the industry is stockpiling essential materials, pursuing import waivers for defense-related goods, and working with allied nations to diversify supply chains.

The main types of solar powered drones are vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), fixed wing, rotary wing, and hybrid. Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones refer to a type of machine that is capable of taking off and landing vertically, eliminating the need for runways. Various types of components include payload, motors, energy systems, frames, and controller and navigation, which are used for several services, including data analysis, data collection, and drone leasing. These are used for various applications, such as agriculture, energy, military, telecommunication, research and exploration, surveillance, and disaster management, by several end-users, including commercial, government, and non-profit organizations.

Major companies operating in the solar powered drones market are Google LLC (Titan Aerospace LLC), Meta Platforms Inc. (Ascenta), DHL International GmbH (Deutsche Post DHL Group), FedEx Corporation, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Intel Corporation, Airbus SE, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Thales Group, Bechtel Group Inc. (Bechtel Corporation), Balfour Beatty plc, easyJet plc, QinetiQ Group plc (The Carlyle Group), SunPower Corporation, AeroVironment Inc., SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., SunCulture Solar Inc., Alta Devices Inc., Bye Aerospace Inc., Sunlight Photonics Inc., Silent Falcon UAS Technologies, Sunbirds SAS, Xsun, UAV Instruments, Barnard Microsystems Limited, Elektra Solar GmbH.

North America was the largest region in the solar powered drones market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the solar powered drones market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the solar powered drones market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The solar powered drones market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services like mapping, aerial photography, inspection, monitoring services, and more. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The solar powered drones market also includes sales of solar panels, propellers, sensors, and power management systems and monitoring systems. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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