As an efficient breakage technology, high voltage pulse breakage technology (HVP) has been an attractive topic due to its selective advantages. Typically, HVP is conducted in water and it is believed that the breakdown strength of water is higher than that of solids, and the discharge channel will be formed in solids under short voltage front rise time. The location of the discharge channel is important for understanding and optimizing of HVP. The study focuses on solid breakdown and the location of the discharge channel. The breakdown type during the HVP process is analyzed, the breakage characteristics of solid particles are investigated, the breakdown parameters are compared between water and solid, and the influence of solid composition on breakdown type is revealed. Under the settled conditions of this study, the results showed that: the discharge channel is easier to be formed inside the solid particle with the particle in contact with the electrode. And the discharge channel is formed in water with water gap between the solid and the electrode. The location of the discharge channel is affected by solid composition and the electrical breakdown probability can be improved with other compositions embedded in solid particles.