Panorama of solar power generation in the western region

Is solar energy a future energy resource?

The utilization of renewable energy as a future energy resource is drawing significant attention worldwide. The contribution of solar energy (including concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar photovoltaic (PV) power) to global electricity production, as one form of renewable energy sources, is generally still low, at 3.6%.

Where does solar PV development occur in the world?

Rapid solar PV development has occurred in other areas since 2013, particularly in China. In 2017, China became the largest solar PV market, outperforming Europe, with approximately 1/3 of the world’s installed capacity. The world's cumulative installed solar PV power capacity passed 1046 GW in 2022 (IRENA, 2023). Table 3.

What is the contribution of solar energy to global electricity production?

While the contribution of solar energy to global electricity production remains generally low at 3.6%, it has firmly established itself among other renewable energy technologies, comprising nearly 31% of the total installed renewable energy capacity in 2022 (IRENA, 2023).

Which country installs the most solar power in 2022?

While China, the US, and Japan are the top three installers, China's relative contribution accounts for nearly 37% of the entire solar installation in 2022. Fig. 1 illustrates the contribution of energy sources to both electricity generation and total installed power capacity by 2050.

Which countries have solar energy research?

Consequently, in seven countries (Djibouti and Lesotho in Africa; Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan in Asia; and Paraguay in South America), about 23.3%, there is solar energy research; however, there is still no observable solar energy development in these seven regions.

Which countries install solar energy in Oceania?

Oceania installed capacity. It is observed from Table 12 that Australia, New Zealand, and Guam were the top three Oceanian solar energy installers (solar PV and CSP) in 2022, with total installed capacities of 26.8 GW, 0.3 GW, and 0.1 GW, respectively.