Thumbs up for solar power generation for the motherland

How did solar power grow in 2023?

Thanks to the unprecedented solar capacity growth in 2023, a record-breaking 473 GW of renewable power capacity was built worldwide – a 54% increase from 308 GW in 2022. The strong growth in 2023 brought the world closer to achieving the ambitious goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030.

Will solar add more GWS in 2024?

The massive step up in solar capacity installations in 2023 and 2024 has shifted perceptions around solar’s role in the energy transition. Solar will likely add more GWs in 2024 than the entire global increase in coal power capacity since 2010 (540 GW).

Could Britain's energy needs be met entirely by wind and solar?

Britain’s energy needs could be met entirely by wind and solar, according to a policy brief published today by Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. Wind and solar can provide significantly more energy than the highest energy demand forecasts for 2050 and nearly ten times current electricity demand (299 TWh/year).

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).

How much solar energy does a GB grid use?

Utility-scale solar contributes around 19% (544 TWh/year), and the rest is made up by rooftop solar, covering 8% of GB’s roof area (25 TWh/year). The authors note that the grid will need significant upgrades to handle this amount of renewable energy, including the scaling of energy storage.

Will Germany install 17 GW of solar capacity in 2024?

This pace has continued up to July 2024, and if sustained to the end of the year would result in Germany installing 17 GW of solar capacity in 2024. This is consistent with the pace required to meet their new NECP target of 128 GW total capacity in 2026.