The world currently has a cumulative solar energy capacity of 850.2 GW (gigawatts). 4.4% of our global energy comes from solar power. China generates more solar energy than any other country, with a current capacity of 308.5 GW. The US relies on solar for 3.9% of its energy, although this share is increasing rapidly every year.
Globally, solar PV alone accounted for three-quarters of renewable capacity additions worldwide. Prior to the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, the International Energy Agency (IEA) urged governments to support five pillars for action by 2030, among them the goal of tripling global renewable power capacity.
This meant 74% more solar was installed in 2023 than in 2022, the fastest percentage rise since 2011. Almost three-quarters of all renewable capacity built in 2023 was solar. Wind additions also increased by a sizable 51% in 2023, accounting for another quarter of renewable capacity additions in 2023.
While the increases in renewable capacity in Europe, the United States and Brazil hit all-time highs, China’s acceleration was extraordinary. In 2023, China commissioned as much solar PV as the entire world did in 2022, while its wind additions also grew by 66% year-on-year.
As shown in Fig. 1, by 2050, solar PV technology is projected to have the largest installed capacity (8519 GW), making it the second most prominent generation source behind wind power, and it is expected to generate approximately 25% of total electricity needs by 2050. Table 1. Global installed solar capacity from 2013 to 2022. Table 2.
Indeed, due to its cost competitiveness, solar PV will become the dominant source of electricity generation across all three scenarios. Heat pumps emerge as a core part of a 100% renewable energy system, with over 60% share of heat generation by 2050.
Alliant Energy will purchase all excess solar generation at the retail rate, up to the customer''s usage for the month. If solar production exceeds usage in any month, the company will provide a monetary credit equal to the avoided cost times the …