Global solar energy capacity has skyrocketed over the last decade:
– 228 gigawatts in 2015, providing 1% of the world’s electricity
– 759 GW in 2020, or roughly 3% of global energy demand
– 2,919 GW in 2025, according to estimates — solar now supplies about 10% of the world’s energy, more than nuclear at 9%
The energy source is still growing exponentially, and if it continues at current rates, global capacity could hit 9,000 GW by 2030 — enough to meet more than 20% of the world’s energy demand.
Kazaanh on
After 10-15 years what they will do with solar panel parts.
SsooooOriginal on
*chuds*
“But but but battery-”
*China*
“Solar panel go brrrrrrrrr, bruh sit down.”
Arstanishe on
yeah, cool, but look at electric cars. they also skyrocketed but then sorta flatlined after. exponential growth cannot continue just like that indefinitely
LateralEntry on
Great, the strait of Hormuz crisis shows we need to diversify our energy sources. I’m looking forward to my state NJ allowing plug in solar
botsmy on
solar’s growth is impressive, but most installations still rely on rare minerals mined under awful conditions.
if we’re racing to decouple from fossil fuels, are we just creating new supply chain dependencies that could strangle us later?
Accurate_Shift_3118 on
this actually tracks, solar has hit that tipping point where economics alone drives adoption, once something is the cheapest option, scale just takes over regardless of policy. the speed is what’s surprising, it’s not gradual anymore, it’s compounding fast, and as storage improves alongside it, that last big limitation starts getting solved too
feels like we’re watching a real shift in the energy stack, not just hype this time
RedneckTexan on
So why has the cost of electricity gone up 50% since Solar started winning?
BeRandom1456 on
Is it possible to find a way to stack solar panels to maximize vertical space? mirrors or something? I don’t know the science behind solar panels exactly so would something like that be possible?
cyberentomology on
Ironically, solar is non-renewable, at least until we start shooting our trash into the sun 😁
cyberentomology on
Those numbers in gigawatts, are those installed capacity or actual generation but with the wrong units?
MultiMarcus on
Honestly, you could basically just call nuclear power but it’s being done in the Sun instead.
All kidding aside, I do think a lot of the fixation on nuclear power feels like just more of a historical regret. I think we should build more nuclear power but I think pushing aside other renewables for it which at least is happening here in Sweden to some extent with our conservative government I do feel is a very shortsighted move. We need a stable renewable mix and just doing nuclear for 15 years until we can get it up and running is kind of in my eyes not forward thinking.
DanceDelievery on
The greatest advantage of solar is that you can own your electricity production rather than hope that the future monpoly of fusion energy providers wont just sky rocket the prices due to the construction of anything nuclear related being so extremely expensive that only billionaires can afford to build them so there will be zero price competition and there will be no benefit to the average person.
If solar tec keeps getting more effective and integrated into housing it will become a continuously cheaper energy source completely in the hands of whoever uses it.
SaltyAFVet on
It’s all fun and games till we drain the sun of all its electricity.
14 Comments
Global solar energy capacity has skyrocketed over the last decade:
– 228 gigawatts in 2015, providing 1% of the world’s electricity
– 759 GW in 2020, or roughly 3% of global energy demand
– 2,919 GW in 2025, according to estimates — solar now supplies about 10% of the world’s energy, more than nuclear at 9%
The energy source is still growing exponentially, and if it continues at current rates, global capacity could hit 9,000 GW by 2030 — enough to meet more than 20% of the world’s energy demand.
After 10-15 years what they will do with solar panel parts.
*chuds*
“But but but battery-”
*China*
“Solar panel go brrrrrrrrr, bruh sit down.”
yeah, cool, but look at electric cars. they also skyrocketed but then sorta flatlined after. exponential growth cannot continue just like that indefinitely
Great, the strait of Hormuz crisis shows we need to diversify our energy sources. I’m looking forward to my state NJ allowing plug in solar
solar’s growth is impressive, but most installations still rely on rare minerals mined under awful conditions.
if we’re racing to decouple from fossil fuels, are we just creating new supply chain dependencies that could strangle us later?
this actually tracks, solar has hit that tipping point where economics alone drives adoption, once something is the cheapest option, scale just takes over regardless of policy. the speed is what’s surprising, it’s not gradual anymore, it’s compounding fast, and as storage improves alongside it, that last big limitation starts getting solved too
feels like we’re watching a real shift in the energy stack, not just hype this time
So why has the cost of electricity gone up 50% since Solar started winning?
Is it possible to find a way to stack solar panels to maximize vertical space? mirrors or something? I don’t know the science behind solar panels exactly so would something like that be possible?
Ironically, solar is non-renewable, at least until we start shooting our trash into the sun 😁
Those numbers in gigawatts, are those installed capacity or actual generation but with the wrong units?
Honestly, you could basically just call nuclear power but it’s being done in the Sun instead.
All kidding aside, I do think a lot of the fixation on nuclear power feels like just more of a historical regret. I think we should build more nuclear power but I think pushing aside other renewables for it which at least is happening here in Sweden to some extent with our conservative government I do feel is a very shortsighted move. We need a stable renewable mix and just doing nuclear for 15 years until we can get it up and running is kind of in my eyes not forward thinking.
The greatest advantage of solar is that you can own your electricity production rather than hope that the future monpoly of fusion energy providers wont just sky rocket the prices due to the construction of anything nuclear related being so extremely expensive that only billionaires can afford to build them so there will be zero price competition and there will be no benefit to the average person.
If solar tec keeps getting more effective and integrated into housing it will become a continuously cheaper energy source completely in the hands of whoever uses it.
It’s all fun and games till we drain the sun of all its electricity.