At the conference in Madrid with ANPIER Numerous international experts analysed the European energy model of the future and the role of the renewable energy, especially photovoltaics.
Among the conclusions reached, it is estimated that the photovoltaic generation it's going to be multiplied by ten and this will account for ten percent of total energy generation in the world by 2030. In addition, it is expected that by that year there will be more than 100 million small producers of renewable energy, marking a milestone in the global energy transition. By 2050, the photovoltaic energy could reach up to 50% of the planet's total generation, mainly due to the rise of self-consumption combined with efficient storage.
Investment in renewable energy: key to Spain's future
Another of the key data mentioned in the conference was that Spain spends about 158 million euros daily in importing fossil fuels, an amount that could be significantly reduced with a transition to clean energy. This annual expenditure amounts to 45.000 millones de euros, which represents a significant financial burden for the country.
Renewable energies, including solar and wind, are seen as the only viable solutions to establish an economically sustainable and environmentally responsible energy model. Various studies, including one by Greenpeace, estimate that by 2030, a Spanish family could save around 406 euros per year if it adopted a system based on renewable energy.
Along the same lines, Teresa Rivera, director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), highlighted that "There needs to be an energy transition in Spain, regardless of who governs". A model that has already been successfully implemented in countries such as Uruguay, which has focused its development strategy on renewable energies with a horizon of 2030. This shows that political will is essential for this type of transformation.
Self-consumption and storage: the energy future of homes
Teresa Rivera also highlighted the importance of self-consumption. In New York, for example, there are already more than 150.000 self-consumption installations, while in Australia more than 100,000 people are expected to die 50% of households opt for self-consumption systems with storage in the coming years. This will generate a significant reduction in dependence on fossil fuels and will allow more flexible access to energy.
By 2030, it is expected that Half of the world's energy generation comes from renewable energy, particularly photovoltaic energy. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its report 'Renewables 2024', the Solar PV will account for 80% of global renewable capacity growth until that date. This will involve the addition of more than 5.500 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity between 2024 and 2030, a growth almost three times greater than that experienced between 2017 and 2023.
China and its leadership in renewables
China is positioned as the country that is investing the most in renewable energy, being responsible for almost 60% of all renewable capacity installed in the world by 2030, making it the undisputed leader in the transition to a sustainable energy model. According to the IEA, China is expected to host almost half of the total renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade, compared to a third in 2010.
Opportunities and challenges towards 2030
Despite the accelerated growth of renewable energies, the International Energy Agency emphasizes that this progress is not fully aligned with the objectives set out in the COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, which sought to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030. However, the IEA report is optimistic, noting that achieving this goal is still possible if governments implement short-term actions to streamline processes and further support the deployment of new renewable technologies.
Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, stressed that “Renewables are advancing faster than national governments can set targets, and not just for environmental reasons, but because they are already the cheapest option for adding energy capacity in almost all countries.”. In this same sense, by 2030, renewables are expected to cover more than 46% of global electricity demand, with solar and wind energy leading the way.
Despite these figures, the important challenge remains: optimize energy storage and the flexibility of electricity grids, to maximise the efficiency of renewable sources. Birol warned that it will be crucial to invest in storage capacity, such as high-efficiency batteries that can better regulate the intermittency of solar and wind energy.
Governments also need to work to diversify production and reduce dependence on a single market. For example, solar PV manufacturing capacity in India and the United States is expected to triple by 2030, although production in those countries remains significantly more expensive than in China.
All of this suggests that the future of photovoltaics and other renewable energy is promising, but success will require a joint effort by governments, businesses and citizens to ensure that this development is sustainable not only environmentally but also economically.