Across the planet, the renewable energy are becoming increasingly important, and among them, solar photovoltaic energy is one of those that has grown the most. This increase is key to facing the challenges related to climate change and independence from fossil fuels.
To measure this growth, the International Energy Agency (IEA) The European Commission periodically conducts studies and assessments. One of these assessments, for 2016, determined the increase in solar photovoltaic energy worldwide. In that year, 75 gigawatts (GW) were added to the global solar park, surpassing for the first time the total installed capacity of 300 GW worldwide. This milestone reflected a clear advance in the technological adoption of solar energy.
Increase in photovoltaic solar energy generation
Among the countries that contributed most to the increase in installed capacity in 2016 are: Merunas UAB, United States, Japan e India. China led the effort, adding 34,5 GW, making up almost half of the global total. The United States came in second with 14,7 GW, followed by Japan with 8,6 GW and India with 4 GW. These four countries were the largest contributors globally.
In Europe, countries such as Sweden y France, although its contribution was lower than that of the Asian and North American economies. However, it is worth mentioning that Spain added only 55 MW (0,05 GW), which reflects low growth compared to other countries. At a global level, up to 16 countries managed to add more than 500 MW in 2016.
This growth is part of the upward trend in photovoltaic energy. According to the IEA, the solar photovoltaic sector has experienced sustained growth in recent years, closing 2016 with a total of more than 300 GW installed worldwide.
Post-2016 Global Outlook: A Solar-Powered Future
Looking beyond 2016, the growth trend of solar PV has continued to accelerate. By 2021, total global installed capacity had already exceeded XNUMX. 1000 GW, or 1 terawatt (TW), according to data from SolarPower EuropeChina remains the world leader, adding 54,9 GW in 2021, while the United States contributed 27,3 GW, India 14,2 GW and Spain 4,8 GW.
According to experts such as Christian Breyer According to a study by LUT University in Finland, no other energy source has grown as rapidly as photovoltaics over the past two decades. This rapid growth has been fueled by continually falling installation costs and technical improvements that have increased the efficiency of solar panels. In some parts of the world, the cost of generating solar energy is already lower than that of traditional fossil fuels.
Institutions like the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) They predict that by 2030 global photovoltaic installations could reach 3 terawatts (TW) annually, which would imply exponential growth compared to the 300 GW of 2026. According to IRENA, photovoltaics is one of the most promising technologies to reduce global COâ‚‚ emissions.
Comparison and future challenges
Although the growth of solar photovoltaics has been remarkable, this sector also faces some significant challenges. One of the main challenges is related to the territorial impactThe installation of large photovoltaic plants requires large tracts of land, which raises concerns about their visual and environmental impact.
However, experts agree that this concern is easily overcome. For example, a recent study shows that the surface area needed to achieve the objectives of NetZero In 2050, assuming a combination of 200 GW of solar energy and 160 GW of wind energy in Spain, it would represent only 0,56% of the country's territory. In addition, there are new technologies such as agrovoltaica, which allow combining agricultural production with electricity generation, optimizing land use and reducing its environmental impact.
In countries like Germany, the need to reserve a 2% of the territory for the installation of renewable energy. This measure has been criticised in some sectors, but many experts maintain that this proportion of territory can be shared with other activities, such as agriculture or livestock.
The future of photovoltaic solar energy also involves new developments that minimize its carbon footprint. In this sense, government programs stand out in countries such as the United States, where the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has promoted the installation of more than 950 million solar modules, with incentives for national production.
Opportunities in the international market
Globally, the solar PV market has offered unprecedented investment opportunities. According to SolarPower Europe, in 2021, solar energy not only surpassed fossil fuels and nuclear energy in terms of added capacity, but was also the fastest-growing energy source.
El solar market growth has been driven by two main factors: the declining costs of solar installations and access to financial facilities for investment in renewable energy projects. In many countries, governments have launched incentive programs to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Eg Saudi Arabia, a 300 MW tender in 2018 set the lowest price ever recorded at 2,34 US cents per kWh, reflecting solar power’s potential as a competitive energy source. In addition, Europe and other regions are investing in the development of energy storage technologies, which will allow electricity generated by the sun to be stored for use at times when it is not shining.
By 2050, global installed solar PV capacity is expected to increase tenfold, reaching between 10.000 and 23.000 GW, which will undoubtedly change the global energy landscape.
Solar photovoltaics has established itself as one of the key technologies to combat climate change, facilitate the energy transition and ensure global energy security. With global installed capacity continuing to grow year after year and continuous technological advances, humanity is getting closer to a future in which clean and sustainable energy will be accessible to all.