Soaring Solar Surge: Top Countries Revving Up Renewables
Rapid Growth of Renewable Energy Worldwide - Germany Among Leading Countries in the Top 5 - Global solar power generation exhibits robust growth - Germany ranks among leaders in solar energy production
Hey there! Let's dive into the world of solar power expansion and see who's leading the charge. Buckle up!
After an epic run, global solar energy growth is forecast to continue with double-digit growth rates in the coming years, according to industry predictions. While record-breaking expansions might not happen every year, the worldwide addition of solar installations is expected to surpass 600 gigawatts (GW) this year, roughly double that of 2022.
Germany among the solar elites
Despite its compact size, Germany is punching above its weight on the international solar stage. Last year, Germany boasted an installed capacity of nearly 100 GW, landing it in fourth place - not too shabby, considering it trails behind much larger countries: China, the USA, and India. By 2024, Germany aims to ramp up its solar power capacity by a robust 14 percent or 17.5 GW.
This year's expected growth rate might take a little breather, but don't fret! Demand for balcony-mounted solar panels remains robust, with estimates suggesting around 800,000 will be in use by 2024.
China setting the bar high
China is no novice when it comes to solar power. It's way ahead in the race, with an astounding 329 GW of new solar installations expected to be connected to the grid in 2024. This figure doubles the solar capacities of the top ten next biggest players - the USA, India, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Japan, and France - combined. The EU as a whole holds the second place spot behind China.
Energy storage: the overlooked hero
As renewable energy gains momentum, the need for larger energy storage capacity becomes more pressing to prevent generating excessive green electricity that goes to waste. One exciting development is the use of electric vehicles (EVs) for bidirectional charging, a.k.a. storing excess power from renewable sources in EV batteries. The first car model enabling this feature is already on the market, and using it as a storage device can slash operating costs to practically zero, according to Herbert Diess, former CEO of Volkswagen and current chairman of Mobility House. Diess believes that this technology could give electric vehicle sales a much-needed boost in Europe: "Hold onto your seats - we're about to witness a significant acceleration of electromobility."
While China dominates the global solar power expansion, countries like India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and several countries in Africa are rapidly scaling up their solar power installations. Keep your eyes on those markets, as exciting developments are just around the corner!
- In light of the community policy and emphasis on renewables, many employment policies are being reviewed and revised to prioritize solar energy jobs in Germany.
- The employment policy in Germany is actively encouraging the installation of solar panels on residential properties, creating opportunities for data-and-cloud-computing professionals to analyze and manage the data generated by these systems.
- Given the expansion of solar power in Germany and the need for energy storage, employment opportunities in environmental-science related to battery technology and energy management are growing.
- In the wake of the predicted surge in electromobility, the employment policy in Germany is considering incentives for the development and production of electric vehicles, which could play a significant role in energy storage for solar power.
- As solar power growth continues globally, particularly in countries like China, emerging areas of technology and science such as climate-change research and study of solar power systems are presenting new employment opportunities.
