The spectacular rise of solar energy: a global energy revolution underway

Massive investment in solar power is transforming global energy markets, reducing costs and increasing production capacity.
L'essor spectaculaire du solaire : Révolution énergétique mondiale en marche.

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Global investment in clean energy technologies is expected to reach $2,000 billion by the end of 2024. Among these investments, over $500 billion will be devoted to photovoltaics (PV), making solar the most financed power generation technology for the second year running, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Investments 2024 report. By 2023, renewable generation capacity had increased by almost 50% to over 500 GW, marking 22 years of continuous growth. Most of this increase – over three-quarters – comes from solar power.

Lower costs and greater competitiveness

This transition to a cleaner energy mix has led to increased access to cheaper electricity. By 2023, 96% of new industrial-scale solar PV capacity will have lower production costs than new coal- and natural gas-fired power plants. What’s more, IEA data show that the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of solar PV plants in China, the European Union and India is lower than that of existing coal- and gas-fired plants. Spot prices for solar PV continue to fall, having dropped by almost 50% by 2023. In Spain, solar capture prices in May were 58% below the monthly average spot price at €17.67/MWh, while in Germany they fell below €40/MWh, the lowest levels since summer 2020.

Tax incentives and regulation

In the United States, a June report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory showed that solar, as a fuel-free generation resource, offers hedging opportunities against wholesale cost increases. Solar energy costs in the United States should continue to fall thanks to the new tax credits introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA, signed by President Joe Biden in August 2022, offers grants to private and public entities via financial incentives such as investment allowances and tax credits. It should help the United States achieve its goal of reducing emissions by 50%-52% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Worldwide expansion of solar capacity

In Europe, the Net-Zero Industry Act, which came into force on June 29, aims to bring manufacturing capacity for clean technologies such as solar PV up to 40% of the EU’s annual deployment needs by 2030. In China, the world’s largest PV market, demand for solar modules will exceed half of global demand by 2023. The Platts PV Installations Tracker Q1 2024 forecasts 56 GW of new solar installations in China this year, followed by 16.6 GW in other Asia-Pacific countries.

Forecasts and future prospects

Global demand for solar power is set to continue growing, with manufacturers planning to add 309 GW of solar module production capacity over the next two years. Analysts at Commodity Insights forecast an increase in global solar capacity of 4.3 TW between 2024 and 2030, bringing total installed capacity to 5.9 TW. Solar power is set to become the most widely installed energy source over the coming decades, with more than 4 TW of new installations expected before 2030. By 2028, renewable energy sources are expected to supply 42% of the world’s electricity, more than half of which will come from solar PV and wind power. The increasing presence of solar power in the global electricity mix means that this technology will become a major influence on electricity prices in decarbonized systems. Solar module prices, like those of other commodities, are not immune to external influences, such as oversupply in Asia, which has led to a fall in solar module prices over the past 18 months. Platts’ new solar module price assessments, launched on July 1, will help track the solar revolution and provide market transparency with daily prices for Europe, China and the USA.

Eurowind Energy initiates a €174.8mn investment to build a 220 MW solar park in Vișina, Romania, capable of supplying around 150,000 households annually.
CleanCapital expands its portfolio by acquiring solar and energy storage assets totaling 27 MW in California and Massachusetts from Pacifico Energy to meet growing demand in the United States.
BrightNight and Cordelio Power commission a major 300 megawatt solar project in Arizona, attracting significant investments from JPMorgan and Capital One, with estimated local economic benefits of $180mn.
Austria is launching an unprecedented 20% bonus on photovoltaic subsidies to promote equipment manufactured in Europe, with a total envelope of €20 million dedicated to solar installations and energy storage systems.
Chinese manufacturer Longi will invest alongside Pertamina NRE in a 1.6 GW site at Deltamas, aiming to strengthen the local photovoltaic chain and capture demand expected under Indonesia’s power plan.
OMV Petrom acquires 50% of the 400 MW Gabare photovoltaic project near Sofia, in partnership with Enery, in a deal valued at approximately €200 million including a potential energy storage solution.
Driven by strong solar adoption, the global SCADA systems market for renewable energy is expected to reach $3.56bn by 2030, with an estimated average annual growth rate of 12.7%, according to MarketsandMarkets.
RATP and Urbasolar officially inaugurated the Colombier photovoltaic power plant, the first large-scale solar installation operated by the Parisian public transport operator, set to produce 14 GWh of electricity per year.
Danish developer European Energy finalises financing deal exceeding €70m for constructing two Australian solar plants, totalling 137 megawatts of installed capacity on the local electricity market.
The African Development Bank financially supports Zambia with $26.5 million for the 32 MW Ilute solar project, structured to avoid reliance on sovereign guarantees.
Emeren Group Ltd announces a definitive merger agreement with Shurya Vitra Ltd, providing for the repurchase of shares at $0.20 each, aiming to transform the company into a private entity by the end of September 2025.
The global solar tracker market is expected to reach $29.31bn by 2030, driven by a compound annual growth rate of 26.2%, notably supported by large-scale photovoltaic projects and recent technological advances, a new study reports.
A report from the think tank Ember reveals that falling battery prices now make year-round solar power generation economically viable in the world's sunniest regions.
MondialBox Saint-Nazaire deploys 2,300 photovoltaic panels covering 4,500 m², annually generating 800 MWh of decarbonized energy, in partnership with SeeYouSun and Sonadev, via ActiSun, a program dedicated to solarizing industrial and commercial spaces.
The Ingerslev Å solar plant, operated by BeGreen, an Equinor subsidiary, begins production in Denmark, adding a capacity of 65 MW and generating approximately 68 GWh annually for the local DK1 electricity market.
Octopus Energy Generation announces an initial $60 million fund dedicated to financing energy infrastructure projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to raise $250 million over three years, in partnership with Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers.
The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects has launched the tender for the 1.1 GW Al Dibdibah and Al Shagaya Phase III Zone 1 solar project, targeting pre-qualified international companies and consortia.
T1 Energy commits $850 million to build a five-gigawatt photovoltaic facility in Texas, selecting Yates Construction and benefiting from local tax incentives, with 1,800 jobs anticipated by the end of 2026.
The German solar developer has completed the 90-megawatt-peak Postomino photovoltaic park in north-western Poland, integrating it with an existing wind farm’s high-voltage line in a cable-pooling arrangement set to supply electricity to about 32,000 homes.
EDF Renouvelables plans a floating solar plant in Isère by 2027, featuring 70,000 panels integrated with an existing hydroelectric dam, targeting an annual production of 60 GWh.