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'Unstoppable force' of solar power propels world to 40% clean electricity

(news.sky.com)
177 points belter | 2 comments | 08 Apr 25 10:11 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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melling ◴[08 Apr 25 13:43 UTC] No.43621706[source]▶
“ And solar was the fastest-growing electricity source for the 20th year in a row.

It now provides 7% of the world's electricity”

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nasmorn ◴[08 Apr 25 14:31 UTC] No.43622242[source]▶
Exponential growth is unintuitive. More than a full percentage point was added last year and that will continue to accelerate. Even the IAE is predicting 14% share by 2030 and they have underestimated solar for the last 10 years now
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1. brazzy ◴[08 Apr 25 17:13 UTC] No.43624092[source]▶
Not everything that grows quickly is exponential. What evidence specifically do you have that the growth is proportional to the already existing capacity? Or even that it will continue to accelerate?

A counterpoint: the recent quick growth has been fueled by panels getting cheaper. They used to be the majority of the cost. But that's not true anymore. The cost will soon be mainly installation (i.e. labor) and space. Neither are amenable to drastic further decreases.

Fortunately we've already reached the point where it's the cheapest option, so that it will continue to replace other power sources even if it does get much cheaper anymore.

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2. tim333 ◴[08 Apr 25 21:29 UTC] No.43626651[source]▶
some history

Kurzweil 2010 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYpoKYY1uy4

researchgate 2018 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Exponential-growth-in-so...

some 2024 data https://www.linkedin.com/posts/paulfbrowning_exponential-pv-...

and on it goes at about 25% per year. That would have it covering all our needs in about 15 years.

For comparison with Hinkley C the UKs new nuclear reactor the site was selected in 2010 and the latest is "£41.6–47.9 billion in 2024 prices, with Unit 1 planned to become operational in 2029 to 2031."