A report shows this “unsustainable decline” of solar energy. Spain has a solar oasis that even China wants, but that hasn’t changed the analytics data. This type of energy is one of the key players in the energy transition process to renewable sources. The proof of this is that it is the energy source that has made the most progress in recent years and is best positioned for the future.
Faced with the established need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, deepening the use of sustainable energy sources is crucial for the energy future. In this context, the solar energy It’s vital. So much so that in 2023 the International Energy Agency registered that the photovoltaic solar energy It alone accounted for three-quarters of global renewable capacity expansion.
According to the same organization, solar photovoltaic energy production will represent a record 270 TWh (26%) in 2022, reaching almost 1,300 TWh. This figure represented the highest growth in terms of production of all renewable technologies in 2022, surpassing wind energy for the first time. Now a new report reveals “the unsustainable decline” of this renewable energy.
The solar energy report that no one saw coming: Spain finds itself in this position
Spain is he sixth country in the AIE-PVPS photovoltaic rankings in 2023. Although last year was a record for solar energy, manufacturers are suffering from supply and demand imbalances. The global solar energy sector is achieving record growth, but is under significant pressure, especially in the manufacturing sector AIE-PVPS. In his latest report “Trends in PV applications 2024” warns that at the beginning of this year, more than 1.6 TW of photovoltaic systems were operational worldwide, generating more than 2,136 TWh of electricity, equivalent to 8.3% of global demand.
Despite a record year for the solar energy In 2023, when 456 GW of new installations were accumulated, solar energy development in several countries is experiencing a phase of setbacks and delays. The only exception is Chinawhich is currently focusing on developing solar energy “at a level never seen before” by growing its domestic market to absorb the excess capacity of its own industry, according to what was provided by the AIE-PVPS.
China leads the installed capacity, with between 235 GW and 277.2 GW (converted from the numbers CA of China National Energy Administration and depending on the conversation link CA/CC used), which represents 60% of global capacity.
Next on the list is USAwhich advanced almost 50% and reached 33.9 GW. After reviewing the data Germany e India since the report’s publication PVPS snapshot of AIE in April, Germany positioned itself again in the top 3 countries for the first time since 2011, after installing 15 GW, with a total accumulated capacity of 82.3 GW.
This is what is happening with solar energy worldwide, according to this report
The India It ranked fourth with 13 GW installed, compared to 18.1 GW in 2023, for a total accumulated capacity of 92.6 GW. Although the Brazilian market could not maintain the high growth rates of the previous four years, it remained a growing market with 12.4 GW and reached an accumulated capacity of 37.8 GW, confirming its privileged position as an important global market.
Spain came in sixth place and Japan in seventh place. Then they move on Italy, Poland and the Netherlands. Together, these ten markets will cover approximately 84% of the annual global market in 2023, meaning that the global PV market will once again be driven by a limited number of countries.
The AIE-PVPS He stated that countries like USA and the India, which left the third and fourth solar energy markets behind in 2023 China and the European Unionthey could have reached a higher installation level if a number of administrative, political and local issues had been resolved.
It was explained that certain countries have not been able to match the speed of installation Chinacreating an amount of overcapacity in the industry. “This temporary imbalance between supply and demand in the industry has placed enormous pressure on the manufacturing industry and is likely to lead to consolidation and possible bankruptcies,” he noted. Gaëtan Massondirector of the Task 1 of AIE-PVPS.
In this way, the aforementioned report exposes the ‘unsustainable decline’ of the economy solar energy. A scenario that leads to the map of Spain changing drastically.