2024-01-11 14:55:19
These are staggering figures. The number of wind turbines and solar panels in the world increased by 50 percent last year compared to 2022. This amounts to 510 gigawatts of sustainable capacity, enough to supply more than half a billion households with electricity. The numbers come from one new report of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The institute praises the speed at which more wind turbines, solar panels and other green energy sources are appearing in the world. A starring role is reserved for China. That country boosted growth figures, mainly due to a 66 percent increase in the number of solar panels.
Sustainable capacity also increased in the United States, Brazil and Europe. The preliminary result is that out of every 10 sockets in the world, there are three that only supply sustainable energy.
“We can be very happy with that,” responds Gert-Jan Kramer, professor of energy at Utrecht University. To achieve the Paris climate goals, he says, it is ‘absolutely necessary’ that the electricity mix changes from coal and gas power stations to wind and solar farms. “It’s good that that trend is continuing.”
Party with a side note
Kramer does not want to spoil the green energy party, but he does make a strong comment. The entire energy system must become sustainable to achieve the Paris climate goals, including all fuel and gas in traffic, heating and industry. “Electricity is only 20 percent of the total energy system,” Kramer knows. The other 80 percent consists of fossil fuels such as oil and gas.
“The good news,” Kramer continues, “is that electricity is becoming increasingly important.” The world is ‘electrifying’, as techies call it. Gas boilers are being replaced by electric heat pumps, petrol cars are becoming e-cars, and companies also want to switch from fossil fuels to clean electricity. “It is expected that by 2050 the energy system will no longer consist of 20 percent, but 50 percent of electricity consumption.”
The rise of wind turbines and solar panels is so rapid that a promise the world made at the last UN climate summit in Dubai seems feasible. If the growth trend continues, as the IEA expects, sustainable sources will supply the electricity demand for around 0.7 billion households in 2028. If we go a little further, there might be three times as much green energy capacity in 2030 as in 2022, as agreed in Dubai.
To continue to drive the increase in wind turbines and solar panels, governments and banks need to make enough money available. The IEA sees this as a success, but is concerned regarding the financing of green energy in developing countries. What can convince countries is the falling price of solar and wind energy. Poor countries may therefore also opt for sustainable sources rather than oil and coal.
The Netherlands as a leader in solar panels
“We knew that sustainable power production is growing, but the speed still surprises me,” says director Olof van der Gaag of the Dutch Association of Sustainable Energy (NVDE), an interest group of energy companies.
“It also shows the inaccuracy of statements that sustainability in the Netherlands is pointless, because China only builds coal-fired power stations.” Although China continues to rely on coal, sustainable energy is a major focus.
After the Netherlands failed for years with environmental goals, optimism is now appropriate when it comes to green energy. Recently, 50 percent of all electricity in the Netherlands is green, reports Van der Gaag. “We have the most solar panels in the world per capita.”
The Netherlands is thus surpassing leader Australia and Germany. By 2030, the NVDE expects that 80 percent of all electricity will be sustainable, mainly thanks to large offshore wind turbines. That would be more than the national target, which is 75 percent.
The downside remains: energy is more than just electricity from sockets. As long as fossil fuels and gases power almost all boilers and factories, there is still a long way to go for the CO energy system2becomes poor. Yet, following all kinds of gloomy climate records in the past year (melting ice, heat and extreme weather), the IEA sees reason to start 2024 with the praise.
Also read:
‘Double down, triple up’ is the main slogan of the climate summit. What do countries mean by it?
What does ‘doubling energy efficiency’ mean? And the Netherlands is ahead on course three times more clean electricity in 2030?
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