Solar For The Win! Energy From The Sun Is Setting Records Worldwide - CleanTechnica

The article highlights the remarkable growth and potential of solar energy worldwide, emphasizing that the sunlight hitting Earth in just one hour provides more energy than humanity consumes in a year. It notes that covering less than 1% of the Earth's surface with solar panels could meet global energy demands, though practical challenges exist, such as the predominance of oceans and aesthetic concerns. China dominates solar panel manufacturing, producing about 80% of the world's supply, which has geopolitical and economic implications. A key advantage of solar power is that its "fuel"—sunlight—is free, unlike fossil fuels that require costly extraction, processing, and transportation, contributing to high ongoing expenses and profits for fuel suppliers. Solar capacity is expanding rapidly, with projections suggesting global solar capacity could reach 9,000 GW by 2030, supplying over 20% of the world’s energy needs. Despite high-profile successes in some countries, solar still represents a minority share of global electricity generation, and fossil fuel-based thermal power remains significant.