Solar energy has become a popular and effective way to generate electricity across the world. With the increase in demand for renewable energy, the use of solar panels has grown exponentially. The United Kingdom is one of the countries that have embraced solar energy, with many households and businesses installing solar panels to cut their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint. But how many solar panels are there in the world, and how does the UK compare?
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the world installed 135 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2020, bringing the total installed capacity to over 770 GW. This represents a significant increase from 2019, when the world installed 115 GW of solar PV capacity. The growth in solar energy is driven by falling costs, supportive policies, and increasing awareness of the benefits of renewable energy.
The United States and China are the two largest solar energy markets, with a combined share of 63% of the world’s total solar PV capacity. However, the UK has also seen impressive growth in solar energy in recent years. According to the Solar Trade Association, the UK had 13.8 GW of solar PV capacity installed by the end of 2020, enough to power over 4 million homes.
The UK’s solar PV capacity has grown significantly in the past decade, from less than 1 GW in 2010 to over 13 GW in 2020. This growth has been driven by supportive policy measures, such as the feed-in tariff and the renewable heat incentive, which have encouraged households and businesses to install solar panels. In addition, falling costs of solar PV technology have made it more affordable for consumers.
The majority of the UK’s solar PV capacity is installed on rooftops, with 9.9 GW of capacity installed on residential roofs and 2.2 GW installed on commercial and industrial roofs. The remaining capacity is installed on ground-mounted solar farms. The UK has over 1 million solar PV installations, with the majority being small-scale installations on residential properties.
Solar energy has several benefits, including reducing carbon emissions and lowering energy bills. The UK’s solar PV capacity is estimated to have saved 4.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2020, equivalent to taking over 1 million cars off the road. In addition, households and businesses with solar panels can lower their energy bills by generating their own electricity and selling any excess electricity back to the grid.
The UK government has set a target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, and solar energy will play a crucial role in achieving this goal. The government has announced several measures to support the growth of solar energy, including the Smart Export Guarantee, which ensures that households and businesses with solar panels are paid for any excess electricity they export back to the grid.
In conclusion, solar energy is rapidly growing across the world, with over 770 GW of solar PV capacity installed by the end of 2020. The United States and China are the largest solar energy markets, but the UK has also seen impressive growth in solar PV capacity in recent years. The UK had 13.8 GW of solar PV capacity installed by the end of 2020, enough to power over 4 million homes. The growth in solar energy is driven by falling costs, supportive policies, and increasing awareness of the benefits of renewable energy. The UK’s solar energy sector has significant potential to contribute to the country’s net-zero emissions target and drive economic growth.
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