Solar energy has become increasingly popular in the last few years, with more and more countries turning to this renewable source of energy to meet their power demands. The United Kingdom, like many other countries, is gradually moving towards solar energy to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and decrease their carbon footprint. In this article, we will explore how much solar energy the world uses, and how the United Kingdom is contributing to this increasing trend.
The amount of solar energy used globally is increasing rapidly, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) reporting that solar energy generation increased by 22% in 2020, despite the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the IEA, solar energy is the fastest-growing source of renewable energy worldwide, and it is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
In 2020, the world’s total solar energy capacity was 760 GW, which is enough to power approximately 150 million homes. China is currently the world’s largest solar energy producer, accounting for around 30% of the world’s total solar capacity. The United States and Europe follow closely behind, with solar energy accounting for a significant portion of their total renewable energy production.
In the United Kingdom, solar energy has become an increasingly popular source of renewable energy over the past decade. According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the UK’s total solar capacity was 13 GW in 2020, which is enough to power approximately 4 million homes. This capacity has increased significantly from just 2.5 GW in 2015, highlighting the UK’s growing commitment to renewable energy.
The UK’s solar energy industry has been supported by various government policies over the years, including the Feed-in Tariff scheme, which was introduced in 2010 to encourage the adoption of renewable energy. This scheme provided financial incentives to households and businesses that generated their own renewable energy, including solar energy. In 2019, the UK government also launched the Smart Export Guarantee scheme, which requires energy suppliers to offer payments to households and businesses that generate excess solar energy and export it to the grid.
The UK’s solar energy industry has also been boosted by falling solar panel prices, which have decreased by around 90% over the past decade. This reduction in costs has made solar energy more accessible to households and businesses, and has helped to drive the growth of the industry.
Despite the UK’s growing commitment to solar energy, it still accounts for a relatively small portion of the country’s total energy production. In 2020, solar energy accounted for just 5.4% of the UK’s total renewable energy production, with wind energy accounting for the majority of the country’s renewable energy.
However, the UK government has set a target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which will require a significant increase in renewable energy production. Solar energy is likely to play a key role in achieving this goal, and the UK government has pledged to increase the country’s total solar capacity to 40 GW by 2030.
In conclusion, solar energy is becoming an increasingly important source of renewable energy worldwide, with the world’s total solar capacity reaching 760 GW in 2020. The United Kingdom is also contributing to this trend, with solar energy accounting for a growing portion of the country’s total renewable energy production. While solar energy still accounts for a relatively small portion of the UK’s total energy production, it is likely to play a key role in achieving the country’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.
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