Current trends to foster a successful clean energy transition
Over the course of the last few years, we pointed out the meaning of green energy solutions, reported about our worldwide solar energy projects and innovative PV products and observed a growing and fast developing renewable energy business. Even though our company and the photovoltaic industry worldwide have had some successful years, a new kind of solar boom has been developing since May 2019.
Worldwide, there are several factors which are responsible for this expected development. On the one hand, there is Greta Thunberg and her #FridaysForFuture movement which made people around the globe rethink their original convictions. On the other hand, there is a substantial development in the sector of energy prices which allows companies and private households to receive clean energy instead of energy from fossil fuels in a much more competitive manner.
Facts and data – Numbers never lie
Before looking at the different trends and developments that lead to a growing solar boom, let us take our first impression from the analysis of the statistics in terms of PV capacity. The numbers are not deceiving, the solar PV capacity and the share of total electricity consumption by each country is growing year by year. The table shows the development of the most influential countries worldwide between 2015 and 2018.
| Country | 2015 | 2018 |
| China | 43,530 MW in total | 175,018 MW in total |
| United States | 25,620 MW in total | 62,200 MW in total |
| European Union | 94,570 MW in total | 115,234 MW in total |
| Germany | 39,700 MW in total | 45,930 MW in total |
| India | 18,920 MW in total | 26,869 MW in total |
| Australia | 5,070 MW in total | 11,300 MW in total |
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_of_photovoltaics
Even in smaller countries, the energy transition is taking place.
For example, solar energy in Mauritius, the island nation in the western Indian Ocean, is becoming more and more popular for alternative energies. Together with our local subsidiary meeco Services Mauritius, we have already realised solar projects with a total capacity of more than 1,500 kWp on the island. One of the most recent renewable energy projects planned in Mauritius is promoted by the UK-based RE-SAT and will be completed by the end of March 2021 in order to supply the island with clean solar energy.
This is just one example which demonstrates that the expansion of green energy is fostered in many parts of the world – even on remote islands.
Energy transition in media presence
Since Greta Thunberg started protesting in front of the Swedish parliament in August 2018, the #FridaysForFuture movement has gotten bigger and bigger and is now global. Pupils, students, scientists and many other people have joined the protest campaign. Thanks to that movement and the media presence, a change of thought took place and politics as well as the economy were literally forced to engage themselves with the subject.
All over the world, people demonstrated peacefully for climate change.
The whole movement and the different activities related to climate change have not failed to have an effect on people. According to a worldwide survey by the independent Pew Research Center, 67% of the participating people see climate change as the biggest threat for their country, especially in Europe, where year by year unusual and worrisome weather conditions could be noted. All in all, 27,000 people from 26 countries were questioned between May and August 2018. This becomes even more interesting when it is compared to the survey of 2013 where only 56% saw climate change as number one risk.
E-mobility is on the rise – New green energy solutions are expected
Another irrefutable trend is electromobility which is going to open a new world of exciting opportunities for green energy companies and innovative green energy solutions. Photovoltaic will definitely help facilitate the future transport sector with e. g. solar-powered vehicles, charging stations powered by renewable energy and other clean energy supply offers.
In 2025, almost every fourth car (extrapolation by strategy analytics) will be an electrical vehicle and the renewable energy sector will benefit from this development. The automotive industry is going to invest in research into cost reduction and more efficient energy storage solutions.
E-mobility and clean energy is not only reserved for the automobile industry. E-Scooters and e-bikes could also benefit, proven by our sun2move solution for a famous safari camp in Kenya. All charging stations are equipped with sun2safe which supply the e-bikes with green energy.
The topic leaves a lot of elbowroom for speculations, but one thing seems to be clear: the electromobility sector and the renewable energy sector will benefit from each other.
A good beginning but a lot of unexploited potential
One final, but no less interesting factor is the idea of energy storage. In 2018, the energy storage deployment was at a record level (nearly doubling 2017). The calculation is easy, the more clean energy solutions are installed, the more energy storage facilities will find usage as a part of the whole photovoltaic plant, to assist in stabilizing weak grids and as a reserve for periods of high consumption and or lower solar radiation.
Although, media presence and reduced energy costs are good arguments for switching to clean energy, there is a lot of unexploited potential for the usage of renewables.
We think, more public and governmental incentives for photovoltaic projects will convince people to use green energy solutions for their needs. The technological requirements for a nearly worldwide renewable energy usage are available, now it is in the hands of politics, economy and society to promote the energy transition.
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sun2safe provides clean energy for medical health care in Pakistan. Learn more here.
Solar power in Zimbabwe: Read the full story about our sun2live project. |
