Without a doubt, solar energy is one of the key pillars that will decarbonize the global energy system and address the challenges of global warming, by reducing our reliance on coal or gas fired electricity. According to a study by REC Group, for solar energy to make a contribution towards limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5°C, we will need to install about 500 to 600 GW of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity on average per year. This is the equivalent of approximately 1.2 to 1.5 billion solar panels of 400 Wp power every year.
As we race towards installing more solar panels to harvest energy, the solar industry needs to ensure that the panels don’t morph from today’s solution to tomorrow’s problem. The industry needs to consider how it can deliver this through new product innovations that combine the development of higher efficiency solar panels with better long-lasting performance, along with sustainable manufacturing practices.
