Expected 81 gigawatts of solar power for 2017 to beat nuclear energy

Worldwide solar power capacity is set to overtake nuclear for the first time within the next few months, according to GTM Research.

The total capacity of nuclear power is currently about 391.5GW, and the total capacity of photovoltaic cells is expected to hit 390GW by the end of this year, with demand growing at up to 8% per year.

Stephen Lacy, writing on GTM’s website, said: “The 81GW expected this year are more than double the amount of solar capacity installed in 2014. And it’s 32 times more solar deployed a decade ago.” The International Energy Agency says this could rise to 27% of global electricity generation by 2050 – from 1.8% today – under a “high-growth scenario”.

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