Solar energy expected to surpass nuclear energy for the first time
According to a forecast cited by the BBC, by the end of 2026, the share of solar energy in global electricity generation will reach 10 percent. Thus, it is expected to overtake nuclear power in terms of electricity generation volume for the first time.
Solar energy expected to surpass nuclear energy for the first time
Jan Rosenow, professor of energy policy and climate at Oxford University, told the BBC that solar energy has become the driving force of the energy transition.
According to the publication, over the past 26 years, the total volume of electricity generated by the world's nuclear power plants has remained almost unchanged. Meanwhile, solar power generation has increased approximately 2,700 times over the same period.
China plays a major role in this growth. The country's huge production capacity has led to a sharp drop in the price of photovoltaic systems.
In the US, many startups relying on the development of nuclear energy have emerged. However, the process of bringing the new nuclear technologies they offer to commercial operation is slow.
At the same time, the cost of constructing nuclear power plants in the US has increased significantly in recent decades. In solar energy, however, the falling cost of equipment is creating conditions for its wider adoption.
The report also notes that disruptions in oil supplies against the backdrop of the US war against Iran have heightened interest in alternative energy sources. For many countries, increasingly affordable solar energy is becoming an important tool for diversifying energy supplies.