LONDON, (Reuters) –The global solar industry has achieved a new milestone, reaching 2 terawatts (TW) of installed capacity, with more solar power added in the past two years than in the previous 68 combined, according to exclusive data shared by the Global Solar Council. This updated figure, which includes often-overlooked small rooftop installations, offers the most comprehensive view of solar deployment to date.
With this 2 TW capacity milestone, enough solar energy is now generated globally to power around 92 million U.S. households, the Council reported. Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council, noted that small rooftop projects are frequently omitted from official data, giving governments an incomplete picture of solar’s growth.
Looking forward, the Council aims to reach 8 TW of installed solar capacity by 2030, which would comprise over half of the 11 TW needed to meet U.N. climate targets. To support this goal, an International Solar Finance group will be launched at the upcoming U.N. climate talks in Baku on Nov. 11, targeting reduced financing costs for emerging economies.
Data from the Council and SolarPower Europe shows that ground-mounted solar farms account for 60% of current capacity, while rooftop projects contribute 40%.
Story by Susanna Twidale
