Australia: Global Solar Pathfinder
Recent data from IRENA reveals that Australia is at the forefront when it comes to per capita solar generation capacity, measured in Watts per person. Additionally, Australia holds the second position for combined per capita solar and wind generation capacity.
Interestingly, all the top performers in per capita solar and wind deployment are located in Europe, with Australia being the exception. European nations have the advantage of sharing renewable, fossil, and nuclear electricity across borders to balance out the fluctuations in solar and wind power production.
Contrastingly, Australia faces the challenge of being geographically isolated and must navigate its renewable energy journey independently. Despite this, Australia stands out as a global leader in solar innovation, showcasing a cost-effective and efficient approach to solar energy deployment.
The data presented also includes global per capita hydroelectric and nuclear capacity, which pales in comparison to the solar and wind capacity of leading countries.
In the year 2024, approximately 700 gigawatts (GW) of new solar and wind capacity were added worldwide, a stark comparison to the mere 2 GW per year of net new nuclear capacity over the past decade.
It is noteworthy that the construction of nuclear reactors is significantly less prevalent compared to the rapid expansion of solar and wind energy. Projections indicate that both solar and wind power generation will surpass nuclear energy production by the year 2025. Notably, Australia stands out by generating the highest amount of solar electricity per capita globally.
About Andrew Blakers
Andrew Blakers, a distinguished professor of engineering at the Australian National University, is a prominent figure in the field of renewable energy and sustainability.
