It seems like most EU countries will meet their 2030 renewable energy targets ahead of schedule, new data shows, fuelling optimism about efforts to cut global emissions, Politico reports.
In 2022, 41 GW of new solar capacity was installed, an increase of 40% compared to 2021. That capacity is expected to rise to more than 50GW this year.
According to lobby group SolarPower Europe, based on the latest available national targets and provided to Politico, some 23 countries plan to meet their solar installation targets by 2027.
This reflects a global trend and means greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by millions of tonnes more each year than projected.
Part of the explosive growth is due to the sharp fall in the price of solar panels, which are mass-produced in China. Russia’s war against Ukraine has also provided a major incentive for countries to promote solar installations as a way of reducing their dependence on Russian energy.