Solar Power Set to Dominate Global Energy by 2050

The sun just won the energy race, and it's not even close.

A groundbreaking study published in Nature Energy reveals that solar power is moving toward dominance of the global energy system. The research, backed by over 60 scientists from leading institutions worldwide, shows that solar is outpacing every other energy technology in history for manufacturing growth and price drops.

The numbers tell an incredible story. The world now has 2 terawatts of solar capacity installed, more than double what existed just two years ago. Based on current trends, we're heading toward 75 terawatts by 2050.

"In one hour, the Earth receives enough light from the sun to power the world for the whole year," explained Sarah Kurtz, an electrical engineering professor at UC Merced and study co-author. That free, endless fuel is why solar keeps getting cheaper while delivering more power.

Solar already produces 7 percent of global electricity and is the least expensive energy source in most countries. It's growing faster than wind and hydropower, putting it on track to become the world's largest electricity source within decades.

The technology keeps improving too. Today's best panels convert 30 percent of sunlight into electricity. By 2050, researchers expect that to reach 35 percent, meaning fewer panels needed for the same power.

Andreas Bett, director of Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, emphasized what this means for humanity. "There is no fundamental limit or resource problem for photovoltaic technology," he said. "It is a technology that will advance the prosperity of the entire global community."

The research came from the Terawatt Workshop, where solar experts gathered in California in June 2024 to map the future. Their findings show renewable energy already produces 32 percent of the world's electricity and is about to overtake coal as the global leader.

The Ripple Effect

This solar transformation means more than just cleaner air. As panels get cheaper and more efficient, energy becomes accessible to communities that never had reliable electricity. Remote villages can power schools and hospitals. Families save money on energy bills. Countries gain energy independence.

The shift also creates a massive wave of jobs in manufacturing, installation, and grid management. Engineers are designing new battery systems to store solar power for nighttime use. Planners are building grids that can handle abundant daytime energy and distribute it efficiently.

Kurtz, who has worked on improving solar panels since the mid-1980s, has watched her field go from niche research to world-changing technology. Her decades of dedication, along with thousands of other researchers, made this transformation possible.

The study acknowledges challenges ahead, particularly designing energy systems that work when the sun isn't shining. But those are problems of success, not failure. The question isn't whether solar will dominate, but how quickly we can build the infrastructure to support it.

The sun powers everything on Earth already, from plants to weather to life itself, and now it's powering our future too.