Something is happening with wind energy. Its deployment has slowed while solar energy grows unstoppable

Solar energy maintains explosive growth, but wind energy is lagging behind. The problem is that both are needed to meet the COP28 objective: tripling global renewable capacity before 2030.

Uneven growth. Photovoltaic installations have increased by 34% throughout 2024, Bloomberg publishes. In comparison, only 5% more wind turbines have been installed. Or what is the same:

• 595 GW of solar capacity in 2024 vs. 445 GW in 2023
• 123 GW of wind capacity in 2024 vs. 117 GW in 2023

China is the main acceleration engine of wind energy, but outside the country, installations of new turbines have even fallen.

Why is it worrying? More than 130 countries agreed to triple global renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade. While the solar industry is on track to reach 90% of the goal by 2030, wind energy would only reach 77% of that commitment at the current rate of growth.

To comply with the COP28 roadmap, which envisioned a carbon-neutral world between now and 2050, two renewable sources are needed. Although solar energy is growing faster, wind energy typically has a higher plant factor, meaning it produces more energy per installed unit.

What is happening. Unequal growth is understood by contrasting the two sectors. Unlike wind turbines, solar panels are small, versatile, and can be installed in a variety of locations. In addition, mass production in China has drastically reduced its cost.

On the other hand, there is public opposition. Solar energy typically faces less social resistance than wind energy. Wind turbine farms are regularly the subject of protests due to their impact on the landscape, which leads to more friction in obtaining permits, to which must be added the logistical challenge of moving a wind turbine from the factory to the site of its installation.

Wind power is more productive, but solar power is king. Wind energy is more efficient and surpasses solar energy in terms of productive hours in a handful of countries: Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, India, Brazil…

However, with interest rates rising, the Price of steel rising, and the need for specialized equipment to transport and assemble a wind turbine, installations heavily favor solar, which is already leading the world’s race toward neutrality. carbon.

In the end, they will all be needed. The conclusion of COP28 is that to decarbonize the electricity sector, all renewable or carbon-free energy sources will be needed. In order not to be left behind, the wind sector is asking for less regulatory friction and more technological development that facilitates the installation of increasingly larger and more powerful wind turbines.

Imagen | Z22 (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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