Over production of solar energy

I recently read that Enza Tedesco , for Montel , reported on this , mentioning that nations like the Czech Republic and Poland are closing plants due to an imbalance between supply and demand, which has caused several periods of negative pricing.?

I believe that if left unchecked, these prices could hinder investments in solar assets and lead to the wastage of generated energy. Addressing this volatility is crucial to ensure not only the viability of renewable projects but also Europe's energy security and climate objectives. Enhanced storage, improved infrastructure, and hybrid projects are vital steps forward.

The economics of renewable sources were questioned further, as @S?ren Amelang, for Clean Energy Wire | CLEW , commented on a European Commission report which found that, in Germany, the much-lauded green hydrogen generation is not financially sustainable in the long run. However, researchers did acknowledge that this project could be feasible in France and Spain, as these nations have the right conditions to become Europe’s top hydrogen producers.?

These findings raise a very important point. To make the transition to renewables sustainable, nations need to work together.?

Collaboration between all relevant stakeholders is one of the five core challenges that, as outlined by pv magazine Global , need to be sorted out for the European solar industry to break through in terms of photovoltaic research and development. Cross-border cooperation would gather the necessary public support for this transition, which would, in turn, increase adoption and revenues for the industry–revenues that could be reinvested in further technological improvements. As of now, more work is needed to enhance performance, reduce costs, and achieve true integration through the large-scale deployment of solar-powered systems.?

If these feats can be overcome, the solar industry can accelerate its growth and explode at an unprecedented pace. I recently read an article by Leonardo David , on MarketWatch , who said that the United States has already exceeded 135,700 megawatts (MW) in solar capacity . This has led to an increase of 167% in the number of jobs created by the industry. In addition to this, the @GlobalAgTechInitiative outlines that, besides residential use, solar energy can also be paired with regenerative farming in what is known as “agrivoltaics,” which can boost crop production and enhance food resilience.

In David’s article, something that called my attention is that he predicts that, by 2030, one in seven homeowners will have solar panels installed. If this happens to be true, it would help significantly to combat the impending energy shortages caused by the intense heat waves that the U.S. has been grappling with during the summer.?

Recent findings by Enrico Mariutti published by Stacy Liberatore suggest that solar panels emit five times more carbon dioxide than previously believed due to the omission of emissions from China in global carbon footprint calculations. This revelation comes from an Italian researcher's investigation, uncovering a database oversight that excluded China, responsible for 80% of solar panel production, mainly from coal-burning plants.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimated solar photovoltaic (PV) industry emissions at 48 gCO2/kWh, ignoring China's data. The new analysis indicates 170 to 250 gCO2/kWh, representing 62.5% of natural gas electricity generation emissions. Enrico Mariutti's research identifies overlooked variables such as methane emissions and grid upgrades in emissions calculations.

The study underscores the global influence of China's manufacturing practices, indicating that their coal-burning plants play a key role in driving down technology costs for Western nations. Robbie Andrew's perspective adds an ethical dimension, questioning whether China's emissions surge was justified by technological affordability.

The research also highlights the complexity of sustainable energy transitions. Solar panels, often seen as environmentally friendly, involve intricate supply chains, resource extraction, and emissions. As we strive to integrate more solar energy into our grids, acknowledging China's impact on emissions becomes imperative. This study acts as a wake-up call, urging a more holistic approach to assessing the ecological footprint of renewable technologies.

In my opinion, Europe must take the helm in green initiatives by establishing local solar manufacturing. While we have the resources, what we often lack are bold, local investors. Ironically, investments might come from abroad.

In Europe, as Euronews reported, increased solar power generation played a key role in mitigating the risk of energy scarcity due to grid failures, especially in heat-battered nations like Spain, Italy, and Greece.

As scientists predict that more heatwaves will come (and possibly more intense), a successful transition to renewables is more relevant than ever.

However, it is of paramount importance that we realize that, in order for it to materialize, we need to work together. If we fail to accomplish our climate-related goals, most likely, we will fail as a civilization, and we will all bear the consequences.

Sources:

1. Montelnews ?
2. Marketwatch ?
3. Euronews?
4. Global Tech Initiative?
5. PV-Magazine
6. Clean Energy Wire?