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January 4, 2024

Renewable Energy Milestone: Solar Power Reaches Grid Parity

Solar energy costs drop below traditional fossil fuels in major markets, accelerating clean energy transition.

D

Dr. Mark Thompson

January 4, 20241 min read
Renewable Energy Milestone: Solar Power Reaches Grid Parity

Solar energy has achieved a historic milestone by reaching grid parity with fossil fuels in major markets worldwide, marking a turning point in the global energy transition. The cost breakthrough is accelerating renewable energy adoption and reshaping electricity markets.

Advances in solar panel efficiency and manufacturing scale have driven costs down by 70% over the past decade. In many regions, new solar installations now generate electricity at lower costs than coal or natural gas plants, even without subsidies.

'This is the moment we've been working toward for decades,' said Dr. Elena Petrov, renewable energy analyst. 'Solar power is now the cheapest form of electricity in human history, and that's going to transform how we power our world.'

The milestone is driving massive investment in solar infrastructure, with global installations expected to triple over the next five years. Utilities are retiring fossil fuel plants ahead of schedule and replacing them with renewable energy systems.

The transition is creating new jobs in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of solar systems, while reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Energy storage technology improvements are addressing intermittency concerns, making renewable energy increasingly reliable.

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renewable energy
solar
environment
technology
D

Dr. Mark Thompson

Energy correspondent specializing in renewable energy technology and policy.

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