Solar PV

Power generation from solar PV in 2020 is estimated to have increased by a record 156 TWh, marking 23% growth from 2019. Solar PV accounted for 3.1% of global electricity generation, and it remains the third-largest renewable electricity technology behind hydropower and onshore wind after overtaking bioenergy in 2019. 

The record power generation growth of 2020 was prompted by an investment boom led by developers rushing to take advantage of expiring support schemes in China, the United States and Viet Nam. China alone was responsible for 75% of the increase in annual solar PV installations from 2019 to 2020, as projects contracted under China’s former FIT scheme, and those awarded in previous central or provincial competitive auctions, had to be connected to the grid by the end of 2020.  

In the United States, developers hastened to complete their projects before expiration of the production tax credit, although it was extended for another year in December 2020. In Viet Nam, phaseout of the FIT for solar PV projects led to an unprecedented rush in commercial and residential installations. Meanwhile, deployment also accelerated in the European Union, with countries increasing their efforts to get on track with 2030 climate targets. Overall, a record 133 GW of solar PV was installed globally in 2020. 

However, reaching an annual solar PV generation level of almost 6 970 TWh in 2030 from the current 820 TWh will require yearly average generation growth of 24% during 2020-2030. Although this rate is lower than the average yearly 27% expansion recorded in the past five years, it will be increasingly difficult to maintain this momentum as the PV market grows. More effort from all stakeholders will be necessary to boost solar PV capacity deployment from the 134 GW of 2020 to 630 GW per year until 2030.

China’s solar PV capacity additions reached 48 GW in 2020, marking a rebound after the 2018-2019 slowdown. Accelerated deployment was prompted mainly by a rush to commission utility-scale projects before the FIT scheme expired at the end of 2020. Although expansion in 2020 was still below the 2017 record of 53 GW, it indicates China’s return to PV capacity growth.  

Overall, the policy shift towards less subsidy-driven deployment is expected to make solar PV technology more cost-competitive within and outside of China, leading to more sustainable development over the longer term. Already 40 GW of subsidy-free developments are planned under 20-year contracts at provincial electricity prices.  

The 14th Five-Year Plan’s new target and policy scheme, as well as further cost reductions, are expected to strongly boost PV expansion in China, the majority being utility-scale projects. Distributed solar PV capacity is also expected to increase rapidly, driven by new auctions for commercial and industrial applications, and subsidies for residential systems. 

Solar PV capacity in the United States increased 45% in 2020 to reach 19 GW, breaking the 15 GW record of 2015. The main impetus for this acceleration was the planned phaseout of the production tax credit, although in the end the incentive was extended for another year and will continue to propel capacity deployment. Higher corporate demand through power purchase agreements, driven by declining costs and continued growth in residential and commercial markets, will also help increase PV deployment.  

In the European Union, after doubling in 2019, solar PV additions increased another 15% in 2020, as EU countries intensify their efforts to reach climate goals. The markets with the highest growth in 2020 were Germany (+5 GW), Spain (+3 GW), the Netherlands (+3 GW) and Poland (+2 GW).  

Brazil continued to lead Latin America’s solar PV capacity additions in 2020, installing more than 3 GW (58% growth from 2019). Generous net metering incentives are expected to continue stimulating rapid expansion, as residential and small commercial consumers receive significant returns on their investments. 

Less than 4 GW of solar PV capacity was installed in India in 2020, almost 60% less than in 2019. Supply chain, construction and logistics disruptions due to the strict national Covid-19 lockdown delayed the commissioning of numerous projects. PV deployment is expected to rebound in upcoming years, however, as more capacity is contracted through auctions and the distributed PV sector continues to expand steadily.  

In contrast, Viet Nam’s solar PV deployment boom of 2019 was repeated in 2020, spurred by expiration of the country’s FIT scheme. It resulted in 11 GW of capacity additions – more than twice as much as in 2019. In 2019, the construction rush involved utility-scale installations, while the 2020 expansion was mostly in distributed PV systems. After rising from almost zero to 16 GW in just two years, solar PV deployment in Viet Nam is expected to decelerate soon due to system integration challenges.