World Added More Solar, Wind Than Anything Else Last Year
- Renewables last year accounted for majority of new capacity
- Solar additions totaled 119 gigawatts globally in 2019
Solar panels sit on top of a warehouse near wind turbines in Mainz, Germany.
Photographer: Alex Kraus/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
For the first time ever, solar and wind made up the majority of the world’s new power generation -- marking a seismic shift in how nations get their electricity.
Solar additions last year totaled 119 gigawatts, representing 45% of all new capacity, according to a report Tuesday by BloombergNEF. Together, solar and wind accounted for more than two-thirds of the additions. That’s up from less than a quarter in 2010. The surge comes as countries move to slash carbon emissions and as technology costs fall.