Solar and Wind Power Generation

Chapter 9 analyzes the global growth of solar and wind power generation compared to coal and natural gas. While coal dominated for decades, its capacity has recently plateaued, and natural gas growth has slowed. Solar and wind started from negligible levels in 1980 but have grown exponentially, driven by technological improvements, falling costs, government incentives, climate change awareness, and China’s manufacturing dominance. Solar capacity surged from 1 MW in 1980 to 714 GW in 2020, while wind reached 733 GW in the same year. When adjusted for operating time—coal at 90%, natural gas at 67%, wind at 38%, and solar at 25%—coal and gas still lead in annual energy generation, but renewables are catching up. By 2024, wind and solar combined generated 17% of U.S. electricity, surpassing coal for the first time. Despite challenges, solar and wind remain on a trajectory of rapid growth toward cleaner energy.