High energy prices and the war in Ukraine provoked a boom in solar panels, recent data of orders from solar panel manufacturers showed.
This year they received twice as many requests from potential consumers. According to Chinese manufacturers of solar panels, revenue for the first quarter of this year increased by 92% compared to the previous year. However, a surge in orders occurred at the end of February after the start of the war in Ukraine.
In addition, this year, consumers will install a large number of stations with a capacity of more than 250 gigawatts worldwide – almost twice as much as in 2019.
The increase in energy prices is the primary catalyst for the development of the industry. Oil is 14% more expensive than in the winter season and 61% more than last year. The cost of gas has also increased. Moreover, it has become more expensive by more than 100 percent.
Of course, the EU countries are hastily developing a strategy for the rapid transition to alternative energy sources.
However, according to experts, materials for constructing environmentally friendly stations have also increased in price. After all, a significant part was supplied from Russia.
Therefore, the transition to alternative energy sources will be not only long but also expensive. First, it will require an additional investment of 170 billion euros annually. These figures are given for the entire European Union. Secondly, implementing the global project will take at least six years. However, as energy experts note, this is perhaps the only option for Europe now.
In addition, several projects have already been signed. For example, hydrogen produced at alternative power plants will come to the EU from Australia, and it will be used in steel mills instead of natural gas.
In addition, energy is also needed to build stations. Therefore, with increased demand, manufacturers of solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable energy installations are burning even more coal than before. Therefore, there are fears of more significant environmental pollution and power outages.