The United States has never been the leading nation when it comes to solar power, but in 2017, it slipped even further behind in the competition. Now, India has surpassed the US with their efforts to move towards a more sustainable and renewable energy source.
In 2017, the United States added 8,173 megawatts of solar power capacity, down from the 11,274 megawatts added in 2016. During 2017, India added 9,628 megawatts of solar power capacity, which is more than the 4,251 megawatts added in 2016. Where the United State seems to have decreased their efforts to add solar power capacity, India has taken the initiative and more than doubled their solar power capacity from 2016 to 2017.
China and India were the two leading nations in 2017 in the solar power market, putting the spotlight on Asia to continue paving the way for solar energy. Globally, a total of 93,752 megawatts of solar power capacity was added in 2017, most of which came from Asian countries. China alone added just over 53 gigawatts (53,000 megawatts) of solar power in 2017, securing its spot as the leader in solar power installments globally.
In Asia, India is third in operational solar power capacity, with Japan in second. However, in 2017, India’s additions of solar power capacity passed Japan’s for the first time in history.
India has also put itself in the position to continue passing some of the most developed solar power markets globally. The country has been working hard to become a country whose main energy source is solar power. Their target is to reach a 100-gigawatt operational solar power capacity by 2022, and these recent pushes are keeping them on track.
India will continue on its mission to become one of the largest solar-run countries in the world, and hopefully their drive will inspire others to follow their lead. Solar energy is a cheap and renewable energy source that could help eliminate the need for fossil fuels and other environmentally damaging fuel resources.
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