Italy, Brazil and the U.S. lead the way in global solar energy development

By: Franyi Sarmiento, Ph.D., Inspenet, August 5, 2022

After seven years of decline, solar thermal energy returned to growth in 2021, 3% in particular, with Italy, Brazil and the United States as major players. In the first country, this energy source grew by no less than 83%, in Brazil by 29% and in the United States by 19%. These are data from the Solar Heat Worldwide 2022 report, which has just been published by the International Energy Agency.

Solar thermal capacity reached 522 gigawatts (GWth) last year, providing green heat to 109 million residential and commercial customers worldwide. With a turnover of US$18.7 billion, the sector currently employs some 380,000 people around the globe. These are some of the highlights of the Solar Heat Worldwide 2022 report, published by the International Energy Agency’s Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Program (IEA SHC). The data was provided by the 70 countries that contributed to this report, now in its 18th edition, and is the most comprehensive assessment of the solar heating and cooling markets worldwide.

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“With 21 GW of new capacity installed in 2021, the solar thermal sector has once again demonstrated that it is a major player in the move towards climate neutrality. Our flagship publication, Solar Heat Worldwide, showcases the wide range of customers who can benefit from carbon-free heat produced on-site,” says Tomas Olejniczak, chair of the IEA SHC Program.

Demand grew by 29% in Brazil and 19% in the United States. The IEA explains that, in both countries, the increase is related to people spending much more time at home during the Covid19 pandemic and investing in solar pool heating solutions. In the case of Brazil, sales to commercial customers were also driven by growth in the construction sector and higher electricity prices due to energy shortages.

This material from the EnergíasRenovables portal was edited for clarity, style and length.

Source and graphics: https://www.energias-renovables.com/solar-termica/italia-brasil-y-estados-unidos-lideran-el-20220728