The rise of solar and batteries is upending our renewable future

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below

🗞️ Driving the news: Solar power and electric vehicles are exceeding even the most bullish forecasts, highlighting rapid advancements in these clean energy sectors
• However, other renewable technologies, notably wind power, face challenges in keeping pace

🔭 The context: With falling costs boosting solar and EV sectors, wind power struggles with regulatory hurdles and slow growth
• Its significance in a complete energy transition is evident, yet last week's UK auction for offshore wind farms, a major market for the technology, received no bids

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: Diversifying renewable sources is vital for consistent energy supply and to effectively combat climate change
• Solar and wind have complementary energy generation patterns, ensuring a more reliable clean energy grid

⏭️ What's next: Addressing regulatory hurdles, while encouraging technological and manufacturing advancements, will be crucial

💬 One quote: "Wind tends to blow hardest in the winter and the evening when solar is weak or non-existent. New offshore wind projects produce power about 50% of the time, which helps balance the grid." (David Fickling, Bloomberg opinion columnist) 

📈 One stat: BloombergNEF predicts solar installations could potentially reach 563 GW by 2025, putting the industry on a trajectory toward achieving global net-zero emissions by 2050

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