Bottleneck of Civilian Solar Power Generation

What are the bottlenecks for solar PV scale-up?

The major bottlenecks for solar PV scale-up are projected to center on materials scarcity. Copper and tin are the most critical materials and will constitute the main bottleneck of solar PV development in most scenarios. However, unlocks are available, as supply could ramp up (especially for tin).

Are grids becoming a bottleneck?

At least 3 000 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power projects, of which 1 500 GW are in advanced stages, are waiting in grid connection queues – equivalent to five times the amount of solar PV and wind capacity added in 2022. This shows grids are becoming a bottleneck for transitions to net zero emissions.

Could a bottleneck slow the energy transition?

Low-carbon energy technologies are growing, but bottlenecks could slow the energy transition at a time when the rollout of clean technologies needs to accelerate.

Why is wind and solar power a bottleneck?

bottleneck the transmission of wind and solar power. Due to the limitation of the transmission capacity and the intermittency mitigation ability, curtailment resurfaced after some years of calm. In March 2024, the curtailment rate of solar power exceeded 5% nationwide, an alarming line set by the government in 2018.

Are energy bottlenecks a risk for achieving net-zero commitments?

In our energy transition scenario that would achieve existing climate commitments, two-thirds of the potential bottlenecks assessed run a risk of delaying the path to net-zero commitments. Around a quarter of these potential bottlenecks are classified as high risk, without unlocks identified to date.

What will a solar-dominated future look like?

A solar-dominated future is likely to be metal and mineral-intensive 48. Future demand for “critical minerals” will increase on two fronts: electrification and batteries require large-scale raw materials – such as lithium and copper; niche materials, including tellurium, are instrumental for solar panels 49.