Solar Energy Facts and Statistics

The rapid growth of the solar industry is fueled by the numerous benefits and incentives brought by the use of renewables.

Here are some important facts you should know about Solar Energy!

1. The earth receives about 1,366 watts of direct solar radiation per square meter.

2. To power the entire world with solar energy, 497,000 sq. km of land is needed. That is about 1.65 times the size of the Philippines.

3. In 2019, only 2% of global electricity came from solar.

4. A 40 to 60 MW solar capacity can be installed every 1 km of land area.

5. Solar panel costs have become 95% cheaper in recent decades. A solar cell cost ₱3,932 per watt in 1977. It now runs at around ₱127 to ₱180 per watt.

6. A solar panel installation will decrease a home’s carbon footprint by 17.5 tons, which is the annual equivalent of planting 85 trees.

References:

[1] https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/.../EnergyBal.../page2.php

[2] https://www.solarpowerauthority.com/

[3] https://ourworldindata.org/renewable-energy

[4] https://www.seia.org/.../siting-permitting-land-use...

[5] ​​https://www.solar.com/learn/solar-panel-cost/

[6] Center for Empowerment, Innovation and Training on Renewable Energy (CentRE) Philippines