The Momentum of the Solar Energy Transition: Implications for Electric Vehicles and Transportation

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A new research study, “The momentum of the solar energy transition,” by Nijsse et al. (2023) provides evidence that solar photovoltaic power is on track to become the dominant global source of electricity by 2050.

The transition to solar dominance in the electricity sector will have major implications for electric vehicles (EVs) and transportation more broadly. EVs are powered by electricity, so the growth of solar power will shape the future of electric mobility. This report analyzes the key ways that widespread solar deployment will impact EVs and transportation, based on the findings from Nijsse et al. (2023).

Fig. 1 | Worldwide share in electricity production of various technologies. In 2020, fossil fuels produce 62% of electricity. This percentage reduces to 21% in 2050, with solar responsible for 56% of production. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41971-7

Solar Power Growth Trends

Nijsse et al. (2023) use an integrated assessment model to forecast global power generation to 2050. The model incorporates historical data on capacity, costs and growth rates to project future diffusion of 24 power technologies. The results indicate that solar PV will come to dominate global electricity production by around 2050 in a majority of modeled scenarios, even without new climate policies. This is…