As emissions continue to rise and governments fail to respond with anything like the urgency required, it’s tempting to conclude that the prospects for a liveable planet are growing dim.
But as spring arrives, there is one striking spark of light. Sunlight, to be precise – captured on solar panels and pumping out electrons down the wires, on a scale unimaginable even a decade ago.
The amount of solar installed worldwide doubled between 2022 and 2024 alone. In the first three quarters of 2025, it accounted for 83% of all new electricity-generating capacity. Key to this is the continuing collapse in costs, which have fallen by close to 90% per kWh in just the last decade. Crucially, the cost of batteries – essential for storing the power generated – has plunged by a similar amount in that time.
