Being stuck at home has turned out to be a great way to help the U.S. honor its Paris Agreement commitment to cut greenhouse emissions by 26% to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025. A lot of people did their part in 2020, whether or not they framed their contribution in exactly those terms. With the COVID-19 pandemic confining many Americans to their homes, a significant number of people used the money they might otherwise have spent on travel or eating out to invest in rooftop solar systems.

While the data shows a leap in home installations, much of the growth came from utility-scale projects. Last year set a record for solar installations in the U.S., with 16.5 gigawatts of solar energy added to the grid, according to a new report from a coalition of clean energy, utility, and natural gas companies. That’s more than 40% more solar energy added than in 2019 — enough power to light about 1.8 billion LED lamps.

Last year’s spike is an extension of solar’s long-term upward trend. From 2010 to 2019, the U.S. increased its solar power by a factor of 30. During that time, solar prices dropped by about 80%. But in order for solar power to achieve broad use, prices must fall by another 50% by the end of this decade, according to Jared Silvia, CEO of a Seattle-based solar start-up called BlueDot Photonics. BlueDot, with support from Portland nonprofit VertueLab, aims to make this goal a reality by using new-to-the-industry materials to make panels as much as 50% more efficient.

 

Read the full article about future for solar power at Grist.