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Solar hardware is so affordable now that it's booming even in poorer countries. The most remarkable recent example is Pakistan, which has seen explosive growth
by philipkglass 9mo ago
Solar hardware is so affordable now that it's booming even in poorer countries. The most remarkable recent example is Pakistan, which has seen explosive growth of rooftop solar power, most of it receiving no government subsidies:
Pakistan has imported almost 45 gigawatts worth of solar panels over the last five or six years, which is equal to the total capacity of its electricity grid. Almost 34 gigawatts have come in only in the last couple of years.
It’s a very bottom-up revolution. This is not government deciding this is the route to take. And it’s not being driven by climate concerns, it’s all about the economics. Renewables are out-competing the traditional sources of energy.
https://e360.yale.edu/features/pakistan-solar-boom https://e360.yale.edu/features/pakistan-solar-boom
- SamPatt 9mo agoYes it's awesome to see solar adoption without subsidies. Wonderful technology. Decentralized energy production is powerful.
- nradov 9mo agoRight, so that implies there's no need for homeowner subsidies in wealthy, developed countries.
- zdp7 9mo agoNot really, unless you are just guessing. A quick read shows that solar gained popularity because of an unreliable grid and a removal of subsidies on diesel. Solar ended up being the cheaper and more reliable option. Labor costs for installation are also lower. In remote areas you may not even have a grid option. Simple general assumptions don't hold across vastly different geopolitical circumstances.
- nradov 9mo agoRight, so there's still no need for subsidies.
- pfdietz 9mo agoWhat's needed are Pigouvian CO2 taxes, but those aren't politically feasible.
- bojan 9mo ago> Solar hardware is so affordable now that it's booming even in poorer countries. Even in Gaza Strip you'll see sometimes solar panels next to the refugee camps, and broken ones on top of the ruins.