Thread by @eeregov

How much solar energy will we need in a decarbonized future? @ENERGY and @NREL set out to find the answer in a newly published report: the Solar Futures Study. Put your sunglasses on and check out the thread below!🌞energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL The answer is… QUITE A LOT!

To achieve our decarbonization goals, solar will need to supply about 45% of our electricity production in 2050, including growing demand from newly electrified loads from cars, buildings, and more.

@ENERGY @NREL Let’s dig in… We started with the goal of achieving 95% decarbonization of the electric grid by 2035 and 100% by 2050. From there, we modeled the role solar energy would need to play to meet those milestones. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL Researchers at @NREL used models and tools and considered solar equity & access, supply chains, resource availability & recycling, building demand response, transportation, industry, and different solar technologies. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL .@NREL figured out what mix of solar and other renewable energy sources could achieve these goals while maintaining a stable electric grid….And then 70+ reviewers tested our conclusions. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL In 2020, the U.S. had about 76 GW of solar capacity. That will start growing fast! Between now & 2025 we’ll need to install 30 GW of solar per year & keep ramping up to install 60 GW per year from 2025-2030. That’s 4x as fast as we’re deploying solar today energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL With this rapid deployment, the U.S. would have about 1000 GW of solar capacity by 2035 & 1600 GW by 2050 – producing more electricity than we consume in ALL U.S. buildings today! energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL So, what does this bright solar future that we want look like? And how do we get there? energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL This widespread energy transition will require a lot of helping hands. The Solar Futures Study predicts that, as solar energy capacity expands, the solar workforce would grow from 230,000 to between 500,000 and 1.5 million jobs. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL Through all these changes, electricity prices won’t increase through 2035 – the costs of decarbonization and increased electrification will be fully offset by technological advances and more demand flexibility. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL Expanding storage and transmission infrastructure will play a key part in deploying solar while keeping the grid reliable and resilient. The study predicts storage capacity will grow to more than 1600 GW by 2050. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL All the solar we’d need by 2050 would fit on 0.5% of the land in the U.S. – less area than the Great Lakes! That could also fit on lands that are unsuitable for many uses. You can see how the area we need for solar compares to other land uses. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL And this doesn’t account for new, creative places to put solar panels, such as floating solar or solar systems over farmlands. These could reduce the land needed for solar installations and provide other great benefits to farmers and communities. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL The benefits of decarbonization far outweigh the costs. The cost to decarbonize our power system form 2020-2050 is $562 billion, while the avoided climate damages and improved air quality results in a net savings of $1.7 TRILLION. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL We also need to make sure solar is deployed equitably so that ALL Americans benefit from the jobs, bill savings, and increased resilience that come with the clean energy transition. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL Supportive decarbonization policies are necessary to reach these goals. Without some combination of limits on carbon emissions and mechanisms to incentivize clean energy, models show that grid emissions would only fall by 60%. energy.gov/solarfutures

@ENERGY @NREL The Solar Futures Study lays out a blueprint to get to a carbon-free grid where we get almost half of our energy directly from the sun. The clean energy future is in sight - it’s time to get America #RunningOnSunshine!😎 energy.gov/solarfutures