Solar panel makers are pressing forward with efforts to cut the amount of silver in their products, threatening a major source of demand that helped propel the precious metal to record highs.

Solar now generates 10% of the world’s electricity, and during peak hours between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., that share rises to 25%. By 2030, these figures are expected to double. Solar supplied a record 10% of global electricity in H1 2026, over 25% around midday, but almost nothing at night. Ember estimates 459 GWh of battery additions in 2026 could theoretically shift 34% of new daily solar generation into non-sunny hours, up from 18% in 2025. This transition is already visible: solar plus batteries supplied more than a quarter of California’s evening electricity demand and 24% in Bulgaria. Many batteries remain underused, so deployment alone is not enough. Market design will determine how much stored solar actually reaches the grid. The next solar race is about batteries and integration. Solar energy is a key technology to power data center.

Solar overtook wind as a source of global electricity for the first time in 2025, generating 2,811 TWh versus wind’s 2,714 TWh. Solar output surged 30.1% as renewables reached 33.4% of global power generation. #Solar# #Renewables# #Energy#