How does solar power compare with nuclear power globally?

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1. 1

   Global solar energy potential forecasting through machine learning and deep learning models.

   Scientific reports (Raza et al.)Published Feb 25, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “By investing in solar technology, nations can work towards a more sustainable energy future and addressing the pressing challenge of climate change. This study exploited the global solar photovoltaic (PV) energy potential using the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Exogenous Factors (SARIMAX) and Temporal Convolutional Network (TCN) models implemented in Python for the period 2023 to 2050 by taking input data from 2000 to 2022. The results revealed that, the solar PV capacity was 1.23 GW in the year 2000 which then increased to 1053.12 GW by 2022. SARIMAX and TCN models estimated the future of solar PV capacity which is increased from 1291.29 GW and 1094.40 GW in 2023 to 11641.41 GW and 11577.24 GW until 2050. However, the solar PV energy was 1.03 TWh in 2000 which then increased to 1323.32 TWh in 2022. SARIMAX and TCN models forecasted the future of solar PV energy which is increased from 1935.52 TWh and 1557.92 TWh in 2023 to 14967.15 TWh and 15928.52 TWh until 2050. It is observed from the results that SARIMAX model has higher accuracy as compared with the TCN model.”

2. 2

   Solar power (Wikipedia)

   WikipediaPublished Oct 16, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “Solar power, also known as solar electricity, is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power. Solar panels use the photovoltaic effect to convert light into an electric current. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and solar tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight to a hot spot, often to drive a steam turbine. Photovoltaics (PV) were initially solely used as a source of electricity for small and medium-sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to remote homes powered by an off-grid rooftop PV system. Commercial concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s. Since then, as the cost of solar panels has fallen, grid-connected solar PV systems' capacity and production have doubled about every three years. Three-quarters of new generation capacity is solar, with both millions of rooftop installations and gigawatt-scale photovoltaic power stations continuing to be built. In 2025, solar power generated 9% of global electricity.”

3. 3

   Advanced Nuclear Energy Pathways for a Net-Zero World: Fuel Cycles, Reactors, and Policy Readiness.

   Global challenges (Hoboken, NJ) (Haggam et al.)Published Apr 29, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “The investigation integrates various dimensions, including technical performance metrics, fuel cycle attributes, environmental ramifications, and pertinent global policy frameworks. MSRs exhibit thermal efficiencies exceeding 45% while incorporating online reprocessing capabilities, whereas SMRs provide advantages in modular deployment and intrinsic safety features. FBRs facilitate closed fuel cycles and the transmutation of long-lived isotopes. Lifecycle emissions consistently remain below 12-20 gCO2e/kWh. Empirical case studies from India, China, and the United States substantiate this field's technical readiness and regulatory progress. Advanced fuel compositions and reactor systems offer a plausible trajectory toward sustainable nuclear energy. The achievement of this potential is contingent upon the evolution of contemporary regulatory frameworks, active public engagement, and adequate financial mechanisms. Integrating technology, policy, and public trust is essential to making nuclear energy a key pillar of global decarbonization.”

4. 4

   Financing costs and the competitiveness of renewable power.

   iScience (Wilson et al.)Published Oct 15, 2025Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “Relative to fossil fuels, the cost of renewables is more sensitive to the cost of capital (CoC). Here, we analyze the impact of changing financing costs on the competitiveness of renewable power. Following a decade of low rates, interest rate rises occurred in developed and developing economies from 2022. In the U.S., this added 9% to the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of combined cycle gas turbines, compared to 18% for solar photovoltaics (12% with tax credits). At present, reductions in CoC would have limited impact on competitiveness in Europe, given high fuel and carbon prices, but in the U.S., China, and India, reductions can facilitate convergence in LCOE between certain renewable technologies and lower-cost fossil fuel power. Consequently, policies reducing renewable CoC can accelerate cost parity with fossil fuels. However, policies that increase fossil fuel CoC are less effective, given the lower sensitivity to financing costs.”

5. 5

   Assessing the consistency of simultaneous tripling of nuclear and renewable energy capacity in Korea: Evidence from the IPCC AR6 scenarios.

   iScience (Ahn et al.)Published Mar 12, 2026Checked Oct 17, 2026

   “At COP28, the international community, including Korea, committed to tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 and nuclear capacity by 2050. These pledges are embedded within Korea's carbon neutrality framework and the 11th Basic Plan for Long-Term Electricity Supply and Demand. This study examines the consistency of Korea's clean energy policies with Paris-compliant trajectories derived from the IPCC AR6 scenario database. Our analysis demonstrates that Korea's current electricity plan exhibits a slower phase-out of fossil fuel capacity relative to Paris-aligned pathways. Moreover, while the renewable energy tripling target demonstrates strong alignment with global decarbonization scenarios, the majority of IPCC AR6 models project constrained nuclear expansion, rendering the nuclear tripling pledge inconsistent with prevalent long-term pathways. As Korea advances its energy transformation, enhanced science-based modeling and rigorous scenario analysis are imperative to ensure policy coherence with global decarbonization objectives and support evidence-informed decision-making.”