Pakistan Solar Revolution Boosts Energy Security Amid Widespread Access Gaps

Solar energy is rapidly transforming energy landscapes globally, with Pakistan experiencing a dramatic surge in solar-plus-battery installations that could cover over a quarter of its peak energy demand by 2030, despite challenges for poorer households. In the U.S., solar power consumption has steadily increased over decades, and research highlights that a 15% boost in solar generation could reduce annual CO2 emissions by 8.54 million metric tons, particularly benefiting sun-rich regions like California and Texas. However, the growing demand for electricity driven by AI data centers and other technologies is stressing the U.S. power grid, with concerns about inflation and the intermittency of renewables like solar and wind contributing to rising electricity costs. Despite these challenges, solar and wind remain the most cost-competitive energy sources, with utility-scale solar costing significantly less per kilowatt-hour than natural gas plants even without subsidies, encouraging homeowners to adopt solar before federal tax credits expire. The environmental benefits of solar energy, combined with its affordability and rapid deployability, underline its critical role in decarbonizing energy systems and stabilizing electricity costs amid growing demand.