International Energy Agency (IEA) statistics estimate that global solar PV capacity increased by nearly 50% to almost 510GW in 2023 — the fastest growth rate in the past two decades.
To reach this figure, China commissioned as much solar PV as the entire world did the year before.
But how is solar being used? Aside from more mainstream applications like generating electricity and heating water, this form of renewable power is being harnessed in innovative ways worldwide by some of the world’s biggest companies — innovators in their respective industries.
In this week’s list, we take a deep dive into the uses and application of solar power, including agriculture, aviation and retail.
10. Solar-powered manufacturing
Used by: Tesla
CEO: Elon Musk
Revenue: US$96.8bn (2023)
EV leader Tesla is constantly innovating to ensure its products are powered by the cleanest power possible.
The company’s Gigafactory Nevada is a lithium-ion battery and EV component factory that supplies battery packs and drivetrain components — including motors — for the company's vehicles, as well as manufacturing the Tesla Powerwall home energy storage device assembling the Tesla Semi battery electric semi-trailer truck.
By land area, it is the largest Tesla Gigafactory worldwide and the first facility of its nature Tesla constructed.
As well as this, it operates one of the largest rooftop solar arrays — generating 24MW of power for its production lines.
The company says: “Tesla operates the most advanced factories ever built as the world’s leading battery and electric vehicle manufacturer and all our products are designed to integrate seamlessly.
“As a manufacturer, installer and service provider, we have developed unique expertise in delivering energy products with the best value to our customers.”
9. Solar-integrated data centres
Used by: Google
CEO: Sundar Pichai
Revenue: US$305.6bn (2023)
Google’s data centres are increasingly powered by solar energy as part of the company’s commitment to carbon neutrality. The tech giant is currently working towards powering all of its data centres with carbon-free energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week by 2030.
For example, in Denmark, the Rødby Fjord solar project adds carbon-free energy to the grid that powers Google Fredericia data centre — adding 54.5MW to the more than 100MW of operational solar resources that power Google’s operations in Denmark.
Google’s VP Engineering Ben Sloss says: “Google expects to spend US$16bn through 2040 globally to purchase clean energy.”
In 2023, Google’s total data centre electricity consumption grew by 17% despite it maintaining a 100% global renewable energy match.
Over in Arizona, USA, Google has an energy supply agreement with Salt River Project (SRP) to support more than 430MW of new carbon-free energy capacity across the state following the launch of its Mesa data centre.
“With this new agreement we are not just offsetting our energy use but also actively working to add carbon-free energy capacity directly to Arizona’s grid when and where it's needed,” says Amanda Peterson Corio, Global Head of Data Center Energy at Google.
“The collaboration with SRP and NextEra Energy Resources is accelerating decarbonisation in Arizona and our own carbon-free journey in the region.”
8. Solar-powered water desalination
Used by: ACWA
CEO: Marco Arcelli
Revenue: US$1.2bn (2023)
Water desalination refers to a process where salt and minerals are removed from water to create fresh water for human consumption or agriculture.
Saudi Arabian power generation ACWA develops, invests in and operates power generation along with desalinated water production plants, with it operating in 13 countries across the Middle East.
ACWA opened Saudi Arabia's first solar-powered desalination plant in 2023 together with Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) and AlBawani Water & Power (AWP). The Jubail 3A independent water desalination plant (IWP) in Saudi Arabia.
A 45.5MW solar PV power generation facility contributes 20% of the plant’s energy consumption and delivers clean water using reverse osmosis technology.
Mohammad Abunayyan, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ACWA Power, says: “This is the latest world-class project that demonstrates our global leadership in water desalination and our enduring commitment to cost leadership, social prosperity and national development.”
7. Retail solar panels
Used by: Walmart
CEO: Doug McMillon
Revenue: US$648bn (2023)
Retail powerhouse Walmart has installed solar panels on the rooftops of more than 360 of its stores in the US. In 2019 it added the most solar of any company across the country, increasing its solar use by more than 35%.
The company then in 2021 added 6.5MW of solar to seven Walmart stores in California, with its portfolio including a mixture of solar energy systems installed on rooftops and parking lot carports. Before the end of the decade, Walmart has committed to adding 1GW of on-site clean energy — including solar and energy storage — to its portfolio.
Walmart powers around 36% of its operations with renewable energy, with the company saying: “The role we play in our communities provides us with a tremendous opportunity to help people transition to clean energy in a way that also helps them save money and live better.”
6. Solar-powered smart homes
Used by: IKEA
CEO: Jesper Brodin
Revenue: US$51.4bn (2023)
SOLSTRÅLE — IKEA’s home solar offer — is set to be available in 31 IKEA markets by FY25, contributing to its efforts in democratising clean energy.
Stating that “a good life at home starts on the roof”, IKEA says: “We want to make clean energy available to many people. To have a real impact we know we need to make our offer affordable and combine it with an attractive financial offer.”
Its home solar solution is designed to do just that. Including solar panels to be fitted on the roof, the programme means IKEA customers have access to a control system that monitors energy production.
“It's a cost-efficient solution that allows as many people as possible to generate their own power, reduce carbon emissions — and save money at the same time,” IKEA adds.
“We will take an extended responsibility for the climate footprint of our customers, suppliers and sourcing and contribute with additional reductions in society.
“We will achieve this by enabling customers to generate renewable energy at home, as well as by transforming our suppliers’ entire factories or operations to renewable energy – not just the part used for IKEA production.”
5. Solar for EV charging
Used by: Shell
CEO: Wael Sawan
Revenue: US$316.6bn (2023)
Shell currently has around 60,000 public charge points around the world for EVs at forecourts, retail sites and destinations. The British energy giant aims to install 50,000 on-street EV charge posts across the UK by 2025 in line with its renewable energy strategy.
“Solar power can significantly reduce the cost of charging your EV and make your energy use even more sustainable,” Shell says.
Although Shell Recharge points do not run exclusively on renewable energy, Shell is exploring how to make this viable for the near future.
4. Solar agriculture
Used by: TotalEnergies
CEO: Patrick Pouyanné
Revenue: US$237.1bn (2023)
TotalEnergies has several examples of solar agriculture projects in its portfolio.
For the Camelicious solar project, TotalEnergies installed solar panels on a camel farm in the United Arab Emirates to power 80% of the farm's electricity needs — making it the world’s first solar-powered dairy farm.
When TotalEnergies acquired French agrivoltaics company Ombrea, TotalEnergies strengthened its sustainability credentials by integrating Ombrea’s teams and expertise into its renewable activities. This, in turn, is accelerating TotalEnergies’ development in agrivoltaics, both in France and abroad.
Agrivoltaics technology combines solar energy with agriculture by installing solar panels on agricultural facilities or cropland.
Yvannah Evrard, Deputy Manager Development Agency at TotalEnergies says: “The advantage of solar gardens for TotalEnergies is getting access to land, which is growing scarce and the farmers strengthen their business model for the coming years.”
As well as this, TotalEnergies signed a long-term agreement with Hiep Phat, a Vietnamese starch manufacturer, to provide a 2.1MWp PV system for their plant and office — TotalEnergies’ first agri-PV in APAC.
3. Solar aviation
Used by: Airbus
CEO: Guillaume Faury
Revenue: US$70.2bn (2023)
Airbus is taking unmanned aerial vehicles into the stratosphere in the form of solar cell aircraft. These airborne vehicles are able to stay aloft for extended periods, using only sunlight as energy.
The company’s flagship programme, Zephyr, is a high-altitude pseudo-satellite that is powered exclusively by solar power and is a world record-breaking innovation.
It is able to fly above 60,000ft, operating in the stratosphere — above weather and conventional air traffic.
Airbus says: “Zephyr can provide high-quality imagery and live video with Airbus' Strat-Observer service, or serve as a tower in the sky to deliver direct-to-device connectivity with a reach of up to 250 terrestrial towers in difficult mountainous terrain.”
Samer Halawi, CEO of the Airbus subsidiary responsible for Zephyr, AALTO, adds: “This is a technological masterpiece. The idea is old, but the technology capabilities have evolved such that this idea now is doable.”
2. Solar for microgrids
Used by: Schneider Electric
CEO: Peter Herweck
Revenue: US$38.8bn (2023)
Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex system integrates solar panels with other distributed energy resources — such as battery storage and conventional generators — to create what it says is “configured-to-order solution that reduces project time, designed to meet resilience, energy cost optimisation and sustainability needs”.
Schneider’s CEO Peter Herweck says: “Addressing climate change requires a fundamental transition and a much wider change in thinking.
“Such a change in approach requires doing something that has never been done before —innovations for impact — enabled by digitisation and electrification.”
Schneider Electric’s microgrid control systems, including EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor along with EcoStruxure Microgrid Operation, optimise the use of solar energy within the microgrid.
These systems manage the flow of power from solar arrays, balancing it with other energy sources and storage to meet demand efficiently. By combining solar with advanced control systems and energy storage, Schneider Electric’s microgrids offer a flexible and sustainable approach to power management.
1. Solar space exploration
Used by: NASA
CEO: Bill Nelson
Budget: US$25.4bn (2024)
NASA has been at the forefront of utilising solar power for space exploration, with numerous missions and projects leveraging this technology. The agency's use of solar power in space dates back to the 1950s and continues to evolve with cutting-edge applications.
The International Space Station (ISS), for example, relies on solar arrays for power generation. Its eight solar array wings can generate about 240kW of power in direct sunlight, or about 84kW to 120kW when cycling between sunlight and shade. These arrays not only power the station’s systems but also support critical scientific research conducted in orbit.
NASA launched the first solar-powered satellite, Vanguard 1, in 1958. Its use of solar has significantly evolved in the decades since, with NASA's Juno spacecraft being the first solar-powered spacecraft to operate at Jupiter and to be so far from the sun.
Orbiting Jupiter to understand the origin and evolution of the planet as well as our wider solar system, Juno has three 30-foot long solar panels that provide enough power for the spacecraft’s instruments. The panels are folded for launch, but extend outward to create a span of more than 66 feet.
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