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Photovoltaic: Under the Sun, Beyond the Horizon (Category: PV)

  • Writer: Nicholas Gagnon
    Nicholas Gagnon
  • 5 days ago
  • 3 min read

Illuminating Today’s Energy Landscape While Shaping Tomorrow’s Possibilities


This blog explores the dynamic world of photovoltaics (PV)—from global trends to Canada’s evolving role in solar energy. While my deeper interest lies in flexible, organic PV technologies, I wanted to first map the broader solar cell landscape before diving into emerging materials and applications.


Global Snapshot: Photovoltaic Solar Cell Panels in 2024


According to IEA-PVPS data, the cumulative global installed capacity of solar PV reached over 2,200 GW (2.2 TW) by the end of 2024. This marks a 38% increase (~600 GW) over the previous year, with China contributing 60% of that growth (~357 GW).


To visualize this scale: 2,200 GW of solar panels translates to roughly 14–18 billion square meters of active solar surface deployed worldwide.


China remains the dominant force in solar power generation and manufacturing, responsible for ~50% of global solar panel production.


Technology Breakdown by Market Share

Panel Type

Market Share

Estimated Capacity

Typical Efficiency

Monocrystalline Silicon

~80%

~1.76 TW

19–23%

Polycrystalline Silicon

~10–15%

~220–330 GW

15–18%

Thin-Film (CdTe, CIGS)

~5–8%

~110–176 GW

10–14%

Heterojunction & Tandem

<2% (growing)

~44 GW or less

22–28% (lab up to 33%)

Sources: IEA-PVPS and industry reports

 

Global Power Generation Context


In 2024, total global power generation capacity reached ~8,000 GW, with fossil fuels accounting for ~50% and renewables accounting for ~50%. This is the breakdown for the renewables:

  • Solar PV now represents ~25%

  • Hydropower: ~13%

  • Wind: ~11%

  • Other renewables: ~1%


PV, Oh Canada!


Canada’s total installed solar PV capacity was 5.33 GW at the end of 2023, growing 23% year-over-year. If this trend continued, 2024 likely closed with ~6.5 GW, representing ~0.3% of global capacity.


Provincial Breakdown:

  • Ontario: ~57% of Canada’s PV capacity

  • Alberta: ~35%

  • Québec: <1% — likely due to low electricity rates and abundant hydro.


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Source: NRC, 2024 – Grid-connected PV systems as of December 2023


There is a significant uneven distribution of provincial solar energy infrastructure adoption.

 

PV and EV: A Harmonized Future


Over the past decade, PV installations and EV sales have shown a striking parallel. Why?

1.     Shared Decarbonization Goals

  • As EV adoption increases, electricity demand rises—making clean energy generation essential.

2.     Smart Charging Synergy

  • Solar overproduces during daylight hours when EVs are typically parked.

  • EVs can act as mobile batteries, supporting grid resilience and peak shaving.

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Canada: Energy Superpower—Sun-Focused?


In April 2025, Prime Minister Carney reaffirmed Canada’s ambition to become a global energy superpower. While this includes clean energy, solar PV remains a small slice of the national strategy: ~0.4% of global panel production.


Globally, ~80% of solar panels are manufactured in China, with most of the remainder coming from Southeast Asia. Canadian production is modest but growing.


Canadian Solar Panel Manufacturing


Canadian-made panels are typically 20–40% more expensive than Chinese imports, due to smaller production volumes. However, they offer:

  • Higher Power Conversion Efficiency

  • Superior warranties and reliability

  • Domestic content advantages for ESG and procurement, and local technical support


Canada Key Manufacturers:

  • Heliene – Sault Ste. Marie, ON → heliene.com

  • Silfab Solar – Mississauga, ON → silfabsolar.com

  • Mitrex – Etobicoke, ON → mitrex.com

    Specializing in Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): solar façades, windows, railings


While Canada’s manufacturing footprint is small, it plays a strategic role in energy innovation, efficiency and independence.


What’s Next:


Outdoor solar panels—rooftop and utility-scale fields—dominate today’s PV landscape. But flexible, organic, and printed technologies are emerging across diverse sectors, from BIPV, wearables, electronics, and sensors (healthcare, logistics, IoT). This will be the focus of my upcoming blog: “Organic and Printed Electronics: The Flexible Future of Photovoltaics”


Stay tuned. Have ideas or feedback? Drop me a line at nicholas@aheadcurve.co

 
 
 

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