Global solar capacity will be on par with nuclear power for the first time by the end of 2017.

That’s according to new research from Greentech Media (GTM), which suggests by the end of the year global solar installations will reach 390GW, compared to the 391.5GW of nuclear plants in operation.

By 2022, the group expects global solar capacity to reach 871GW, 43GW more than expected wind installations by that date and more than double the volume of current nuclear power.

It suggests high costs and slow construction are causing the global nuclear industry to falter, while renewables are continually dropping in price.

GTM says even with a 4GW downward adjustment in projected solar installations, it’s still going to be a record-breaking year for the form of generation.

It expects 81GW of solar to go into place, more than double installed in 2014 and 32 times more than a decade ago.

Under a high growth scenario, which is similar to where the industry is heading, it’s predicted the world could get 27% of its electricity from solar by 2050, which would make it the dominant power source globally.

A floating solar farm claimed to be the world’s largest has been successfully connected to the grid in China.