diff --git a/config/config.default.yaml b/config/config.default.yaml
index 95ae738eb..ba41fe5ad 100644
--- a/config/config.default.yaml
+++ b/config/config.default.yaml
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ renewable:
       orientation:
         slope: 35.
         azimuth: 180.
-    capacity_per_sqkm: 1.7
+    capacity_per_sqkm: 5.1
     # correction_factor: 0.854337
     corine: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 31, 32]
     luisa: false # [1111, 1121, 1122, 1123, 1130, 1210, 1221, 1222, 1230, 1241, 1242, 1310, 1320, 1330, 1410, 1421, 1422, 2110, 2120, 2130, 2210, 2220, 2230, 2310, 2410, 2420, 3210, 3320, 3330]
diff --git a/doc/release_notes.rst b/doc/release_notes.rst
index 01833ccc9..338577801 100644
--- a/doc/release_notes.rst
+++ b/doc/release_notes.rst
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ Release Notes
 Upcoming Release
 ================
 
+* Increase deployment density of solar to 5.1 MW/sqkm by default.
+
 * Default to full electrification of land transport by 2050.
 
 * Default to approximating transmission losses in HVAC lines