Solar power is set to reach a new peak, providing a fifth of the world’s electricity for an hour on June 21st. This achievement is due to the longer summer days in the northern hemisphere, where most solar installations are located. Clean energy think tank Ember has analyzed midday highs and found that solar energy will contribute 20% to the global power mix, a significant increase from 16% last year.
Spain is leading the European charge in solar generation, with its June 2024 average on track to reach 30%. This impressive figure highlights Spain’s commitment to renewable energy and its position as a leader in solar technology. While Spain is outperforming other European countries, it’s important to note that not all nations are equally blessed by sunshine. Countries with higher levels of ‘insolation,’ or solar radiation reaching a given area, have a greater potential for solar energy.
Despite having the highest global solar generation, China only derives 6.2% of its power mix from solar. This highlights that while some countries might produce large amounts of solar energy, it might not be a significant portion of their overall electricity generation. Countries like the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia have vast solar potential but are currently underutilizing it. Meanwhile, countries like the Netherlands and Germany, despite having less sunshine, are generating 17% and 12% of their electricity from solar respectively. This demonstrates that solar can play a crucial role in meeting electricity needs regardless of geographic location.
The summer solstice, which arrived on June 21st, marks the point where the Earth’s northern pole is tilted furthest towards the sun. This year, the solstice occurred earlier than it has since 1976. For the entire month of June, Ember predicts that solar will account for 8.2% of global electricity generation, an increase from 6.7% in June 2023. The European Union is projected to exceed this global average, with solar making up 20% of its electricity mix.
Kostantsa Rangelova, an electricity analyst at Ember, emphasizes the growing importance of solar power. She states, “At 20% share, solar is now a serious global electricity source. Costs have collapsed, meaning solar power is already being used in the evening, not just in the daytime. Solar power is the fastest growing source of electricity and will undoubtedly rise to become the biggest source of electricity, and ultimately of energy.” This trend towards widespread solar adoption reflects a global shift towards renewable energy sources.
