Solar Power Reaches New Milestone, Generating 20% of Global Electricity on Summer Solstice

In a significant milestone for renewable energy, solar power is expected to generate up to 20% of the world’s electricity on the upcoming summer solstice, according to a report by the London-based think tank Ember Climate.

The report, as quoted by Anadolu Agency, states that “across the midday peaks on 21 June, the UN’s International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice — 20% of the world’s electricity will come from solar.” This represents an increase from 16% on last year’s solstice, underscoring the rapid growth of solar power globally.

Over the entire month of June, solar energy is projected to account for roughly 8.2% of the world’s electricity, up from 6.7% in June 2023. This surge in solar generation is driven in part by China, which now makes up 9.6% of the global solar capacity after a 152% year-on-year increase in 2023.

The report also highlights the widespread adoption of solar power, with 34 economies now generating over 10% of their electricity from the sun. The European Union, in particular, is expected to more than double its contribution to global solar energy, reaching 20% of the worldwide total in June, up from 17% during the same period last year.

While the US and India are also increasing their solar energy shares, reaching 6.9% and 7.1% respectively in June 2024, the report notes that the average annual solar energy contributions for these countries were 5.6% and 5.8% in 2023.

Overall, the rapid growth of solar power underscores its crucial role in the global transition to clean energy, with the installation of solar panels surging to an average of 2 million per day in 2023, double the 2022 figure.