AA / Istanbul / Emir Yildirim
Solar energy is expected to produce up to about a fifth of the world’s electricity this Friday during the northern hemisphere’s summer solstice, according to a report from London-based think tank Ember Climate.
“During the midday peak hour of June 21, the UN International Solstice Day, 20% of the world’s electricity will come from solar energy,” Ember Climate said in its report, adding that this represents an increase from 16% last year. The summer solstice is the longest day in the northern hemisphere and the one when it receives the most sunlight.
Over the entire month of June, around 8.2% of the world’s electricity is produced by the sun, compared to 6.7% in June 2023, the report notes.
Solar energy has become the fastest growing source of electricity in the world. China produces 9.6% of all global output, with its production capacity increasing by 152% year-on-year in 2023.
The report also indicates that an average of 2 million solar panels were installed per day last year, double the figure for 2022.
According to the same source, some 34 economies produce more than 10% of their electricity from solar energy, as it plays a key role in the global transition to clean energy.
The EU accounted for 9.2% of global solar power production in 2023, led by Spain whose solar power production is estimated at 30% of the global share this month.
Ember Climate estimates that the EU will more than double its contribution to solar energy, reaching 20% of the global total this June, compared to 17% at the same time last year.
“The United States and India are expected to have very similar solar share in June 2024, at 6.9% and 7.1%, respectively,” the report adds.
The average annual production share of solar energy in the United States was 5.6% and that of India was 5.8% in 2023.
* Translated from English by Mounir Bennour.
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