According to a report by thinktank Ember, the world has enough solar power capacity to generate a 5th of its midday peak electricity needs on the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, up from 16% last year.
Key findings
- In 2023, solar generated a record 5.5% of global electricity, and 34 economies in the world are now generating over 10% of their electricity from solar power.
- The northern hemisphere’s summer solstice on June 21 is the longest day of the year, but all days in June are similar enough in length that solar generation on that day will be close to the monthly average, based on calculations of the weighted average of hourly solar generation data.
- Report estimates 89% of the world’s solar panels are installed in the northern hemisphere.
Summer solstice
- The summer solstice occurs for Earth’s upper half when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted most closely toward the sun.
- This also marks the longest day and shortest night of the year.
- Around the same time, the Southern Hemisphere is at its most extreme tilt away from the sun, entering winter solstice and its shortest day of the year.
- Equinoxes mark the start of spring and autumn, and happen when Earth’s axis and orbit line up such that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.
- The vernal equinox on March 19 kicked off spring, and the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22 will usher in fall.
