Where Is Solar Power Used The Most?

Key takeaways

• China uses the most solar power globally, generating over 224 GWh of electricity using just solar, with a projected 370 kWh of installed solar by .

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• Government incentives are the largest driver of solar power and many countries are embracing a renewable energy transition to enhance their economies for a post-COVID world.

• Solar installations are becoming cheaper and are expected to increase in both residential and commercial U.S. markets - with the potential of 1 solar installation per minute in the US by .

What countries have the highest installed capacity of solar PV power?

China leads the way in installed PV with the United States and Japan in second and third place for installed solar capacity, respectively. 

The table below is based on data from the International Renewable Energy Agency country ranking report. 

Ranking

Country

Installed PV (GWh)

1

China

224,541

2

U.S.

97,478

3

Japan

68,953

4

Germany

46,392

5

India

43,870

6

Italy

23,701

7

Spain

12,744

8

Australia

14,848

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9

Republic of Korea

12,996

10

United Kingdom

12,918

Where are solar energy resources located?

Image source: Global Solar Atlas

Solar radiation produced from the sun's energy is in abundance all over the globe, but some locations are more suitable for solar PV panels than others. 

For example, it makes more sense to utilize the sun's power in places where the sun shines all year long, such as in deserts. 

Where there is more sun, there is better potential for adding solar technologies within the utility energy mix. Some of the countries with the most sunlight are on the top 10 solar capacity list, such as Australia and India, but there is certainly untapped potential in Africa and South America.

Solar incentives play a huge part in market development

Many of the countries in the world that have the highest per capita of installed solar power do not necessarily have high levels of insolation from the sun. 

Government and state incentives play a major role in making solar power affordable. For solar to succeed, governments need to support the power industry's shift to renewables. 

A great example of this is the state of New Jersey. It is not the sunniest state in the U.S., especially compared to sunnier locations like Nevada or Hawaii, but it boasts a huge market for solar because of the generous state incentives coupled with federal incentives that make solar more affordable. 

Find out which incentives & rebates you qualify for by installing solar

China is the largest solar energy producer in the world

Over the past few years, the Chinese capacity of solar panels has increased exponentially. It has grown to be the largest solar market in the world and it is estimated that by , China will have 370GW of solar power installed, double that of what the U.S. is expected to have.

While this growth is impressive and admirable, China will have to continue to ease off their coal power generation dependence to be seen as a true leader in renewable energy. 

Other key players

Europe has been incentivising renewable growth for years and plans to boost renewables to enhance their post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Additionally, Germany, Italy, the UK, and France are currently at the top in terms of solar farm capacity, or agrivoltaics.

To reduce CO2 emissions, the European Union countries are planning to draw most of their electricity from renewables by , with solar power as the leading power source. 

The solar photovoltaic industry is increasing in the U.S.

In addition to the federal solar tax credit, individual states offer local incentives for installing residential solar systems. 

Energy companies within the U.S. are also starting to embrace solar for its low-cost energy production and job creation - and are beginning to incorporate solar power plants into their energy mix. 

California remains at the forefront for solar PV system growth in the U.S. and is one of the best states for installing solar. But now, other states are catching up, including Texas, Utah, Florida, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

It is projected that by , there will be an average of 1 solar installation per minute in the U.S., according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

The global trend for embracing and increasing solar pv capacity is catching on. Governments are beginning to see huge benefits for electricity production by utilizing solar panels. Solar thermal plants are the power source of the future and should be incorporated on a large-scale in every country. 

Can I use solar thermal technology where I live?

Solar thermal technologies can be used anywhere in the United States. However, some regions naturally receive more intense and more reliable solar energy than others, depending on latitude, typical weather patterns, and other factors. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory provides maps that show the solar energy potential where you live.

Solar thermal technologies absorb the heat of the sun and transfer it to useful applications, such as heating buildings or water. There are several major types of solar thermal technologies in use:

In addition to the solar thermal technologies above, technologies such as solar photovoltaic modules can produce electricity, and buildings can be designed to capture passive solar heat.

Solar energy is considered a renewable resource because it is continuously supplied to the Earth by the sun. Visit EPA's Clean Energy website to learn more about non-thermal solar technologies and the environmental benefits and impacts of solar energy.

Unglazed Solar Collectors

An unglazed solar collector on the roof of a pool and fitness center.
Credit: Albert Nunez, NREL

An unglazed solar collector is one of the simplest forms of solar thermal technology. A heat-conducting material, usually a dark metal or plastic, absorbs sunlight and transfers the energy to a fluid passing through or behind the heat-conducting surface. The process is similar to how a garden hose, laying out in the open, will absorb the sun's energy and heat the water inside the hose.

These collectors are described as 'unglazed' because they do not have a glass covering or 'glazing' on the collector box to trap heat. The lack of glazing creates a trade-off. Unglazed solar collectors are simple and inexpensive, but without a way to trap heat, they lose heat back to the environment and they operate at relatively low temperatures. Thus, unglazed collectors typically work best with small to moderate heating applications or as a complement to traditional heating systems, where they can reduce fuel burdens by pre-heating water or air.

Solar pool heating collectors are the most commonly used unglazed solar technology in the United States. These devices often use black plastic tubular panels mounted on a roof or other support structure. A water pump circulates pool water directly through the tubular panels, then returns the water to the pool at a higher temperature. Although used primarily for pool heating, these collectors can also pre-heat large volumes of water for other commercial and industrial applications.

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