Statistical chart of solar power generation

How much solar energy does the world use?

The world currently has a cumulative solar energy capacity of 850.2 GW (gigawatts). 4.4% of our global energy comes from solar power. China generates more solar energy than any other country, with a current capacity of 308.5 GW. The US relies on solar for 3.9% of its energy, although this share is increasing rapidly every year.

How many people are employed in solar energy?

3,975,096 people are employed in the solar industry worldwide, and 263,883 of these are in the United States. The solar energy industry created more new jobs in the US than any other energy subsector last year. It would take around 18.5 billion solar panels to produce enough energy to power the entire US. What is the capacity of solar energy?

What percentage of electricity is generated by solar?

Renewables as a whole contributed 38% of overall electricity generation (according to Ember Climate), and solar accounted for 11.5% of total renewables (see below). This gives an overall figure of 4.37%. In the US alone, the figure is slightly lower. The latest data shows solar producing 3% of total US electricity in 2020.

What is the contribution of solar energy to global electricity production?

While the contribution of solar energy to global electricity production remains generally low at 3.6%, it has firmly established itself among other renewable energy technologies, comprising nearly 31% of the total installed renewable energy capacity in 2022 (IRENA, 2023).

What is data on renewable power capacity?

Data on renewable power capacity represents the maximum net generating capacity of power plants and other installations that use renewable energy sources to produce electricity. For most countries and technologies, the data reflects the capacity installed and connected at the end of the calendar year.

Where can I find electricity generation and capacity data?

Electricity generation and capacity datasets from the year 2000 onwards are also available through a dashboard on IRENA’s Data & Statistics page. This statistical publication presents renewable energy statistics for the last decade (2013-2023).