Global solar power generation is expected toIt would be the longest stretch that solar power has been the largest source of utility-scale renewable electricity globally, with three consecutive months since May this year surpassing wind power generation. According to energy think tank Ember, solar power generation exceeded wind power generation by 1.65 terawatt hours in May, and the gap further increased to 9.57 terawatt hours in June. Although global power generation data for July has not yet been released, given that July is the peak period for solar power generation in the entire northern hemisphere, the gap is likely to widen further.


The August data may also show solar power exceeding wind power, as August is typically the second-highest month for solar power production and is also a typical annual low for global wind power production.

Previously, solar power generation has only surpassed wind power generation in June and August 2023, and the gap has never been so long-lasting. But it is worth mentioning that starting next month, wind power will once again surpass solar power and become the world's largest source of renewable electricity, once solar power generation declines due to changes in the direct angle of the sun, and with the help of rising wind speeds as winter approaches across Europe, North America and northern Asia.

Considering that the peak period of wind power generation is in winter, during which wind power generation may be more than twice that of solar power generation, total wind power generation capacity may be at least 30% higher than total solar power generation capacity throughout 2024.

gap narrows

For more than 20 years, wind power has been the world's largest source of renewable electricity. Data shows that wind power generation in 2023 will be 2,311 terawatt hours, while solar power generation will be 1,632 terawatt hours. Over the past five years, however, solar power has grown twice as fast as wind power, in large part because solar power projects are much cheaper and take less time to build than wind power projects.


This momentum continues in 2024. Global solar power generation in the first half of 2024 increased by 26.5% compared with the same period in 2023, while wind power generation increased by 8% year-on-year in the first half of this year. In major markets including China, the United States and Europe, continued strong installed capacity growth looks set to further boost solar power generation, with solar power generation continuing to grow faster than wind power generation.

In this scenario, solar generation would exceed wind generation for a significant portion of each year, especially during the Northern Hemisphere summer, when solar generation peaks and wind generation is at its annual trough. But due to the round-the-clock nature of wind power, while solar power can only be generated during the day, wind power is likely to retain its status as the world's largest source of renewable electricity. Over the next few years, several large-scale offshore wind projects are expected to complete construction and lead new growth in wind power generation globally.