Global electricity generation from solar farms has surpassed that of wind farms since May 2024, marking the longest stretch in history where solar power has led as the top source of utility-scale renewable electricity worldwide.
In May, solar power generation exceeded wind by 1.65 terawatt hours (TWh), with the gap widening to 9.57 TWh in June, according to energy think tank Ember. Although July’s data is yet to be released, experts anticipate an even larger surplus for solar, given that July typically marks the peak month for solar output across the northern hemisphere.
August is also expected to show solar generation outpacing wind, as it usually ranks as the second highest month for solar output while coinciding with the annual low point for global wind generation due to reduced wind speeds at turbine level.
Historically, solar power only surpassed wind generation in June and August 2023, making this sustained period of solar dominance unprecedented. However, as the angle of the sun’s rays shifts in the coming months, solar output is likely to decline, allowing wind to reclaim its position as the leading renewable power source globally, particularly with the onset of winter in Europe, North America, and Northern Asia.
Despite this seasonal shift, wind-powered electricity generation is expected to be at least 30% higher than solar generation for the entirety of 2024, driven by winter months when wind output can more than double that of solar.
Closing the Gap
Wind farms have been the largest source of renewable electricity for over two decades, generating 2,311 TWh in 2023 compared to 1,632 TWh from solar assets. However, solar generation has grown at twice the pace of wind over the past five years, largely due to the lower costs and faster construction times associated with solar farms.
From 2018 to 2023, solar generation capacity grew by 188%, outpacing the 80% growth in wind capacity. This trend has continued in 2024, with solar generation in the first half of the year increasing by 26.5% compared to an 8% rise in wind output.
Ongoing capacity growth in major markets like China, the United States, and Europe is expected to further boost solar generation, leading to more frequent periods where solar surpasses wind, particularly during the northern hemisphere summer.
However, due to the round-the-clock generating capability of wind farms, which contrasts with the daytime-only production of solar farms, wind is likely to retain its status as the world’s largest source of renewable electricity in the long run. The completion of several large offshore wind projects in the coming years is also expected to spur new growth in global wind generation.
In the near term, however, solar power is set to continue narrowing the gap, with further periods of higher generation than wind expected during the sunniest times of the year.
