Solar power generation could exceed nuclear electricity output globally for the first time this summer, driven by rising solar capacity and long daylight hours in the northern hemisphere.
Global solar generation rose by 34% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from energy think tank Ember, cited by Reuters columnist Gavin Maguire.
If this growth continues through June, July, and August, global solar output could reach over 260 terawatt-hours (TWh) for the summer. This would surpass the 2024 global nuclear power average of 223 TWh for the same period, Maguire noted.
In its Global Electricity Review 2025, Ember reported that clean energy sources—including solar—generated more than 40% of global electricity in 2024. Solar led that growth, even as extreme heat increased power demand and slightly boosted fossil fuel use.
“Solar generation has maintained its high growth rate, doubling in the last three years and adding more electricity than any other source,” Ember analysts said.
China led the solar boom, accounting for 53% of the global increase in solar generation in 2024. The country met 81% of its rising electricity demand with clean sources.
Europe and China together are driving global solar expansion. But in Europe, this rapid growth has also caused power prices to drop below zero more often. On a sunny weekend in late April, electricity prices in northwest Europe fell by several hundred euros below zero due to a surge in solar output.
While negative prices may benefit some consumers, they hurt the profits of solar producers and reduce incentives for further investment. Experts say this trend underlines the urgent need for more energy storage. Storing excess solar power during the day and releasing it at night would help balance supply and support future investment in renewables.
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