List Of Countries By Solar Energy Production | List of Countries by Solar Energy Production

September 16th, 2017

By Elias A. Abreu

A country’s capacity for producing electricity from the sun is an excellent measure of its overall solar potential. It provides an indication of the amount of energy that is readily available and, more importantly, the amount of energy that can be harnessed through solar technology. The latter is a function of the area planted with solar panels, the quality of sunlight, and the efficiency of the hardware and software used for solar power generation.

There are 17 countries whose annual average hourly solar radiation intensity is at least 1,000 watts per meter squared. This is more than sufficient to sustain a daily electric load of up to three hundred and sixty kilowatt hours (kWh). The map on the following page shows where these countries are located, and the table below lists their key electricity generation and demand statistics.

The 17 Most Potent Solar Countries

The Maldives, with its ever-expanding number of renewable energy projects, has the highest electricity generation per capita in the world. At the time of writing, the country produces enough electricity to meet the needs of its 5.3 million people for a year. The second most solar-powered country is Switzerland, which has more than four hundred days of sunshine per year. The country has been a pioneer in promoting green energy, and about a quarter of its electricity generation comes from solar power. The Swiss also consume less electricity per person than the global average. Among the other countries on the list are Germany, Italy, and Spain. These are known for being some of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, and it’s not difficult to see why. Germany and Italy in particular have been pioneers in photovoltaic technology and its applications. In 2015, Germany became the first country in the world to reach a 100% renewable energy target. It’s clear this trend is here to stay.

Key Facts About The 17 Most Potent Solar Countries

Where Can I Travel To On A Solar Tour?

If you want to visit one of the 17 most potent solar countries listed above, where can you travel to? The Maldives is found in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Africa. At the time of writing, this was the last country on Earth. Travel to the country has become a lot easier now than before, since it has joined the on-line travel market, and the number of tourist attractions and activities have doubled. So, if you are interested in a trip abroad, consider the Maldives as a place to start your travels.

How Is Electricity Generation Implemented?

Every country’s implementation of solar power varies, but most notably, the size and the grid-compatibility of the panels used. The larger the panel, the more electricity that can be generated. It’s also worth noting that the more expensive and higher-quality the panel, the more efficient it will be. The table below provides a comparison of key parameters for various panel types:

Grid-Compatible, LED-Powered Panels

To generate a great amount of electricity and be compatible with the local electrical grid, the solar panels used by the 17 countries above need to be larger than six feet by six feet. Typically, the panels are made up of dozens of strings, with each string containing dozens of solar cells. The strings are wired together to create a series of interconnected panels. The overall output of the panel is determined by multiplying the output of each individual cell by the number of cells used.

To achieve a high efficiency rate, the solar cells generating electricity in these countries tend to use semiconductors such as silicon or gallium arsenide and are typically encapsulated in glass. The use of such materials makes the cells highly stable and durable, preventing energy loss due to breakage or deterioration. Furthermore, to reduce the impact of climate change, the cells used by the 17 most solar-powered countries listed above are generally transparent, allowing maximum light absorption and minimization of vapors and particulates.

There are three ways electricity is currently being produced in these countries:

Small-scale solar power plants using crystalline silicon technology in the form of either independent power units or micro-grids.
Mid-sized solar power plants using amorphous silicon technology.
Large-scale solar power plants using photovoltaic panels.

Independent power units are seen above as small-scale solar power plants, while micro-grids consist of a group of energy generators, transformers, and distribution grids connected to a larger power grid. These micro-grids are typically found in places where there’s plenty of sunshine such as the UK and southern Europe. Due to their smaller size and more localized nature, independent power units are ideal for providing electricity to residential and commercial properties, as well as to public spaces such as parks and football pitches.

Cost-Effective And Low-Maintenance

One of the greatest advantages of solar energy over other forms of electricity generation is its incredibly low initial investment cost. All you need are panels made of glass or crystalline silicon and some form of mounting hardware. You can find complete installation kits for under ten thousand dollars. The cost to maintain solar energy is also quite low. The only thing that requires maintenance is the cleaning of the panels, and that’s due to the fact that they are rather dusty. So, if you’re looking for a long-term and stable power source with a low initial cost and low ongoing maintenance, solar energy is the clear choice.

There are other forms of renewable energy that are considerably more expensive to install than solar power. For example, wind farms and water power plants can cost up to a million dollars per kilowatt, plus there are daily operational costs that need to be covered. The cost of solar power is only a few hundred dollars per kilowatt, plus there are zero operational costs. In short, for the money, you can’t put a better value on power generation.

Longer Stable Durations

Another key measure of a country’s solar potential is the amount of electricity it is able to generate on a daily basis. The 17 most solar-powered countries listed above are able to generate enough energy to meet nearly all of their demands for a year, giving them an extremely high capacity factor. Naturally, this is because the sun shines bright in these parts and is highly abundant. The duration of time the panels are able to generate power is also quite high, with some models reaching a capacity of twenty years or more. On average, the panels generate about 16.7 kWh per day, which helps to lower energy costs for the countries that use them.

Where Can I Travel To On An LED Tour?

Since many of the countries listed above use LED lighting, it’s only logical to look into visiting places that have adopted this more sustainable form of illumination. The use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) saves a lot on behalf of the environment, and this is mainly because they tend to use less electricity than traditional forms of lighting. So, if you are interested in an eco-friendly tour abroad, consider traveling to countries that use LEDs.

To achieve a high efficiency rate, the solar cells used by the 17 most solar-powered countries listed above need to be larger than six feet by six feet. Typically, the panels are made up of dozens of strings, with each string containing dozens of solar cells. The strings are wired together to create a series of interconnected panels. The overall output of the panel is determined by multiplying the output of each individual cell by the number of cells used.