May 21, 2025
Global solar energy production is poised to surpass nuclear for the first time.
Global electricity generation from solar farms is expected to surpass nuclear reactor output for the first time this summer, highlighting a significant advancement in solar energy's role in global energy systems.
Although solar farms only produce electricity during the day and lag behind wind, nuclear, and hydro systems on an annual basis, they can exceed the output of most clean energy sources during peak months. Last summer, solar already topped global wind output, and it is now projected to outpace nuclear production temporarily, leaving only hydro systems as the major clean power source not yet briefly eclipsed by solar during peak periods.
Over the last decade, utilities have installed over twice the solar capacity compared to any other power source, primarily due to lower costs and faster connection times. By 2024, there was 1,866 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar capacity, ten times the capacity from 2014, marking the largest growth among major energy sources during that timeframe. Wind power saw the next largest increase at 3.2 times, while other sources experienced less than a doubling in capacity.
In 2024, solar's total capacity ranked third among major energy sources, trailing coal at 2,174 GW and natural gas at 2,055 GW, but surpassing both hydro at 1,283 GW and wind at 1,132 GW.
The increasing solar capacity has led to record-high peak electricity generation in recent years, with utility-scale solar growing by an average of 25% annually since 2020. In the first quarter of 2025, solar generation was 34% higher than the same period in 2024, due to capacity boosts in key regions. If this trend continues, solar electricity output could exceed 260 terawatt hours (TWh) per month during the summer months, surpassing the nuclear fleet's monthly peak of just below 252 TWh since 2019 and averaging 223 TWh in 2024.
However, solar generation is expected to fall below 250 TWh in September as daylight hours diminish in the northern hemisphere, home to most solar farms. This summer will mark the first time that solar farms contribute more to global electricity than nuclear reactors, setting a new benchmark for the solar industry.
For utility operators, the rise in solar power brings both opportunities and challenges. The intermittent nature of solar can overwhelm grids during peak output before ceasing production at night, necessitating real-time balancing with other power sources. The growing solar capacity is prompting utilities to modernize their grids for better management of renewable supply fluctuations.
The falling costs of battery storage are encouraging more utilities to implement systems that store excess solar power for later use, allowing them to reduce fossil fuel dependency, especially during price spikes. This "solar-plus-battery" model enables utilities to limit fossil fuel use and lower emissions.
During this summer, as solar farms reach new output records, utilities may reduce nuclear production when solar output is high and increase it again at night, enhancing their reliance on clean energy while fostering further growth in solar generation.
Although solar farms only produce electricity during the day and lag behind wind, nuclear, and hydro systems on an annual basis, they can exceed the output of most clean energy sources during peak months. Last summer, solar already topped global wind output, and it is now projected to outpace nuclear production temporarily, leaving only hydro systems as the major clean power source not yet briefly eclipsed by solar during peak periods.
Over the last decade, utilities have installed over twice the solar capacity compared to any other power source, primarily due to lower costs and faster connection times. By 2024, there was 1,866 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar capacity, ten times the capacity from 2014, marking the largest growth among major energy sources during that timeframe. Wind power saw the next largest increase at 3.2 times, while other sources experienced less than a doubling in capacity.
In 2024, solar's total capacity ranked third among major energy sources, trailing coal at 2,174 GW and natural gas at 2,055 GW, but surpassing both hydro at 1,283 GW and wind at 1,132 GW.
The increasing solar capacity has led to record-high peak electricity generation in recent years, with utility-scale solar growing by an average of 25% annually since 2020. In the first quarter of 2025, solar generation was 34% higher than the same period in 2024, due to capacity boosts in key regions. If this trend continues, solar electricity output could exceed 260 terawatt hours (TWh) per month during the summer months, surpassing the nuclear fleet's monthly peak of just below 252 TWh since 2019 and averaging 223 TWh in 2024.
However, solar generation is expected to fall below 250 TWh in September as daylight hours diminish in the northern hemisphere, home to most solar farms. This summer will mark the first time that solar farms contribute more to global electricity than nuclear reactors, setting a new benchmark for the solar industry.
For utility operators, the rise in solar power brings both opportunities and challenges. The intermittent nature of solar can overwhelm grids during peak output before ceasing production at night, necessitating real-time balancing with other power sources. The growing solar capacity is prompting utilities to modernize their grids for better management of renewable supply fluctuations.
The falling costs of battery storage are encouraging more utilities to implement systems that store excess solar power for later use, allowing them to reduce fossil fuel dependency, especially during price spikes. This "solar-plus-battery" model enables utilities to limit fossil fuel use and lower emissions.
During this summer, as solar farms reach new output records, utilities may reduce nuclear production when solar output is high and increase it again at night, enhancing their reliance on clean energy while fostering further growth in solar generation.