Solar Energy - What Countries Use It?

What countries use solar energy? That may sound like a trick question. We all know that solar energy requires sunlight. The natural response, then, would be to think of countries with long hours of sunlight, many days a year. Which countries are those? Where would we find that information?

Insolation Values

Looking at a map of world solar insolation values, we can quickly see which areas of the world receive the greatest amount of solar energy in hours each day - during the worst month of the year.

* Dark red: 6 to 7 hours
* Red: 5 to 6 hours
* Orange: 4 to 5 hours
* Light orange: 3 to 4 hours
* Gold: 2 to 3 hours
* Yellow: 1 to 2 hours

Dark Red Areas

What countries use solar energy, among those that have the most potential? In the dark red zone, receiving 6 to 7 hours of solar energy during their worst month, there must be high usage.

The map’s dark red areas are seen in a swath across northern Africa and into Saudi Arabia. They are also found in south central Africa. Yet these areas are using very little solar energy. Africa is gradually increasing use to help remote villages, but the program is in its beginning stages.

Northern Australia is also dark red. Australia receives enough solar energy from the sun to generate almost all of its electricity needs. However, only a small percentage of solar energy is used for electricity in Australia.

Red Areas

What countries use solar energy in the red zone?

Areas that receive 5 to 6 hours of solar energy each day during the worst month of the year include much of the remainder of Australia and Africa. The red band sweeps across much of the Middle East, too, and into northern India. That solar energy goes unused, for the most part.

Southwestern United States and a portion of the west coast are also in the red zone. Solar energy is used in that area, and is increasing gradually. The area has a long way to go, however, before it gets near realizing its full solar energy potential.

Orange and Light Orange Areas

Many of the remaining areas south of the Equator, as well as north to 45 or 50 degrees of latitude are orange and light orange. These areas receive between 3 and 5 hours of solar energy daily, during the worst month.

What countries use solar energy in these areas? The major user is Japan, which has astounding usage for the country size. Portugal, Spain, and France are rapidly growing in their usage, as is Italy. South Korea is working to greatly increase their use. India and China use solar energy somewhat, and the remaining part of the U.S. uses solar energy – but such usage is relatively small.

Gold Areas

An area such as this, which receives only 2 to 3 hours of solar energy per day, seems an unlikely place to find solar energy usage. Amazingly, some of the countries that use solar energy most are located in these areas of the world. Parts of Portugal, Spain, and France are located in the gold solar energy areas of our map. A portion of Canada, too, is gold – and uses solar energy.

Yellow Areas

The most amazing country when it comes to solar energy usage is Germany. Most of Germany falls into this category, which receives only 1 to 2 hours of solar energy daily during its worst month. Despite that short time, Germany leads the world in solar energy usage! Britain, in the same category, has set some big goals for their growing solar energy use.