Reliable Solar Electricity, Around the Clock

A newly published report provides a detailed explanation of how solar-generated electricity can be delivered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by combining solar panels and batteries effectively and affordably.

“This is a turning point in the clean energy transition. Around-the-clock solar is no longer just a technical possibility and distant dream, but an economic reality,” explains Kostantsa Rangelova, Global Electricity Analyst, Ember. “Now it’s time for policy and investment to catch up.”

In sunny places like Las Vegas, the United States, an average day can achieve 1 kilowatt (kW) of stable solar power with 5 kW of fixed solar panels and a 17-kilowatt-hour battery. The Nevada city can reach as close as 97% of 24/365 solar generation, providing a stable supply every hour of every day of the year for $104 per megawatt-hour (MWh), which is less than the cost of coal and nuclear. Many sunny places can get at least 90% of the way to 24/365 solar generation for around $100/MWh. The concept of a 24-hour electricity supply with solar generation presents game-changing opportunities for energy-intensive industries such as manufacturing and data centres.