Global solar energy statistics

Scientists have estimated that the total solar energy absorbed by our planet is approximately 3,850,000 exajoules (EJ) per year.

Solar energy has enormous potential, and covering only 4% of the world's deserts with solar panels would be enough to supply all of the world's electricity.

Top three solar power producing countries in the world in 2009 were Spain, Germany and United States.

Solar power, despite having an enormous potential, accounted in 2008 for less than 0.02% of the world's total energy supply.

Last ten years were very productive for solar power industry with photovoltaic production growth averaging 40% per year since 2000, with total installed capacity of 14.73 GW in 2008.

Global installed solar photovoltaic power capacity grew by 44 percent in 2009, despite the financial crisis, adding record 6.4 gigawatts of new capacity in 2009.

Solar energy (at the beginning of the 2010) had the average price of 18 cents per kilowatt hour, approximately three times more expensive than the price of coal and natural gas.

Solar energy currently provides only about 0.5 percent of globally installed electricity capacity.

An average photovoltaic cell has an efficiency of only 15%. Solar heaters have efficiency of 60%.

World's biggest solar energy project is $555.3 billion Desertec project with a goal to turn Sahara's vast sunlight into enough electricity to supply 15 percent of Europe's energy demand.

Global solar energy demand has grown at about 30% per year over the past 15 years.

Photovoltaic production has been growing by more than 20 percent each year since 2002.

Germany, Japan and US represented little less than 89% of the total worldwide PV installed capacity in 2009.