Global Solar Atlas: summary of solar power potential globally

The conversation centers on the Global Solar Atlas and how much sunlight different regions can harvest. thelastgallon argues that falling panel prices make local, distributed solar - rooftop and vertical - the obvious solution: produce where you consume, avoid costly transmission expansion, and use building structures and fences for immediate deployment. They promote agrivoltaics, urging subsidies so farmers can combine shade, grazing and crop growth with panels, and suggest Europe could simply import or build in sunnier nearby regions if needed. thelastgallon lists high-potential areas (Australia, much of South America, Mexico, Central America, large swaths of Africa and the Middle East, Mongolia, parts of China and the US) and contends Russia has poor solar potential and will remain a fossil-focused power.

Other commenters offered caveats and different emphases. stratts praised the site’s regional drilldowns and noted surprises such as northern Canada’s decent potential and the UK having roughly half Australia’s output. silverFork emphasized winter wind as Europe’s strength and explained that aridity and elevation (as in Mongolia) raise solar yield, while maritime humidity lowers it for northern Europe; they also compared Canada and Mongolia’s potential. polishdude20 only complained about a UI issue with the back button.