Solar energy production in Japan and South Korea surged to record levels in May, according to global energy think tank Ember.
Locally produced renewable energy sources (RES) provide countries with an increasing opportunity to enjoy the benefits of cheaper and cleaner electricity.
The expansion of solar energy production in major Asian economies comes amid global disruptions in the coal and natural gas markets.
According to Ember, Japan’s solar power generation exceeded 10 TWh in May, or about 15% of the country’s total electricity generation. In South Korea, solar generated more than 7% of the electricity in the country, Bloomberg reported.
To be sure, both countries are still heavily dependent on dirty fuels: Japan generates about 68% of its electricity, while Korea generates 56.2% of its electricity from fossil fuels, according to Ember.
Solar and wind power will need to generate more than 40% of global electricity by 2030 to keep warming at or below 1.5°C, according to a report citing the latest analysis from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).