In a breakthrough for the global clean energy transition, a new report from energy think tank Ember confirms that solar-plus-storage has reached economic viability for delivering around-the-clock electricity in some of the world’s sunniest locations. Thanks to a significant decline in battery prices, solar energy can now provide near-constant power across almost every hour of the year—dramatically shifting its role in the global energy mix.
The report, based on hourly solar irradiance data from 12 global cities, highlights how a system comprising 6 GW of solar PV and 17 GWh of battery storage can consistently deliver 1 GW of electricity output throughout the year. In leading sunbelt cities like Las Vegas and Muscat, this configuration is capable of covering 97% to 99% of hours annually, making solar a viable baseload power source. Crucially, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) from such systems has now fallen to just $104/MWh, a 22% reduction in the past year, thanks to a 40% drop in global battery costs in 2024 alone.
This pricing makes solar-plus-storage cheaper than new-build coal ($118/MWh) and significantly more affordable than nuclear ($182/MWh) in many markets.
Cities with more variable weather—like Hyderabad, Madrid, and Buenos Aires—also performed well, reaching 80–95% of the year’s hours with this configuration. Even traditionally overcast cities such as Birmingham, UK could cover up to 62% of hourly demand.
The findings are especially promising for emerging economies in Africa and Latin America, where abundant solar resources coincide with infrastructure constraints. Large power users—such as manufacturers and data centers—can now access clean, reliable power without waiting for grid expansion, enabling faster decarbonization and localized energy independence.
Beyond economic advantages, solar-plus-storage can also defer costly grid upgrades by enabling up to five times more solar deployment on existing connections. This reinforces the technology’s role not just in energy generation but also in grid optimization and reliability.
“The sharp drop in battery prices has brought 24-hour solar closer to reality,” said Kostantsa Rangelova, Global Electricity Analyst at Ember. “It’s a turning point in the clean energy transition. With the right policy support, solar-plus-storage can become the backbone of clean, affordable, and reliable power systems.”
Real-world deployments are already underway. The world’s first gigawatt-scale 24-hour solar facility in the UAE and solar-powered data centers in Arizona offer living proof of this model’s scalability and effectiveness.
As battery technology continues to advance and global deployment scales up, 24/365 solar generation is no longer a distant goal—it’s an actionable, cost-effective solution that could redefine energy systems in the world’s sunniest regions and beyond.
