Five of the world’s top 20 solar power producers in 2024 were BRICS countries, led by China, which generated 839 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar electricity – more than any other nation. India ranked third globally with 137TWh, after the United States at 303TWh. Brazil followed in sixth place with 71TWh, while South Africa placed 16th with 20TWh. The United Arab Emirates, which joined BRICS in 2024, was 20th.

According to the energy think tank Ember’s report Solar BRICS: Emerging economies now lead the world’s clean energy race, the expanded BRICS group – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE – together produced 51% of global solar electricity in 2024.

China alone accounted for 39% of global solar generation in 2024, up sharply from just 12% a decade earlier. South Africa’s contribution was 0.9%.