The sun is an inexhaustible natural resource that influences multiple aspects of our lives, from solar energy until and health. Some places in the world enjoy an exceptional amount of hours of sun per year, making them ideal destinations for those looking for a warm weather and sunny. In this article, we will explore what the countries and cities with more hours of sunshine, as well as those that barely see sunlight during certain periods of the year.
In addition to analyzing the insolation In different regions of the world, we will also see how Spain is among the European countries with more hours of sunshine, making it a privileged place for renewable energy and tourism. Join us on this tour of the sunniest and darkest corners of the planet.
Cities in the world with the fewest hours of sunshine
While there are places where the sun shines almost all year round, others barely see its light for several months. This happens especially in regions close to the poles or surrounded by mountains that block the sun's rays.
- Rjukan (Norway): This small Norwegian village spent many years without sunlight between September and March due to the mountains surrounding it. In 2013, three heliostat mirrors were installed to reflect sunlight and bring some illumination to the village. class from town.
- Utqiagvik (Alaska, USA): Formerly known as Barrow, this city can go up to two months without seeing the sun, due to its location close to the Arctic Circle. Its long winter night has even been depicted in films Horror.
- Tórshavn (Faroe Islands): La capital The Faroe Islands are one of the places with the least solar radiation in the world, with just 840 hours of sunshine a year.
- London (United Kingdom) and Cologne (Germany): These cities do not exceed 60 days of sunshine a year, which makes them places with mostly cloudy skies. cloudy.
The sunniest places in the world
At the other extreme, there are cities and countries where the sun shines practically all year round, making them true paradises for those who enjoy the sun. heat and natural light.
- Yuma (Arizona, USA): Considered the sunniest city in the world, it has an average of 4.015 hours of sunshine per year. In summer, it can reach up to 13 hours of sunshine a day.
- Aswan (Egypt): It is the sunniest city in Africa, with an average of 3.863 hours of sunlight per year and more than 10,6 hours of sunshine per day.
- Phoenix (Arizona, USA): Another Arizona city that enjoys a desert climate with approximately 3.872 hours of sunshine per year.
Spain and its privileged sunny climate
Spain, along with countries such as Portugal, Italy y Greece, is one of the European nations with the most hours of sunshine per year. The amount of sunshine varies by region, but in general, the Iberian Peninsula far exceeds 2.000 hours of sunlight per year.
- Cities with the highest amount of sunshine: Seville, Madrid, Badajoz, Alicante and Almería have more than 2.800 hours of sunshine a year, in some cases reaching 3.000You can check the updated ranking of the cities in Spain with the most hours of sunshine.
- Cities with less sunshine: In Galicia, the Cantabrian Sea and the upper Ebro, the annual hours of sunshine are between 1.600 y 2.000.
- Balearic and Canary Islands: While the Balearic Islands have values close to the 2.600-2.800 annual hours, in the Canary Islands the amount of sunshine varies depending on the island due to the influence of the trade windsTo learn more about which Spanish regions enjoy the best climate, you can visit .
Solar energy and the future of self-consumption
The abundance of sunshine in certain parts of the world has driven the development of solar energy as a key renewable source. In Spain, photovoltaic energy is constantly growing, with the aim of reaching 37.000 megawatts of installed capacity by 2030. The Spanish Photovoltaic Union It is estimated that self-consumption will be responsible for 15-20% of the new installed capacity each year. Thanks to the growing investments in solar energy, Spain is positioned as a referent in the use of solar energy to supply homes y companies.
Around the world, other sunny regions have also taken advantage of this natural resource. Yuma, Arizona, is a key example, as its enormous amount of sunlight makes it an ideal location for solar energy and self-consumption projects. To better understand which regions have the greatest potential for solar projects, check out .
The sun is an inexhaustible resource that influences our daily lives and sustainable energy development. From the darkest cities to the sunniest in the world, each region has unique characteristics that determine its level of sunshine. Spain, with its privileged climate, stands out in Europe as an ideal country for tourism and renewable energy, making the most of its abundant hours of sunshine.
