Does North Korea still use solar power?

In this installment of our series on North Korea’s energy sector, we move away from official and commercial uses of solar and seek to understand the growing use of solar power for personal energy consumption in a country where its people still suffer from an unreliable power supply nationwide.

Is solar energy making inroads in North Korea's Power Sector?

Solar energy is making inroads into North Korea’s power sector as residents are looking to install panels to have the lights on, at least partially, as the regime is failing to supply its citizens with electricity while prioritizing power to factories.

Is solar a good idea for North Korea?

Introduction of Solar to North Korea’s Energy Mix The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) appears to have identified the benefits of harnessing renewable energy in the mid-2000s.

Can solar power solve North Korea's energy problems?

Jeong-hyeon, a North Korean escapee, told the Financial Times that many residents in Hamhung, the second-most populous city, “relied on a solar panel, a battery and a power generator to light their houses and power their television”. But solar power is still only a partial solution to the country’s energy woes.

Why do North Koreans use solar power?

So, for many North Koreans, solar power has become a way to have electricity to power some appliances in the evening, if the day has been sunny to allow charging a battery with solar energy.

How much solar power does North Korea have?

Solar power is estimated to account for around 7% of North Korea’s electricity supply, a report by the Seoul-based Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI) showed earlier this year. North Korean households are thought to have installed some 2.88 million solar panels, most of which have been imported from China since 2009, according to the report.