Solar Activity Around The World

In the UK we now have in the region of 640,000 PV systems operating and under a just about OK FIT system the number is growing by approx. 2000+ installs per week

Over in the U.S. they are steaming ahead and on pace to complete its one MILLIONTH INSTALLATION in 2015. This follows a 36 PERCENT INCREASE IN SOLAR PV INSTALLATIONS over last year. Much of 2014's growth came from the utility market (61 percent). But both big and small solar projects are on the rise.

The Energy Information Administration expects utility-scale solar capacity to nearly double between the end of 2013 and the end of 2015. SEIA/GTM reports that concentrating solar power had its best year ever with 767 MW coming online in 2014. Meanwhile it also was the first year that residential additions topped 300 MW in a quarter.

To put the growth in perspective, the U.S. HAS INSTALLED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS MORE SOLAR THAN THE PREVIOUS 38 YEARS COMBINED.

In other parts of the globe - CHINA AND JAPAN now make up 50 PERCENT OF THE WORLD SOLAR PV MARKET, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. China has a declared target of 35 GW of installed solar by 2015, driven by the need to reduce air pollution from fossil generation as well as meeting its ever-growing energy demand, and appears on track for meeting or exceeding that goal.

JAPAN'S feed-in tariff is spurring growth in new solar capacity, which the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association predicts may reach 100 GW by 2030.

INDIA is working to increase its 2 GW to 20 GW of installed solar capacity in the medium term. Recent tenders in India resulted in levelized solar prices around 100/MWh, comparable to imported coal, and many gas-fired options.

In AFRICA, only 30 percent of sub-Sahara has access to power. Areas with large, remote mining industries also are attracting solar as an off grid form of power to pair with diesel or help shore up an unstable grid connection.

"In spite of any regulatory policy changes, I think solar is still going to grow rapidly. The difference is how fast it will accelerate," said Leyden.

In 2015 Solar is in an enviable position throughout much of the world. It is seeing new market opportunities that come from maturation, yet the industry as a whole is still growing. The question for solar in 2015 is not if it will expand, but by how much. Lets hope our Govt keeps up with this momentum and ensure we are not just a part of the opportunity but also demonstrate global leadership.

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Credit: renewable-energy-dummies.blogspot.com