How Big Will the Solar Market Be in 2014?

[kristopher]

How Big Will the Solar Market Be in 2014?
by Travis Hoium, The Motley Fool Dec 8th 2013

The challenges in the solar industry over the past three years has really come down to one simple economic concept: supply and demand. There's currently about 70 GW of solar module capacity available in the market and only about 32 GW was installed last year. That imbalance resulted in a plunge in module prices and the death of a lot of solar manufacturers worldwide.

But 2013 has seen stability emerge in the solar market and capacity was likely reduced slightly as companies went out of business. Demand is also up and could reach 37 GW in 2013, according to analysts at JP Morgan. They also think that installations will grow to 46 GW in 2014 as China and Japan increase demand.

If those predictions come true, that's great news for the solar industry. Demand is picking up in sustainable markets, and we should see consistent growth as the cost of solar comes down and the cost of other energy sources goes up.

The impact on solar companies
Increasing demand has resulted in stable pricing in the second half of 2013, and that's been a boon for manufacturers. Once struggling to break even, SunPower , Canadian Solar , JinkoSolar , and Trina Solar are now profitable and trends look to be in their favor.

Take a look at the gross margin trends over the past year ...

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/12/08/how-big-will-the-solar-market-be/

[kristopher]

1. Deutsche sees “sustainable” global solar market in 2014

Deutsche sees “sustainable” global solar market in 2014

By Giles Parkinson on 25 February 2013

Analysts at Deutsche Bank have predicted that the global solar PV sector will transition from a subsidised market to a sustainable market within a year, citing the arrival of “grid parity” in a number of key markets, unexpectedly strong demand and rebounding margins.

The Deutsche Bank team said key markets such as India, China and the US are experiencing strong demand and solar projects are now being developed with minimal or no incentives.

“While some risks around subsidy cuts in Japan and the UK market remain, we expect a more constructive outlook in most other emerging markets,” Deutsche Bank writes. “We see the sector transitioning from subsidised to sustainable markets in 2014.”

The Deutsche Bank analysis is the third in the past month to focus on the dramatic changes in the solar market, and the energy industry in which it is playing an increasingly profound role...

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/deutsche-sees-sustainable-global-solar-market-in-2014-2014

[Systematic Chaos]

2. About as big as my 3-inch...

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HA HA, made you look.