Solar Industry Growth Prediction: US Largest Market by 2011

[tinrobot]

Despite an unstable regulatory environment—renewable energy tax incentives are stalled in the senate, BLM policy has been inconsistent— the United States will surpass Germany to be the largest market for solar power in the world by 2011, according to a report by JP Morgan, cited in Greentech Media.

By 2011, the US will have an installed capacity of 1.6 gigawatts (with 920 MW in California alone), surpassing Germany’s expected capacity of 1.35 gigawatts. The third largest market by this time will be South Korea with 957 megawatts of capacity.

In terms of market growth, the fastest growing market is expected to be Greece (135% growth), followed by South Korea (89%), and then Italy (65%).

The report goes on the say that a confluence of social, economic and technological trends are driving growth in the solar market: environmental/global warming concerns, issues of national security and energy independence, reduction of the relative cost of solar technologies. Not that these forces are probably news to the average TreeHugger reader.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/solar_industry.php

[predfan]

1. When Al Gore issued his challenge for our country to produce

100% carbon free electricity within 10 years, I heard him called "hypocrite" and "phony". I read about his house in Nashville and his private jet.

But I never heard anyone say his plan was impossible.........even with current technology. All we need is a leader.

[Hydra]

2. We don't even need a leader

We need the forces like big oil to get out of the way!