|
Information
updated as of July 2009
|
| Solar
Demand |
| Most
of the policies that impact the solar industry in the United
States are created at the State level. This is in contrast
to the other major solar markets of Japan and Germany, and
the steadily increasing European country
markets. |
| The
United States domestic solar photovoltaic market grew to 357
megawatts in 2008, from 220 megawatts a year earlier.
|
| The
United States was the fourth largest PV market in 2008. |
| US
manufacturing plants accounted for just 5% of worldwide solar
cell production in 2008, which is down from 12% in 2003. |
| PV
systems greater than one megawatt accounted for just under
59.3 MW of the total market in 2008. The two largest market
segments were Commercial and Government customers in 2008.
|
| In
MW terms, the commercial flat roof (low pitched are included
in the definition) application type was the largest, accounting
for 26% of the market, identical to its share in 2007. |
| The
market size will surpass 1 GW in annual installations in 2010
for the first time. The total order book of identified PV
projects as of June 2009 is 2.3 GW. |
| Click
here to go to solar energy manufacturing and installation
companies. |
| Click
here to go to the American Solar
Energy Society or the Solar
Energy Industry Association or Solar
Electric Power Association |
| Solar
Energy Policies |
| The
most important State market is California supported by the
multi-year $3bn California Solar Initiative. |
| Net
metering is available in 42 states and Washington D.C. although
policy details vary state-by-state. Thirty-nine states and
Washington D.C. have adopted a net metering state policy while
three states have voluntary utility-level net metering programs.
|
|
Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have mandatory
statewide RPS policies while five states have voluntary goals.
|
| Fulfillment
of solar set-aside obligations drove around 20% of total on-grid
PV installations in 2008, through mainly on-site cash incentive
programs. |
