Greenpeace and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association have produce a report stating the the solar PV industry grew by 40 percent last year. The report also states that the installed capacity could reach 1 million megawatts by 2030.
According to Solar Generation 2007, developed by Greenpeace and EPIA, the industry has a brilliant future. At least, that is what data shows; last year solar PV power grew to 40% above 2006 levels, going from 1,598 MW to 2,246 MW worldwide. EPIA expects the industry to reach 1 million megawatts by 2030, increasing almost thirteen times above the current wind power capacity installed at global level today.
The reports sees the European Union plans as crucial for the solar PV industry. The proposal has set a target of 20% of the total energy generated by green sources by 2020. Governmental support programs, such as feed-in tariffs, will be essential for this.
Grid parity by 2015
In 2007, the installed capacity reached 8.7 GWp, or an increase of 700% over the 2000 levels. Economies of scale and more efficient technology will mean that solar PV will be competitive with fossil fuels by 2015, especially in areas with high radiation levels.
Mr Ernesto Macías, EPIA's VicePresident, said that 14 billion euros will be needed at global level from now until 2010 to hit the targets. Mr Macías added that solar PV electricity is nowadays competitive in places like California or Japan, where electricity markets are liberalized and therefore electricity prices are definted strictly by supply and demand.
For all these reasons, EPIA expects the solar PV industry to reach an installed capacity of 1,272 GW, generating 1,802 TWh of electricity per year. 2.9 billion off-grid and 776 million grind-connected end consumers will potentially benefit from this.
Solar electricity would thus power between 6.4 and 9.4% of total demand by then, creating 6.33 million jobs and a market value of 318 billion euros worldwide. Solar electricity costs are expected to go down to 0.07 - 0.13 eur / kWh by then, depending on radiation levels.
Other benefits include carbon emission reductions of around 1 billion tonnes, or more or less the same as the volume emitted by India in 2004 (equivalent to 300 coal thermal plants)
According to Greenpeace, the world is ready for an energy revolution. However, in order to make it true, government need to back their words against climate change with real support for renewable energy sources, such as solar PV.
For additional information:
www.epia.org
www.greenpeace.org
