US photovoltaic installations forecast to soar 166% in 2011

[bananas]

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20110818PR203.html

US photovoltaic installations forecast to soar 166% in 2011, says IHS iSuppli

Press release, August 18; Jackie Chang, DIGITIMES Thursday 18 August 2011

US photovoltaic (PV) installations in 2011 will rise 166 % to a total of 2.4GW, with California leading the country in the amount of power derived from renewable solar energy, according to IHS iSuppli.

The number of US PV installations in 2011 is projected to climb to approximately 49,000, up from 39,000 in 2010. Of the 2.4GW in solar power expected to be installed this year, ground installations will contribute approximately 1.4GW, commercial installations 710MW, and residential installations 270MW.

"Thanks to the implementation of many utility-scale projects this year, the US growth rate in 2011 will be more than double the 80% expansion level of 2010, when PV installations amounted to just slightly over 900MW," said Mike Sheppard, analyst for photovoltaics at IHS. "Next year, new solar installations will reach an estimated 3.1GW, on the way to some 5.5GW by 2015. And while a downturn next year is forecast for Europe, growth will be good stateside because of healthy support from the US Department of Energy in the form of loan guarantees to help stimulate the market and help secure a lower cost of capital for large projects."

Among US states, California will be the leader by a wide margin in solar power this year, accounting for 967MW. New Jersey is expected to be second with 263MW, followed by Arizona with 243MW, New Mexico with 139MW and Nevada with 118MW. The remaining Top 10, in descending order, are Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, North Carolina and Colorado. With large projects coming through the year, Nevada will enter the Top 10 for the first time this year, crashing into the Top 5. Meanwhile, New Jersey, though in second place, may encounter hiccups in light of waning political support from the state's governor.

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[FBaggins]

1. At this point last year, it was thought that solar PV might grow to as much as 1.5GW

A really solid "outperform" there... especially in tough economic times.

A supply glut combined with still-attractive incentives in some areas and global economic weakness imply that this could continue.

k&r

[SpoonFed]

2. Get back to me when the US and As GHG numbers improve. n/t