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jpak

(41,741 posts)
Mon Jun 3, 2013, 03:48 PM Jun 2013

Solar Photovoltaic Demand in the US to Grow by 20% in 2013 to 4.3 Gigawatts

http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/Solar-Photovoltaic-Demand-in-the-US-to-Grow-by-4571197.php

Demand for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in the US is forecast to grow significantly during 2013 and post another record high of 4.3 gigawatts (GW), an increase of almost 20% compared to 2012, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz North America PV Markets Quarterly. Solar PV demand from the US market now contributes over 12% of annual global demand, compared to just 5% three years ago.

Demand in Q2’13 is forecast to reach 1 GW, with over 70% coming from California, Arizona, New Jersey, and North Carolina. Residential and small commercial rooftop PV installations will account for 18% of this demand, with another 14% from large commercial rooftops. The utility-dominated ground-mount segment will account for the remaining 68% of new PV demand this quarter.

Large utility-based solar PV projects in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas will drive US demand above 2.5 GW during the second half of 2013. Strong year-end contributions will also come from Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, and Ohio. PV demand from the US is forecast to exceed 5 GW in 2014, representing a 70% compound annual growth rate since 2009.

“The strong commercial and utility-based solar PV being deployed in the US is stimulated by state specific mandates that require solar to meet target levels, or carve-outs, of total energy production,” explained Chris Sunsong, analyst at NPD Solarbuzz. “Meanwhile, residential demand is being driven by new third-party ownership models that allow homeowners and businesses to install PV systems with minimal upfront commitments.”

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Solar Photovoltaic Demand in the US to Grow by 20% in 2013 to 4.3 Gigawatts (Original Post) jpak Jun 2013 OP
Ah, that sun-drenched PV paradise of New Jersey... kristopher Jun 2013 #1
What are they talking about: "Solar demand"? BlueStreak Jun 2013 #2
This chart seems ito indicate wind is the only one making a big move BlueStreak Jun 2013 #3
Different "demand" FBaggins Jun 2013 #4
 

BlueStreak

(8,377 posts)
2. What are they talking about: "Solar demand"?
Mon Jun 3, 2013, 04:44 PM
Jun 2013

"Demand" is not technology-specific. I don't demand electricity produced by a babbling mountain brook on a sunny day in February. I just demand electricity.

If they said "Supply", then that would make some sense.

I guess what they are saying is there are enough planned solar products to use that many panels.

I have not seen a very good reference that shows solar's share of our total electric production. The problem is that the solar projects are usually described in peak megawatts whereas electricity generation is normally shows as total kilowatt-hours per year.

This chart does show how rapidly things are evolving:

 

BlueStreak

(8,377 posts)
3. This chart seems ito indicate wind is the only one making a big move
Mon Jun 3, 2013, 04:56 PM
Jun 2013

I don't know if that is accurate. The Wikipedia table above indicates an annual doubling or tripling of solar production in each of the recent years.



This one seems a bit authoritative, and does reflect growth in solar. I am very surprised at how much is currently in biomass according to this chart. To the extent that biomass releases loads of CO2, it is a bit of a stretch to call this "renewable". It may be renewable, but it isn't clean unless we capture the same about of carbon by producing new biomass.

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