Paris, France--Worldwide sales of photovoltaic (PV) panels reached $US 37.2 billion in 2009 according to a new market overview report issued by the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC). The Report on Photovoltaics: PV Market Overview 2009, which is distributed exclusively to EPIC members, provides a detailed look at the PV market in 2009. The photovoltaic electrical generation capacity installed during the same period was 7.3 Gigawatts and installations grew by 15% compared to 2008, according to the report. Revenue for the same period remained constant. Europe remains the leader for deployment, accounting for more than 70% of the PV installations world-wide. More than one-half of all the installations world-wide took place in Germany, where individuals rushed to complete installations before the feed-in tariff rates may be lowered in 2010.In terms of production, 40% more wattage of PV cells was manufactured than generating capacity installed (9.3 GW compared to 7.3 GW). Photovoltaic production volume is now dominated by manufactures in China, where about 32% of PV cells were made in 2009. Together, China and Taiwan account for about 45% of world supply. Production in Europe is about 50% higher than that in Japan. In the space of three years the geography for solar cell production has been totally transformed. In its analysis, EPIC shows that the production of PV modules will reach record levels in 2010 and again in 2011, with crystalline silicon (Si) and thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) leading the way.For more information visit the EPIC website
Posted by Steve Andersonwww.laserfocusworld.com
Posted by Steve Andersonwww.laserfocusworld.com