EPIA: Europe loses PV top slot

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

A five-year global solar forecast by the European Photovoltaics Association (EPIA) has confirmed other recent reports of a major shift in activity away from solar’s traditional stronghold in Europe.

EPIA’s Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2103-2017 predicts that 2013 will be marked as the first year that the majority of new global solar capacity will be built outside of Europe.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

This forecast is based on a trend that has emerged over recent years: in 2011, Europe accounted for 70% of all new global PV capacity, but by last year accounted for 55%.

“The results of 2012 signal a turning point that will have profound implications in the coming years,” said EPIA President Winfried Hoffmann. “The global PV market is shifting from one driven mostly by Europe to one that also depends on countries around the world with varying degrees of solar potential and the political will to exploit it.”

Overall, EPIA said that in 2012 the world installed 31GW of new capacity, approximately the same as the year before.

Of this, 17.2GW was in Europe, compared to 22.4GW the year before.

Germany, for the seventh time in 13 years, was the world leader, adding 7.6GW of new capacity, followed by China, which saw 5GW.

Based on current ‘business as usual’ trends, EPIA forecasts the global annual market could reach 48GW in 2017. But with more countries adopting proactive PV policies, EPIA said it could reach as much as 84GW annually by 2017.

Hoffmann added: Even in challenging times, the prospects going forward for solar PV – a clean, safe and infinitely renewable power source – remain solid, especially the medium- to long-term. The main questions are how and where continued PV growth will occur, and how committed policymakers are to making it happen.”

Read Next

December 12, 2024
Solar frame producer Origami Solar has partnered with industrial manufacturing services company Unimacts to establish a frame roll-forming manufacturing line in Houston, Texas.
December 12, 2024
The standard aims to trace silicon from quartz mining to solar module production and implement management and broader ESG measures.
December 12, 2024
Nextracker has delivered what it says are the first trackers to comply entirely with the domestic content manufacturing guidelines of the IRA.
December 12, 2024
Australian trade association Clean Energy Investor Group has warned that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act has seen a doubling in decision-making periods from 2021 to 2023.
Premium
December 12, 2024
After experiencing a difficult year, China's PV equipment manufacturers need to find a better way to cooperate, writes Carrie Xiao.
Premium
December 11, 2024
PV Talk: Guy Turner describes the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as, in effect, a subsidy scheme that is driven by the market.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events, Upcoming Webinars
December 12, 2024
9am GMT / 10am CET
Solar Media Events, Upcoming Webinars
December 18, 2024
9am GMT / 10am CET
Solar Media Events
February 4, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
February 17, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
February 26, 2025
Seattle, USA