EPIA Announces World’s Solar Photovoltaic Electricity Capacity Surpassed 100 gigawatts in 2012!

After a strong year for solar electricity in 2011, the world’s cumulative solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity capacity for 2012 rang in at just over 101 gigawatts (GW), according to new market figures from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA). Each year, the world’s PV installations are able to reduce CO2 emissions by 53 million tons. The market for PV development is growing globally, seen by the estimated 30 GW connected to the grid and made operational in 2012. Nearly 17 GW of installation is present in Europe, with the top countries being Germany, Italy, and France. Roughly 13 GW is produced in the top three non-European markets of China, the U.S., and Japan. The final results for PV development in 2012 will be released in May, in EPIA’s annual “Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2013-2017.” EPIA President Winfried Hoffmann added,  “The key going forward will be to address these new market challenges and continue policies that help PV technology to grow sustainably, continuing its evolution to a mainstream electricity source.”

Source: Press Release- World’s solar photovoltaic capacity passes 100-gigawatt landmark after strong year