Solar Industry Insider

Will 2016 Be the Make or Break Year for Solar?

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:42:00 +0000

No matter how you look at it, 2016 is going to be a watershed year for the solar industry. Four years from now, the 30 percent federal tax credit for solar that has helped the industry grow exponentially will expire, and whether or not there will be anything to replace it is uncertain. But what will the solar market look like in 2016? Will it be poised for success, or bracing for a heavy blow?

Solar Industry Insider

Trade Dispute with China Not Slowing U.S. Solar Market

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Prices for solar modules have dropped about 15% since January, and availability has not been affected.

Solar Industry Insider

The Cost of Solar: America vs. the World

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:14:00 +0000

Although 2011 was a banner year for the U.S. solar industry, the country still lags behind the rest of the developed world in solar deployment. The U.S. installed 1.9 gigawatts of solar capacity last year, which is a good deal more than it has in years past; still, the E.U. accounted for nearly 75% of all new capacity, coming primarily from solar powerhouses Germany and Italy.

China, though only just beginning an aggressive push toward solar development, installed 2.2 gigawatts. The U.S. has a lot of work to do if we want play a role in shaping this dynamic market.

Solar Industry Insider

Grid Parity by 2016: Can We Get There?

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:34:00 +0000

Grid parity is often cited as sort of a holy grail in the solar industry. Essentially, grid parity is the point at which the cost of solar energy equals the cost of utility power from coal, natural gas, nuclear, etc. When reached, there will be massive demand for solar energy as the cost barrier crumbles. It won’t happen all at once - local differences in energy costs, transport and demand all play a role in solar power’s cost competitiveness.