Solar Facts & Figures
1.The world PV market added 5.8 GW of new capacity in 2008 bringing total global installed capacity to about 15 GW representing a growth of 110% over the previous year. Europe accounted for at least 80% of this. Spain ranked first in new installations with 2,511 MW, followed by Germany with 1,500 MW, and the United States at number three with 342 MW.
2.Global installed capacity of PV grew by about 5.5 GW in 2009. Germany leads the world market with ~2.7 GW of new installed solar capacity taking their total to 8.3 GW. Despite the tough economic climate, between 500 and 600 MW of solar power were built last year across the U.S. — about double the figure of 2008.
3.Over the next 3-4 years, the U.S. will experience the most rapid demand growth of any major PV market. Installed solar panel capacity will grow by ~50% or more each year. By 2012, PV capacity in the U.S. could surpass Germany. Conservative estimates peg growth at 1.5 to 2 GW of newly installed capacity per annum.
4.California leads the nations with 500 MW of installed solar at 50,000 different installations. In 2008, the California PV market grew 100% to about 160 MW of new installed solar power. The state currently leads the U.S. with ~67% of the nation’s grid-connected solar power.
5.California’s law requires the state’s utilities to derive 20% of their power from renewable energy this year and 33% by 2020. The California Solar Initiativehas spurred more than $2.8 billion worth of investment in solar projects throughout the state.
6.The U.S. receives approximately 84% of its energy from fossil fuels. This energy is used for transport, industry, and domestic use. The remaining portion comes primarily from Hydro and Nuclear stations. Solar power currently provides less than 1% of U.S. energy needs and cumulative solar energy production accounts for less than 0.01% of total Global Primary Energy demand.
7.Americans constitute 5% of the world's population, but release a projected 25% of all greenhouse gases emitted worldwide, the major contributor of global warming. California is the ninth largest emitter of GHGs in the world.
8.The U.S. accounts for about 25% of the world's petroleum consumption, while producing only 6% of the world's annual petroleum supply and having only 3% of the world’s known oil reserves. Shell has predicted that 50% of the world's energy will come from renewable sources by 2040.
9.North American commercial rooftops encompass more than 42 billion square feet. Parking lot areas are a largely overlooked asset in this country and there are about 5 billion acres of such unexploited areas across the US.
10.Solar energy is measured in kilowatt-hour. 1 kilowatt = 1000 watts.1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = the amount of electricity required to burn a 100 watt light bulb for 10 hours.
11.A 1 kW solar system requires about 100 square feet of installation area. It will generate approximately 1,600 kWh per year in a sunny climate (receiving 5.5 hours of sunshine per day) and approximately 750 kWh per year in a cloudy climate (receiving 2.5 hours of sunshine per day).
12.In sunny locations such as California, annual average sunlight levels might reach 5-5.5 sun-hours per day.
13.Solar irradiance, or insolation, is the amount of sunlight which reaches the Earth.
14.The average life expectancy of a solar energy system is generally 35 years plus. There was an article in 2005 in a magazine called Solar Today where the first commercial PV system for Bell Industries in Maryland installed in 1955 was still working. Solar cells are made much better now compared to back then.
15.Crystalline Silicon cell technology forms about 90% of solar cell demand. The balance comes from thin film technologies.
16.Single crystalline cells typically convert about 15% - 22% of the light that hits them into electricity. Multi-crystalline cells typically convert between about 10% - 15% of the light to electricity.
17.PG&E, SCE (Southern California Edison), LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) and other utility companies apply tiered rates. In other words, the more power you use during the day (Peak Demand) the more you pay. California and the PUC (Public Utility Commission) will require all utilities in California to change over to this tiered rate.
18.Why the government favors solar over wind energy, geothermal power, or low-carbon electricity from nuclear or from retrofitting buildings and homes to make them more efficient?
19.Rooftop solar PV is distributed as opposed to centralized energy and therefore it takes stresses off the electricity grid, providing a broad public benefit.
20.Solar works best during the daytime when demands for peak power are high, again saving the costs of developing more big power plants, which are borne broadly.
For more information on other California and US renewable energy legislation, please refer here
