Solar Market Keeps Shining in 2011

Solar Market Keeps Shining in 2011

According to the market research firm iSuppli Corp., despite extreme shifts in pricing, demand and governmental subsidies, the global photovoltaic market in 2011 will experience robust growth, with installations rising by 42.3 percent for the year.

iSuppli forecasts that worldwide solar installations will reach 20.2 Gigawatts (GW) next year, up from 14.2GW at the end of 2010. Germany, the world’s leading Photovoltaic (PV) market, will continue to play a key role and account for half of the total installations, at 9.5GW.

While an impressive growth total for the year, the expansion will be down significantly from the 97.9 percent increase in 2009.

“The strong results projected for 2011 come despite softening demand anticipated during the first quarter of next year,” said Stefan de Haan, Senior Analyst (Photovoltaic Materials & Systems) at iSuppli. “As a result, prices will weaken at the end of the first quarter. However, the feebleness of the pricing will be responsible for demand momentum building up in the second quarter. From then on, a significant demand rally can be expected, leading to a price rebound in the second half.”

Speculation is also rife about the possibility of a PV installation cap being imposed in Germany for 2011.

However, iSuppli believes that the German government will not dare to cut down PV subsidies, especially in the wake of a recent decision to extend the operation of nuclear power plants. With the nuclear extension passing despite popular opposition, the government is not likely to risk further alienating public opinion by implementing limits on photovoltaic solar energy.

“A severe action such as an installation cap on solar technology conceivably could cause a mutiny among regional German politicians who count PV companies as electoral constituencies, in the process drawing loud protestations from the industry, where precious jobs are at stake,” de Haan said. “And unlike in France—where an ad hoc action imposing PV caps succeeded—the solar industry in Germany has real influence on governmental decisions.”

In the near term, the nuclear reprieve in Germany will have no effect on the PV markets, even if passage might have sent the wrong signal to PV global markets for the time being, iSuppli maintains. And with German polls suggesting overwhelming support—80 percent by one count—among voters in favor of renewable energy generation, the forecasts for a strong German PV market in 2011 continue to hold and remain unchanged.

To learn more about this topic, see iSuppli’s new report, entitled – ‘Global PV Market to Double in 2010, Germany Leads the Way’ at http://www.isuppli.com/Photovoltaics/Pages/Global-PV-Market-to-Double-in-2010-Germany-Leads-the-Way.aspx?PRX

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Question by scottgrayson: What will employment and the economy look like in 2011?
I have been in the Army for 19 years now and will stay in for the next three to four years. I do not need a job but want your thoughts on what the job market and overall economy will look like in the upcoming year.

Best answer:

Answer by dillinger563
Well, as of right now it looks horrible. The official rate at the moment is9.5%, but the unofficial rate is 16%.I trade in the financial maket.The economy right now is very bleak.We very well could see a replay of the great depression.After the collapse in the 1930s there was a nice recovery rally and then the market went back down and that where it stayed.Thats when it actually became a depression.It looks as if the market is doing the exact same thing right now.Last year and the beginning of this year we’ve had what looked like a nice recovery, but for the last 3 months or so the market has been on a decline again.Market stimulus is all dried up, tax breaks for home buyers have expired making the housing market to once again decline and employment will recover very slowly.It will take YEARS.It looks like stagflation is upon us.This means high inflation and little to no economic growth.Just like in the depression.If you compare the charts to the depression and the charts now its shocking.Its EXACTLY the same.

Economist predict unemployment will crest at 10%.It will stay high all through 2011 and so on.We still have hard times ahead of us.

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