With at least 38.4GW of newly-installed solar PV capacity worldwide and a global cumulative installed capacity of 138.9 GW, 2013 was another historic year for solar PV technology, says in European Photovoltaic Industry Association’s (EPIA) newest report, “Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2014-2018.”
Comparing to 2011 and 2012, where global installed PV capacity hovered slightly above 30GW annually, 2013’s PV market progressed remarkable and reached at least 38.4GW globally. Meanwhile, Asia took over Europe’s leading position in PV market. Merely in China, it had been installed 11.8GW of PV systems in 2013 comparing with Europe’s 11GW. Germany, in addition, was the leading nation in Europe where was installed 3.3GW in 2013.
EPIA found that PV now covers 3% of the electricity demand and 6% of the peak electricity demand in Europe, but the European market generally went down in 2013. The organization also forecasts that the globalization trend of PV markets observed in 2013 will continue and further accentuate in the coming years.
“The forecast for Europe in the next years should, however, be put into perspective and be considered as a stabilisation towards a solid level, around 10 GW a year,” stated Oliver Schäfer, EPIA President, during the launch of the report at the Intersolar Europe Opening Session. “Europe’s situation at the end of last year shows that PV, as any other energy business, remains policy-driven. A series of retrospective measures were implemented in the last years in various European countries, leading to the sharp market decrease observed in 2013. Sustainable, predictable and dynamic framework condition and policies are needed in Europe and globally to provide enough visibility to investors.”
In 2013, PV was one of the most installed power sources in the EU. Mr. Schäfer therefore explained his observation that PV is becoming a major part of electricity system around the world, and it will also change the way we power our lives.
Policymakers and energy stakeholders should now understand that electricity grids and markets need to be adapted to fit these new realities and facilitate a cost-efficient energy transition,” concluded Mr. Schäfer