BIPV markets 2009 and beyond!

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Building-Integrated Photovoltaics Markets 2009 and Beyond" report to its offering.

This report analyzes and quantifies the current and future markets for BIPV products. These products have traditionally consisted mostly of solar panels designed to lie flush and appear unobtrusive on a structure. However, the BIPV market has changed in the past year or so, with exciting new products that incorporate PV cells into actual building materials like siding, windows, and roofing shingles.

Last year, NanoMarkets produced one of the first reports on BIPV and this year's report builds on our success and experience with this earlier study. This time, our focus is on the next generation BIPV products just mentioned and we set out in this report, just where and when they are likely to be a success.

Innovation, improved materials and to some extent, current market forces are leading to increasing diversity of BIPV products of all material types. With this in mind, the report focuses especially on what NanoMarkets regards as three key segments of the BIPV market:

(1) Flexible PV, which allows custom or even "do it yourself" BIPV products because they are simply applied (often by adhesive) to conventional building materials;
(2) BIPV glass made with c-Si PV modules. This is already being made by several firms using fairly easy glazing technology, to custom specifications of overall size and cell spacing; and
(3) Rigid BIPV tiles are increasingly being made to emulate some kind of conventional, discrete building material unit, such as roofing tiles or slates.

Of course, the arrival of new BIPV products on the market is not the only thing that has changed since last year. With the huge downturn in the economy, the PV market has taken a double hit.

First, the bottom has dropped out of the construction market, so the addressable market for BIPV is significantly smaller than it was a year ago. With this in mind, the report focuses on how BIPV technologies can break into the market now and how planners at BIPV firms can ensure that their products will do well once the new construction market begins to stabilize and how they can also best meet the demands of the retrofit market.

The other problem that all PV products faces is the decline in energy prices, which means that PV in general does not prove in economically to the same degree as in the past. With this in mind, this report discusses how BIPV specific factors notably aesthetics can help the PV industry move forward in a difficult industry.

The earliest adopters of PV devices, often simply mounted panels on rooftops with little or no regard for appearance. The next wave of PV adopters, we believe, will require that the PV system be architecturally integrated into the building structure and look good. There is also a large proportion of potential adopters who do not want any attention favorable or not. Modern BIPV is likely to allow this potential market to install PV systems "incognito."

The report also discusses the materials and technology aspect of BIPV. We look at how traditional crystalline silicon firms PV can best fit their products into the new BIPV environment and how the new TFPV and OPV/DSC technologies with their light weight and flexibility can be leveraged for BIPV applications.

The report also goes into depth on the market, policy and technology factors that make BIPV more popular in some regions versus others. Finally, our eight-year forecasts of the BIPV market quantify the opportunities in BIPV by region and by product type.

Distributed solar energy generation -- distributed PV market forecast to grow to 9.7 GW by 2013

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Distributed Solar Energy Generation" report to its offering.

Distributed energy generation, using a variety of renewable power technologies, is one of the most important tools for addressing the challenge of meeting the world's growing electricity demand.

Within the Renewable Distributed Energy Generation (RDEG) market, sub-utility scale solar photovoltaics (PV) are by far the largest and most significant segment, representing approximately 98 percent of the total.

Solar PV growth has been spearheaded in recent years by markets such as Germany, Japan, Spain, and the United States. Remaining countries in the European Union are starting to pick up strong momentum as well.

Emerging markets in India and China show significant promise in the longer term. Of all the opportunities in PV, Pike Research finds that the most compelling growth potential lies in decentralized electricity generation, whether in small rooftop or large commercial installations.

PV has the advantage of being truly modular, as it can reach cost efficiencies with installations that are just a few kilowatts to 20 MW or even 200 MW. For purposes of our study, distributed PV is considered to be those systems less than 20 MW in size, where electricity does not pass through the traditional transmission and distribution system prior to being used.

The estimated size of the distributed PV market in 2008 was 3.6 GW, and we forecast that it will grow to 9.7 GW by 2013, representing a compound annual growth rate of 22%. This translates into a $30 billion market in 2008, growing to nearly $60 billion by 2013.

This report analyzes the market for distributed solar PV in the context of the broader RDEG market, which also includes small wind energy generation and fuel cell technologies. The study covers key business issues and drivers of demand for sub-utility scale solar power, including government-driven legislation and incentives as well as market-based factors.

Technology and cost issues are examined in depth, as are a number of key industry players. Market forecasts include distributed solar energy generation capacity, system revenues, and installed prices through 2013 for installations in all regions of the world, with line-item segmentation for 12 key countries.

India mainly an off-grid solar PV market with only 2.12 Mw of PV power being grid connected

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of GlobalData's new report "Indian Solar Sector: Dawn of a New Era" to its offering.

The future of solar PV development in India looks encouraging and is expected to be driven by the government incentives and PV support programs. India is mainly an off-grid solar PV market with only 2.12 MW of PV power being grid connected.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched various financial support programs like the generation based incentives (feed-in tariff) of Rs 15/KWh ($0.30 / KWh) to encourage grid connectivity in India. Semiconductor policy in India is providing capital subsidy for PV manufacturers.

This initiative has attracted investments worth Rs 796.46 billion ($18 billion) from manufacturers of PV equipment. Financial incentives along with other PV support programs like the Solar Cities program is aimed at promoting solar PV installations in the country.

US solar PV equipments market estimated to generate $347.90 million by 2013

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of GlobalData's new report "The Future of the US Solar PV Equipments Market" to its offering.

The US federal government has provided a funding of $3.1 billion to the states, as part of its economic stimulus package, to encourage photovoltaic (PV) installations and expand solar PV support programs. This is part of the country's plan to encourage the growth of renewables in the energy portfolio.

The government has also extended federal tax credits for solar PV. These support mechanisms combined are expected to open up high-growth markets for PV equipments such as inverters and modules. The PV inverter market in the US is therefore expected to generate an estimated $347.90 million by 2013, while the modules market is expected to generate $2,741 million by 2013.

Global PV market forecast to 2013

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Photovoltaic Market Forecast to 2013" report to its offering.

The high volatility of oil prices, coupled with increasing concerns over the CO2 emissions worldwide, has led to the evolution of renewable energy concept over the past few years.

Use of solar photovoltaic (PV) among others, has emerged as the most appropriate solutions and has continuously been gaining considerable attention among industry players all across the globe. With the growing demand for clean energy sources, the manufacturing and deployment of solar PV cells and photovoltaic arrays have expanded dramatically in the recent years.

According to our latest research report, "Global Photovoltaic Market Forecast to 2013," the global PV industry has been propelled by the consistent efforts and investment from European countries, followed by Japan and the US. As a result, the cumulative PV installed capacity in Europe surpassed 9 GW in 2008, with Germany and Spain collectively accounting for more than 90 percent of the total capacity as of the end of 2008.

The increasing demand for PV system installations has also led to the rapid development of solar cell manufacturing worldwide. In this regard, countries in the Asia-Pacific region, such as China and Taiwan, have gained significant traction in recent years.

China, for instance, produced over 2 GW of solar cells during 2008, and is forecasted to see a CAGR of more than 50 percent in the next few years. We have also found that traditionally, high cost of deploying PV cells had been the major roadblock for the development of the global PV industry.

However, with the constantly declining cost of PV production, the industry is set to pave the way for the deployment of this technology, mainly in the developing economies.

Essential report on analyzing organic photovoltaics

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Analyzing Organic Photovoltaics" report to its offering.

The sun, believed by mankind to be just a mere centrepiece of the solar system in which we live, is in reality not just a unit but an entire symphonic system which was in place much before the first humans ever walked on planet earth.

This system which has been the primary energy source for the origin of life on earth is in fact very well adequately positioned by nature to fulfil the needs of energy for humans for many more centuries to come.

An effort by humans to harness this abundant source of energy available around us has manifested itself in the form solar energy being converted to many applications as diverse as heat channelling, electricity conversion, electro mechanical applications and much more.

The dream of solar energy for human applications was realized in the early part of this century by the invention of solar cells which when arranged in photovoltaic arrays deliver power for bigger applications.

The next leap of invention in this direction is "Organic Photovoltaics". This report "Analyzing Organic Photovoltaics" earmarks the immense potential that this technology holds for the future of mankind and the crucial impact it will have on the process of introduction of solar energy into large scale arenas of industrialized economies.

This report on Analyzing Organic Photovoltaics initiates a strong theoretical understanding of the Solar Cell system and their subsequent propagation into photovoltaic systems, including their applications derived from generational leaps as first to third generation cells.

The report presents the entire gamut of PV cells in a structured family tree for easy interpretation and also delves into the applications of PV technology in isolated environment.

One of the critical factors affecting PV systems is nature and this report also examines the effects of various factors as sunlight, weather, temperature as well as cloudy weather. In this context the report provides a picture of the global markets for PV solar cells and the commercial aspect is explored in the profiling of the markets as well as the statistics as growth patterns on the production side. The report also explores the commercialization potential and future for the market for PV conditions.

The environmental impact of any technology system has also been examined even though Solar PV systems are as close to addressing environmental concerns as possible through instances as a typical SWH system will, over its lifetime, displace 10.5 tons of CO2 if replacing a natural gas system, or 71.5 tons if replacing an electric system.

The report further analyzes the processing techniques of Organic PV cells and various types of concentrators as well as antenna photovoltaic cells. In order to address the efficiency factors which impact the Organic PV systems the report examines the application on nanostructures to this with a complete overview on the two major techniques in use today. There have been efforts to increase the longevity of OPV cells with the application of Exciton Blocking layers being added in order to ensure maximum mileage from any system implemented.

This report also provides a comprehensive look into the US National Solar Technology Roadmap on Organic PV which communicates the intent and the thoroughness of effort being put by the US behind OPV technologies. The report further adds depth to practical understanding of OPV systems by providing two case studies on OPV cells. Leading industry contributors which have globally made an impact on this industry are also elaborated in this report.

2008 was record year for solar PV sales

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Solar PV Report Ed 6 2009" report to its offering.

2008 was a record year for solar PV sales, with 5.7 GW of new capacity added. Spain shot into top place, with 2.7 GW added, the largest volume of annual sales achieved by any country ever, followed by Germany with 1.5 GW. Between them they accounted for three quarters of world sales.

However, Spain's pre-eminence was short-lived and in the wake of the financial crisis the Spanish government announced a cap on the feed-in subsidy for solar PV installations at 500 MW in 2009.

This will not only put a brake on Spanish sales but will reduce the global solar PV total in 2009, we believe by at least 50 percent. The Spanish renewable associations are looking ahead at least two years before recovery starts in Spain.

The slowdown in solar PV sales has had some good outcomes however. The shortage of silicon, which has been restraining development, is no longer a major issue and by the time recovery starts new supply should be in place.

Secondly, prices of solar modules are coming down. Thirdly, small companies in the supply chain are merging and being taken over, consolidating the industry.

The report, monitors the progress of two new players in the international market, China and Korea. Chinese solar PV companies have developed very fast and a number conducted IPOs in China and other countries in 2007 and 2008.

A mushrooming production capacity for solar cells and modules has been accompanied by growing production and re-cycling of silicon. This is affected by the global slow-down but the Chinese industry is already well placed for the future. Domestic demand in China has not kept pace and it is an export oriented industry to date.

With the cut-back in Spain, Germany, followed by Japan and the USA still remains the global leader, but new countries are entering the market and the industry is spreading beyond its historical areas.

2009 report on 1 MW solar PV government projects

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "The 2009 Report on 1 MW Solar Photovoltaic Government Projects: World Market Segmentation by City" report to its offering.

This study covers the world outlook for 1 MW solar photovoltaic government projects across more than 2000 cities. For the year reported, estimates are given for the latent demand, or potential industry earnings (P.I.E.), for the city in question (in millions of US dollars), the percent share the city is of the region and of the globe.

These comparative benchmarks allow the reader to quickly gauge a city vis-à-vis others. Using econometric models which project fundamental economic dynamics within each country and across countries, latent demand estimates are created. This report does not discuss the specific players in the market serving the latent demand, nor specific details at the product level.

The study also does not consider short-term cyclicalities that might affect realized sales. The study, therefore, is strategic in nature, taking an aggregate and long-run view, irrespective of the players or products involved.

What is Latent Demand and the P.I.E.? The concept of latent demand is rather subtle. The term latent typically refers to something that is dormant, not observable, or not yet realized. Demand is the notion of an economic quantity that a target population or market requires under different assumptions of price, quality, and distribution, among other factors. Latent demand, therefore, is commonly defined by economists as the industry earnings of a market when that market becomes accessible and attractive to serve by competing firms.

It is a measure, therefore, of potential industry earnings (P.I.E.) or total revenues (not profit) if a market is served in an efficient manner. It is typically expressed as the total revenues potentially extracted by firms. The "market" is defined at a given level in the value chain. There can be latent demand at the retail level, at the wholesale level, the manufacturing level, and the raw materials level (the P.I.E. of higher levels of the value chain being always smaller than the P.I.E. of levels at lower levels of the same value chain, assuming all levels maintain minimum profitability).

The latent demand for 1 MW solar photovoltaic government projects is not actual or historic sales. Nor is latent demand future sales. In fact, latent demand can be lower either lower or higher than actual sales if a market is inefficient (i.e., not representative of relatively competitive levels).

Inefficiencies arise from a number of factors, including the lack of international openness, cultural barriers to consumption, regulations, and cartel-like behavior on the part of firms. In general, however, latent demand is typically larger than actual sales in a city market.

Another reason why sales do not equate to latent demand is exchange rates. In this report, all figures assume the long-run efficiency of currency markets. Figures, therefore, equate values based on purchasing power parities across countries. Short-run distortions in the value of the dollar, therefore, do not figure into the estimates.

Purchasing power parity estimates of country income were collected from official sources, and extrapolated using standard econometric models. The report uses the dollar as the currency of comparison, but not as a measure of transaction volume.

Report on global market for miniature solar cells

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Market for Miniature Solar Cells 2008-2012" report to its offering.

Miniature solar cells are essentially those solar cells that are used to power small devices such as consumer electronic devices (calculators, MP3 players), microelectronics, and grid applications. These cells also power mini solar panels that are used for a wide range of applications; from supplying power to lamps, mobile handsets and chargers to integration into building surfaces, disaster recovery etc.

These solar cells are typically thin film solar cells based on materials like Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS), Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), and Amorphous-Silicon (a-Si). However, with technological advancements, organic solar cells (or plastic solar cells) are being developed, which are becoming synonymous to miniature solar cells.

Organic solar cells are low-cost photovoltaic cells which use organic electronic materials (polymers) and provide easy fabrication of the cells, allowing them to be dissolved or applied to flexible materials.

The report forecasts the size of Global Market for Miniature Solar Cells over the period 2008-2012. It highlights the key trends in the market, and segments the market by type of material, applications and into various geographic regions. Further, it discusses the key driving forces and the barriers of the Global Market for Miniature Solar Cells.

Renewable energy sustains growth in European solar thermal systems market

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "European Solar Thermal Heating Systems Market" to its offering.

The market for solar thermal systems (STS) in Europe has witnessed major developments at all levels in the last four years. Policy makers, market participants and end users have given greater attention to STS, ensuring a high growth potential. Due to its tremendous long-term growth prospects, this market has attracted several new participants that are playing a central role in promoting the industry.

"Currently, the key driver for the market in Europe is government support for STS in the form of financial subsidies, tax credits, and regulatory reforms," says the analyst of this research. "The market for STS is highly responsive to fluctuations in the provision of governmental support."

For instance, the Italian market witnessed strong growth levels following increased government subsidies for STS. On the other hand, the German market declined significantly as a direct result of a temporary disruption to these subsidies and recovered as soon as they became available again.

High growth in the STS market, particularly over the last four years, has attracted several new participants that are promoting the industry and making STSs accessible to a wider customer base.

Develop low-cost, STS to curb prices
Cost is the primary hurdle confronting the STS market. Despite the financial incentives that the solar thermal installations receive, the overall price is still high and the recoup period can go up to 20 years in some regions.

Additionally, a STS is only a complementary alternative and not a substitute for a traditional hot water system. Therefore, it is not a viable investment option for most end users, especially in countries where conventional energy prices are low. "In many countries, particularly in northern Europe, the solar yield can be as little as 40 per cent," explains the analyst. "Additionally, the up-front cost of a solar thermal system continues to be expensive."

Companies should work on developing low-cost and effective solar thermal systems, particularly in the current economic conditions in Europe. On the whole, with escalating competition, both manufacturers and installers will be forced to reduce prices and the overall price of STS will go down.

Inverters for alternative energy resources

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Inverters for Alternative Energy Resources: Economic Factors, Application Drivers, Architecture/Packaging Trends, Technology and Regulatory Developments, Third Edition" report to its offering.

Led by the growing photovoltaic market (PV), the outlook for inverters used in Alternative Energy Resource technology is expected to remain strong. Industry growth in this application will be driven by a combination of government incentives and declining PV module prices.

Projected to make up over 95 percent of the market, the inverters used in PV installations, both small (1-5kW) and large (>6MW), will far outpace those used in either wind or fuel cell applications.

Driven by the need to develop alternative sources of energy, limit greenhouse gasses and reduce the dependence on foreign energy supplies, the market forces driving the alternative energy resources industry vary by region.

In Europe, the primary driving forces are feed-in tariffs, which have been successfully used in 16 EU countries, most notably Germany, Italy and Spain. In fact, in Europe renewables comprise the fastest-growing segment of the energy market. In North America, unlike Europe, the alternative energy industry is driven by a combination of regulations, subsidies and tax incentives and legislation.

In contrast, Asia employs a patchwork system of incentives including subsidies and other government actions. In this region, the primary focus on alternative energy is the alleviation of power shortages and the development of backup and emergency power.

The trend towards more efficient inverters has also made considerable progress. In an effort to improve the efficiency of the technology, semiconductor companies are developing discrete IGBTs, MOSFETs such as CoolMOS as well as Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices in power modules and stacks, with the objective of raising solar inverter efficiency to 98 percent, and with the purpose of feeding as much solar-based electricity into the power grid as possible.

A number of semiconductor companies are developing technologies designed to increase efficiency and reduce electricity waste to a minimum.

Despite the efforts of a number of government and regulatory bodies worldwide, the goal of interconnection and regulatory standards is still a work in progress. However, there are a number of groups working on electrical interconnection standards with the objective of reducing or removing barriers between distributed generation technology and the utility grid.

A survey done found that most projects, including PV, wind and fuel cells, meet some sort of resistance from the utility companies when they try to interconnect with the grid. The expensive and sometimes difficult interconnection requirements currently in place worldwide comprise a key barrier to the increased use of alternative systems.

One of the more interesting technologies being developed to drive interconnection is the development of a "smart grid." However, removing current interconnection requirements is not as simple as changing the policies, and a method of resolving these barriers is ongoing.

In addition, the rate of refurbishment and replacement of the existing building stock, combined with the new ultra-efficient housing/building laws such as those described in the European directive (2002/91/EC), contribute to a growing market for residential micro-combined heat and power.

Fuel cells are an enabling or bridging technology which can allow the environmental and efficiency benefits of CHP to migrate into the residential market. In this respect, fuel cell technologies represent a market opportunity for the clean generation of electricity and provision of hot water and heating.

Examining BIPV market in North and Southeast Asia

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "BIPV Markets in North and Southeast Asia" to its offering.

This research service analyzes the current market trends, revenue distribution, key regulations, competitive structure, market drivers, market restraints, end-user analysis and market share analysis for the building integrated photovoltaic market in North Asia and Southeast Asia.

Market overview

Global Warming heats up BIPV market in North and Southeast Asia

With global warming endangering several species of life and posing bigger potential risks, there is an urgent need to curb its main cause -- greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Clean energy technologies such as wind, solar, and biomass are gradually being promoted over conventional, GHG-emitting power sources.

Among solar energies, BIPV is being increasingly sought out by real estate companies and builders for its distributed power generating ability, especially in the urban areas. Seeing that urban centers and cities are major power consumption centers and yet do precious little to cut back GHG emissions, high net worth individuals and commercial buildings have begun to extensively endorse 'green energy' to ensure a clean environment.

"Growing awareness among various end-user segments coupled with abundant availability of sunlight is fostering the growth of BIPV market in cities," says the analyst of this research. "Solar energy integrated townships and clean energy buildings are being extensively planned and supported to highlight the savings in energy and measure carbon dioxide emissions."

Breaking out of the confines of rural area deployment for distributed or centralized power generation, renewable energy, especially BIPV, is gaining widespread acceptance among city builders. One of the main reasons for its popularity is its prevention of transmission and distribution (T&D) loss, as electricity is consumed at the point of generation.

However, the BIPV market still has some ground to cover before it can aim for large-scale commercialization in North and Southeast Asia. This is because builders are put off by the high installation and generation costs, a minimum pay back period of six to eight years, and lack of an attractive feed-in-tariff from the utilities.

For reasons of economic viability and low product awareness, builders and real estate companies prefer to buy electricity from the utilities at a much cheaper rate than invest in renewable energy sources.

Despite the hurdles, BIPV power generation has made a case for itself with its unique ability to power mass applications in urban areas. While promoting energy efficiency and low energy use in buildings, it also offers multi-functional solutions for modern-day architecture.

Therefore, despite a slowdown in capacity additions, North Asia exhibits great potential for the commercial end-user segment. Among all the countries in this region, Japan is the one that has best cashed in on the opportunities in the commercial and residential segments.

"The withdrawal of subsidies in 2005 has had a moderate impact on the growth of the BIPV market," notes the analyst. "Meanwhile, in South Korea, the introduction of attractive feed-in-tariff in is likely to fuel the growth of centralized solar PV systems."

On the other hand, Southeast Asia holds promise for BIPV systems in both the residential and commercial end-user segments, thanks to a strong push from the government and solar subsidy programs. Malaysia has successfully deployed BIPV systems and other countries are soon likely to follow in its footsteps.

Singapore trails close behind Malaysia in BIPV deployment and installations in this country are forecast to increase from 2010 due to the introduction of the 'Green Mark Scheme' in the construction industry.

Evidently, it is vital to have solid government backing in the form of long-term subsidies and incentives. An attractive feed-in-tariff and a robust policy framework is needed to provide guidance to potential developers and end-users, while greater awareness through frequent information dissemination on the technology, economics, and business models of BIPV installations will also go a long way in buoying this market.

Reduced installation costs and integration in the industry are the other crucial factors that can kindle the interest of the industry stakeholders. This will also encourage R&D in BIPV systems' designing and facilitate large-scale commercialization of the technology.

German PV market by far one of the world's biggest sales markets

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "BrandMonitor 2008/2009 -- Germany" report to its offering.

The German photovoltaic market is by far one of the biggest sales markets in the world. At the same time, the competition for consumers is already increasing in Germany.

At present, the market is changing. Sometimes the cost is regarded as the only criterion for purchase decisions. From the point of view of market research it is important not to underestimate the complexity of purchasing behavior.

Solely focusing on pricing does not necessarily result in sustainable market penetration, especially for complex products. With more than 350 cell and module manufacturers all over the world, the creation of suitable unique selling propositions might be problematic.

So far, the question of brand and brand awareness has only been discussed marginally within the photovoltaic sector.

It seems like the perception of the branch is dominated by the idea that solar products are simple consumer goods for which the brand plays a minor role. This fact corresponds with the general market development: a high demand of end customers meets with a still higher offer of solar producers.

New solar producers want to sustain their position toward well established solar brands and challenge them. Therefore, brand image and brand awareness play a even more important role nowadays when its about positioning of the own company in the market.

In case of corresponding product availability, the brand promise is a solid factor in the purchase process. The brand acquaintance is a positive factor in the selection process.

The main brand function is risk reduction of an investment for 20 years and a payback period of long above 10 years. Building up a brand is a sensitive and an interminable process. The present study is an essential support for companies on that way.

Photovoltaics in the USA -– stop or go?

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Photovoltaics in the USA" report to its offering.

First comprehensive study of the US photovoltaic market based on a broad quantitative data base released. New study by EuPD Research analyzes current developments in the US photovoltaic market. Market participants expect a moderate but steady growth. Stop-and-go political support one of the key hindrances for market growth.

Cautious optimism
There is good evidence that the US photovoltaic market will be one of the key future markets for photovoltaics. However, up to now, the market has had to struggle with erratic political support for renewable energies, as well as highly complex promotion structures and strong fragmentation due to the 50 separate state markets.

The results of the new survey of around 130 US photovoltaic companies and electric utilities show a clouded optimism after a prosperous year 2007. While the companies generally expect increased sales for the current year (plus 62.2 percent on average) and consequently also a market growth of 50 percent to 300 MWp in 2008, the sinking rebate levels in California as well as the failed extension of the tax credit are slowing down the positive development of the market.

Slowdown for the market
If not extended, the most important national promotion instrument - the investment tax credit (ITC) -- will go down from 30 to ten percent for commercial customers and to 0 percent for residential customers on December 31st, 2008. However, it has become very unlikely that this will happen under the current president.

While the sudden interruption of renewable energy promotion seems difficult to understand in view of the oil price shock and pressing climate change issues, events like these are not new to the market. "It continues the stop-and-go-policy that has characterized the market in the past", explains project manager Sarah Endres.

Special products for a special market
Availability is also an issue for the market players. In total, 62.8 percent of the respondents report problems when purchasing modules. Some market players stated that they pretty much sell what they can get.

Nevertheless, the survey results show some clear trends regarding which product characteristics are demanded in the market. "Design aspects seem to be a big issue in the residential segment", explains Endres.

Indian solar energy market outlook 2012 report

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Indian Solar Energy Market Outlook 2012" report to its offering.

Solar energy offers enormous potential for a tropical country like India where around 45 percent of households, mainly rural ones, do not have access to electricity, says the new research report "Indian Solar Energy Market Outlook 2012."

India receives solar energy equivalent to more than 5,000 Trillion kWh per year, which is far more than its total annual energy consumption. The country's geographical location, large population and government support are also assisting it to become one of the most rapidly emerging solar energy markets in the world. Consequently, the country is becoming a favorite investment destination for both local as well as global players.

Demand for solar products has been rising rapidly over the recent years, especially in rural areas, and is expected to continue growing substantially during our forecast period (2009-2012). The total number of solar lanterns in India is projected to grow at a CAGR of about 40 percent between 2009 and 2012.

"Indian Solar Energy Market Outlook 2012" provides a rational analysis and extensive research on the solar power industry in India. It thoroughly examines the current industry trends which are adding to the growth of solar power market of the country.

The report highlights the emerging segments of solar power industry and their market potential to serve the enormous population of the country. It will help clients to understand the market dynamics and get an insight of the current and future outlook of solar power market in India.

Besides giving projections on various energy indicators, the report also gives forecast on various segments of the solar power industry based on feasible solar industry environment in India.

These include:
* Solar Street Lighting System
* Solar Home Lighting System
* Solar Lantern
* Solar Photovoltaic Pumps
* Solar Water Heating System
* Solar Cookers

The forecast given in this report is not based on a complex economic model, but is intended as a rough guide to the direction in which the market is likely to move. This forecast is based on correlations between past market growth, growth of base drivers and possible impact of recession in the economy.

The report also includes detailed information about the key players in the solar power industry of India including BHEL, BEL, CEL, TATA BP Solar India Ltd, Moser Baer India Ltd, Applied Materials Inc, and Solar Signet.