In mid-March, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released its report for the solar industry in 2008. That report noted a record increase in solar energy capacity in 2008 for the United States and the world at large.

The U.S. saw 342 MW of new solar photovoltaic power installed over the last year, 139 thermal megawatts (MWTh) of solar water heating, 762 MWTh of pool heating and 21 MWTh of solar space heating and cooling.

Grid-connected PV electric systems increased by 58 percent to 792 MW, with California creating the lion’s share with 178.6 MW. While the U.S. growth rate is significant, it still pales in comparison to that of global leaders Spain and Germany. Spain added 2,460 MW of PV power in 2008, Germany 1,860. So despite our record growth, the U.S. comes in a very distant third in global growth.

Still, the news globally couldn’t be much sunnier. World PV production reached 6,850 MW per year in 2008, a leap from 3,440 MW per year in 2007. Thin-film solar modules also jumped to 890 MW per year at the close of 2008.

Photo credit: mysza831
Source: Mother Earth News

Posted on April 8th in Solar News by Dan.