Current status Growth of photovoltaics

1 current status

1.1 worldwide
1.2 regions
1.3 countries

current status

nameplate capacity denotes peak power output of power stations in unit watt prefixed convenient, e.g. kilowatt (kw), megawatt (mw) , gigawatt (gw). depending on context, stated peak power may prior subsequent conversion alternating current, e.g. single photovoltaic panel, or include conversion , loss grid connected photovoltaic power station.

at utility level, wind power competes new installations , has different characteristics, e.g. higher capacity factor , 4 times 2015 electricity production compared solar power. compared wind power, photovoltaic power production correlates power consumption air-conditioning in warm countries, can replace peaker power plants. of 2017 handful of utilities have started combining pv installations battery banks obtaining several hours of dispatchable generation, suitable supply duck curve after sunset.

for complete history of deployment on last 2 decades, see section history of deployment.

worldwide

in 2016, photovoltaic capacity increased @ least 75 gw, 50% growth year-on-year of new installations. cumulative installed capacity reached @ least 302 gw end of year, sufficient supply 1.8 percent of world s total electricity consumption.

regions

in 2014, asia fastest growing region, more 60% of global installations. china , japan alone accounted 20 gw or half of worldwide deployment. europe continued decline , installed 7 gw or 18% of global pv market, 3 times less in record-year of 2011, when 22 gw had been installed. first time, north , south america combined accounted @ least as europe, 7.1 gw or 18% of global total. due strong growth in united states, supported canada, chile , mexico.

in terms of cumulative capacity, europe still developed region 88 gw or half of global total of 178 gw. solar pv covered 3.5% , 7% of european electricity demand , peak electricity demand, respectively in 2014. asia-pacific region (apac) includes countries such japan, india , australia, followed second , accounted 20% percent of worldwide capacity. china third 16%, followed americas 12%. cumulative capacity in mea (middle east , africa) region , row (rest of world) accounted 3.3% of global total. great untapped potential remained many of these countries, in sunbelt.

countries

worldwide growth of photovoltaics extremely dynamic , varies country. top installers of 2016 china, united states, , india. there more 24 countries around world cumulative pv capacity of more 1 gigawatt. austria, chile, , south africa, crossed 1 gigawatt-mark in 2016. available solar pv capacity in honduras sufficient supply 12.5% of nation s electrical power while italy, germany , greece can produce between 7% , 8% of respective domestic electricity consumption.

leading pv deployments in 2016 china (34.5 gw), united states (14.7 gw), japan (8.6 gw), india (4 gw), united kingdom (2 gw).