Europe

From this amount, 1,692.6 MW are connected to the electricity grid, while 100.9 MW are isolated facilities. The energy produced by this capacity is equivalent to the demand of 600,000 homes, according to the report. The EurObserv’ER figures are different to the ones provided by Photon International, an industry magazine, and the Bundweverband Solarwirtschaft (BSW), Germany's solar PV industry association, which estimate market sizes of 870 MW and 600 MW respectively.

According to EurObserv’ER, Spain is Europe's second largest market at 57.7 MW of total capacity (42.5 MW connected and 15.2 MW isolated). However, Spain lags well behind Germany, which is first with 1,537 MW ( 1,508 MW connected and 29 MW isolated). Holland is third (46.3 MW connected, 4.9 MW isolated), Italy (23 MW–13 MW), France (13.8 MW–18.9 MW), Luxembourg (23.3 MW–0 MW), Austria (18.2 MW–3.2 MW), United Kingdom (9.8 MW–0.9 MW), Greece (1.4 MW–4 MW) and Sweden (0.3 MW–3.9 MW).

Solar per capita
Besides, Spain, with only 1.4 watts per person, is well behind the average in terms of capacity per capity. Therefore, our country, which boasts of its privileged sunlight, not only is behind the two leaders in per-capita-capacity, namely Luxembourg and Germany -with 51.5 W and 18.6 W per person- but also behind Holland (3.1 W) and Austria (2.7).

Europe's global growth beat the PV module supply rythm during 2005. It means that the country exploited its full growth potential. Manufacturers could have produced "a number of panels considerably higher if silicon had not experienced its current shortages”, states the report.

However, “the PV growth forecast remains good" according to EurObserv’ER, basing the idea in the industry ambitions to increase the solar grade silicon production capacity.

Up to 6,000 MW in 2010
Also, the report shows that "it is increasingly probable" that in 2007 the financial support system that has pushed the growth in Germany. France might be the next market to take off. If the growth rates are kept in Italy and Spain and other countries meet their goals, Europe could have 6,000 MW installed by 2010.

“The evolution of the PV industry will depend on the decisions and measures implemented in the coming years" says EurObserv’ER. “However to justify this support, the sector industries will have to show their capacity to cut production costs”, it adds. “The goal is to come as close as possible to the cost per kWh of fossil fuels, whose prices are going up constantly”.

For additional information:
http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/stat_baro/observ/baro172.pdf

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Europe