http://money.cnn.com/2013/03/14/news/economy/solar-power/index.html?iid=SF_E_Highlight
Last year there were 3.3 gigawatts of solar power installed, which can power about 500,000 homes. This is an 76% increase from 2011. This has been credited to the decrease in price of solar panels, stable tax incentive, and better financing options. This industry currently employs 119,000 people which is a 13% increase from last year and the industry expects even more growth next year. One of the main reasons for this decrease is that there have been major investments in manufacturing capacity, particularly by the Chinese. As prices continue to fall, smaller and less efficient companies are being kicked out. This is being compared to the beginning of the auto industry when there were dozens of companies and it was then narrowed to the Big Three.
Last year there were 3.3 gigawatts of solar power installed, which can power about 500,000 homes. This is an 76% increase from 2011. This has been credited to the decrease in price of solar panels, stable tax incentive, and better financing options. This industry currently employs 119,000 people which is a 13% increase from last year and the industry expects even more growth next year. One of the main reasons for this decrease is that there have been major investments in manufacturing capacity, particularly by the Chinese. As prices continue to fall, smaller and less efficient companies are being kicked out. This is being compared to the beginning of the auto industry when there were dozens of companies and it was then narrowed to the Big Three.
4 comments:
Having alternative energy resources such as solar power is imperative considering the natural move towards diminishing of natural resources such as oil reserves in the next half of the century. There should be more investment in producing solar panels.
My uncle works for a solar power company and he truly believes it is the energy source of the future. He says the main reason solar power is not one of the main forms of energy employed currently is that currently no one knows how to store the energy gathered from the solar panels. When a firm overcomes this issue, expect them and the industry as a whole to take off.
Maybe these solar companies should invest in the iShack! I posted an article ("Bringing Mod Cons to the Slums") that reported about the need for companies to notice the value and potential in the "giant market" of sustainable housing for the poor. Regardless, I think solar energy has a lot of potential, and I know more and more families who are choosing to have them installed on the roofs of their homes.
Its good o see that solar panels are starting to catch on more. Using renewable energy sources such as solar panels will benefit everyone along with the environment. I'm only curious to know if the growth will continue on in the future or if it will begin to plateau in the next few years. With the price tag dropping on the panels it is becoming a more and more viable option for powering homes. Also, its good that the booming industry is opening up a fairly new job market that will hopefully continue to grow.
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