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Global Photovoltaic Installations Exceeded 12GW in the First Quarter of 2015
EnergyTrend estimates that the total global solar installed capacity will reach 52GW in 2015, and China, the United States, and Japan will account for 63% of the world's installed capacity. In the first quarter, EnergyTrend calculated that the global installed capacity exceeded 12GW, and the full-year target should be achieved.According to EnergyTrend gold-level member data research, the top five global solar markets in 2015 were China, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and India, with China, the United States, and Japan being the largest. The Chinese market will continue to grow and significantly lead other countries. In the first quarter of this year alone, the total installed capacity hit a new high of 5.04GW, making great strides towards the full-year plan of 17.8GW. Although Japan continues to reduce solar-related subsidies, the installation volume in the first quarter still reached 1,950MW, indicating that demand is still strong. During the same period, the installation volume in the United States closely followed Japan and reached 1,306MW. What is more noteworthy is that 51% of the newly installed power sources in the United States in the first quarter were solar energy, surpassing traditional electricity for the first time.
In addition to the United States, which will continue to drive up installations, some countries in the Americas will also experience overall growth. Including Chile, Honduras, Uruguay and other Central and South American countries, demand will also increase significantly this year.
In addition, EnergyTrend's research found that the UK will still hold the top spot in European demand in 2015. Driven by the expiration of policies, official installation statistics in the first quarter reached 1,285MW, the highest in history. However, in the absence of policy support, the subsequent trend deserves close attention. However, Germany, the previous European demand champion, has seen its installation volume decrease month by month due to the gradual decline in FiT prices and the gradual saturation of demand. In the first quarter, the installation volume was only 319MW. In addition, France passed a new law in March this year, stipulating that part of the roof area of buildings built in commercial areas in the future must be used for planting plants or installing solar panels. Such mandatory regulations can more or less accelerate France's renewable energy development progress.
Emerging market India is the most watched market after China this year. The installation volume in the first quarter has reached 1,100MW and this year's 3GW target should be successfully completed. In addition, South Korea also exceeded everyone’s expectations in the first quarter, installing nearly 200MW. Australia installed an estimated 133MW in the first quarter.
To sum up, the total installed capacity of the top ten solar demand countries in the first quarter has reached 11.5GW, which is almost 22% of the estimated demand for the whole year. Together with other smaller markets, the total global installed capacity in the first quarter has exceeded 12GW, and the global estimate of 52GW should be successfully achieved.
