Photovoltaic boom in 2007

Germany only leader with a 51% solar cell production

Record growth for the German solar panel industry in 2007 which, according to a report of the influential World Watch Institute, had a 51% growth thanks to last year’s 3,733 mw. Of these 2,935 megawatts of solar module were installed, thus bringing the total Pv installations since 1996 to 9,740 mw, that is the capacity necessary to meet the energy demand of 3 million households in Europe.
Among the countries involved in the production of solar cell systems Germany is leading the field: actually in 2007 it produced 1,063 mw with a 56% increase if compared to 2006 and the sector employed about 40 thousand people. Besides, thanks to government incentives, the German market represents over 50% of the world installations: in 2007 1,300 mw were produced out of a total of 3,830 mw necessary to meet the 1% electric home demand that will reach 25% by 2050.
The second world position for the production of solar cell units is held by Japan with a 920 mw capacity, that is 25% of the world market, though considering the 12% downturn in one year alone. According to the WWI’s report, it was due to China’s and Taiwan’s low-cost products which have strained the Japanese industry now working on hi-tech crystal silicon modules and thin film. China itself in 2007 produced 820 mw, mostly concerning, though, parts to be exported because the home market recorded only 20 extra mw in comparison to 2006.
In Spain, where the production share is 3%, solar panels have been booming thanks to a new capacity ranging between 425 and 640 mw. In Italy, instead, 20-25 new mw have been installed, but the report says that our country, together with others, will soon be playing an important role in the sector. The USA has had a 48% production increase corresponding to 266 mw, but there has also been a world quota reduction by 7%. In this case, though, the interest of the sector is in state-of-the-art solutions and two thirds of the thin film production comes from America.