Market development
The photovoltaic industry has experienced strong growth in recent years, and the industry expects global demand to increase further. With 15 GW of newly installed systems – equivalent to a total investment sum of around 50 billion euros – the output installed worldwide at the end of 2010 amounted to almost 40 GW. Over the course of a year, this capacity currently generates around 50 terawatt hours (TWh) of PV electricity. The majority of this capacity, approximately 28 GW, is installed in Europe, making up about 70 % of total installed capacity, followed by Japan (3.7 GW) and the USA (2.6 GW). China plays a role mainly as producer of solar cells and modules; the installed output there amounts only to ca. 0.7 GW.
- The capacity installed worldwide has increased within a decade from about 1.5 GW in 2000 to over 39.5 GW in 2010.
- Installed PV capacity (GWel) in Germany, 2000 – 2010.
In 2010, the installed generation capacity of photovoltaics in Germany increased by about 76 % over the previous year. By the end of 2010, grid-connected PV systems were producing approximately 17,200 MWp in Germany, and the PV industry’s turnover was approx. 10 billion euros. The industry also plays an important role in Germany’s job market, employing around 133,000 people in the industry, related trades and wholesaling at the end of 2009. German research institutions are setting internationally-recognised quality standards. State-of-the-art photovoltaic factories all over the world are equipped with German systems and machines, and planned and built by German companies.
In 2010, Germany’s PV industry’s export quota amounted to around 50 %. Many years of experience in this field enable it to manufacture increasingly efficient and inexpensive solar cells. German companies produce crystalline solar cells and modules as well as top quality thin-film modules in the most modern factories all over the world, while German manufacturers supply production plants and products that meet the most stringent quality criteria. The world’s most efficient inverters, for example, were developed and are made in Germany.
