Solar Power Installations Jump to a New Annual Total
Jul 29, 2014 - Max Lander and Xiangyu Wu - worldwatch.org The
year 2013 saw record-breaking growth for solar electricity generation as
the photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) markets
continued to grow.1 With over 39 gigawatts (GW) installed worldwide in
2013, the PV solar market represented one third of all added renewable
energy capacity.2 Solar PV installations nearly matched those of hydropower
and, for the first time, outpaced wind additions.3 Global PV capacity topped
139 GW.4 (See Figure 1.) Additionally, CSP grew by 900 megawatts (MW),
bringing its capacity to 3.4 GW.5 Solar PV and CSP together accounted for
18.7 percent of global net additions of power-generating capacity in 2013
from all types of energy.6
For the first time, Asia overtook Europe as the largest regional market,
capturing more than 56 percent of the market share, while Europe came in
second with around 29 percent.7
Despite the record growth in installations, global investments in solar
electricity were down 20 percent, from $142.9 billion in 2012 to $113.7
billion in 2013, reflecting a significant decrease in costs.8 (See Figure
2.) In July 2014, global PV module spot prices reached an all-time low
of 63? per watt, a 10 percent decrease from the previous year.9
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