Market & Policy  |   Project & Contract  |   Technology & Product  |   Corporate News  |   Product News  |
 
 

Conglomerates Continue to Prove a Bright Spot for Solar

Conglomerates are driving growth in both emerging and established solar markets.

 

Conglomerates with facilities in small countries will drive those geographies as emerging markets for solar installations, according to a recent report by Lux Research. Given financing constraints in the U.S.as well as the likely conversion of the Investment Tax Credit Cash Grant back to a tax credit for 2012and uncertain subsidy outlooks in Europe, those same conglomerates are pushing growth in major, established solar markets as well.

In addition to retail giants Ikea and Wal-Mart adding rooftop arrays to already impressive commercial portfolios, Facebook and Apple have arrays planned at company headquarters and a data center, respectively. Outside the United States, IBM is building an array for one of its data centers in India. Highly power-dependent applications like data centers in unreliable power markets make solar particularly appealing.

From a solar market perspective, a few clear winners arise from this trend: commercial developers and domestic suppliers. While some systems will continue to use conventional crystalline silicon sourced from Tier-1 Chinese suppliers, Wal-Mart has sourced thin-film panels from Miasole and First Solar to promote domestic suppliers. Similarly, SolarCitywhich, in addition to its leading residential business, develops small commercial systemsand emerging commercial developers like Tioga Energy in the U.S. and incumbents like Wirsol in Europe stand to benefit from the potential for large engagements, as these same conglomerates build additional systems down the road.

 

Further Information: Lux Research (www.luxresearchinc.com)

 

 

For more information, please send your e-mails to .

2025 interpv.net All rights reserved.

 
 

     Solar-Powered Bike Port

     Global Nuclear Generation Capacity Falls