Utilities Use of Solar Panels To Combat Carbon Surcharges

Utilities Go Green Worldwide Utility Solar Market Shares Forecasts, and Strategies, 2008-2014

$3300 - Single Copy or $4300 - Web Posting | Report # SH29821675 | 592 Pages | 150 Tables and Figures | 2008

Utilities Use of Solar Panels To Combat Carbon Surcharges

: UTILITIY SOLAR; PHOTOVOLTAICS FOR UTILITIES; GRID SOLAR SYSTEMS; UTILITIES SOLAR ELECTRIC; SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM; PV SYSTEM; SOLAR ELECTRICITY; THIN FILM HYBRID SYSTEMS; PV CELLS; PV MODULES; ON GRID SOLAR; Global Warming Drives Solar Energy Adoption; Solar Utility Market Forecasts; Solar Utility Market Shares; Utilities Solar Market Forecasts

Utilities Go Green Worldwide Utility Solar Market Shares Forecasts, and Strategies, 2008-2014

The single most significant economic factor driving adoption of solar utility initiatives is the prospect of carbon use surcharges. As coal, gas, and oil usage are taxed to help prevent pollution and stimulate use of renewable energy sources, solar energy becomes more attractive to the utility grid electricity providers. The environmental impact of energy use choices promises to be an ongoing factor in energy grid supply.

Large scale solar electric power plants are being developed and planned worldwide as an alternative to fossil fuel, or nuclear power generation. These large scale power plants (solar farms) are typically greater than 100 kW in power output and grow in capacity to well over 1 MW. Both Germany and Canada have announced solar farm power plants that will be sized at 40 MW. PV module price decreases continue to drive the growth of large scale solar farm development worldwide.

The speed with which solar system can be put in place by a utility company is a major factor in deciding what kinds of systems to put up. Solar utility systems can be put in place within six months.

The ability to create an operational system in six months instead of 20 years for nuclear systems is significant. Just the cost of capital weighs heavily in favor of solar utility installations. The advantage brought by having paying customers sooner is a major factor supporting implementation of solar systems for generation of utility grid electricity.

Utility vendor electricity solar equipment markets at $10 billion in 2007 are anticipated to reach $78.7 billion by 2014. Growth is a result of using utility electricity solar systems to power the grid. With .3% of the grid powered by solar in 2007, huge growth is set to occur as 6% of the grid power is anticipated to come from solar by 2014, with rapid shifts to solar energy after that. This will come through massive trillion dollar investments in grid capable solar energy systems that are financed throughout the life of the solar installation.

Adoption of solar energy has a simple market driving force. If people do not adopt solar energy, the planet will become unfit for human habitation. The fossil fuels are warming the planet at an increasing rate that makes life unsustainable if something does not change. Global warming drives solar markets. Solar is perceived as the best, perhaps the only widespread solution to global warming.

Every large enterprise has adopted a social responsibility strategy that makes a nod toward solving the issues of global warming and embraces renewable energy. Every person in the world is aware of the problems that global warming is bringing.

Growth comes not only because solar power is the cheapest power source which it will be in many cases, but because it fulfills a variety of convenience needs, not the least of which is a way to attack global warming. Every large enterprise has adopted a green strategy in response to public demand for better energy solutions.

Companies Profiled
Q-Cells Kyocera BP Solar First Solar Isofoton Sanyo AES Akuo Energy Colorado Instruments / SolarWorld Concentrix Cypress Semiconductor / Sunpower Dyesol Limited Evergreen Solar Flisom GE Global Solar Energy Hitachi America Ltd. Hoku Scientific Isofoton Kyocera LDK Solar Co LTD Mitsubishi	SolarWorld SunPower Suntech Sharp Solar Schott Yingli Green Energy Nanosolar PrimeStar Solar Q-Cells AG Sanyo SatCon Signet Solar Siemens Solaire Direct Solarfun Power Holdings Co, Ltd. Solar Integrated SolarWorld AG Solartech Solon Spectra Watt / Intel Tenesol Urbasolar Yingli Green Energy

Report Methodology

This is the 345th report in a series of market research reports that provide forecasts in communications, telecommunications, the internet, computer, software, and telephone equipment. The project leaders take direct responsibility for writing and preparing each report. They have significant experience preparing industry studies. Forecasts are based on primary research and proprietary data bases. Forecasts reflect analysis of the market trends in the segment and related segments. Unit and dollar shipments are analyzed through consideration of dollar volume of each market participation in the segment. Market share analysis includes conversations with key customers of products, industry segment leaders, marketing directors, distributors, leading market participants, and companies seeking to develop measurable market share. Over 200 in-depth interviews are conducted for each report with a broad range of key participants and opinion leaders in the market segment.

About the Company

WinterGreen Research, founded in 1985, provides strategic market assessments in telecommunications, communications equipment, health care, and advanced computer technology. Industry reports focus on opportunities that will expand existing markets or develop major new markets. The reports assess new product and service positioning strategies, new and evolving technologies, and technological impact on products, services, and markets. Market shares are provided. Leading market participants are profiled, and their marketing strategies, acquisitions, and strategic alliances are discussed. The principals of WinterGreen Research have been involved in analysis and forecasting of international business opportunities in telecommunications and advanced computer technology markets for over 30 years.

About the Principal Authors

Ellen T. Curtiss, Technical Director, co-founder of WinterGreen Research, conducts strategic and market assessments in technology-based industries. Previously she was a member of the staff of Arthur D. Little, Inc., for 23 years, most recently as Vice President of Arthur D. Little Decision Resources, specializing in strategic planning and market development services. She is a graduate of Boston University and the Program for Management Development at Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. She is the author of recent studies on worldwide telecommunications markets and the Top Ten Telecommunications market analysis and forecasts.

Susan Eustis, President, co-founder of WinterGreen Research, has done research in communications and computer markets and applications. She holds several patents in microcomputing and parallel processing. She is the author of recent studies of the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) marketing strategies, Internet software, a study of Push to Talk Equipment, Worldwide Telecommunications Equipment, Top Ten Telecommunications, Digital Loop Carrier, Web Hosting, Business Process Management, Servers, Blades, the Mainframe as a Green Machine, and Application Server markets. Ms. Eustis is a graduate of Barnard College.