Figures released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) show that global PV capacity has increased in 2013 for the first time in two years – AND Australia is a top 10 solar performer!

The “PVPS Report Snapshot of Global PV 1992-2013” figures have been released and they show that global PV installations totalled 36.9GW capacity in their 29 member countries. Together with other, as yet unreported installations, they expect the total capacity installed in 2013 to be above 38GW’s!

The IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS) has 29 member countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, EPIA, European Union, France, Germany, International Copper Alliance, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, SEIA, SEPA, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the USA.

Europe has always been the big market shareholder with 59% obtained in 2012 which has to fallen to 28% in 2013. For the first time in more than a decade, Asia-Pacific was the leader with 59% share.

The annual PV contribution to electricity demand has passed the 1% mark in 15 countries, with Italy at the top with at least 7.8 % electricity coming from PV installations. Overall, European PV contributions amounted to around 3% of Europe’s total electricity demand.

“PV technology today has become a major actor in the electricity sector in several countries. Globally, at least 160 TWh, or 160 billion kWh will be produced in 2014 by PV systems installed and commissioned until January 2014,” states the report. “This represents about 0.85% of the electricity demand of the planet, though some countries have reached rapidly significant percentages.”

According to the report, the top ten countries are as follows.

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Top 10 Countries for Installations (2013/MW) 

China – 11.3

Japan – 6.9

USA – 4.8

Germany – 3.3

Italy – 1.5

India – 1.1

Romania – 1.1

Greece – 1

UK – 1

Australia – 0.9

[/one_half][one_half last=”yes”]Top 10 countries for total installed capacity (/MW) 

Germany – 35.5

China – 18.3

Italy – 17.6

Japan – 13.6

USA 12

Spain – 5.6

France – 4.6

Australia – 3.3

Belgium – 3

UK – 2.9

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