Just a couple of posts ago I mentioned how Germany is the world’s top solar installer, and per capita, Germany is the country with the most solar power by far. However, today comes the news that it’s looking very much like 2013 will be the first time in over 15 years, since the 1990s, that the United States will install more solar capacity than Germany, according to GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Further, the United States has just had its largest quarter ever for residential solar installations. For the year, installations have grown 27% from last year, with a massive 52% growth rate in residential solar. Within the U.S., California was out in front, with a number of new utility-scale solar projects, and the addition of 99 megawatts of residential solar capacity in just the third quarter.
The spectacular growth rate of residential solar in the United States is said to be directly attributed to “solar-friendly” policies in states such as California, Hawaii, and Arizona. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) president Rhone Resch said, “Without a doubt, 2013 will go down as a record-shattering year for the U.S. solar industry, We’ve now joined Germany, China and Japan as worldwide leaders when it comes to the installation of new solar capacity.â€
Image CC licensed by Walmart
Via Think Progress, EarthTechling
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