Solar Projects

Solar energy is the most abundant permanent energy resource on earth. The Sun emits energy at a rate of 3.8x1023 Kw, but at a distance of 150 million kilometers only 1.8x1014 kW is intercepted by the earth. Even if only 1% of this energy could be converted at the average efficiency of today’s technology it would provide 100% of the world’s total power generating capacity of about 3,000 GW.International Energy Agency predicts that solar PV and concentrated solar power (CSP) together could account for about 22 percent of global electricity production by 2050 under the right conditions.

Worldwide photovoltaic (PV) installations increased by 7.3 GW in 2009, up from 6,080 MW installed during the previous year. In 1985 annual solar installation demand was only 21 MW. PV energy production currently amounts to a total global installed capacity of 22 GW in 2009 and is expected to surpass 1,000 GW of installed power by 2030. Cumulative solar energy production current accounts for less than 0.01% of total global energy demand.

Figure 1 below offers regional demand shares for 2009 and an estimate for 2010. Note that Europe continues at above 80% of all PV sales.

In Canada, the domestic market growth has been averaging about 36% annually since 2000, amounting to a total installed capacity of 95 MW at the end of 2009.

Please visit our Links page.