Solar Growth Slows, With Homes a Glaring Exception New York Times (blog)

15.04.10

A new report from a solar industry group found that the pace of solar installations slowed last year amid the economic downturn.

Total capacity installed for all types of solar energy grew by 5.2 percent in 2009, compared with 9.6 percent the previous year. But Rhone Resch, the chief executive of the Solar Energy Industries Association , which released the report Thursday, said that the overall number hid tremendous variation within the industry.

For example, he said, the residential market for photovoltaic panels (the type used on rooftops) grew at its fastest pace ever in 2009, and utilities’ demand for these panels also stayed strong. On the other hand, the large commercial market — companies putting solar panels on their rooftops — lagged. As a result, overall growth in capacity for photovoltaic panels stood at 38 percent last year, down significantly from 84 percent growth a year earlier.

Demand for solar pool heating equipment fell last year, with new installations down by 10 percent compared with 2008. “It’s pretty clear that the solar pool heating was hit hardest by the recession,” Mr. Resch said, noting that unlike other types of solar energy, pool heating does not benefit from federal tax incentives.

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