Solar Energy Demand
Worldwide photovoltaic installations increased by 5,948 MW in 2008, up from 2,826 MW installed during the previous year. In 1985, annual solar installation demand was only 21 Megawatts.
For comparison purposes, total worldwide wind energy installations in 2000 were around 4000 Megawatts, growing at about 35% pa.
Cumulative solar energy production accounts for less than 0.01% of total Global Primary Energy demand.
Solar Energy demand has grown at about 30% per annum over the past 15 years (hydrocarbon energy demand typically grows between 0-2% per annum).
The US market grew to 357 megawatts in 2008. Japan's market is now the sixth largest market. Spain was the largest market in 2008
The "Feed-in Law" has led to Germany to become the second largest market in the world in 2008.
For the Fiscal Year 2002, the Japanese solar roof top program received applications from 42,838 households.
Photovoltaic Manufactured Solar Cells
On the supply side, the amount of product manufactured by PV cell manufacturers worldwide reached a consolidated 6.85 gigawatts in 2008.
Japan has taken over from the United States as the largest net exporter of PV cells and modules.
Japan accounted for around 39% of total global cell production in 2006.
Solar Energy Prices
Solar Energy (photovoltaic) prices have declined on average 4% per annum over the past 15 years. Progressive increase in conversion efficiencies and manufacturing economies of scale are the underlying drivers.
The Solarbuzz global price survey on this site shows that prices have consistently declined for over the last two years.
A residential solar energy system typically costs about $8-10 per Watt. Where government incentive programs exist, together with lower prices secured through volume purchases, installed costs as low as $3-4 watt - or some 10-12 cents per kilowatt hour can be achieved. Without incentive programs, solar energy costs (in an average sunny climate) range between 22-40 cents/kWh for very large PV systems.
Other Solar Energy Facts
Did you know that solar energy is dependent upon nuclear power? Solar Energy's nuclear power plant, though, is 93 million miles away.
An average crystalline silicon cell solar module has an efficiency of 15%, an average thin film cell solar module has an efficiency of 6%. Thin film manufacturing costs potentially are lower, though.
A Megawatt is 1,000,000 Watts; a Gigawatt is 1000 Megawatts.
The earth receives more energy from the sun in just one hour than the world uses in a whole year.
Two billion people in the world have no access to electricity. For most of them, solar photovoltaics would be their cheapest electricity source, but they cannot afford it.
Crystalline Silicon cell technology forms about 90% of solar cell demand. The balance comes from thin film technologies.
Approximately 45% of the cost of a silicon cell solar module is driven by the cost of the silicon wafer, a further 35% is driven by the materials required to assemble the solar module. | 
