NewsDespite brewing trouble for the solar industry in the region, Europe in 2011 will continue to account for the lion's share of photovoltaic (PV) installations in the world, claiming 68.6% of the global total, according to the latest IHS iSuppli research.
Comprising nine of the world's 15 major solar markets, European PV installations this year will amount to 14.3GW, more than two-thirds of the global level of about 20.9GW. Europe will be home to the world's two largest solar markets – Germany, with an estimated 7.1GW; and Italy, with 4.1GW – as well as seven other important PV territories including, in descending order, France, Belgium, the UK, the Czech Republic, Spain, Greece and Bulgaria.
Notwithstanding Europe's majority hold on global solar installations, its 68.6% share of market in 2011 will be a step down from 80.0% last year, when installations in Europe reached 13.8GW. Growth for the region also will decelerate in 2011, declining to 4.3% from a notable 146% expansion in 2010. In particular, bad news and uncertainty from specific markets will serve to dampen overall PV prospects in 2011 for the continent.
While Europe is continuing its dominance, the region faces challenges in one of its key countries. "Italy had been expected to be the star performer in Europe in 2011," said Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for PV systems at IHS. "However, on March 3, the government changed its solar policies, implementing changes in its tariffs that make the PV market in the country less attractive to investors starting in June. While the government is expected to fundamentally continue to support PV, installations in the country will decelerate in 2011 compared to earlier expectations – although they won't stall."
Compared to Italy, the PV market situation is weak in Germany, IHS said. Investors are still hesitating and awaiting lower system prices. System prices must reach EUR2-2.2 (US$2.80-3.09) per watt to spur installations of large systems. Slow demand in Germany already caused inventory at wholesalers to increase, a phenomenon that is now slowing down orders.
Although Germany is currently at the forefront of the global PV trade, the market here is expected to peak before four years are out, Wicht added. By 2015, German solar installations will stand at 5GW, less than the country's 2010 level.
In addition to the uncertainty facing the German PV sector, measures are under way to reduce the business proposition for solar investors in Spain, France and the Czech Republic, IHS said.
In the case of Spain, the government is set to reduce the funding of existing solar power parks by approximately 30%. In early March, France implemented a new scheme supporting new installations of 500MW per year. In addition, earlier accorded projects will be built. Estimates for France call for 1.3GW to be installed in 2011. And in the Czech Republic, where state support for ground-mounted plants will end in March, PV installations for the year will contract severely, falling to 350MW from 1.3GW in 2010.
Looking ahead, the highest-growth PV markets in Europe will be Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain and the UK, according to IHS. By 2015, however, the US will become the world's single largest solar market, overtaking Germany, which will drop to second place after years of being at the pinnacle.
