2013 state of solar video series

As we head into 2013, Mosaic is highlighting the exciting state of solar in this multi-part video blog series. Each video features employees discussing what Mosaic’s model brings to the solar and finance industries. You can watch part one here.

Was 2012 the best of times or the worst of times for solar? And what about the near future? Messages are mixed...Solar is booming. Solar growth is about to stall. Get ready for a solar revolution with more change in the next 10 years than we’ve seen in the last 100!

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) acknowledges there have been some bumps. But its Q3 2012 report concludes that the global market growth is healthy at 14% over 2011, and the U.S. solar market, with an expected growth rate for 2012 of 70%, is booming.

Price drops leading to increased adoption

Big in 2012 solar news: the trade war with China and global PV panel oversupply, serious issues for manufacturers. China is taking steps to revive its manufacturing sector by limiting production and letting some smaller companies go bankrupt. But the oversupply last year led to low costs, which in turn led to increases in installations around the world. For the U.S, the SEIA report forecasts a total of 3.2 GW of PV installed in 2012, up from 1.9 GW in 2011.

More corporations have jumped on the solar bandwagon – IKEA, Walmart, Costco, FedEx, Kohl’s, Crayola, Apple, Google – not to mention schools, and even the Department of Defense. Why? Going solar makes economic sense. According to John Farrell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, solar has already reached grid parity in many areas, making it at least as affordable as power from utilities. Even Saudi Arabia is putting its capital in solar – to save money.
 

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