44.5 GW of new solar capacity will be added globally in 2014, survey

About 44.5 GW of solar capacity will be added globally in 2014, according to a survey of nine analysts and companies carried out by Bloomberg. If this forecast holds true, the world will add 20.9% more solar capacity in 2014 than in 2013. Last year, new capacity rose by 20.3% after a 4.4% gain in 2012. Much of this growth will come from China, which became the largest solar market in 2013 when it installed about 12 GW. Growth in Japan and the US will also help counteract a decline in installations in Europe. The survey participants expect China to install about 12 to 14 GW of solar capacity this year, while Japan and the US are expected to install around 10.5 GW and 5.3 GW, respectively.
Growth in solar installations will drive a return to profitability for solar manufacturers, and oversupply will shrink. Large polysilicon producers and module makers active in Asia are expected to benefit the most from this.
»After two years of a punishing downturn, the global solar industry is on the rebound,« said Ash Sharma, senior research director for solar at IHS Inc. »Worldwide PV installations are set to rise by double digits in 2014, solar manufacturing capital spending is recovering, module prices are stabilizing and emerging markets are on the rise.«
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