By Jeff Spross | ClimateProgress
In 2013, more global solar photovoltaic capacity will be installed than wind power capacity — the first year that’s ever happened, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).
There are several distinct forms of solar power — such as thermal solar, which is used to heat water, or concentrated solar, which augments thermal systems with huge mirror arrays to capture more sunlight. But solar PV arrays are the traditional electricity-generating panels most people think of when they think of solar power. BNEF forecast that installations of new solar PV capacity will hit 36.7 gigawatts in 2013, an increase of around 20 percent over 2012. Unfortunately, the fact that this will pull ahead of wind power’s predicted installations of 35.5 gigawatts is largely due to a drop in the market of almost 25 percent from 2012.
If you’d like to discuss energy issues, contact Court Rich, director of Rose Law Group’s Renewable Energy Department at crich@roselawgroup.com
