Solar energy makes major progress in 2012

Global solar energy capacity reaches new milestone

Solar energy has gained significant momentum around the world. It has become one of the most popular forms of renewable energy in Europe and has helped many countries in the region find some economic progress amidst financial crisis. China has also seen strong growth from its focus on solar energy, reporting declining emissions and new economic opportunities. The European Photovoltaic Industry Association, an organization devoted to the progress of solar energy, has released a new report concerning the gains solar energy had seen in 2012.

Global capacity surpasses 100GW

The organization claims that 2012 was  a “landmark year” for solar energy. The report shows that global solar energy capacity surpassed 100 gigawatts by the end of 2012, a major milestone for renewable energy and sustainability. Much of the growth the solar energy sector saw throughout 2012 comes from Europe. The report shows that Europe accounted for 30 gigawatts of installed capacity in 2012, with non-European markets accounting for 13 gigawatts of the global total. Germany is one of the countries that has shown the strongest support for solar power.

Solar power provides major benefits for adopters

The report suggests that the world’s solar energy capacity is equivalent to the annual energy production of 16 coal plants of nuclear energy facilities. In 2012, solar energy reduced global carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 53 million tons. The countries that showed strong support for solar energy also saw the cost of energy fall as their reliance on fossil-fuels began to weaken. With renewable energy becoming more available, the demand for electrical power also decreased.

Countries begin showing stronger support for solar power

Solar energy is making strong progress all over the world. The successes seen in 2012 were built by the momentum the solar energy industry had gained in 2011. If this trend continues, 2013 may be a very promising year for solar power. The U.S. has recently adopted a stronger focus on solar energy in order to catch up with the European market. Japan has also taken a lesson from Europe and has introduced one of the most ambitious solar energy feed-in tariffs in the world to help promote adoption among consumers.