The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA, Brussels, Belgium) has announced that the world's cumulative solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity has reached 101 GW, with 30 GW of new capacity connected to the grid in 2012.

EPIA also notes that 13 GW of that capacity was located outside Europe, compared to 8 GW in 2011, with China alone commissioning 3.5 - 4.5 GW. The organization intends to release final figures for the 2012 market in May 2013.

"No one would have predicted even 10 years ago that we would see more than 100 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity in the world by 2012," said EPIA President Winfried Hoffmann.

"The photovoltaic industry clearly faces challenges but the results of 2012 show there is a strong global market for our technology. Even in tough economic times and despite growing regulatory uncertainty, we have nearly managed to repeat the record year of 2011."

Three of five largest PV markets located outside Europe

Under EPIA's preliminary accounts, Germany remained the largest market at 7.6 GW, with Italy in third place after China at 3.3 GW and the United States commissioning 3.2 GW. Japan also added an estimated 2.5 GW during the year.

EPIA also notes that it may increase its 2012 global estimate of 30 GW by 1 or 2 GW when final numbers are in.

2013-02-11 | Courtesy: EPIA; Image: GCL-Poly Energy Holdings | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH

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