Governments’ Eagerness to Harness North America’s Immense Solar Potential

Aug. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – August 3, 2011 – The need for energy independence in the wake of depleting fossil fuel sources and volatile fuel prices have shifted the spotlight to renewable energy resources, which are in diverse abundance in North America. After wind power, solar is the fastest growing renewable energy market in North America. The United States is the dominant market for solar installations, while Canada has just begun to register high adoption rates for solar power in non-residential applications.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan North American Non Residential Solar Power Market, finds that the non-residential solar power market had a cumulative installed capacity of 511 MW for concentrating solar power (CSP) and 1,514 MW for solar photovoltaic (PV) by 2010. CSP’s cumulative capacity is projected to reach 4,668 MW by 2017 and 20,728 MW for PV.

If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an e-mail to Britni Myers, Corporate Communications, at britni.myers@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company Web site, city, state and country.

The Federal Government and various state governments are keen to tap the potential of renewable resources to achieve energy security. They have implemented numerous renewable energy policies and offered an economic package as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Another stimulus for the market is the renewable portfolio standards (RPSs), which enhance the market’s predictability and thereby, attract capital investment. These incentives and mandates are likely to encourage investments in high-cost solar PV systems and result in a whopping compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45.3 percent from 2010 to 2017.

CSPs, with their ability to deliver power during peak demand, are also an attractive alternative to conventional power sources.

“In the Southwest United States, electricity consumption during the summer is the highest from 11 a.m. to late afternoon, which directly correlates with the electricity production of CSP,” says Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst Georgina Benedetti. “Moreover, when backed up by thermal storage facilities and combustible fuel, CSP offers utilities electricity that can be dispatched when required, making it ideal for base, shoulder and peak loads.”

Despite the obvious market potential, the higher capital investment in solar energy and the complications in obtaining permits and grid access will deter utility owners. Grid-connected PV systems tend to have higher upfront costs than other conventional energy systems and the same is true for CSP technology.

A large CSP plant will require an investment of $6,000 per kWh to $7,500 per kW, while a coal-fired power plant will need only $2,400 per kW to $3,500 per kW. Local transmission infrastructure capability is also an important requirement to deploy large CSP plants. As CSP projects require vast tracts of land, the best locations are often deserts, with no transmission lines for miles around.

Plant owners will also have to deal with the slow planning and permitting processes involved in gaining grid access.

“Utilities can still feel optimistic as the capital cost of a large CSP plant is expected to reduce to $4,500 per kW to $5,500 per kW within the next five years,” notes Benedetti. “This will allow CSPs to compete against coal and natural gas power generation plants and earn higher revenues for the non-residential solar power market.”

North American Non Residential Solar Power Market is part of the Energy & Power Growth Partnership Services program, which also includes research in the following markets: North American Residential Solar Power Market, Global Solar Power Markets, Global Wind Power Markets, North American Biomass and Waste-to-Energy Market, India Solar Photovoltaic Market, European Solar Thermal Heating Systems Market, Southeast Asian Solar PV Systems Market Outlook, North Asian Solar PV Systems Market Outlook, and ANZ Solar PV Systems Market Outlook. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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North American Non Residential Solar Power Market
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Contact:
Britni Myers
Corporate Communications – North America
P: 210.477.8481
F: 210.348.1003
E: britni.myers@frost.com

http://www.frost.com

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Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's research and consulting services empower clients to generate, evaluate, and implement effective growth strategies.