Bonn, Germany / San Francisco, CA. The various phases of market development and the current growth prognosis were presented by Daniela Schreiber, Executive Vice President of Hoehner Research & Consulting Corporation USA, as an introduction to the full-day networking event. Whilst the US market has previously been driven mainly by the small scale systems sector and has shown moderate growth in comparison to the global situation, the past years have brought announcements of plans for large scale systems into focus. The market has become more favorable for large projects, and thus they will begin to play a more significant role in its future development. According to Daniela Schreiber, this project pipeline is likely to crystallize into the beginnings of actual projects within the coming months.
Against this background, and supported by the analyses of the market research institute EuPD Research, Schreiber comes to the assumption that the US market will extend beyond the four gigawatt mark for the first time this year. Ben Airth, board member of CALSEIA, is also convinced that the US market will continue to grow, and he has clear visions for the future of California, the state mainly represented by his organization. According to Airth, collectively-owned solar plants, net metering and an extension of the programs allowing lower income households and those who do not own their homes to install solar power systems would be viable options for California. Voluntary work in apprenticeship and further education could help to achieve these goals.
Decision makers discussed these market drivers and possible solutions with installers, project planners, manufacturers, investors and association representatives during the "PV Briefing and Networking Forum USA" on 23rd May in San Francisco. In total, around 100 local representatives, international branch experts and decision makers came together for the all-day event of speeches and a closing panel discussion.
A number of subsidization programs have encouraged the positive developments in California, and these are still furthering expansion. The introduction of emissions trading in November 2012 has also had a positive effect so far. The West Coast is set to remain the dominating US photovoltaics market in the upcoming years.
According to the expectations of Chris Edgette, Senior Director of the California Energy Storage Alliance, solar energy storage systems are likely to contribute considerably to market development. On the road to a total use of renewables in energy production, storage systems provide the flexibility necessary to create an efficient method of balancing out peak load. Analyses by EuPD Research also confirm this proposition, and predict that the market for storage systems in California will develop well. This is supported by the fact that this year, a commercial storage system was installed in a 150MW solar park for the first time.
In a closing keynote speech, Daniela Schreiber also presented the newly founded International Battery & Energy Storage Allicance IBESA, and showed possibilities for companies to establish themselves in this sector. The alliance sees itself as a platform both for manufacturers of batteries and electrical storage systems for the solar industry, and representatives from the downstream segments of the value chain.
The next "PV Briefing and Networking Forum USA" will be held as part of the Intersolar North America on 10th July 2013.
Information on Joint Forces for Solar
The "10th PV Briefing & Networking Forum USA“ of Joint Forces for Solar was supported by Samil Power US Ltd. as Premium Sponsor and the Thomas Lloyd Group as Gold Sponsor. A further important partner of Joint Forces for Solar in California is, alongside the California Solar Energy Industries Association, the International Battery & Energy Storage Alliance IBESA. Founders and initiators of Joint Forces for Solar are Intersolar and EuPD Research. Joint Forces for Solar in the USA is also supported by ACORE, AHK USA, the California Energy Storage Alliance, SEMI PV Group and NABCEP. Media partners are: PV-Tech, pv magazine, Solar Server, Sun & Wind Energy and Renewable Energy World.
If you have any questions about the Joint Forces for Solar Initiative or would like more information about the event, please feel free to contact Daniel Fuchs, Senior Manager Global of Joint Forces for Solar: fuchs@jointforces4solar.com | +49 228 971 43 45.
Further information about Joint Forces for Solar, founded by EuPD Research and Intersolar, can also be found on the website: www.jointforces4solar.com.