United States. The solar industry surpassed 20 gigawatts (GW) of total operating solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity during the second quarter of this year, according to GTM Research and a report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The U.S. installed 1,393 megawatts (MW) of solar PV in the second quarter, with both yearly and quarterly growth.
The residential solar market set a new quarterly record in the second quarter. With 473 MW installed, the segment grew by 70% year over year. In addition, the residential market is expanding, with 10 states each installation of more than 10 MW in the quarter. This shows significant growth over the same quarter of 2013, when only four states installed so much residential solar.
The non-residential market ended the quarter 33% lower than the same period last year. However, the continued growth of the solar energy community across the U.S., coupled with improved market dynamics in several states and continued financial innovation, suggest stronger growth in this segment in the second half of 2015 and beyond.
According to the report, 729 MW of utility solar PV came online in the second quarter of the year, accounting for more than half – 52% – of the nation's quarterly total. With the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) scheduled to fall by the end of 2016, large-scale utility development is at an all-time high of more than 5 GW of capacity currently under construction.
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