Asian solar capacity growth pushes global total to 101GW

Solar power capacity growth in China and Japan largely helped push global capacity to 101 gigawatts in 2012.

The two Asian countries, as well as the U.S., outstripped some markets in Europe.

About 30 to 32 gigawatts were completed worldwide, compared with almost 30 gigawatts in 2011, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association said.

Solar photovoltaic plants can now generate as much electricity as about 16 mid-sized nuclear power stations, the lobby group said.

Global installations expanded last year after an equipment glut drove down solar-panel prices.

“No one would have predicted even 10 years ago that we would see more than 100 gigawatts of photovoltaic capacity in the world by 2012,” EPIA President Winfred Hoffman said in the statement.

Countries outside Europe added more than 13 gigawatts of solar capacity last year, compared with less than 8 gigawatts in 2011, driven by China, the U.S. and Japan. Germany remained the biggest market after adding 7.6 gigawatts, while Europe as a whole installed 17 gigawatts, down from 23 gigawatts.

Global Wind Energy Council data show that wind-power growth also accelerated last year, with capacity reaching 282.5 gigawatts worldwide after 44.7 gigawatts were completed in the period.

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