Price of Solar PV Drops 20% Per Year in Canada
The price for solar modules dropped to C$1.52 per watt in 2011, compared with $9.41 in 2001, which is in contrast to other reports which indicate that the growth of renewable energy in Canada is increasing at a slower rate than the consumption of non-renewable energy sources.
Ottawa, Canada, July 10, 2013 --(PR.com)-- The price for solar photovoltaic modules dropped to C$1.52 per watt in 2011, down from $9.41 in 2001, according to the latest analysis from the federal energy department.
That price decline represents an average annual price reduction of 20% over the decade, explains 'Photovoltaic Technology Status & Prospects 2012' released by technology officials at Natural Resources Canada and the industry association.
Canada’s capacity of solar PV grew at an annual rate of 25% between 1994 and 2008, hitting 202% in 2010 and 49% in 2011 due to incentive programs in Ontario.
The good news on declining prices for solar modules comes as numerous international reports indicate that energy from renewable energy technologies (electric and thermal) is growing at a slower rate than the total consumption of non-renewable energies, says Bill Eggertson of the Canadian Association for Renewable Energies. "Unless we can get the cost for GreenHeat technologies to come down too, Canada will miss the opportunity to reduce costs for all energies, and to reduce the level of GHG emissions."
Although all provinces and territories in Canada now support net-metering, the market uptake has been low due to the low price of electricity in most regions of the country, the report explains. The solar sector has experienced “continued significant investment” over the last four years, with employment in PV-related areas growing to 5,500 jobs in 2012 compared with 2,700 in 2009.
The Feed-In Tariff program in Ontario is viewed by the PV industry “as a major step towards developing a competitive, strong Canadian solar industry” and other provinces “continue to evaluate the potential for accelerating the deployment of solar PV in their energy mixes,” it concludes. The province of Alberta is expected to report significant progress this year, and the industry has identified innovation in the solar electricity sector as “a key strategic opportunity for Canada.”
A committee is preparing an in-depth analysis of opportunities for innovation in solar electricity generation as part of its "Solar Electricity Innovation Roadmap for Canada" to be released later this year.
That price decline represents an average annual price reduction of 20% over the decade, explains 'Photovoltaic Technology Status & Prospects 2012' released by technology officials at Natural Resources Canada and the industry association.
Canada’s capacity of solar PV grew at an annual rate of 25% between 1994 and 2008, hitting 202% in 2010 and 49% in 2011 due to incentive programs in Ontario.
The good news on declining prices for solar modules comes as numerous international reports indicate that energy from renewable energy technologies (electric and thermal) is growing at a slower rate than the total consumption of non-renewable energies, says Bill Eggertson of the Canadian Association for Renewable Energies. "Unless we can get the cost for GreenHeat technologies to come down too, Canada will miss the opportunity to reduce costs for all energies, and to reduce the level of GHG emissions."
Although all provinces and territories in Canada now support net-metering, the market uptake has been low due to the low price of electricity in most regions of the country, the report explains. The solar sector has experienced “continued significant investment” over the last four years, with employment in PV-related areas growing to 5,500 jobs in 2012 compared with 2,700 in 2009.
The Feed-In Tariff program in Ontario is viewed by the PV industry “as a major step towards developing a competitive, strong Canadian solar industry” and other provinces “continue to evaluate the potential for accelerating the deployment of solar PV in their energy mixes,” it concludes. The province of Alberta is expected to report significant progress this year, and the industry has identified innovation in the solar electricity sector as “a key strategic opportunity for Canada.”
A committee is preparing an in-depth analysis of opportunities for innovation in solar electricity generation as part of its "Solar Electricity Innovation Roadmap for Canada" to be released later this year.
Contact
canadian association for renewable energies
Bill Eggertson
613-222-6920
http://renewables.ca
Bill Eggertson
613-222-6920
http://renewables.ca
Contact
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