Solar Energy Markets: Industry, Installation, Labor & Technology Trends

The potential economic benefits of the growing renewable energy sector have led to increased federal, state, and local investments in solar industries, including federal grants for expanded workforce training for U.S. solar installers. However, there remain gaps in the data required to understand the size and composition of the workforce needed to meet the demand for solar power. This book seeks to address that gap, improving the understanding of both the evolving needs of employers and the economic opportunity associated with solar market development. It also focuses on solar market trends through 31 December 2010. It provides an overview of the U.S. solar electricity market, including photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies, identifies successes and trends within the market from both global and U.S. perspectives, and offers a general overview of the state of the solar energy market.