Shipments of photovoltaic modules and cells by U.S. manufacturers, as measured by their maximum electric power output, reached a record level, up 31 percent from year-earlier figures. This marked the twelfth consecutive annual increase in shipments.
The value of photovoltaic shipments increased 34 percent from earlier levels, also to a record level, according to official data on the solar industry released today by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The growth in shipments is due largely to a strong export market, which accounted for 73 percent of the shipments. (The EIA report covers both of the major forms of solar energy. Photovoltaic devices directly convert the sun's energy to electricity. Solar thermal collectors use the sun's energy to heat a working fluid (often water) for heating or generating electricity.)
Other findings on the photovoltaic and solar thermal collector manufacturing industry include:
- The average annual rate of increase in photovoltaic shipments over the past 12 years has been 19 percent.
- The value of shipments of photovoltaic modules and cells grew from $131 million to $175 million. The price per unit increased 2 percent.
- There was a 71-percent increase in the shipments of photovoltaics for connection to the electric power system. Photovoltaics historically have been shipped and used at remote areas to provide electricity.
- Although shipments of solar thermal collectors increased 7 percent between, the value of these shipments remained nearly the same at about $29 million, because of a 9-percent drop in the average price per unit. More than 90 percent of shipments of solar thermal collectors were to the residential sector for use as inground and above ground solar swimming pool heaters.
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