Eco Factor: US to surpass one gigawatt of installed, solar power-generating capacity this year.
Researchers at the Solar Energy Industries Association and GreenTech Media Research are feeling elated over the prospect of going beyond the magical figure of one gigawatt this year. Thanks to a tremendous rise in photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) installations in the US in recent decades, the solar might will take the existing tallies to newer heights with the conception of the 370 MW Ivanpah CSP System in Southern California – a BrightSource Energy’s initiative.
Another plant in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center, which is a $71 million venture and consists of 35,000 solar panels, further reinstates the claim. Aside from these mega projects, the U.S. is hopes to reach 3 million square feet of installed solar thermal collectors for solar water heating this year.
Furthermore, the 2010 total will fall between 944 megawatts and 1.13 gigawatts, up from 441 megawatts in 2009.
Via: TechCrunch
