Solar Technology Experts Look at Future of Solar Market

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48066

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Observations from the Solar Installers Summit series include:

-- Globally, solar panel installations grew by about 1.8 gigawatts (GW) in 2006. This year, 2.3 GW are expected to be installed.

-- The federal solar energy investment tax credit of 30% for homeowners and businesses has been extended through 2008.

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-- The California Solar Initiative (CSI) provides $2.8 billion in funding over 11 years to spur solar development. Part of a cutting-edge energy policy strategy, the CSI goal is to create 3,000 megawatts of new, solar-produced electricity by 2017.

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-- Development and use of thin-film technology, a less costly alternative to silicon-based photovoltaic solar cells, is growing fast. Thin-film production is expected to reach about 120 megawatts (MW) in 2007 and more than 170 MW in 2008.

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