European PV markets to decline in 2011 despite PV price decreases

Solarbuzz
Solarbuzz announced a new report which (...) predicts that the aggregate European PV market will contract 14% in 2011 from 2010 levels, and that Italy will replace Germany as the continent's largest market by 2015.(...) The report estimates that crystalline silicon (c-Si) module prices from manufacturers reached record low prices of 0.75 €/Wp in the first half of 2011, as a result of excess inventories spreading upstream.
(...) Solarbuzz notes that the 169% growth of European PV markets in 2010 was driven by Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic, which represented 89% of the continent's demand [and due to] Italy's generous tariff rates, its market share will rise to 39% by 2015.
The report also predicts that over the next five years, the residential segment of European PV markets will double its share, while investor's groups fall, and commerical and agricultural customers remain the largest market segment.

Solar's Outlook Dazzles

RenewableEnergyWorld.com
At the end of last year, the global photovoltaic market hit a cumulative installed capacity of 40 GW, of which 16.6 GW was added during 2010. A year of unprecedented growth saw new capacity more than double from 7.2 GW in 2009. Worldwide, solar PV already produces some 50 TWh each year. By 2015, though, capacity could climb to range from 131 GW to 196 GW. (...) Germany continued to lead the PV market worldwide, with 7.4 GW installed over the year, while Italy added a substantial 2.3 GW. Other countries with significant growth included the Czech Republic, which saw a 1.5 GW expansion in 2010, a rise unlikely to be sustained in 2011. Japan gained 990 MW, the United States 900 MW, and France 700 MW. Spain regained some ground by installing 370 MW after two years of strongly adverse conditions. Belgium connected more than 420 MW of PV.

Solar Energy Investors Claim Czech Government Exaggerates Impact on Prices

Bloomberg
The Czech government is exaggerating how much solar energy subsidies will inflate power prices, according to a study for industry developers that criticizes a new law limiting support. The law, approved by parliament on Oct. 29, aims to cap electricity price increases and quell criticism that five-year-old legislation awarded too-generous incentives to investors in solar energy. The state energy regulator estimated 2011 power prices may jump 12 percent if no measures are taken. A pro- industry study by Prague-based law firm Glatzova said prices probably wouldn’t exceed 2.5 percent. (...) The incentives spurred a jump from 4.7 megawatts in 2007 to as much as 1,340 megawatts by September this year. (...) The government is also pushing for a 26 percent retroactive tax on solar energy producers and further fees for power plants built on agricultural land. A retroactive tax will provoke a backlash from investors who have poured money into solar power plants in the past few years, said Georg Hotar, co-owner and chief financial officer of Photon Energy AS, which develops and operates solar plants.“Any retroactive measures are bad in principle and will create bad faith among investors,” Hotar said in a telephone interview. “If this happens the state will be swamped in arbitration suits.”