California to lead U.S. in solar power installations in 2011 with 967 MW, followed by New Jersey with 260 MW, Arizona with 240 MW, report finds; California accounts for 61% of total U.S. project pipeline, driven by state's 33% RPS

Rachel Carter

SAN FRANCISCO , October 19, 2011 (press release) – Market Data Reveals the Golden State Continues to Lead the Nation in Solar Installations and Projects in the Pipeline

According to a September IHS iSuppli report, U.S. solar installations are predicted to rise 166 percent this year. North America's premier exhibition and conference for the solar industry, Intersolar North America, consistently provides key insights and unparalleled knowledge to the industry's leading integrators, cell and module manufacturers, balance of systems manufacturers, project developers and financiers. Permanently located in San Francisco, Intersolar North America is California's largest solar event, making it the key meeting point for solar professionals across the entire value chain to form the partnerships needed to maximize market potential and develop the projects that are growing the U.S. and California solar industries.

"Among U.S. states, California far and away will be the leader in renewable solar power this year, accounting for nearly 1GW on its own," said Mike Sheppard, Analyst, Photovoltaics at IHS iSuppli. "New Jersey is expected to be second with 260MW, followed by Arizona with 240MW. Rounding out the remaining top five, in descending order, include New Mexico and Nevada."

California this year is expected to top out with a total of 967MW of newly installed solar. In IHS iSupply's recent report, market data estimates installed solar in California for 2012 at 1.2GW, generating more solar power than the next six states on the U.S. PV ranking combined.

"California continues to be instrumental for the U.S. solar industry, as so many of the technological innovations and models to integrate solar are developed here," said Markus Elsasser, CEO of Solar Promotion International, one of the event's organizers. "Therefore, it is essential that solar professionals from around the United States meet in this all-important market and take with them the knowledge gained and business developed at Intersolar North America to grow their company. Our program is designed specifically with this in mind."

Market research firm Solarbuzz recently reported on the continued growth of solar installations in the United States, noting that 1,865 non-residential projects totaling 25.9GW have either been installed, currently being installed, or in their development phase since January 1, 2010. California accounts for 61 percent of the total U.S. project pipeline, stimulated by the state's 33 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard target, and benefiting from the recent trend of solar projects reallocated from concentrated solar power to photovoltaics.

"California's representation in the U.S. solar market reached 45 percent this year, up from 38 percent in 2010. With so much activity and growth, the state is ripe with opportunities for sales and strategic partnerships," said Troy Dalbey, Managing Director of North America for Upsolar. "From our North American headquarters in San Francisco, we're able to keep our finger on the pulse of the industry."

Save the date for Intersolar North America 2012, being held for the fifth year in a row at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The exhibition takes place from July 10-12, 2012 and features an expected 950 exhibitors and 22,000 trade visitors, while the conference takes place from July 9-12 and expects 1,600 conference attendees with over 200 speakers and around 30 sessions.

About Intersolar North America

Intersolar North America takes place annually in San Francisco's Moscone Center. Since its establishment in 2008, the exhibition and conference have developed into the premier platform for the solar industry in North America. Intersolar North America focuses on photovoltaics and solar thermal technology and is co-located with SEMICON West. It has quickly established itself among manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and service providers as an international industry meeting point. In total, 834 exhibitors and 19,170 trade visitors participated in 2011. The conference featured 30 sessions with 220 speakers and catered to 1,617 conference attendees.

Intersolar's global event series spans three continents and features over 3,400 exhibitors and 110,000 visitors in 2011. With 20 years of experience, Intersolar uses its unparalleled knowledge to drive the development of solar markets around the world. Intersolar's events in North America, Europe, India and China form a global network that uniquely brings together the most influential solar markets around the world.

For more information on Intersolar North America please visit: http://www.intersolar.us/.

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