Solar Trends

A Wood Mackenzie Business

GTM members benefits:

Unlimited access to our free news articles
Unlimited access to our free webinars, white papers, and videos
Special offers and discounts on Events and Squared
Updates on breaking news and current events

12.10.20 Policy 2

We have a pretty good sense of how 2020 is shaping up for climate and energy.

How the Energy Transition Accelerated in a Turbulent Year

On this episode of Political Climate, we discuss how climate action and the clean energy transition fared in 2020.

by Julia Pyper

GTM Squared

Will BIPV Finally Get Its Day?

Companies have been trying to make the technology work for years. Are they any closer?

by Emma Foehringer Merchant | November 17, 2020

10.15.20 Research & Analysis 2

Investors are prioritizing only the most favorable solar projects.

Research Spotlight

Competition for Solar Tax Equity Is Reaching a Fever Pitch

But solar tax equity will become less important for solar project financing starting in 2022.

by Michelle Davis

‘Made for Each Other’: Solar and Storage Will Be a Regular Pair by 2030

GTM Squared

‘Made for Each Other’: Solar and Storage Will Be a Regular Pair by 2030

Adding batteries to large solar projects is already the norm in many markets. Virtual power plants could proliferate in the years ahead.

by Emma Foehringer Merchant | October 12, 2020

GTM Squared's annual membership is designed for energy leaders and enterprises. Professionals stay smart with Squared's intel platform that gives access to insights they want, when they want them. The membership includes:

Weekly Insights From Our Experts
Event Live Streams & Video On-Demand
GTM Event Registration Discounts
Special Reports & Surveys

Learn More

Bifacial Could Be the Default Solar Technology by 2030

GTM Squared

Bifacial Could Be the Default Solar Technology by 2030

What will the solar industry look like a decade from now? A new GTM Squared series takes a look.

by Emma Foehringer Merchant | September 29, 2020

09.28.20 2

As solar developers expand into more difficult-to-develop sites, tracker manufacturers see an opportunity.

Research Spotlight

How Tracker Technology Is Expanding the Footprint for Solar

The value of the global tracker market will surpass the fixed-tilt market this year.

by Ravi Manghani and Chloe Holden

08.26.20 1

COVID-19 will not have serious implications for the inverter industry.

Research Spotlight

WoodMac: Solar Inverter Market Reached Record Highs in 2019

A new report highlights the stepdown of the ITC and the rise of the inverter replacement market in Europe.

by Lindsay Cherry

08.13.20 Solar 3

Loans accounted for more than half of the U.S. solar financing market last year.

Research Spotlight

Loans Still Lead the Rooftop Solar Finance Market, But Volumes Set to Tumble This Year

While consumers have largely kept up with payments so far, default rates for U.S. solar loans are in the spotlight, according to Wood Mackenzie.

by Bryan White

08.10.20 Solar 1

COVID-19 may hit commercial solar harder than any other market segment in the U.S.

Research Spotlight

WoodMac: US Sitting on 145GW of Unused Commercial Solar Potential

Wood Mackenzie tapped Station A’s building-level data for a new C&I solar market analysis. The upshot: huge unused potential.

by Michelle Davis

08.03.20 Solar 6

Research Spotlight

WoodMac: Large-Scale Solar Holds Cost Edge Despite ITC Stepdown, Coronavirus Impacts

Corporate demand and state mandates are driving utility solar installations, but voluntary procurements based on pure economics continue to dominate.

by Colin Smith

This 20-page report highlights several of the most promising innovations the solar industry has experienced or undertaken in the past several months.

GTM Squared

5 Breakthrough Innovations for the US Solar Industry

This 20-page report highlights several of the most promising innovations the solar industry has experienced or undertaken in the past several months.

by Emma Foehringer Merchant | July 7, 2020

06.18.20 Grid Edge 5

Cumulative U.S. DER investments will eclipse $110 billion between 2020 and 2026.

Research Spotlight

What the Coming Wave of Distributed Energy Resources Means for the US Grid

EV infrastructure, batteries and grid-interactive water heaters will drive DER spending to a new peak in 2025, Wood Mackenzie says.

by Ben Kellison and Fei Wang

05.27.20 Solar 0

More businesses are “going solar” through virtual PPAs or community solar subscriptions. (Photo: Sol Systems)

Research Spotlight

As Commercial Solar Takes a Hit From COVID-19, Virtual PPAs Continue Their Rise

Consolidation is coming to the U.S. commercial solar industry, Wood Mackenzie says.

by Michelle Davis

05.12.20 Solar 0

The global solar market could be in for a swift rebound.

Research Spotlight

WoodMac: Global Solar Market Set to Resume Growth in 2021 as Coronavirus Impact Fades

After a pause in 2020, the global solar market looks set to chart new heights each year in the 2021-2025 period.

by Ravi Manghani

04.28.20 0

Power Electronics maintained its first-place ranking in the U.S. solar inverter market in 2019.

Research Spotlight

Huawei, Sungrow and SMA Were the Top Solar Inverter Players in 2019

A rise in solar PV inverter retrofits contributed to the market’s 18 percent growth last year.

by Lindsay Cherry and Chloe Holden

04.20.20 Solar 1

The U.S. is the largest market globally for solar trackers that follow the sun. (Credit: NEXTracker)

Research Spotlight

WoodMac: NEXTracker Tops Global Solar Tracker Rankings for 2019

The U.S. market for PV trackers exploded in 2019 as developers used them for safe-harboring.

by Lindsay Cherry and Chloe Holden

LNG prices are falling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. What does that mean for the renewables sector?

GTM Squared

Wood Mackenzie: What Crashing LNG Prices Mean for Renewables

The first episode of our Connecting Conversations webinar series, which brings together our experts to discuss the energy industry’s most pressing questions. Today, we’ll discuss COVID-19’s impact on LNG and renewables.

by Nicholas Rinaldi | April 6, 2020

04.06.20 Solar 5

“Nobody’s letting anybody into their house right now,

Coronavirus Is Forcing Home Solar Companies to Sell Virtually. Maybe That’s a Good Thing.

Kitchen-table sales are out. Zoom meetings and “social canvassing” on Facebook are in. Residential solar companies adjust to life in a pandemic.

by Julian Spector

03.31.20 3

Data from Q4 2019 provides a snapshot of the U.S. solar state of play before COVID-19.

Research Spotlight

Sunrun Holds Its Ground at the Top of US Residential Solar Rankings

Tesla’s slight rebound in late 2019 suggests its online-only approach to customer acquisition is buoying its market share.

by Bryan White

03.12.20 0

An estimated 420 million people globally now use standalone off-grid solar, while another 47 million people rely on mini-grids for access to electricity.

Research Spotlight

WoodMac: Nearly $470M Invested Into Off-Grid Energy Access Companies Last Year

Perhaps counterintuitively, the on-grid sector must be healthy in order for off-grid to flourish.

by Benjamin Attia

02.25.20 Solar 0

Cumulative global solar installations have now surpassed 600 gigawatts from around 20 gigawatts at the end of 2009.

Research Spotlight

WoodMac: Emerging Solar Markets to Come of Age in 2020s

As more countries join the “gigawatt club” this decade, new markets will bring new kinds of challenges for solar.

by Tom Heggarty

02.24.20 Solar 2

Inverters are the most commonly swapped-out piece of hardware at solar projects. (Credit: Dominion)

Solar Repowering Could Be Coming Sooner Than You Think

Most solar plants are fairly young. That’s not stopping developers from taking advantage of improving technology.

by John Parnell

01.31.20 Grid Edge 1

Research Spotlight

WoodMac: 6 Cleantech Startups to Watch

Pretend you’re a cleantech VC. Which companies should you be keeping an eye on right now?

by Chloe Holden

01.08.20 Research & Analysis 0

Which research got the most attention from GTM readers in 2019?

Research Spotlight

Our Most-Read Research Spotlights From 2019

The top GTM stories that drew from Wood Mackenzie research.

by Chloe Holden

01.07.20 Energy 5

Momentum for climate action is making tangible imprints on Germany's political landscape.

How Germany’s Energy Transition Could Get Its Mojo Back

Germany’s 2030 climate bill doesn’t clear the logjam for wind and solar. But a surge in support for the Green Party offers hope for Europe’s one-time renewable juggernaut.

by John Parnell

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

What the Coming Wave of Distributed Energy Resources Means for the US Grid

Extreme Weather Keeps Maxing Out the Grid

A Wartime Plan for Electrifying America

An Island’s Path to 100% Renewables

Are Batteries at a Turning Point?

Storage Integrator FlexGen Gains New Leadership at Crucial Time

Vestas Ventures Makes First Investment With Stake in Wooden Tower Start-Up

Vestas Launches World’s Largest Turbines as 'Big 3' Competition Ramps Up

BP, RWE and EnBW Win Big in UK Offshore Wind Leasing Round

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

Solar Trends

How the Energy Transition Accelerated in a Turbulent Year

Will BIPV Finally Get Its Day?

Competition for Solar Tax Equity Is Reaching a Fever Pitch

‘Made for Each Other’: Solar and Storage Will Be a Regular Pair by 2030

Looking for Fixes to What Broke the Texas Power Grid

Hawaii’s Bold Step Into Utility Performance-Based Ratemaking

Solar Will Be Cheapest Form of Electricity Across US by 2030, Plus Other PV Trends

Bifacial Could Be the Default Solar Technology by 2030

How Tracker Technology Is Expanding the Footprint for Solar

WoodMac: Solar Inverter Market Reached Record Highs in 2019

Loans Still Lead the Rooftop Solar Finance Market, But Volumes Set to Tumble This Year

WoodMac: US Sitting on 145GW of Unused Commercial Solar Potential

WoodMac: Large-Scale Solar Holds Cost Edge Despite ITC Stepdown, Coronavirus Impacts

5 Breakthrough Innovations for the US Solar Industry

What the Coming Wave of Distributed Energy Resources Means for the US Grid

As Commercial Solar Takes a Hit From COVID-19, Virtual PPAs Continue Their Rise

WoodMac: Global Solar Market Set to Resume Growth in 2021 as Coronavirus Impact Fades

Huawei, Sungrow and SMA Were the Top Solar Inverter Players in 2019

WoodMac: NEXTracker Tops Global Solar Tracker Rankings for 2019

Wood Mackenzie: What Crashing LNG Prices Mean for Renewables

Coronavirus Is Forcing Home Solar Companies to Sell Virtually. Maybe That’s a Good Thing.

Sunrun Holds Its Ground at the Top of US Residential Solar Rankings

WoodMac: Nearly $470M Invested Into Off-Grid Energy Access Companies Last Year

WoodMac: Emerging Solar Markets to Come of Age in 2020s

Solar Repowering Could Be Coming Sooner Than You Think

WoodMac: 6 Cleantech Startups to Watch

Our Most-Read Research Spotlights From 2019

How Germany’s Energy Transition Could Get Its Mojo Back