The US solar energy market increased by 67% in 2010 at $6 billion with grid-connected PV installations more than doubling in 2010 to 878 MW, representing 102% growth over 2009. A total of 52,600 PV systems were connected in 2010, bringing the cumulative number of grid connected PV systems in the US to 152,516. And it is expected that the US will continue to increase its solar usage throughout 2011.
However, the US share of global solar systems dropped from 6.5% reached in 2009 to 5% last year, though behind the global market primarily driven by the German and Italian markets due to generous government incentives. Over 17 GW of PV were installed worldwide, having risen by more than 130% as compared to 2009, though a slower growth is expected next year because of subsidy cuts in Europe.
In 2010, 77.5 MW of concentrating solar power (CSP) were installed, and is likely to rapidly increase in the next years with 41 projects totaling 9 GW under development at present. California used to dominate the solar market share in the US, accounting for 80% of the US PV market from 2004 to 2005, but in 2010 it accounted for less than 30% of the market, while Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Jersey each installed more than 50 MW of PV systems in 2010.
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