Positive Solar Market Development in the US — Even in Times of Import Tariffs

On January 22, 2018, the Trump administration levied a 30% tariff on solar imports to the US. Although they acknowledged that from 2012 to 2016 the volume of solar generation capacity installed annually in the US more than tripled, the administration also claimed that the numbers had been artificially inflated by “low-priced solar cells and modules from China.” According to a fact sheet released by the US Trade Representative, this tariff will last for 4 years and will fall by 5% annually, dropping to a 15% tariff in 2021.

Deutsche Bank Says US Solar Boom to Reach 50GW by 2016

Energy analysts at Deutsche Bank are predicting a huge surge in the uptake of distributed solar PV in the United States, the world’s biggest economy and electricity market, saying solar PV installations could rise 7-fold in coming years and lift overall solar PV capacity to nearly 50GW by 2016.

The expected boom in distributed solar – installations placed on homes and commercial businesses – is based on predictions that solar PV module prices will continue to fall, grid prices will continue rise, and innovative financing options will provide ample and cheap capital.