Solar power is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global energy market.
As concerns about climate and energy supply are on the forefront of international politics, support for continued expansion of the solar energy business is strong.
Solar is now the third most important renewable energy source, after hydro and wind power, in terms of globally installed renewable energy capacity.
The growth of solar since 2009 has been impressive. In 2009, the global solar PV market totalled 7.2 gigawatts (GW). In 2011 installed global solar capacity reached 62 GW. By the en of 2012, a landmark was reached as the world's cumulative solar electricity surpassed 100 GW.