Innovation Norway, San Francisco has prepared this background report, which is a recent update by August 2010. Summary:

• The U.S. is the largest economy in the world and the largest consumer of energy 
• The share of solar power is very small, the current installed PV base ~1,250 MV
• The U.S. has tremendous solar resources that can be tapped for energy
• The overall grid is old and lacks capacity for large scale renewable initiatives
• The U.S. lacks a simplified feed-in tariffs’ structure.  There are initiatives in some states to address this, but they are still in their infancy
• Regulations and incentives for renewables and solar are mostly developed on a State or City/County Level
• Soon ~50% of electricity production will be regulated through policies that encourage and enforce renewable energy (RPS – Renewable Portfolio Standards)
• Federal initiatives have been slow to emerge although the American Clean Energy and Security Act has been passed by Congress
• Financial incentives exist on federal and state levels, and existing incentives have recently been renewed and new incentives introduced 
• The U.S. solar industry is large and diversified in every aspect of the value chain
• Market outlook should be positive despite the financial crisis slowing adoption of residential as well as large scale installations

To receive the full report free of charge, please send us your request by our contact form. You will receive the report shortly.