MIT’s Technology Review predicts that the U.S. will surpass Germany as the world’s largest market for solar power.

Growth in the U.S. will likely be spurred on by the decreasing cost of solar panels and installation, and the continuing and increasing federal and state incentives. The federal stimulus package funding, for example, will be felt in 2010 and so will tax credits for solar investment for utilities.

Some experts, however, think that the case for growth of large solar projects in the next few years may be a bit too rosy.

Large solar farms face land permitting issues and require special transmission lines that can lead to delays. Smaller projects, located closer to substations, may fare better.

Homeowner should see prices come down too. Harry Fleming of Acro Energy, predicts in the Technology Review that a homeowner wishing to install a five-kilowatt rooftop solar panel system will see his costs after subsidies decreasing from $16,000 today to $13,000 by the end of the year.

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/343894/

Copyright 2010 — KJCollins