Middle East, Africa PV demand to reach 4.4 GW in 2018 - Solarbuzz

Apr 25, 2014 - Annual photovoltaic (PV) demand in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is expected to nearly triple in the next four years and hit 4.4 GW in 2018 with an upside potential of 10 GW, NPD Solarbuzz said Thursday.

In 2013, PV demand in MEA soared by 670% on the year and the annual on-grid PV installations are forecast to reach 1.6 GW in 2014.

In the Middle East alone, PV demand is expected to reach 2.2 GW in 2018, with an upside potential of 4 GW, while demand in Africa is seen at 2.2 GW by 2018, with an upside potential of 6 GW. NPD Solarbuzz explained that growth in the next few years will be driven by three major markets -- South Africa, Israel and Saudi Arabia. The latter is forecast to install 2.4 GW of solar parks between 2016 and 2018, becoming the leading PV market in 2016. The UAE, Jordan and Kuwait are the other important markets in the region, NPD Solarbuzz said.

By 2018 ground-mount systems will account for over 70% of the MEA solar market.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!