While solar PV in canada has been on the rise from 2008-2011 according to a Renewable Energy Investment: Canada report by Ernst & Young in 2011, our country is ranked 12th in the global PV market (tied with Slovakia) at 500 MG. This is significanly behind world leaders like Germany and the U.S. The top ten are:
- Germany: 24,700
- Italy: 12,500
- Japan: 4,700
- Spain: 4,200
- US: 4,200
- China: 2,900
- France: 2,500
- Belgium: 1,500
- Australia: 1,200
- UK: 750
To read the full report, click here.
We have some work to do! According to the Solar Income Fund, subsidies to the Canadian Energy Industry for fossil fuels in 2011 was $3.25 billion, compared to $148 million for renewable energy. Yet for every unit of energy produced solar produces 15 x more jobs than than natural gas or coal, while jobs created by natural gas or coal cost 6 x more than jobs created by solar.
Meanwhile, the cost of PV has decreased dramatically over the last five years, due to global demand for the technology. Prices have dropped from $12 a watt to just under $5 per watt. The cost per watt has decreased by 7% every year since 1980.
In addition to being identified as one of the world's leading emitters of greenhouse gases, Canada is missing out on an opportunity to invest in solar and create skilled jobs, economic growth and Made in Canada Energy.
