Dublin - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/R03484a/european_solar_pho) has announced the addition of the "European Solar Photovoltaic Market Report (2008)" report to their offering.

Photovoltaics (PV) is a solar power technology that uses solar cells or solar photovoltaic arrays to convert light from the sun directly into electricity. Photovoltaics is also the field of study relating to this technology and there are many research institutes devoted to work on photovoltaics. The manufacture of photovoltaic cells has expanded dramatically in recent years. Photovoltaic production has also been doubling every two years, increasing by an average of 48% each year since 2002, making it the worlds fastest-growing energy technology.

At the end of 2007, cumulative European production of solar PV systems was 4,700 megawatts. Almost all of this generating capacity consists of grid-tied electrical systems. Such installations may be ground-mounted (and sometimes integrated with farming and grazing) or building integrated. Financial incentives, such as preferential feed-in tariffs for solar-generated electricity and net metering, have supported solar PV installations in many countries including Germany, the largest PV market in Europe.

The report European Solar Photovoltaic Market analyzes this industry, starting from the basics to what is driving this industry. The report starts off with a brief overview of the European energy market which contains data on European energy statistics, outlook for the industry, the growing focus on renewable energy, and of course, the potential of solar energy in the region. The report then moves on the discussing the basic technology behind solar photovoltaics. The section looks at PV cells and modules, inverters, the various components of a PV system, and the various types of PV systems available today.

Moving on to the European photovoltaic industry, the report analyzes the entire PV market in terms of application area, global as well as European PV production statistics, and the future potential of solar photovoltaics. Strategies and recommendations for researchers, analysts, and in general, is a highlight of this section of the report. A brief cost analysis of solar photovoltaics in Europe is also done based on types of PV applications. Estimates for current and future PV generation costs are also provided.

The report then analyses each of the major European PV markets one by one. Countries covered in this segment are - Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and New EU Member States including Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Poland and Romania among others. For each of these countries we have covered the PV production and installation statistics, policy structure, recent R&D initiatives and future potential of the market.

Further, we have discussed leading PV companies in Europe which includes Aleo Solar, Q-Cells, Scheuten Solar, Siemens, Solarworld and Isofot??"n among others. Primary solar photovoltaic projects, and PV plants, such as the Solar Park in Beneixama, the Solar Power Plant in Saarbrucken Airport, etc., are also profiled, along with statistical data, in this research report.

Key Topics Covered:

- European Energy Market

- Solar Pv

- Basic Technology

- European Photovoltaic Market

- Key European Pv Markets

- Major Solar Pv Companies

- Solar Pv Projects / Plants

- Future of European PV Markets

- List of Figures

- List of Tables

Companies Mentioned:

- Aleo Solar

- Aplicaciones Tecnicas de las Energ??-a (ATERSA)

- Ersol

- Photowatt International SA

- Q-Cells AG

- Romag Ltd.

- Scheuten Solar Systems BV

- Siemens Solar

- Solarworld AG

- Isofot??"n S.A.

- Wacker Schott Solar GmbH

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/R03484a/european_solar_pho

CONTACT: Laura Wood, Senior Manager, Research and Markets Fax: +1 646 607 1907 (US) Fax: +353 1 481 1716 (Rest of World) e-mail: press@researchandmarkets.com