According to Reuters and market research firm Photon Consulting, the SOLAR technology end-market size in 2007 was $30 Billion (up 50% from 2006).
...Anecdotally, I'm surprised at just how LARGE ($30 BILLION??) the solar energy industry is TODAY (don't forget the 50% growth). Assuming a more conservative 35% forward growth rate for the next 5 years and the solar energy market more than quadruples into a $135 Billion industry !
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* Check out the somewhat obvious U.S. solar energy generation map below showing WHERE most of the country's solar energy is generated (the southeast states):
Data Courtesy: Photon Consulting + NREL (map)