Global solar installations may reach 64.7 GW in 2016: Report

Global solar installations are expected to reach 64.7 GW next year, up from 57.8 GW forecast for 2015, clean energy communications and consulting firm Mercom Capital Group said today.
"Mercom Capital Group...Forecasts another year of solar growth with installations expected to reach 64.7 GW in 2016 up from 57.8 GW forecast for 2015," the firm said in a statement.
The big three markets in 2016 will again be China, the United States and Japan, it said.
"The United States is set to overtake Japan as the second largest solar market behind China. These three countries will account for about 65 per cent of installations next year," Mercom Capital Group CEO and Co-Founder Raj Prabhu said.

China will continue to be the largest solar market in the world, installing approximately 19.5 GW in 2016, it said.
China has installed almost 10 GW in the first three quarters this year, well ahead of 3.79 GW installed in the same period last year.

The statement added that "Mercom is forecasting the United States to install about 13 GW of solar next year which will be the best year for US solar installations by far."
Japan is expected to install about 9 GW of solar in 2016, it added.
Indian solar installations are expected to reach about 3.6 GW in 2016, significant growth compared to the 2.1 GW forecasted for 2015, it said.