1. 2012-2020 outlook for solar – a new dawn
by Noelle Lim, Asia Journalism Fellowship 2012, Nanyang Technological University

2. Why solar?
State of play
Outlook 2012-2020 – seven points

3. Fossil fuel, an environment hazard
BP oil spill, Gulf of Mexico in 2010, damage cost $8 billion, image: The Daily Green

4. Geopolitical tension, unstable
regimes affect oil supply
Egypt protests in 2011, still a long road to democracy, image: Daily Mail Reporter, EPA

5. Sanctions on Iran for nuclear
Oil imports from Iran curbed, all major economies will be affected, image: IBN

6. Oil prices are volatile
Oil price peaks no. 4) Iran-Iraq war 11) Global financial crisis 12) Opec cuts production

7. The alternative, nuclear is unpopular
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, image: Sydney Morning Herald

8. Solar is free, clean and renewable
Image: allaboutsolarenergy.net

9. Solar democratises energy
production, empowers villagers
Solar engineers at work in India, image: Action Mag

10. Why solar?
State of play
Outlook 2012-2020 – seven points

11. Tackling Eurozone debt a bigger
priority than funding clean energy
Protests in Greece over pension and salary cuts, image: Wall Street Journal

12. Politicians oppose more funding for
clean energy in US

13. Major solar firms went bankrupt
Solyndra was a beneficiary of US government funding, image: Associated Press

14. Despite lower costs, Chinese solar
firms also suffered
Suntech, world's largest solar firm's shares fell over the past five years, chart: Yahoo Finance

15. In 2012, US raises import duties on
solar panels from China
US firms unable to compete with Chinese firms, lobbies for restrictions

16. Solar is attracting investors
typically ahead of the curve
Warren Buffet bought MidAmerican, owner of a $2 billion solar farm in California

17. Solar PV prices are dropping,
cheaper to use solar energy

18. Payback can be two years for solar,
depending on location
Source: New Renewable Energy Laboratory

19. Grid parity achieved soon
as prices of PV falls

20. Why solar?
State of play
Outlook 2012-2020 – seven points

21. 1. Growth in solar will outpace wind,
a major renewable, to 2020
Annual value of renewable energy capacity installed, 2005-30 ($billion)
Chart: Bloomberg New Energy Finance

22. 2. China will lead the growth in
demand for renewables to 2020
Annual value of renewable energy capacity installed, 2005-30 ($billion), chart: Bloomberg NEF
RoW = rest of the world, MENA = Middle East North Africa

23. 3. Off-grid market, another driver
Solar installation by Grameen Shakti in remote village of Bangladesh, image: Action Mag

24. 3. Remote areas are energy hungry
Solar home system installations by Grameen Shakti, image: Grameen Shakti

25. 4. Solar REITs and solar panels as
advertisement billboards
More investment and financing products will unleash market development and innovation
Image: Poco Solar Energy

26. 5. More applications commercialised
due to thin film development
Train (Desisolar France); road (Solar Roadways US); car (Panasonic); window (KVArch/MIT)

27. 6. Retail and energy products
bundled together
Consumer gadgets could produce energy or control energy supply, image: Apple iPad

28. 7. A norm to buy green electricity
and install solar panels
Intel solar processor; charging station for electric cars; Wal-Mart; United Church in Canada

29. Go clean, the next generation will
thank you for it
Jonathan Sophat Lilienfein and his mother, Botumroath Keo Lebun from Cambodia

30. By Noelle Lim
noelle@ajf.sg
Asia Journalism Fellow 2012
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore
Adviser: Nilesh Jadhav, Energy Research Institute @ NTU
Sponsor: Temasek Foundation
March 2012
Image on front cover in Nadi, Fiji
Copyright by Noelle Lim