Solar PPA's Can Help Solar Get Past Reccesion

According to the new report from AltaTerra Research "Financing Growth: Will Solar PPAs Shine in Dark Times?", the booming new market of solar power purchase agreements (PPAs), near-term growth shows modest gains and the long-term outlook is exponential. According to the report, about 72% of the nonresidential solar market in 2008 can be attributed to third-party finance and PPAs.

Despite set backs caused by uncertainty over the renewal of the federal investment tax credit (ITC) and financial challenges, the reports authors David Adams and Jon Guice show that third-party finance and PPAs have helped maintain growth and diversification in solar installations, bringing a broad range of new customers to the commercial solar industry.

"Any growth is a boon for any industry under the current financial conditions," said Guice. "While growth may not be astronomical, as the solar industry has become accustomed to, gains have been made, and that's more than a lot of other industries can say."

The report covers the rise of the PPA from 2003-2007, PPA consolidation in 2008, providers and customers, and forecast and outlook. The report is intended for solar power, energy finance, legal and tax professionals.

For more information and the summary page of the repot, click here.