In the first quarter of 2014, the U.S. installed 1,330 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics (PV) installations, making the quarter the second largest on record, according to the Washington, D.C- based Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA). For the quarter, the U.S. installed 232 MW of residential PV, which exceeded the commercial markets 225 MW of installed capacity during the same period. This marks the first time that additional U.S. residential installed capacity exceeded that of the commercial sector for any quarter. In addition, the new solar power capacity represents fully 74% of new electric-generating capacity built in the U.S. during the first quarter, according to SEIA. GTM Research and SEIA expect a total of 6.6 gigawatts (GW) of PV solar to be installed in 2014. That total would represent an increase of 39 percent from 2013.

Press Release - U.S. Residential Solar PV Installations Exceeded Commercial Installations for the First Time in Q1 2014