Publications

- October 1, 2014: Vol. 1, Number 1

To read this full article you need to be subscribed to Real Assets Adviser

Solar Energy Growth Is Powering Demand for Copper

by

Renewable energy sources, such as solar power, are big users of copper in the power cables and grounding wires. Now according to a presentation at the National Solar Conference this past summer, “Estimated Copper Demand from Projected Solar Electric Generating Capacity,” an increase in solar power generation will have a positive effect on copper demand.

“Solar panels over large-scale areas require installing miles of copper grounding and copper-centric power cables,” notes Zolaikha Strong, director of sustainable energy for the Copper Development Association, who presented the findings at the conference. “By 2020, we estimate that 150 [million] to 410 million pounds of copper will be used in these systems.”

The CDA study notes that investment in solar power is expected to grow from $91 billion in 2013 to $158 billion by 2023. That’s a lot of copper wiring.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click Here.

Forgot your username or password?