Photovoltaic energy has become a popular alternative to the power generation by coal power plants or nuclear reactors. A report by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) shows that in 2012, the total capacity of energy produced by Photovoltaic (PV) plants totalled over 100 gigawatts, and it will be increasing over the next year. The main reason for which PV plants are gaining popularity is their impact on the CO2 level of the Earth's atmosphere, and more specifically, the fact that currently all PV plants are saving over 53 millions tons of CO2 each year.
The EPIA also mentions that PV energy is the third most important renewable energy source, the first two positions being held by hydropower and windpower. In this way, companies engaged in PV energy are performing very well and are growing fast. Among the leaders in the field of solar power we can mention: First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR), and SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY). But let's take each of them separately. Please go to Insider Monkey for the complete listing of the largest solar plants in the world.
