| Japan, Germany and USA | | | | units. |
| These three countries have the most residential | | | | Israel |
| and industrial photovoltaic units worldwide, due to | | | | Israel has no oil and strained relations with the |
| having the world's largest governmental incentives | | | | neighbors that do. They are searching for |
| used for renewable energy systems. In Japan and | | | | renewable energy solutions to become |
| Germany, the most popular are grid-tied units, | | | | independent. The country has lots of sunshine and |
| while in the US - the off-grid ones. Japan and | | | | uses the suns energy mainly for water heaters. |
| Germany lead in terms of panels installed per | | | | Kenya |
| person. | | | | Solar energy is also widely used in developing |
| Germany has around 1,500 MW of PV units | | | | countries. For example, there is a large market |
| installed throughout the country, which equals | | | | for photovoltaic units in Kenya, where customer |
| around 1% of the total electricity produced in the | | | | use entry-level modules for their needs. |
| country. This number is predicted to reach 25% | | | | India |
| by 2050. | | | | India uses both - grid-tied and off-grid systems. |
| China | | | | India also employs the power of the sun in solar |
| China produces 30% of the world's solar. Right | | | | cookers, water heaters, water pumps, and |
| now, the capacity of installed panels in China is | | | | off-grid sun-powered street lighting systems. Most |
| around 50 MW. The government is planning to | | | | of the country doesn't have access to an electric |
| increase these numbers to 20 GW by the year | | | | grid, making solar power here very practical. Over |
| 2020 (renewable energy is predicted to produce | | | | 16,000 PV home systems were financed for |
| 15% of the country's total energy in the next | | | | homes in rural areas. |
| decade). | | | | Bangladesh |
| Australia | | | | This Asian country uses domestic PV systems, |
| Australia currently produces over 100 MW of PV | | | | especially in the homes that don't have access to |
| generated energy (that's merely 0.1% of the | | | | regular electricity. There are special programs that |
| country's total electric production). Australia is | | | | subsidize "solar home systems" in this country. |
| perfect for photovoltaic installations, so why isn't' | | | | These systems employ a panel mounted on the |
| solar energy popular here? This is because these | | | | rooftop and can power several lights, TV, radio |
| systems are very costly here. The country plans | | | | and a cell phone, and provide about 50 W of |
| to build one of the largest solar plants, which will | | | | electricity in direct sunlight. |
| produce 450 MW of power, enough to power | | | | Pakistan |
| 45,000 homes. | | | | Pakistan has 10 hours of sunlight per day on |
| Canada | | | | average, making the use of solar energy popular |
| Canada uses PV energy mainly for space heating | | | | here as well. The country already has some sun |
| and water heating. It has over 15,000 residential | | | | powered plants, and is a perfect place for the |
| and over 300 industrial solar water heating | | | | photovoltaic technology to expand. |
| systems. Canada mainly uses standalone off-grid | | | | |