U.S. Solar Energy Trade Assessment 2011 is a free report researched and published by GTM Research and SEIA®. This is the second annual edition of a study first published in November 2010. It is a comprehensive analysis of trade flows and domestic value creation in the U.S. solar energy industry for the calendar year 2010. The primary intent of this study is to go beyond the relatively simplistic analysis of solar trade issues often provided in both industry and political circles.

Key Findings:

• The U.S. is a significant net exporter of solar energy products with total net exports of $1.9 billion in 2010.
• The U.S. is a net exporter to China by more than $240 million.
• The largest solar energy export product is polysilicon, the feedstock for crystalline silicon photovoltaics, of which the U.S. exported $2.5 billion in 2010.
• The second largest solar energy export product is PV capital equipment, the manufacturing equipment for PV products, of which the U.S. exported $1.4 billion in 2010.
• The largest solar energy import product is the PV module, of which the U.S. imported $2.4 billion in 2010.
• 2010 U.S. solar energy installations created a combined $6.0 billion in direct value, of which $4.4 billion (75%) accrued to the U.S.
  • 82% ($3.6 billion) of the domestic value created by solar in the U.S. came from the PV sector
  • 9% ($419 million) came from the concentrating solar sector
  • 9% ($400 million) came from the solar heating and cooling sector