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Download the full report and individual country reports from the Global Green website

Australia’s rank is mediocre

Australia gets a disappointing 'C' grade. 

This reflects piecemeal policies – such as weak State based feed-in-tariffs; no national net metering law; confusing and changing rebates – which changed again after the Global Solar Report Card was released; high fossil fuel subsidies; and no PV tax credits.

Also, Australia fails to carve out a solar component in its proposed Minimum Renewable Energy Target, which translates into weak solar investment signals compared to other cheaper renewables that may not have as much long term market potential as PV.

Australia's federal level support is currently inadequate to meet the demand for solar growth.

The government is considering an aggressive support mechanism, which, if adopted, could spur significant growth in the country.

Similarly to the US, Australia is a country with tremendous solar, technological and financial resources that could do much more to reach its solar potential.

Germany and California lead the pack

Germany leads the pack with the most PV installed and sound policies in place to drive sustainable future growth – but Germany gets just 70 out of a 100 possible points, which means we have a long way to go until PV reaches its potential.

California wins 2nd place, having implemented a 10-year $3 billion rebate program for solar.

Spain overtook the US in 2008 as the 3rd country with the most installed PV, but a decision to cap the market for 2009 negatively affected Spain's grade.

A recent move by the United States to extend its only federal-level financial support for solar, assured a much needed long term commitment for the industry. However, there is a lot more scope for US market development - watch this space as Obama pushes for green stimulus options.

A few countries such as Italy, France and Greece fare moderately because of still young markets, but all earn points for having put in place substantial drivers for growth. Solar industries are expected to grow in these countries moving forward.

Japan, once the leading country in terms of both production and installed capacity, scores low, because its main incentive program ended in 2005. However, the Japanese government is considering restarting its residential PV program.

China, which seems committed to developing a clean energy infrastructure, has set ambitious targets and put in place a comprehensive renewable energy policy framework. However, the country scores poorly here because the specifics for solar PV remain unclear.

China stands to gain a lot from supporting the deployment of PV, given its tremendous energy needs, its high insolation and position as one of the three largest PV producers in the world.

Finally, countries that rate poorly in the study are Russia and Poland, with no solar markets and no mechanisms to capitalize on their solar potential, and to a lesser extent, the United Kingdom and Switzerland with small markets and no significant support for solar growth.