US solar photovoltaic modules shipments set record

US  shipments of solar photovoltaic modules reached a record high last year,despite declining prices for solar technology and photovoltaic cells, according to a report issued Wednesday. Total U.S. shipments of photovoltaic modules increased from 2, 644,498 peak kilowatts (kWdc1 peak) in 2010 to 3,772,075 peak kilowatts in 2011, a nearly 43-percent surge, according to the report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The number of companies moving photovoltaic modules or cells, including manufacturers, importers and exporters, also grew 7 percent to 120 over the year. The growth was spurred, in part, by declining photovoltaic cell and module prices as well as by the expiration of the government's grand program for the industry, according to the report. The solar industry rushed to construct projects by the end of 2011 as the deadline for a government grant program drew near, the report said. The declining price led to bankruptcies among U.S. solar companies, including the high-profile collapse of Solyndra. As a result of the financial difficulties, employment in photovoltaic- related jobs dropped nearly 10 percent to 15,777 full-time equivalent positions, according to the report.