2012 has been a very dynamic and challenging year for the photovoltaic sector: The rapid cost reduction of photovoltaic power systems has continued throughout the year, leading to the emergence of new markets and market models. The market has continued to grow but at a slower pace than in the years before. At the end of 2012, about 100 GW of photovoltaics were installed worldwide, with contributions up to 6% of the electricity supply of some countries.
In metallurgy, a non-ferrous metal is a metal, including alloys, that does not contain iron (ferrite) in appreciable amounts.