Solar panels have become increasingly popular internationally as a cheap and affordable way for homeowners to own their own piece of electrical generation.

In this segment from National Public Radio, Ari Daniel Shapiro speaks with solar industry insiders in Spain, like Juan Casanovas, to understand the market trends in that country. He explores the impact of government incentives for the development of solar, and the reasons why the technology has become widespread in Spain.

“Casanovas says he first became interested in the solar industry in 2003 ‘because it’s a democratic way to generate electricity.’ He says people can become self-sufficient in energy,” Shapiro says in this segment.

Learn more about the history of the Spanish solar market and hear some of the forecasted trends–as the sector aims to double its target by 2020–in this eye-opening radio segment.

Listen to the full NPR segment here. The full text of the podcast can be found here.

Photo Caption: The sun sets on photovoltaic solar panels on street lamps lining the main trunk road from Sevilla to Huelva in southern Spain, on August 28, 2006. At the time, Spain was a net energy importer and the government was planning to achieve a target of 12% of primary energy being met from renewable sources by 2010.