The Energy Department will say only that the project is mired in the "competitive procurement process." Spokeswoman Joelle Terry declined to go into details of the holdup. Questions about when that process might be completed also were rebuffed. So were queries about the projected cost of adding the panels and where the panels would be located.
The National Park Service, which put solar panels on White House outbuildings during the administration of President George W. Bush, said it couldn't comment on why the previous installation was completed more quickly. It directed questions to the White House, where press spokesman Clark Stevens deferred to the Department of Energy, where spokeswoman Terry stuck to her original statement.
Not even Solar Design Associates, which according to the magazine Solar Today installed the previous panels, was willing to comment. A search of the government contracting website USASpending.gov did turn up a $10,000 contract, awarded in January, to Overly Manufacturing Co. That contract was to "support the contractor" for the photovoltaic system and "ensure that the integrity and warranty of the White House roof is maintained."
No one was willing to reveal the details of the formal government bidding proposal, which was not posted online.
Solar panels atop the White House, America's most famous government building, have long been a policy statement. President Jimmy Carter installed 32 in 1979 when an Arab oil embargo spiked fuel prices.
"No one can ever embargo the sun or interrupt its delivery to us," Carter said at the installation ceremony, having never seen the episode of "The Simpsons" where Mr. Burns blocks out the sun with a giant disk.
President Ronald Reagan removed the panels in 1986. Then came the National Park Service-directed installation during the most recent Bush administration. Those panels went on a maintenance building and on the president's cabana to heat water for the outdoor White House pool.
Chu announced that panels would be going up on the White House itself at the GreenGov Symposium, which was described on its website as "a three-day educational event to identify opportunities around greening the Federal Government." It was sponsored by the White House Council on Environmental Quality and held at George Washington University in Washington Oct. 5-7, 2010.
"As we move toward a clean energy economy, the White House will lead by example," Chu said then when he promised that solar panels would be returned to the White House roof. "It's been a long time since we've had them up there."
The project was intended to be part of the Energy Department's larger SunShot Initiative to make solar technology cost-competitive.
Solar power is one of the staples of the growing alternate energy sector. Both commercial buildings and homes are incorporating the technology, though it still makes up only about 1 percent of the energy produced by alternative fuels in the U.S., according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
A spokesman for the organization 350.org, named after an atmospheric target of 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide recommended by some scientists to ward off the "greenhouse effect" blamed for global warming, expressed disappointment that the solar panels hadn't yet made it to the roof of the White House.
"This isn't rocket science. Hammer it in, make a few connections — you're good to go," said Jamie Henn, the group's spokesman. "If the first lady is going to go out and get her hands dirty planting her garden, then it's up to the president to do some home improvements as well."
His group has been a leading proponent of heads of state adding solar panels to their residences.
"The administration needs to do more to show that they're serious about moving clean energy forward," he said. "There's no better way of doing that than getting on the roof of the White House and proclaiming that there shouldn't just be solar panels there, but on rooftops all across America and around the world."
While it may be a little more complicated than Henn jokes, two other heads of state have installed solar panels on their official residences.
2011年8月31日星期三
2011年8月30日星期二
For Solar, No Guarantees
With solar panel prices falling and a prominent manufacturer in bankruptcy, the U.S. solar industry has been hard-pressed for good news. But Washington continues to hand out loan guarantees.
The Department of Energy says the guarantees will create U.S. jobs in the green-energy industry. But critics say the government is trying to pick winners instead of leaving that function to the marketplace, citing the struggles of several companies that received government funds.
The White House this month made final a $197 million guarantee for SoloPower Inc., a maker of lightweight solar panels in San Jose, Calif. Two more guarantees for solar manufacturers valued at a combined $425 million are due to be approved before a Sept. 30 deadline.
The funding comes from the 2009 economic-stimulus package, which set aside enough cash to back about $60 billion in loans for renewable energy and transmission projects. Congress twice has raided those funds, leaving enough to back $25 billion in loans. The DOE has until the Sept. 30 end of the federal government's fiscal year to dole out the funds or lose them.
While demand for solar panels is rising, competition from Chinese manufacturers has driven down prices and made it hard for U.S. makers to compete.
Evergreen Solar Inc. this month filed for bankruptcy protection after closing a Massachusetts plant built with the help of state and local subsidies. Evergreen's panel technology, which uses less polysilicon than competitors do, looked like a good bet in 2008, when prices of the material were high. Polysilicon's price has plummeted since.
Solyndra Inc., which received a $535 million loan guarantee from the DOE to build a factory in northern California in 2009, last year had to close an older factory and lay off workers.
Some European countries subsidize solar power and other renewable energy sources by guaranteeing producers electricity rates that will help offset the producers' costs, which are then passed on to consumers. But proposals for such "feed-in tariffs" in the U.S. have stalled at the federal level.
Jesse Pichel, a clean-energy analyst at investment bank Jefferies & Co., said feed-in tariffs would give market forces a greater role in picking winning technologies. "The government really should not be picking technology bets," Mr. Pichel said. "It's fraught with potential failures."
The DOE acknowledges that loan guarantees don't always pan out but are worthwhile nonetheless. "While not every company will succeed in this competitive industry, we believe that solar generation and manufacturing play a vital role in helping America win the clean energy race," said DOE spokesman Damien LaVera.
To compete with larger manufacturers in China, SoloPower is targeting a niche of commercial and industrial buildings. The company's panels are lighter and potentially less expensive to install on rooftops because they are built without glass, said Chief Executive Tim Harris. "You want to get as much power per roof as you can. We can simply get more panels on the roof," he said.
The Department of Energy says the guarantees will create U.S. jobs in the green-energy industry. But critics say the government is trying to pick winners instead of leaving that function to the marketplace, citing the struggles of several companies that received government funds.
The White House this month made final a $197 million guarantee for SoloPower Inc., a maker of lightweight solar panels in San Jose, Calif. Two more guarantees for solar manufacturers valued at a combined $425 million are due to be approved before a Sept. 30 deadline.
The funding comes from the 2009 economic-stimulus package, which set aside enough cash to back about $60 billion in loans for renewable energy and transmission projects. Congress twice has raided those funds, leaving enough to back $25 billion in loans. The DOE has until the Sept. 30 end of the federal government's fiscal year to dole out the funds or lose them.
While demand for solar panels is rising, competition from Chinese manufacturers has driven down prices and made it hard for U.S. makers to compete.
Evergreen Solar Inc. this month filed for bankruptcy protection after closing a Massachusetts plant built with the help of state and local subsidies. Evergreen's panel technology, which uses less polysilicon than competitors do, looked like a good bet in 2008, when prices of the material were high. Polysilicon's price has plummeted since.
Solyndra Inc., which received a $535 million loan guarantee from the DOE to build a factory in northern California in 2009, last year had to close an older factory and lay off workers.
Some European countries subsidize solar power and other renewable energy sources by guaranteeing producers electricity rates that will help offset the producers' costs, which are then passed on to consumers. But proposals for such "feed-in tariffs" in the U.S. have stalled at the federal level.
Jesse Pichel, a clean-energy analyst at investment bank Jefferies & Co., said feed-in tariffs would give market forces a greater role in picking winning technologies. "The government really should not be picking technology bets," Mr. Pichel said. "It's fraught with potential failures."
The DOE acknowledges that loan guarantees don't always pan out but are worthwhile nonetheless. "While not every company will succeed in this competitive industry, we believe that solar generation and manufacturing play a vital role in helping America win the clean energy race," said DOE spokesman Damien LaVera.
To compete with larger manufacturers in China, SoloPower is targeting a niche of commercial and industrial buildings. The company's panels are lighter and potentially less expensive to install on rooftops because they are built without glass, said Chief Executive Tim Harris. "You want to get as much power per roof as you can. We can simply get more panels on the roof," he said.
2011年8月29日星期一
Florida solar rebate program
The utility said it is reopening the application period for its 2011 solar rebate program, to hand out $5 million in remaining funds for homes or businesses that install solar panels.
FPL warned that funds will be available on a first come, first-served basis – and are expected to run out quickly.
FPL’s solar rebate program is designed to help reduce energy consumption and peak demand and is part of a pilot project approved by the Florida Public Service Commission.
The application process for the 2011 rebates first opened on Wednesday, June 29, and customers claimed reservations for the available solar PV funds in less than an hour.
The company is reallocating funding based on strong consumer demand for solar PV funding and less strong demand for residential solar water heating within the FPL service territory during the initial pilot period.
Rebates for solar water heating are still available, and interested customers do not need to wait until Aug. 30 to apply for those rebates.
“These incentives can help make investments in distributed renewable energy generation more affordable, and we are pleased that more of our customers will now be able to take advantage of the program this year,” said Marlene Santos, FPL’s vice president of customer service.
Customers who did not receive reservations in the first round can reapply as long as installation has not begun on their systems.
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States.
The company serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees.
FPL warned that funds will be available on a first come, first-served basis – and are expected to run out quickly.
FPL’s solar rebate program is designed to help reduce energy consumption and peak demand and is part of a pilot project approved by the Florida Public Service Commission.
The application process for the 2011 rebates first opened on Wednesday, June 29, and customers claimed reservations for the available solar PV funds in less than an hour.
The company is reallocating funding based on strong consumer demand for solar PV funding and less strong demand for residential solar water heating within the FPL service territory during the initial pilot period.
Rebates for solar water heating are still available, and interested customers do not need to wait until Aug. 30 to apply for those rebates.
“These incentives can help make investments in distributed renewable energy generation more affordable, and we are pleased that more of our customers will now be able to take advantage of the program this year,” said Marlene Santos, FPL’s vice president of customer service.
Customers who did not receive reservations in the first round can reapply as long as installation has not begun on their systems.
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States.
The company serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees.
2011年8月28日星期日
Installer defends Stoner
FORMER independent councillor Jamie Harrison has slammed the “Sydney media” over the reporting of Andrew Stoner’s solar panel installation.
Mr Harrison, owner of Harelec, which fitted The Nationals’ NSW deputy’s new system, said he had been bombarded with calls from newspapers, radio stations and television networks following an article in Friday’s Daily Telegraph.
The article claimed Mr Harrison had “admitted” backdating receipt of a deposit for Mr Stoner’s installation so the MP could avail of a 60c per kiloWatt feed-in tariff before it was phased out in favour of the NSW government’s new rate of 20c per kW.
The former councillor said Andrew Stoner had acted appropriately.
“He’s done everything right,” Mr Harrison told Port News.
“Andrew Stoner had an application [for a new solar panel system] in with Country Energy two weeks before the tariff deadline was announced.
“My staff had just 13 hours’ notice to contact all our customers about the change.”
A follow-up article in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday claimed Mr Harrison was a fully paid up member of The Nationals.
“They said I had been a candidate for The Nationals and I was a personal friend of Andrew Stoner. It’s that out of control.”
Mr Harrison said he had felt blackmailed into speaking to the Sydney media and claimed he would have been “dropped into this” affair, had he not agreed to give his side.
He refused to confirm or deny Mr Stoner’s deposit was paid after the deadline.
Mr Harrison, owner of Harelec, which fitted The Nationals’ NSW deputy’s new system, said he had been bombarded with calls from newspapers, radio stations and television networks following an article in Friday’s Daily Telegraph.
The article claimed Mr Harrison had “admitted” backdating receipt of a deposit for Mr Stoner’s installation so the MP could avail of a 60c per kiloWatt feed-in tariff before it was phased out in favour of the NSW government’s new rate of 20c per kW.
The former councillor said Andrew Stoner had acted appropriately.
“He’s done everything right,” Mr Harrison told Port News.
“Andrew Stoner had an application [for a new solar panel system] in with Country Energy two weeks before the tariff deadline was announced.
“My staff had just 13 hours’ notice to contact all our customers about the change.”
A follow-up article in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday claimed Mr Harrison was a fully paid up member of The Nationals.
“They said I had been a candidate for The Nationals and I was a personal friend of Andrew Stoner. It’s that out of control.”
Mr Harrison said he had felt blackmailed into speaking to the Sydney media and claimed he would have been “dropped into this” affair, had he not agreed to give his side.
He refused to confirm or deny Mr Stoner’s deposit was paid after the deadline.
2011年8月25日星期四
PSEG says it will not negotiate on solar panel installations in Wyckoff
A spokesman for Public Service Electric & Gas said Thursday, Aug. 25, that the company would not negotiate the number of solar panels it plans to install in the township.
The township issued a cease and desist letter after PSE&G resumed installing the solar panels in June, becoming the first municipality in the state to challenge the legality of Solar 4 All, a program expected to generate 40 megawatts of solar energy through pole-attached solar panels.
Committeeman Christopher DePhillips said Wednesday, Aug. 24, that during ongoing negotiations between the parties' lawyers, the township gave the company a number and locations of where it would be "comfortable" with having the panels installed. DePhillips would not say what the number was, just that it was "substantially" lower than what PSE&G said it had planned to install.
The company had already installed 25 panels when the township issued the cease and desist letter; representatives had said the 3-foot by 5-foot panels could be mounted on as many as 100 of the company's 1,785 poles in the township.
But PSE&G spokesman Fran Sullivan said the company would not negotiate the number of panels it installed in the township because it has always been the company's stance that it needs every available pole to meet its goals.
"As a matter of standards we are not going to negotiate this number in Wyckoff," Sullivan said. "Truly our hope with this is that we can settle this in an amicable way with Wyckoff, and this shouldn't be perceived as a threat, but we would also have the legal option to go in."
Township officials contend the installation of the panels violates a zoning ordinance that prohibits communication antennas in residential zones and said in the cease and desist letter that the panels "exceed the scope of permitted activities in the municipal right-of-way."
Al Matos, vice president of renewable energy solutions, said at a special Township Committee meeting in April that the panels are part of a communications network. As such, Mayor Kevin Rooney said previously that the panels would violate the ordinance. He said that either the communications network would have to be disabled in the township or the company would have to apply to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a waiver for the installation of each panel.
Sullivan reiterated that the company feels the ordinance applies to cell towers and "not the communication antennas [and] equipment on the solar units."
"We believe we have the right to install these units on these poles," Sullivan said.
He said the company would not install solar units while the cease and desist order is in effect.
"Pursuing this through the courts to have the cease and desist lifted would be the last step," Sullivan said. "We're not anxious to pursue the legal route and hope to settle this amicably but we do consider legal action to be an option."
The township issued a cease and desist letter after PSE&G resumed installing the solar panels in June, becoming the first municipality in the state to challenge the legality of Solar 4 All, a program expected to generate 40 megawatts of solar energy through pole-attached solar panels.
Committeeman Christopher DePhillips said Wednesday, Aug. 24, that during ongoing negotiations between the parties' lawyers, the township gave the company a number and locations of where it would be "comfortable" with having the panels installed. DePhillips would not say what the number was, just that it was "substantially" lower than what PSE&G said it had planned to install.
The company had already installed 25 panels when the township issued the cease and desist letter; representatives had said the 3-foot by 5-foot panels could be mounted on as many as 100 of the company's 1,785 poles in the township.
But PSE&G spokesman Fran Sullivan said the company would not negotiate the number of panels it installed in the township because it has always been the company's stance that it needs every available pole to meet its goals.
"As a matter of standards we are not going to negotiate this number in Wyckoff," Sullivan said. "Truly our hope with this is that we can settle this in an amicable way with Wyckoff, and this shouldn't be perceived as a threat, but we would also have the legal option to go in."
Township officials contend the installation of the panels violates a zoning ordinance that prohibits communication antennas in residential zones and said in the cease and desist letter that the panels "exceed the scope of permitted activities in the municipal right-of-way."
Al Matos, vice president of renewable energy solutions, said at a special Township Committee meeting in April that the panels are part of a communications network. As such, Mayor Kevin Rooney said previously that the panels would violate the ordinance. He said that either the communications network would have to be disabled in the township or the company would have to apply to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a waiver for the installation of each panel.
Sullivan reiterated that the company feels the ordinance applies to cell towers and "not the communication antennas [and] equipment on the solar units."
"We believe we have the right to install these units on these poles," Sullivan said.
He said the company would not install solar units while the cease and desist order is in effect.
"Pursuing this through the courts to have the cease and desist lifted would be the last step," Sullivan said. "We're not anxious to pursue the legal route and hope to settle this amicably but we do consider legal action to be an option."
2011年8月24日星期三
Pennsylvania Company Goes Green with Solar
Despite the reputation of the East Coast, the region enjoys abundant sunshine for mcuh of the year, making states as far north as Pennsylvania a perfect place for solar panels. Although it is not as warm as California, families and businesses alike can benefit from hiring residential or commercial solar installers to construct photovoltaic (PV) panels on its roof.
Located in Southampton, Pennsylvania, NewAge Industries is dedicated to producing high quality plastic tubing, hoses, fittings and clamps with 98 percent of their orders being shipped out on the same day that they were requested, according to the company.
The employee share ownership plan (ESOP) company, which has been dedicated to satisfying the needs ot customers and employees, recently hired well-known commercial and residential solar installers, Borrego Solar, to come and construct a large solar system on the rooftop of the company's facility. On top of replacing old windows with new energy efficient styles, this was another way for the company to become more efficient with their utility bills and energy costs.
The solar system is composed of over 4,000 American-made SolarWorld PV panels that add up to more than 1 megawatt in capacity. The SolarWorld panels have a 25-year lifetime warrantee, while guaranteeing to produce electricity with a 90 percent efficiency rating after 10 years of service, as opposed to the industry standard 80 percent, according to SolarWorld.
The solar system is split into more than 300 racks, each consisting of 13 panels, which are spread across the rooftop and angled at either 5 or 10 degrees west of due south in order to optimize the amount of sunshine they receive, according to the installation company.
The company hoped that adding the solar panels would allow them to become greener and it certainly did. The solar setup allows the company to offset more than 1.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year, which, over the 30-year life-span of the system, is expected to reduce more than 44 million pounds of CO2. This is the equivalent of removing nearly 200 cars from the road or planting more than 400 acres of trees, according to the solar company.
The 1,100 kilowatt solar system is expected to produce nearly 99,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Pennsylvania average retail price per kilowatt-hour was just more than 10.5 cents in February 2011. Even if the system were to produce electricity with only 80 percent efficiency the installation will still save the company more than $8,000 per month on their utility bills by not relying on local utility companies.
Located in Southampton, Pennsylvania, NewAge Industries is dedicated to producing high quality plastic tubing, hoses, fittings and clamps with 98 percent of their orders being shipped out on the same day that they were requested, according to the company.
The employee share ownership plan (ESOP) company, which has been dedicated to satisfying the needs ot customers and employees, recently hired well-known commercial and residential solar installers, Borrego Solar, to come and construct a large solar system on the rooftop of the company's facility. On top of replacing old windows with new energy efficient styles, this was another way for the company to become more efficient with their utility bills and energy costs.
The solar system is composed of over 4,000 American-made SolarWorld PV panels that add up to more than 1 megawatt in capacity. The SolarWorld panels have a 25-year lifetime warrantee, while guaranteeing to produce electricity with a 90 percent efficiency rating after 10 years of service, as opposed to the industry standard 80 percent, according to SolarWorld.
The solar system is split into more than 300 racks, each consisting of 13 panels, which are spread across the rooftop and angled at either 5 or 10 degrees west of due south in order to optimize the amount of sunshine they receive, according to the installation company.
The company hoped that adding the solar panels would allow them to become greener and it certainly did. The solar setup allows the company to offset more than 1.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year, which, over the 30-year life-span of the system, is expected to reduce more than 44 million pounds of CO2. This is the equivalent of removing nearly 200 cars from the road or planting more than 400 acres of trees, according to the solar company.
The 1,100 kilowatt solar system is expected to produce nearly 99,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Pennsylvania average retail price per kilowatt-hour was just more than 10.5 cents in February 2011. Even if the system were to produce electricity with only 80 percent efficiency the installation will still save the company more than $8,000 per month on their utility bills by not relying on local utility companies.
2011年8月23日星期二
PGE and ODOT break ground on solar highway project
Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez joined Portland General Electric and the Oregon Department Transportation Tuesday to break ground on a $10 million solar array at the Baldock Rest Area on Interstate 5 south of Wilsonville.
The project comprises almost 7,000 panels spread over seven acres of land owned by ODOT behind the rest area. It will generate up to 1.97 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year -- about 9 percent of the electricity consumed by the agency in the utility's service territory. PGE hopes to flip the switch in January.
Like most renewable energy projects, the $10 million solar array has complex and heavily subsidized financing. Bank of America is the owner and "tax equity partner" for the deal under a sale-leaseback transaction with PGE, which will build, operate and buy power from the project. PGE, which has no appetite for the tax deductions, has the option to buy the project after six years when the bank has realized the state and federal credits.
Oregon taxpayers are the biggest contributors to the project in the form of a business energy tax credit equal to nearly 50 percent of its cost. Federal tax breaks are good for another 30 percent of the cost. Oregon ratepayers contributed $1.75 million from the public purpose charges that are tacked on to their electricity bills each month and administered by the Energy Trust of Oregon. PGE's green power customers, who pay a premium on their monthly bills to buy renewable power, also made a $250,000 contribution to the project.
More
The Oregonian’s continuing coverage of Oregon's largest solar highway project at Baldock I-5 rest area.
Renewable energy credits generated by the project will go to the ETO, ODOT and PGE, helping those organizations meet renewable energy and carbon reduction targets.
Organizers stressed that the Baldock array is an "all-Oregon" effort, with solar panels made by SolarWorld in Hillsboro, inverters from Advanced Energy of Bend, and consulting, construction and other materials provided by local firms. An interpretive display will be installed at the rest stop so travelers can learn about the array.
The project comprises almost 7,000 panels spread over seven acres of land owned by ODOT behind the rest area. It will generate up to 1.97 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year -- about 9 percent of the electricity consumed by the agency in the utility's service territory. PGE hopes to flip the switch in January.
Like most renewable energy projects, the $10 million solar array has complex and heavily subsidized financing. Bank of America is the owner and "tax equity partner" for the deal under a sale-leaseback transaction with PGE, which will build, operate and buy power from the project. PGE, which has no appetite for the tax deductions, has the option to buy the project after six years when the bank has realized the state and federal credits.
Oregon taxpayers are the biggest contributors to the project in the form of a business energy tax credit equal to nearly 50 percent of its cost. Federal tax breaks are good for another 30 percent of the cost. Oregon ratepayers contributed $1.75 million from the public purpose charges that are tacked on to their electricity bills each month and administered by the Energy Trust of Oregon. PGE's green power customers, who pay a premium on their monthly bills to buy renewable power, also made a $250,000 contribution to the project.
More
The Oregonian’s continuing coverage of Oregon's largest solar highway project at Baldock I-5 rest area.
Renewable energy credits generated by the project will go to the ETO, ODOT and PGE, helping those organizations meet renewable energy and carbon reduction targets.
Organizers stressed that the Baldock array is an "all-Oregon" effort, with solar panels made by SolarWorld in Hillsboro, inverters from Advanced Energy of Bend, and consulting, construction and other materials provided by local firms. An interpretive display will be installed at the rest stop so travelers can learn about the array.
2011年8月22日星期一
Suntech Loss Widens Despite Higher Revenue
Suntech Power Holdings Co. (STP, K3ND.SG) posted a larger second-quarter loss, despite jumps in revenue and shipments, as lower prices and higher costs hit the bottom line and the company cut its 2011 earnings forecast.
The China-based solar-panel manufacturing giant booked operating expenses of $204 million, up 44% from a year ago, with much of the cost tied to the termination of a supply contract with solar-wafer maker MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (WFR) and a much smaller charge tied to discontinued operations at a German subsidiary.
Despite "challenging times" for the industry, Suntech plans to meet its goal of shipping 2.2 gigawatts of solar products this year, although the company cut its revenue view for the year to $3.2 billion to $3.4 billion, down 3% from its May outlook.
"There is no doubt we are entering through challenging times as an industry," Suntech Chief Financial Officer David King said during a conference call with analysts. But he added that Suntech is working to cut costs and debt.
Suntech also expects demand to pick up later this year in Germany and Italy, as well as China, said Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Beebe.
Suntech said it expects third-quarter solar-panel shipments to rise more than 15% compared with the second quarter.
Shares of Suntech were recently trading 3 cents lower at $5.07, erasing earlier gains.
Suntech has boosted manufacturing of silicon wafers - the key ingredient in solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity - to serve about half of its needs. Being able to make wafers in-house will save the company $400 million over the next five years, Chief Executive Shi Zhengrong said.
Suntech reported a loss of $259.5 million, or $1.44 an American depositary share, compared with a loss of $174.9 million, or 97 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding items, Suntech reported a loss of 19 cents a share, compared with a year-earlier profit of 3 cents a share.
Revenue jumped 33% to $830.7 million.
The China-based solar-panel manufacturing giant booked operating expenses of $204 million, up 44% from a year ago, with much of the cost tied to the termination of a supply contract with solar-wafer maker MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (WFR) and a much smaller charge tied to discontinued operations at a German subsidiary.
Despite "challenging times" for the industry, Suntech plans to meet its goal of shipping 2.2 gigawatts of solar products this year, although the company cut its revenue view for the year to $3.2 billion to $3.4 billion, down 3% from its May outlook.
"There is no doubt we are entering through challenging times as an industry," Suntech Chief Financial Officer David King said during a conference call with analysts. But he added that Suntech is working to cut costs and debt.
Suntech also expects demand to pick up later this year in Germany and Italy, as well as China, said Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Beebe.
Suntech said it expects third-quarter solar-panel shipments to rise more than 15% compared with the second quarter.
Shares of Suntech were recently trading 3 cents lower at $5.07, erasing earlier gains.
Suntech has boosted manufacturing of silicon wafers - the key ingredient in solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity - to serve about half of its needs. Being able to make wafers in-house will save the company $400 million over the next five years, Chief Executive Shi Zhengrong said.
Suntech reported a loss of $259.5 million, or $1.44 an American depositary share, compared with a loss of $174.9 million, or 97 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding items, Suntech reported a loss of 19 cents a share, compared with a year-earlier profit of 3 cents a share.
Revenue jumped 33% to $830.7 million.
2011年8月21日星期日
13-year-old's solar project generates heat if not light
Who decided solar panels should be flat?
A seventh-grader from New York has worked out that solar panels arranged more like tree branches may capture more light than flat panels.
For real, kind of. Aidan Dwyer, 13, noticed that tree branch patterns are Fibonacci numbers, postulated that it had to do with photosynthesis, took some pretty involved measurements of an oak tree, built a PVC-pipe solar array in the same shape, built a flat solar panel, compared how much light each captured over time, and voila, he had an award-winning science experiment and a great-sounding theory: trees evolved with these patterns for good reason. He found that tree-shaped pattern is as much as 50 percent more efficient than the flat panel, depending on the time of year.
The seventh-grader's explanation was that the Fibonacci pattern keeps branches out of each others' shadows in full light and at the same time allows the tree to garner as much light as possible when some branches are in shadow and others in light.
Dwyer wrote up the results in an essay that includes details of a winter hike in the Catskills, the centuries-old history of humans noticing these patterns throughout nature (from shell structure to Galaxy shape), and a nice description of the way Fibonacci explained the numbers using the rabbit birthrate and Sanskrit poetry. The essay won the American Museum of Natural History Young Naturalist award.
Here's where the story takes an interesting turn. More than one scientist has poured cold water on Dwyer's theory, while others have cautioned not so fast. It's a good lesson in the importance of peer review before publishing. Just as tree branches are arranged the way they are for a reason, so are today's silicon solar cells.
And even if Dwyer's experiment holds up to scrutiny, there's a lot involved in making a successful solar module. After theory, proof of concept, peer review, and one or more back-to-the-drawing-boards, you still have cost of manufacturing and competition with other technologies.
But the kid isn't necessarily barking up the wrong tree. Some of the world's leading energy researchers are working on mimicking trees. The key is using inexpensive solar cells that work well in diffuse light.
Dwyer's next move is to study different kinds of trees to find the most efficient design for his PVC solar array. He's also applied for a patent.
Nice work for junior high. I hope Dwyer falls in with some inspiring science teachers. And I like his DIY attitude. So what's this kid going to do in high school? I've got a suggestion--once you've solved the energy problem (even if this first attempt doesn't do the trick), how about moving on to the global food crisis?
A seventh-grader from New York has worked out that solar panels arranged more like tree branches may capture more light than flat panels.
For real, kind of. Aidan Dwyer, 13, noticed that tree branch patterns are Fibonacci numbers, postulated that it had to do with photosynthesis, took some pretty involved measurements of an oak tree, built a PVC-pipe solar array in the same shape, built a flat solar panel, compared how much light each captured over time, and voila, he had an award-winning science experiment and a great-sounding theory: trees evolved with these patterns for good reason. He found that tree-shaped pattern is as much as 50 percent more efficient than the flat panel, depending on the time of year.
The seventh-grader's explanation was that the Fibonacci pattern keeps branches out of each others' shadows in full light and at the same time allows the tree to garner as much light as possible when some branches are in shadow and others in light.
Dwyer wrote up the results in an essay that includes details of a winter hike in the Catskills, the centuries-old history of humans noticing these patterns throughout nature (from shell structure to Galaxy shape), and a nice description of the way Fibonacci explained the numbers using the rabbit birthrate and Sanskrit poetry. The essay won the American Museum of Natural History Young Naturalist award.
Here's where the story takes an interesting turn. More than one scientist has poured cold water on Dwyer's theory, while others have cautioned not so fast. It's a good lesson in the importance of peer review before publishing. Just as tree branches are arranged the way they are for a reason, so are today's silicon solar cells.
And even if Dwyer's experiment holds up to scrutiny, there's a lot involved in making a successful solar module. After theory, proof of concept, peer review, and one or more back-to-the-drawing-boards, you still have cost of manufacturing and competition with other technologies.
But the kid isn't necessarily barking up the wrong tree. Some of the world's leading energy researchers are working on mimicking trees. The key is using inexpensive solar cells that work well in diffuse light.
Dwyer's next move is to study different kinds of trees to find the most efficient design for his PVC solar array. He's also applied for a patent.
Nice work for junior high. I hope Dwyer falls in with some inspiring science teachers. And I like his DIY attitude. So what's this kid going to do in high school? I've got a suggestion--once you've solved the energy problem (even if this first attempt doesn't do the trick), how about moving on to the global food crisis?
2011年8月18日星期四
Solar Trust Switches 500MW Power Plant to PV
Solar Trust said today that it will convert a 500 megawatt solar thermal power plant it had been planning in Blythe, California into a 500 megawatt plant made from photovoltaic panels.
The shift comes because of "improved market conditions" for building power plants with PV modules. Solar modules from some vendors now cost as little as $1.30 a watt, according to GTM Research. The switch will mean the company has to walk away from a $2.1 billion federal loan guarantee.
Switching to PV will also let Solar Trust build the plant in 250 megawatt increments, making financing and planning easier.
The 500 megawatt power plant is the first half a 1 gigawatt development so it's probably fair to look at this as a 1 gigawatt loss for the thermal industry. Solar Trust hasn't said what happens to the second half of the project, but one can guess.
Last year, we predicted that solar thermal power plants would soon begin to face severe competition from solar modules because of the rapid decline in the price of modules and the fact that PV plants are easier to build than thermal plants. Soon after, solar thermal plants began to run into trouble or get converted to PV projects. Stirling Energy gave up on two thermal power plants totaling over 1.5 gigawatt. NRG Energy converted two thermal projects to PV. Government agencies were helping thermal too: both the California Energy Commission and The Department of the Interior have been approving thermal projects.
If you add in the 500 megawatts that got canceled today, a total of 3 gigawatts of solar thermal projects have been converted to PV projects, according to GTM concentrating solar power analyst Brett Prior.
Prior further estimated that the installed cost of a thermal plants might be around $5.79 per watt while the installed cost for utility-scale PV plants is closer to $3.40.
Solar module prices alone have dropped 30 percent so far this year and we're only in the third quarter.
While the earlier conversions hurt, today's news is arguably even worse because Solar Trust had already achieved regulatory approval. It also won a $2.1 billion loan guarantee from the DOE in April to build a thermal plant. Solar Trust now must tinker with its application and walk away from the loan guarantee.
This is like your mother entering someone else's child in the talent contest.
Solar Trust has an existing JV with another company for PV plants.
Solar Trust said it will still consider building thermal plants overseas. Developers can put big tanks of molten salt at their thermal power plants to save solar heat until night and make power then. PV plants can't do that. To store power at PV plants, you need batteries, which can be expensive. Both BrightSource and SolarReserve have touted molten salt. It's great technology. Unfortunately, some, if not most, U.S. utilities have been less enthused about getting energy storage through molten salt now. They like the concept, but aren't always willing to pay for it now.
Several companies could be impacted by this. Competitor BrightSource Energy, for instance, is in the midst of raising interest in an IPO. This latest cancelation will likely prompt lots of questions from Wall Street. BrightSource relies on different underlying technology which BrightSource (and others) say is cheaper than the traditional technologies, but many of the PV/thermal issues apply. The California Energy Commission has approved a BrightSource project for PG&E but BrightSource has two follow-on projects that are still in the approval and financing stages.
Equipment suppliers to thermal plants will get hit too. Schott Solar makes mirrors for these power plants. PV vendors--perhaps Chinese vendors or U.S.-based companies like First Solar and SunPower will benefit.
The shift comes because of "improved market conditions" for building power plants with PV modules. Solar modules from some vendors now cost as little as $1.30 a watt, according to GTM Research. The switch will mean the company has to walk away from a $2.1 billion federal loan guarantee.
Switching to PV will also let Solar Trust build the plant in 250 megawatt increments, making financing and planning easier.
The 500 megawatt power plant is the first half a 1 gigawatt development so it's probably fair to look at this as a 1 gigawatt loss for the thermal industry. Solar Trust hasn't said what happens to the second half of the project, but one can guess.
Last year, we predicted that solar thermal power plants would soon begin to face severe competition from solar modules because of the rapid decline in the price of modules and the fact that PV plants are easier to build than thermal plants. Soon after, solar thermal plants began to run into trouble or get converted to PV projects. Stirling Energy gave up on two thermal power plants totaling over 1.5 gigawatt. NRG Energy converted two thermal projects to PV. Government agencies were helping thermal too: both the California Energy Commission and The Department of the Interior have been approving thermal projects.
If you add in the 500 megawatts that got canceled today, a total of 3 gigawatts of solar thermal projects have been converted to PV projects, according to GTM concentrating solar power analyst Brett Prior.
Prior further estimated that the installed cost of a thermal plants might be around $5.79 per watt while the installed cost for utility-scale PV plants is closer to $3.40.
Solar module prices alone have dropped 30 percent so far this year and we're only in the third quarter.
While the earlier conversions hurt, today's news is arguably even worse because Solar Trust had already achieved regulatory approval. It also won a $2.1 billion loan guarantee from the DOE in April to build a thermal plant. Solar Trust now must tinker with its application and walk away from the loan guarantee.
This is like your mother entering someone else's child in the talent contest.
Solar Trust has an existing JV with another company for PV plants.
Solar Trust said it will still consider building thermal plants overseas. Developers can put big tanks of molten salt at their thermal power plants to save solar heat until night and make power then. PV plants can't do that. To store power at PV plants, you need batteries, which can be expensive. Both BrightSource and SolarReserve have touted molten salt. It's great technology. Unfortunately, some, if not most, U.S. utilities have been less enthused about getting energy storage through molten salt now. They like the concept, but aren't always willing to pay for it now.
Several companies could be impacted by this. Competitor BrightSource Energy, for instance, is in the midst of raising interest in an IPO. This latest cancelation will likely prompt lots of questions from Wall Street. BrightSource relies on different underlying technology which BrightSource (and others) say is cheaper than the traditional technologies, but many of the PV/thermal issues apply. The California Energy Commission has approved a BrightSource project for PG&E but BrightSource has two follow-on projects that are still in the approval and financing stages.
Equipment suppliers to thermal plants will get hit too. Schott Solar makes mirrors for these power plants. PV vendors--perhaps Chinese vendors or U.S.-based companies like First Solar and SunPower will benefit.
2011年8月15日星期一
SolarVision(TM) Revolutionizing Solar Power Industry
Just two years after SolarVision(TM) solar arrays began harnessing the sun's power in Ohio, the company finds itself at the cusp of revolutionizing the way Ohioans--and Americans view and use renewable energy on a daily basis. What began with a couple hundred solar panels on the roof of an elementary school is quickly becoming a collection of tens of thousands of solar panels totaling more than 20 megawatts of power. With $70 million in projects under contract and an additional $15 million pending, SolarVision(TM) has experienced astounding growth since its inception.
"We have been amazed at the amount of demand for solar power we have encountered in the last two years," said SolarVision(TM) president Greg Kuss. "Government and business leaders are realizing that not only is solar panel power infinitely cleaner and better for the environment than traditional power generation processes, but with today's technology it can also be more cost-effective."
This summer SolarVision(TM) broke ground on its biggest project yet--the first phase of what will become a 5 megawatt solar array in Celina, OH, encompassing more than 12,000 solar panels on city-owned land. According to Celina planning and community development director Kent Bryan, PE, partnering with SolarVision(TM) "is an economic and environmental win-win" for cities seeking to make a positive impact in their communities.
"What attracts municipalities and private industry to SolarVision(TM) is the fact that they can enjoy all the benefits of solar-generated electricity--clean power at competitive prices--without having to own or maintain the solar equipment," added Mike Dickman, SolarVision(TM) vice president over construction operations and sales.
Such public-private partnerships are more viable today than they were just a few years ago thanks to the 2008 passing of SB 221, which provides tax credits for renewable energy initiatives such as the solar projects undertaken by SolarVision(TM).
SolarVision(TM) has partnered with municipalities and other institutions to build solar power systems in Washington Court House, Worthington, Newcomerstown, Athens, OH, with projects in the works in several other locations.
"We're on the verge of taking this energy model to scale, where electricity made from the sun will be considered mainstream," Kuss said. "And with the rate SolarVision(TM) is progressing now, we plan to be a big part of making than happen."
"We have been amazed at the amount of demand for solar power we have encountered in the last two years," said SolarVision(TM) president Greg Kuss. "Government and business leaders are realizing that not only is solar panel power infinitely cleaner and better for the environment than traditional power generation processes, but with today's technology it can also be more cost-effective."
This summer SolarVision(TM) broke ground on its biggest project yet--the first phase of what will become a 5 megawatt solar array in Celina, OH, encompassing more than 12,000 solar panels on city-owned land. According to Celina planning and community development director Kent Bryan, PE, partnering with SolarVision(TM) "is an economic and environmental win-win" for cities seeking to make a positive impact in their communities.
"What attracts municipalities and private industry to SolarVision(TM) is the fact that they can enjoy all the benefits of solar-generated electricity--clean power at competitive prices--without having to own or maintain the solar equipment," added Mike Dickman, SolarVision(TM) vice president over construction operations and sales.
Such public-private partnerships are more viable today than they were just a few years ago thanks to the 2008 passing of SB 221, which provides tax credits for renewable energy initiatives such as the solar projects undertaken by SolarVision(TM).
SolarVision(TM) has partnered with municipalities and other institutions to build solar power systems in Washington Court House, Worthington, Newcomerstown, Athens, OH, with projects in the works in several other locations.
"We're on the verge of taking this energy model to scale, where electricity made from the sun will be considered mainstream," Kuss said. "And with the rate SolarVision(TM) is progressing now, we plan to be a big part of making than happen."
2011年8月14日星期日
Manipulation & heating specialists for ultra high vaccum applications
These days, black panels can be seen on many building roofs, particularly in Southern Germany. Many of these solar collectors are used to heat water, but increasingly there are also photovoltaic systems that directly convert the light of the sun into electrical current. To date, however, only some 2% of electrical current in Germany comes from solar energy, because solar cells are costly and complicated, particularly in production. Researchers from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are developing innovative production methods to change this. Lasers in particular create whole new potentials for production. Dr. Malte Schulz-Ruhtenberg of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT explains the main advantage: "Laser technology permits contact-free, precise and quick processing." As a result, better solar cells can be produced at lower cost.
One example is high-rate laser drilling, which creates tiny holes in solar cells very precisely and quickly. Why? A classic solar cell generates current through the photoelectric effect. It consists of several conducting and semiconducting layers. When light falls onto the cell, negative charge carriers are released from their bonds, and electrical current flows as a result. To date, the contacts for drawing away the electric current generated have been positioned at the front and rear of the cell. Moving all of the contacts to the rear, where they do not cast a shadow, increases the level of energy generated. The holes pave the way for this approach, which is known as "emitter wrap-through", or EWT for short.
Special polygon scanners can be utilized to provide for even higher speeds and higher throughput rates. With these laser scanners, rotating polygonal mirrors precisely deflect millions of laser pulses per second. This allows them to process large areas very quickly. "This is a promising technology that can be used for many laser processes," Dr. Schulz-Ruhtenberg points out.
Precise and gentle on the Material
Aside from speed, the possibility to control all properties of the laser light also plays a major role in solar technology; after all, the cells and wafers – the basic elements of a solar cell – are sensitive. Laser beams can be so finely dosed and controlled that they place nearly no strain on the cells. This is why the Fraunhofer-researchers use them for nearly everything: to drill, melt, cut or solder.
Ultra-short-pulse lasers are used, for instance, to insulate a solar cell‘s front and back sides from one another. These lasers are gentler than other methods, and that is important, since a large portion of the costs involved owes to damage and breakage during production.
Testing automation systems
Oftentimes, damage is caused by the different kinds of handling devices that manufacturers use in their production environments. They are designed to be as quick and accurate as possible but without damaging the sensitive parts. This reduces the costs involved. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, researchers are working to improve the automated handling of wafers and solar cells. "In our test and demonstration center, we are trying to physically simulate handling and automation in photovoltaics and based on this optimizing it," explains Roland Wertz, the project manager responsible at IPA.
This facility provides an interface between industrial production and research service in the area of automation. All of the factors and parameters are recorded under highly-realistic conditions, including factors that influence the precision and speed of various gripper systems. They are assisted in this by the robot ABB IRB 360, also known as FlexPicker, which can also be seen at the Fraunhofer stand. To conduct experiments it is used as a manipulator which can be equipped with various gripping devices that are based on different functional principles. This enables the scientists to analyze and assess products made by various manufacturers and in a standardized way. After all, each specific application has its own requirements and calls for optimized handling.
Less Is More
Savings and improvements are not limited to the production process; they are also directed at the materials used. No more than absolutely necessary - that is the principle behind thin-film solar cells. These usually consist of an inexpensive substrate to which the electrically active material is applied in the form of an ultra-thin film. To be able to produce thin-layer solar cells that are of high quality and economically to make, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST has developed various processes that improve each and every step of production.
For instance, the semi-conductor layers, the heart of the solar cell, are produced using the hot wire CVD process. "One benefit over conventional methods is the gentle form of coating production," explains Dr. Volker Sittinger of IST. In conventional, plasma-activated CVD, during the coating process the material is bombarded with high-energy particles. The hot wire CVD approach is different: there, the gases that create the film are not activated in plasma but on hot wires. The result is a gentle approach to creating films of high quality. Better use can also be made of the silane gas required in production. "With the hot wire CVD method, we convert up to 90% of the gas used to film material", Sittinger adds.
Recently developed for the contact layers on the front and rear of the cell is the C² coating technology (cylindrical magnetron co-sputtering). With this technology, the material composition can be varied during the coating process. And there are plans to thin things down even further. Coatings only a few nanometers thick are expected with a new type of 3-dimensional solar cell design. The only way to achieve this is with a precision-contour precipitation of the layers, but there is a method to accomplish this: ALD, which stands for atomic layer deposition, stems from the field of nanotechnology.There is thus no need for solar cells to remain unaffordable expensive. New technologies could propel solar energy a major step forward.
One example is high-rate laser drilling, which creates tiny holes in solar cells very precisely and quickly. Why? A classic solar cell generates current through the photoelectric effect. It consists of several conducting and semiconducting layers. When light falls onto the cell, negative charge carriers are released from their bonds, and electrical current flows as a result. To date, the contacts for drawing away the electric current generated have been positioned at the front and rear of the cell. Moving all of the contacts to the rear, where they do not cast a shadow, increases the level of energy generated. The holes pave the way for this approach, which is known as "emitter wrap-through", or EWT for short.
Special polygon scanners can be utilized to provide for even higher speeds and higher throughput rates. With these laser scanners, rotating polygonal mirrors precisely deflect millions of laser pulses per second. This allows them to process large areas very quickly. "This is a promising technology that can be used for many laser processes," Dr. Schulz-Ruhtenberg points out.
Precise and gentle on the Material
Aside from speed, the possibility to control all properties of the laser light also plays a major role in solar technology; after all, the cells and wafers – the basic elements of a solar cell – are sensitive. Laser beams can be so finely dosed and controlled that they place nearly no strain on the cells. This is why the Fraunhofer-researchers use them for nearly everything: to drill, melt, cut or solder.
Ultra-short-pulse lasers are used, for instance, to insulate a solar cell‘s front and back sides from one another. These lasers are gentler than other methods, and that is important, since a large portion of the costs involved owes to damage and breakage during production.
Testing automation systems
Oftentimes, damage is caused by the different kinds of handling devices that manufacturers use in their production environments. They are designed to be as quick and accurate as possible but without damaging the sensitive parts. This reduces the costs involved. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, researchers are working to improve the automated handling of wafers and solar cells. "In our test and demonstration center, we are trying to physically simulate handling and automation in photovoltaics and based on this optimizing it," explains Roland Wertz, the project manager responsible at IPA.
This facility provides an interface between industrial production and research service in the area of automation. All of the factors and parameters are recorded under highly-realistic conditions, including factors that influence the precision and speed of various gripper systems. They are assisted in this by the robot ABB IRB 360, also known as FlexPicker, which can also be seen at the Fraunhofer stand. To conduct experiments it is used as a manipulator which can be equipped with various gripping devices that are based on different functional principles. This enables the scientists to analyze and assess products made by various manufacturers and in a standardized way. After all, each specific application has its own requirements and calls for optimized handling.
Less Is More
Savings and improvements are not limited to the production process; they are also directed at the materials used. No more than absolutely necessary - that is the principle behind thin-film solar cells. These usually consist of an inexpensive substrate to which the electrically active material is applied in the form of an ultra-thin film. To be able to produce thin-layer solar cells that are of high quality and economically to make, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST has developed various processes that improve each and every step of production.
For instance, the semi-conductor layers, the heart of the solar cell, are produced using the hot wire CVD process. "One benefit over conventional methods is the gentle form of coating production," explains Dr. Volker Sittinger of IST. In conventional, plasma-activated CVD, during the coating process the material is bombarded with high-energy particles. The hot wire CVD approach is different: there, the gases that create the film are not activated in plasma but on hot wires. The result is a gentle approach to creating films of high quality. Better use can also be made of the silane gas required in production. "With the hot wire CVD method, we convert up to 90% of the gas used to film material", Sittinger adds.
Recently developed for the contact layers on the front and rear of the cell is the C² coating technology (cylindrical magnetron co-sputtering). With this technology, the material composition can be varied during the coating process. And there are plans to thin things down even further. Coatings only a few nanometers thick are expected with a new type of 3-dimensional solar cell design. The only way to achieve this is with a precision-contour precipitation of the layers, but there is a method to accomplish this: ALD, which stands for atomic layer deposition, stems from the field of nanotechnology.There is thus no need for solar cells to remain unaffordable expensive. New technologies could propel solar energy a major step forward.
2011年8月11日星期四
IKEA Buys Scottish Wind Farm and Plans 39,000 Solar Panels in UK
IKEA, the world's largest furniture retailer from Sweden, has set a goal to derive all of its energy from renewable sources, and it is now installing 39,000 solar panels on the rooftops of its stores in the United Kingdom to help achieve that goal.
It also purchased a 12.3-MW (12,300-kW) wind farm in Huntly (in northeast Scotland) from Good Energies Capital Inc, according to the chief sustainability officer, Steve Howard. He said that is enough to cover 30 percent of IKEA's UK electricity consumption.
The 12.3-MW farm is only one of the wind farms owned by IKEA, which also has wind farms in Denmark, Germany, France, and elsewhere in the UK. Howard said that the benefit of generating a significant percentage of its own energy from solar and wind sources is that it helps to protect the company from energy price spikes that cost IKEA a whopping 1.2 billion euros ($1.7 billion USD) per year.
Solar and wind powered generators do not require fuel (beyond wind and sunshine), so the cost to generate electricity from these generators does not spike at all.
IKEA essentially paid for its electricity in advance by purchasing solar panels so the cost to it is the same for decades (and also keep in mind that the cost of electricity from fossil fueled sources is continually increasing). Wind farms do require routine maintenance, but most of the cost of wind power is the initial cost of the turbines.
Howard said that the solar panels will cost approximately 4 billion euros or $6.5 billion USD to fit and they are manufactured by GS Solar Fujian Co. of China.
IKEA currently owns 67 wind turbines with an electricity generation capacity of 127 MW.
"The wind turbines in the UK are a first step, and we'll expand on that," he said. "This is a message to developers out there that we're looking for good projects in the right places, and we're keen to diversify in terms of the regions."
"The direction of travel for us is 100 percent renewable. We're likely to hit 70 to 80 percent by 2015. We've built up sufficient experience in the area to be more confident in the timeline, so we will set a timeline in the next few months."
A deadline has not been set, but IKEA appears to be fast-approaching its goal and is a clear world leader.
It also purchased a 12.3-MW (12,300-kW) wind farm in Huntly (in northeast Scotland) from Good Energies Capital Inc, according to the chief sustainability officer, Steve Howard. He said that is enough to cover 30 percent of IKEA's UK electricity consumption.
The 12.3-MW farm is only one of the wind farms owned by IKEA, which also has wind farms in Denmark, Germany, France, and elsewhere in the UK. Howard said that the benefit of generating a significant percentage of its own energy from solar and wind sources is that it helps to protect the company from energy price spikes that cost IKEA a whopping 1.2 billion euros ($1.7 billion USD) per year.
Solar and wind powered generators do not require fuel (beyond wind and sunshine), so the cost to generate electricity from these generators does not spike at all.
IKEA essentially paid for its electricity in advance by purchasing solar panels so the cost to it is the same for decades (and also keep in mind that the cost of electricity from fossil fueled sources is continually increasing). Wind farms do require routine maintenance, but most of the cost of wind power is the initial cost of the turbines.
Howard said that the solar panels will cost approximately 4 billion euros or $6.5 billion USD to fit and they are manufactured by GS Solar Fujian Co. of China.
IKEA currently owns 67 wind turbines with an electricity generation capacity of 127 MW.
"The wind turbines in the UK are a first step, and we'll expand on that," he said. "This is a message to developers out there that we're looking for good projects in the right places, and we're keen to diversify in terms of the regions."
"The direction of travel for us is 100 percent renewable. We're likely to hit 70 to 80 percent by 2015. We've built up sufficient experience in the area to be more confident in the timeline, so we will set a timeline in the next few months."
A deadline has not been set, but IKEA appears to be fast-approaching its goal and is a clear world leader.
2011年8月10日星期三
Idaho Power plans to build solar power plant
Idaho Power Co. plans to build a pilot solar panel plant so it can gain expertise in a field that could one day become a significant part of its power generating operations, an official says.
Idaho Power wants to build a one-half to 1-megawatt plant using solar panels in southwest Idaho, said Mike Stokes, the company's power supply planning manager. Estimated cost is $2 million to $4 million.
"There is a kind of research and development component to this," Stokes told the Idaho Statesman (http://bit.ly/rgUUwz). "It's not just as simple as throwing some solar panels out there and you are done."
The state's biggest utility plans to ask for bids later this year but hasn't decided whether to put the solar panels on the ground or rooftops. Idaho Power has 492,000 residential, business and agricultural customers.
Stokes said solar power could be a good supplement to the company because it peaks in the summer when farmers are running irrigation pumps and other customers are using air conditioners.
"The shape of solar's load has a lot more value to us," he said.
The company currently generates power mostly through hydroelectric projects and coal plants.
Recently, the company included solar options in its integrated resource management plan it presented to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.
"I think if they built a plant and it's on their system, they will be more comfortable about solar," said Ken Miller, an energy analyst with the Snake River Alliance and a member of Idaho Power's planning committee. "It will become less mysterious."
The company has also approved a contract to buy solar power from Boise-based Interconnect Solar, which plans to build a solar power plant near Murphy in southwest Idaho.
Stokes said there are various options for the plant Idaho Power wants to build.
"One option would be for Idaho Power to pay someone to use their roof, and Idaho Power would own the system," he said.
Stokes said building the plant should help the company learn what solar technologies work best and which ones work best with its power grid.
Idaho Power wants to build a one-half to 1-megawatt plant using solar panels in southwest Idaho, said Mike Stokes, the company's power supply planning manager. Estimated cost is $2 million to $4 million.
"There is a kind of research and development component to this," Stokes told the Idaho Statesman (http://bit.ly/rgUUwz). "It's not just as simple as throwing some solar panels out there and you are done."
The state's biggest utility plans to ask for bids later this year but hasn't decided whether to put the solar panels on the ground or rooftops. Idaho Power has 492,000 residential, business and agricultural customers.
Stokes said solar power could be a good supplement to the company because it peaks in the summer when farmers are running irrigation pumps and other customers are using air conditioners.
"The shape of solar's load has a lot more value to us," he said.
The company currently generates power mostly through hydroelectric projects and coal plants.
Recently, the company included solar options in its integrated resource management plan it presented to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.
"I think if they built a plant and it's on their system, they will be more comfortable about solar," said Ken Miller, an energy analyst with the Snake River Alliance and a member of Idaho Power's planning committee. "It will become less mysterious."
The company has also approved a contract to buy solar power from Boise-based Interconnect Solar, which plans to build a solar power plant near Murphy in southwest Idaho.
Stokes said there are various options for the plant Idaho Power wants to build.
"One option would be for Idaho Power to pay someone to use their roof, and Idaho Power would own the system," he said.
Stokes said building the plant should help the company learn what solar technologies work best and which ones work best with its power grid.
2011年8月9日星期二
IKEA Buys Scottish Wind Farm and Plans 39,000 Solar Panels in UK
IKEA, the world's largest furniture retailer from Sweden, has set a goal to derive all of its energy from renewable sources, and it is now installing 39,000 solar panels on the rooftops of its stores in the United Kingdom to help achieve that goal.
It also purchased a 12.3-MW (12,300-kW) wind farm in Huntly (in northeast Scotland) from Good Energies Capital Inc, according to the chief sustainability officer, Steve Howard. He said that is enough to cover 30 percent of IKEA's UK electricity consumption.
The 12.3-MW farm is only one of the wind farms owned by IKEA, which also has wind farms in Denmark, Germany, France, and elsewhere in the UK. Howard said that the benefit of generating a significant percentage of its own energy from solar and wind sources is that it helps to protect the company from energy price spikes that cost IKEA a whopping 1.2 billion euros ($1.7 billion USD) per year.
Solar and wind powered generators do not require fuel (beyond wind and sunshine), so the cost to generate electricity from these generators does not spike at all.
IKEA essentially paid for its electricity in advance by purchasing solar panels so the cost to it is the same for decades (and also keep in mind that the cost of electricity from fossil fueled sources is continually increasing). Wind farms do require routine maintenance, but most of the cost of wind power is the initial cost of the turbines.
Howard said that the solar panels will cost approximately 4 billion euros or $6.5 billion USD to fit and they are manufactured by GS Solar Fujian Co. of China.
IKEA currently owns 67 wind turbines with an electricity generation capacity of 127 MW.
"The wind turbines in the UK are a first step, and we'll expand on that," he said. "This is a message to developers out there that we're looking for good projects in the right places, and we're keen to diversify in terms of the regions."
"The direction of travel for us is 100 percent renewable. We're likely to hit 70 to 80 percent by 2015. We've built up sufficient experience in the area to be more confident in the timeline, so we will set a timeline in the next few months."
A deadline has not been set, but IKEA appears to be fast-approaching its goal and is a clear world leader.
It also purchased a 12.3-MW (12,300-kW) wind farm in Huntly (in northeast Scotland) from Good Energies Capital Inc, according to the chief sustainability officer, Steve Howard. He said that is enough to cover 30 percent of IKEA's UK electricity consumption.
The 12.3-MW farm is only one of the wind farms owned by IKEA, which also has wind farms in Denmark, Germany, France, and elsewhere in the UK. Howard said that the benefit of generating a significant percentage of its own energy from solar and wind sources is that it helps to protect the company from energy price spikes that cost IKEA a whopping 1.2 billion euros ($1.7 billion USD) per year.
Solar and wind powered generators do not require fuel (beyond wind and sunshine), so the cost to generate electricity from these generators does not spike at all.
IKEA essentially paid for its electricity in advance by purchasing solar panels so the cost to it is the same for decades (and also keep in mind that the cost of electricity from fossil fueled sources is continually increasing). Wind farms do require routine maintenance, but most of the cost of wind power is the initial cost of the turbines.
Howard said that the solar panels will cost approximately 4 billion euros or $6.5 billion USD to fit and they are manufactured by GS Solar Fujian Co. of China.
IKEA currently owns 67 wind turbines with an electricity generation capacity of 127 MW.
"The wind turbines in the UK are a first step, and we'll expand on that," he said. "This is a message to developers out there that we're looking for good projects in the right places, and we're keen to diversify in terms of the regions."
"The direction of travel for us is 100 percent renewable. We're likely to hit 70 to 80 percent by 2015. We've built up sufficient experience in the area to be more confident in the timeline, so we will set a timeline in the next few months."
A deadline has not been set, but IKEA appears to be fast-approaching its goal and is a clear world leader.
2011年8月8日星期一
Sun Power to establish panel manufacturing plant in Mexico
Solar panel manufacturer Sun Power has announced plans to commence construction of a new solar manufacturing facility in Mexicali, Mexico.
The company which designs and manufactures high-efficiency crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, roof tiles and solar panels based on a silicon all-back-contact solar cell invented at Stanford University, has offices in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain and United States
The Mexico plant will reportedly cater to increasing demand for their solar panels in the North American Market. The plan is part of the solar manufacturers’ business strategy to expand its upstream vertical integration to cater for growing demand in this market, azocleantech.com reported.
According to the report, the company is looking to lease a building with capacity of approximately 320,000 sq ft to set up its manufacturing unit.
The new manufacturing facility will be dedicated to bringing out the highly efficient E18, E19 and the E20 series of solar panels which will be used in the commercial, residential and power plant projects. The Mexico plant will also manufacturer the SunPower T5 Solar Roof Tile System.
The company which designs and manufactures high-efficiency crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, roof tiles and solar panels based on a silicon all-back-contact solar cell invented at Stanford University, has offices in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain and United States
The Mexico plant will reportedly cater to increasing demand for their solar panels in the North American Market. The plan is part of the solar manufacturers’ business strategy to expand its upstream vertical integration to cater for growing demand in this market, azocleantech.com reported.
According to the report, the company is looking to lease a building with capacity of approximately 320,000 sq ft to set up its manufacturing unit.
The new manufacturing facility will be dedicated to bringing out the highly efficient E18, E19 and the E20 series of solar panels which will be used in the commercial, residential and power plant projects. The Mexico plant will also manufacturer the SunPower T5 Solar Roof Tile System.
2011年8月7日星期日
Solar wind alternative power functioning in historic Bishop Hill
Green Winds, a local company offering SWAP (solar wind alternative power) has a functioning solar-power system in place at a business in this historic Henry County community. Gary Lay of Galesburg, owner of Green Winds, has plans to also install a wind turbine at The Summer Cottage, the business owned by his mother, Arlene Rigg.
The Summer Cottage sells hand-blown glass items for indoor and outdoor use. Rigg also shows off the SWAP system and lets customers look at brochures telling about the alternative energy project.
Rigg, who has a fused spine, does not divulge her age, even to her children, but the senior citizen may have more energy than even her son’s SWAP system produces. A couple of years ago, she lost a freezer full of handpicked fruit when the power went out.
“I didn’t know it,” she said of the power outage.
Lay has the solar portion of the system up and running. There is a battery back-up and a wind turbine is in the works.
He opened a door similar to those housing circuit breakers and showed the brains of the computer system that keeps the solar power running correctly.
“This is the electricity for the system,” he said. “It actually has a computer chip in it that controls the system.”
The system is fully automated, with the exception of a dimmer switch that Rigg can use to turn on and off a waterfall in back, as well as regulate the water flow.
“This thing never allows it to go over 14 volts for charging,” Lay said. “It never allows it to go below 11.5 volts.”
The digital read-out was 13.7 as Lay was displaying the brains of the system.
The battery could be damaged if it is charged too much, the energy consultant explained. Eventually the plan is to use gel cells, but Lay currently uses a lead acid truck battery. The battery is in a compartment outside the store. He said the battery gives off hydrogen as it charges, which is why it can’t be inside. He plans to one day use solar and wind power for his mother’s house and store, through the use of 16 gel cells.
There is a wooden structure that holds two solar cells, one a commercial product, one that Lay made from scratch using glass from Knox Glass in Galesburg. The individual cells come from Germany. The 13 acres Rigg’s house and store sit on are a peaceful combination of prairie grasses, gardens, large shade trees, pine trees just beginning to grow, as well as a large open area. The waterfall is surrounded by a large stone structure made out of fossilized stones.
Lay had a brother who passed away at a young age due to MS.
“So all of this is a monument to him,” he said. “It’s kind of a sanctuary for people and animals.”
The soothing sound of the waterfall amidst all the nature makes for a peaceful place.
Plans are to extend one leg of the small pond and build a stream. Powering the waterfall with alternative energy was Rigg’s idea. Lay said his mother called one day and talked about building the waterfall.
“She said ‘why don’t you power the waterfall with your system?’ So it doesn’t cost as much for electricity,” he said. “It’s just the start of the system. I’m going to increase the solar and put up the wind system.”
Lay needs to find a spot for the 30-foot-tall wind turbine. He said the turbine has to stand at least that tall to be above the tree line.
“Where would that be, Mom?” he asked.
“On the hill, out on the prairie,” she answered without hesitating.
The Summer Cottage sells hand-blown glass items for indoor and outdoor use. Rigg also shows off the SWAP system and lets customers look at brochures telling about the alternative energy project.
Rigg, who has a fused spine, does not divulge her age, even to her children, but the senior citizen may have more energy than even her son’s SWAP system produces. A couple of years ago, she lost a freezer full of handpicked fruit when the power went out.
“I didn’t know it,” she said of the power outage.
Lay has the solar portion of the system up and running. There is a battery back-up and a wind turbine is in the works.
He opened a door similar to those housing circuit breakers and showed the brains of the computer system that keeps the solar power running correctly.
“This is the electricity for the system,” he said. “It actually has a computer chip in it that controls the system.”
The system is fully automated, with the exception of a dimmer switch that Rigg can use to turn on and off a waterfall in back, as well as regulate the water flow.
“This thing never allows it to go over 14 volts for charging,” Lay said. “It never allows it to go below 11.5 volts.”
The digital read-out was 13.7 as Lay was displaying the brains of the system.
The battery could be damaged if it is charged too much, the energy consultant explained. Eventually the plan is to use gel cells, but Lay currently uses a lead acid truck battery. The battery is in a compartment outside the store. He said the battery gives off hydrogen as it charges, which is why it can’t be inside. He plans to one day use solar and wind power for his mother’s house and store, through the use of 16 gel cells.
There is a wooden structure that holds two solar cells, one a commercial product, one that Lay made from scratch using glass from Knox Glass in Galesburg. The individual cells come from Germany. The 13 acres Rigg’s house and store sit on are a peaceful combination of prairie grasses, gardens, large shade trees, pine trees just beginning to grow, as well as a large open area. The waterfall is surrounded by a large stone structure made out of fossilized stones.
Lay had a brother who passed away at a young age due to MS.
“So all of this is a monument to him,” he said. “It’s kind of a sanctuary for people and animals.”
The soothing sound of the waterfall amidst all the nature makes for a peaceful place.
Plans are to extend one leg of the small pond and build a stream. Powering the waterfall with alternative energy was Rigg’s idea. Lay said his mother called one day and talked about building the waterfall.
“She said ‘why don’t you power the waterfall with your system?’ So it doesn’t cost as much for electricity,” he said. “It’s just the start of the system. I’m going to increase the solar and put up the wind system.”
Lay needs to find a spot for the 30-foot-tall wind turbine. He said the turbine has to stand at least that tall to be above the tree line.
“Where would that be, Mom?” he asked.
“On the hill, out on the prairie,” she answered without hesitating.
2011年8月3日星期三
Solar industry still hopes to shine
New Jersey has been proud of its commitment to renewable energy, and legislative policies have encouraged the installation of photo-voltaic solar arrays to the point that the state is second only to California in solar power production, according to the Board of Public Utilities.
But in June, Gov. Chris Christie’s administration announced that it was withdrawing New Jersey from a 10-state regional energy plan, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
This was followed a few days later with the introduction of the proposed new Energy Management Plan, a blueprint for energy planning for the next decade. In the plan, the governor and his administration recommend the construction of gas-powered energy plants, and putting more emphasis on large solar arrays owned by power companies rather than arrays on private homes. Questions arose about whether these policies will weaken New Jersey’s solar industry.
As hearings continue on the Energy Management Plan this week, several executives in the solar industry have shared their perspectives on how they read the plan, how solar energy has worked in the state so far, and how their industry can remain robust.
Emphasis on arrays
In New Jersey, solar energy has been made affordable through ratepayer subsidies.
Here is how the system works: The state Legislature has mandated that each year the utility companies must produce an increasing number of megawatts of power through renewable means. If they are not producing that power themselves, the companies must go to sources that produce power through renewable energy and buy power from them. They do this in the form of Solar Renewable Energy Credits or SRECs.
Homeowners and commercial property owners are now producing electricity with their photo-voltaic arrays, and they earn an SREC for each megawatt hour they produce. They can sell the SRECs to the power companies on the spot market, which is regulated by the Board of Public Utilities, or they can sign a long-term contract to sell a power company their SRECs at a fixed price for a fixed number of years.
But in June, Gov. Chris Christie’s administration announced that it was withdrawing New Jersey from a 10-state regional energy plan, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
This was followed a few days later with the introduction of the proposed new Energy Management Plan, a blueprint for energy planning for the next decade. In the plan, the governor and his administration recommend the construction of gas-powered energy plants, and putting more emphasis on large solar arrays owned by power companies rather than arrays on private homes. Questions arose about whether these policies will weaken New Jersey’s solar industry.
As hearings continue on the Energy Management Plan this week, several executives in the solar industry have shared their perspectives on how they read the plan, how solar energy has worked in the state so far, and how their industry can remain robust.
Emphasis on arrays
In New Jersey, solar energy has been made affordable through ratepayer subsidies.
Here is how the system works: The state Legislature has mandated that each year the utility companies must produce an increasing number of megawatts of power through renewable means. If they are not producing that power themselves, the companies must go to sources that produce power through renewable energy and buy power from them. They do this in the form of Solar Renewable Energy Credits or SRECs.
Homeowners and commercial property owners are now producing electricity with their photo-voltaic arrays, and they earn an SREC for each megawatt hour they produce. They can sell the SRECs to the power companies on the spot market, which is regulated by the Board of Public Utilities, or they can sign a long-term contract to sell a power company their SRECs at a fixed price for a fixed number of years.
2011年8月1日星期一
Solar outlook expected to brighten
Solar investors should brace themselves for some downright dreadful second-quarter earnings reports in the coming weeks, though the rest of the year may provide some relief to battered solar stocks as panel prices stabilize and profit margins recover.
The solar market likely bottomed in the second quarter after pullbacks in subsidies in No. 2 solar market Italy stalled development of projects there this spring, creating an oversupply of solar panels in the market and sparking a more than 20-per-cent drop in prices.
“It’s going to be probably the most challenging quarter we’ve seen in the space since the financial crisis,” Kaufman Bros analyst Jeff Bencik said. “Volumes are starting to pick back up, but we have pricing declines of 25 to 30 per cent across the supply chain.”
Solar power relies on government subsidies to compete with electricity generated by fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. In general, drops in the price of solar power are a good thing for the subsidy-dependent industry — but manufacturers struggle if they can’t cut costs at a similar rate.
Solar modules cost about $1.80 per watt in the first quarter, and are now selling for $1.40 per watt or less.
That drop has taken a big toll on manufacturers’ profit margins and sent their stocks into a tailspin. Gross margins for photovoltaic module manufacturers have fallen by 25 per cent in the last six months, according to research firm IMS Research.
The solar earnings season will kick off in earnest with First Solar Inc.’s results on Aug. 2, followed by reports from U.S. wafer maker MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. and U.S. solar manufacturing equipment maker GT Solar a day later.
Many German solar companies, including SolarWorld, Centrotherm, Phoenix Solar and SMA Solar, are scheduled to release results the week of Aug. 8.
But some big solar players — including U.S.-based SunPower Corp and China’s Renesola Ltd — have already warned of weak results in the second quarter.
Germany’s Q-Cells SE, which will report results Aug. 12, has also said that demand remained weak during the second three months of the year, while Norway’s Renewable Energy Corp. last week was hit by a $1.16-billion impairment, due to under-used factories.
The industry turmoil has also weighed on share prices. The MAC Solar Energy index is down 27 per cent since the beginning of the second quarter.
Many expect solar companies’ fortunes to improve in the second half of the year as lower prices on panels unleash a new wave of demand.
Solar inverter maker Power-One, for instance, said Thursday that its sales in the third quarter would benefit from increased sales to rising markets in North America and Asia as well as an improved market in Germany.
SunPower’s announcement this week also indicated that demand was strong, as the company said its revenue would be at the high end of a previously forecasted range, despite contracting margins.
Increased demand should help stem the rapid drop in prices that has crippled the industry in recent months.
“A lot of companies are seeing volume increases, which is the good news,” said Jon Sigurdsen, fund manager at DNB NOR unit Carlson in Oslo. “Very recently a lot of companies have said prices are stabilizing.”
Overall, outlooks for the rest of the year should be positive, analysts said, but warned about another round of subsidy cuts in 2012.
“The next cut in feed-in tariffs in January 2012 is just around the corner,” said Michael Tappeiner, an analyst at Unicredit in Munich.
“It’ll remain very tight for the sector overall.”
The question is whether investors will dive into the beaten down sector and pick up solar stocks at bargain prices now that the worst of 2011 is over.
“Do investors play that rally again as they have in the last few years, knowing that it’s a little flash in the pan? Or do they say, ‘You know what? It’s a waste of my time,’ ” Baird analyst Michael Horwitz said, adding that he expects to see some German and minor Chinese solar players go out of business next year.
The solar market likely bottomed in the second quarter after pullbacks in subsidies in No. 2 solar market Italy stalled development of projects there this spring, creating an oversupply of solar panels in the market and sparking a more than 20-per-cent drop in prices.
“It’s going to be probably the most challenging quarter we’ve seen in the space since the financial crisis,” Kaufman Bros analyst Jeff Bencik said. “Volumes are starting to pick back up, but we have pricing declines of 25 to 30 per cent across the supply chain.”
Solar power relies on government subsidies to compete with electricity generated by fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. In general, drops in the price of solar power are a good thing for the subsidy-dependent industry — but manufacturers struggle if they can’t cut costs at a similar rate.
Solar modules cost about $1.80 per watt in the first quarter, and are now selling for $1.40 per watt or less.
That drop has taken a big toll on manufacturers’ profit margins and sent their stocks into a tailspin. Gross margins for photovoltaic module manufacturers have fallen by 25 per cent in the last six months, according to research firm IMS Research.
The solar earnings season will kick off in earnest with First Solar Inc.’s results on Aug. 2, followed by reports from U.S. wafer maker MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. and U.S. solar manufacturing equipment maker GT Solar a day later.
Many German solar companies, including SolarWorld, Centrotherm, Phoenix Solar and SMA Solar, are scheduled to release results the week of Aug. 8.
But some big solar players — including U.S.-based SunPower Corp and China’s Renesola Ltd — have already warned of weak results in the second quarter.
Germany’s Q-Cells SE, which will report results Aug. 12, has also said that demand remained weak during the second three months of the year, while Norway’s Renewable Energy Corp. last week was hit by a $1.16-billion impairment, due to under-used factories.
The industry turmoil has also weighed on share prices. The MAC Solar Energy index is down 27 per cent since the beginning of the second quarter.
Many expect solar companies’ fortunes to improve in the second half of the year as lower prices on panels unleash a new wave of demand.
Solar inverter maker Power-One, for instance, said Thursday that its sales in the third quarter would benefit from increased sales to rising markets in North America and Asia as well as an improved market in Germany.
SunPower’s announcement this week also indicated that demand was strong, as the company said its revenue would be at the high end of a previously forecasted range, despite contracting margins.
Increased demand should help stem the rapid drop in prices that has crippled the industry in recent months.
“A lot of companies are seeing volume increases, which is the good news,” said Jon Sigurdsen, fund manager at DNB NOR unit Carlson in Oslo. “Very recently a lot of companies have said prices are stabilizing.”
Overall, outlooks for the rest of the year should be positive, analysts said, but warned about another round of subsidy cuts in 2012.
“The next cut in feed-in tariffs in January 2012 is just around the corner,” said Michael Tappeiner, an analyst at Unicredit in Munich.
“It’ll remain very tight for the sector overall.”
The question is whether investors will dive into the beaten down sector and pick up solar stocks at bargain prices now that the worst of 2011 is over.
“Do investors play that rally again as they have in the last few years, knowing that it’s a little flash in the pan? Or do they say, ‘You know what? It’s a waste of my time,’ ” Baird analyst Michael Horwitz said, adding that he expects to see some German and minor Chinese solar players go out of business next year.
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