Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden Centre for Sustainable Landscapes, located in Schenley Park, is being powered by solar panels from SolarWorld. Energy Independent Solutions has installed 125kW worth of SolarWorld’s 250W Sunmodule solar panels across three-quarters of the centre’s roof and a quarter of the modules on the ground.
The US$24 million Phipps project will be combining solar hot water, natural light capture and geothermal heating and cooling, along with solar, to power the centre. SolarWorld noted that the mounting systems for the solar panels were provided by US-based Solar FlexRack. The Phipps project is anticipated to be completed by next spring.
“This new feat of green building will stand as a model to prove we possess the know-how to construct buildings that do not drain the planet’s energy resources,” said Kevin Kilkelly, president of SolarWorld Americas. “Solar power provides a perpetual, clean source of power on the site, exactly where energy demand will rise. Solar technologies, energy efficiencies and engineering innovations work together to show how we can better use the resources already abundantly available at this site and in much of the rest of the world.”
2011年10月30日星期日
Minister poised to devastate the solar power industry at a stroke
The solar power industry is bracing itself for a killer blow tomorrow when the Government is set to announce that it is to halve the rates it pays homeowners for the electricity they generate.
People with solar panels can currently sell any electricity generated to the National Grid for 43.3p per kilowatt hour, but it is understood that Energy Minister Greg Barker will announce a new tariff of just 21p.
The change will remove a major incentive for homeowners to install solar panels. A typical homeowner spending £10,000 on panels can recoup the cost in about ten years, but the tariff cut will extend that to 18 years.
The existing scheme has led to a boom in solar companies and 25,000 people work in the sector.
Daniel Green, chief executive of HomeSun in Wembley, north-west London, which employs about 700, said: 'Solar energy will be available only for the rich with a green conscience because the incentive to install a system is about zero. We will be bankrupted and the industry will lose thousands of jobs.'
Barker told a solar industry conference last week: 'I'm personally committed to ensuring that your industry can prosper in the longer term, sustaining green jobs at a critical time for our economy.
'I believe that solar power can have a strong and vibrant future in the UK, and making changes is vital if we are to ensure a lasting scheme to support that future.'
People with solar panels can currently sell any electricity generated to the National Grid for 43.3p per kilowatt hour, but it is understood that Energy Minister Greg Barker will announce a new tariff of just 21p.
The change will remove a major incentive for homeowners to install solar panels. A typical homeowner spending £10,000 on panels can recoup the cost in about ten years, but the tariff cut will extend that to 18 years.
The existing scheme has led to a boom in solar companies and 25,000 people work in the sector.
Daniel Green, chief executive of HomeSun in Wembley, north-west London, which employs about 700, said: 'Solar energy will be available only for the rich with a green conscience because the incentive to install a system is about zero. We will be bankrupted and the industry will lose thousands of jobs.'
Barker told a solar industry conference last week: 'I'm personally committed to ensuring that your industry can prosper in the longer term, sustaining green jobs at a critical time for our economy.
'I believe that solar power can have a strong and vibrant future in the UK, and making changes is vital if we are to ensure a lasting scheme to support that future.'
2011年10月27日星期四
Reliable energy for the future?
What types of big batteries or other energy storage systems will work best with renewable energy and the existing grid to ensure reliable power supplies in the future? A two-year research project under way in Arizona is seeking the answer to that question.
The Energy Storage Management Research and Testing (SMRT) site is being developed through a team effort involving German solar power company SOLON, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy (AzRISE) at the University of Arizona. Saft Batteries is now the latest to come on board, providing lithium-ion batteries to help support the various tests to take place.
The project’s goal is to test how well different energy storage technologies can work with photovoltaic (PV) solar panels to provide reliable power for the grid. Knowing the best strategies can help utilities make the most of their growing renewable portfolios, which — while providing clean energy — can be harder to manage because of their intermittent nature.
“Storage for renewable energy will be essential for utilities, as they increase the penetration of clean energy generation into the utilities’ grids,” said William Richardson, SOLON’s director of research & development for SOLON Corporation.
The SMRT site (sounds like a James Bond-type organization, doesn’t it?) features a 1.6-megawatt (MW) solar plant built by SOLON that can have accommodate a variety of new or replacement storage technologies for testing. The first phase, launched this August, began with a compressed-air energy storage (CAES) technology that was designed and built by faculty and students at the University of Arizona.
CAES appears to be a good option for longer-term energy storage that can “save up” solar power for hours, days, weeks or longer. On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries might prove the better choice for managing short-term variability — ie, dealing with on-and-off fluctuations in solar power caused by passing clouds. Advanced batteries from Saft are due to arrive at the test site this fall for phase-two tests.
“Reliance on solar, wind and other renewable resources is on the rise, making this a fundamental opportunity to assess Saft’s Li-ion technology and its capabilities,” said Blake Frye, vice president of sales, Energy Storage, for Saft North America.
The Energy Storage Management Research and Testing (SMRT) site is being developed through a team effort involving German solar power company SOLON, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy (AzRISE) at the University of Arizona. Saft Batteries is now the latest to come on board, providing lithium-ion batteries to help support the various tests to take place.
The project’s goal is to test how well different energy storage technologies can work with photovoltaic (PV) solar panels to provide reliable power for the grid. Knowing the best strategies can help utilities make the most of their growing renewable portfolios, which — while providing clean energy — can be harder to manage because of their intermittent nature.
“Storage for renewable energy will be essential for utilities, as they increase the penetration of clean energy generation into the utilities’ grids,” said William Richardson, SOLON’s director of research & development for SOLON Corporation.
The SMRT site (sounds like a James Bond-type organization, doesn’t it?) features a 1.6-megawatt (MW) solar plant built by SOLON that can have accommodate a variety of new or replacement storage technologies for testing. The first phase, launched this August, began with a compressed-air energy storage (CAES) technology that was designed and built by faculty and students at the University of Arizona.
CAES appears to be a good option for longer-term energy storage that can “save up” solar power for hours, days, weeks or longer. On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries might prove the better choice for managing short-term variability — ie, dealing with on-and-off fluctuations in solar power caused by passing clouds. Advanced batteries from Saft are due to arrive at the test site this fall for phase-two tests.
“Reliance on solar, wind and other renewable resources is on the rise, making this a fundamental opportunity to assess Saft’s Li-ion technology and its capabilities,” said Blake Frye, vice president of sales, Energy Storage, for Saft North America.
2011年10月26日星期三
Government subsidy to villages using solar power
In order to promote solar power, the government is subsidising the technology. Besides, efforts are also on to encourage people to get into using the solar energy equipment. In rural areas, the village pradhans who are willing to set up a solar power plant are given 50% subsidy by the government, for up to 200 Mw. In some of the villages, such efforts have already paid off.
Ensuring affordable, adequate and uninterrupted power supply to domestic and other consumers remains one of the major challenges before the country. There is also an increasing concern and growing interest to reduce reliance on fossil fuel and other non-renewable sources of energy. Time is, therefore, ripe to opt for cleaner and greener fuel.
"Solar energy is a clean energy," said V K Tiwari, project officer, UPNEDA. With over 300 clear sunny days available annually in India, there is a huge potential to tap, store and retrieve solar power - much more than the current power requirements. However, the actual exploitation of solar power to meet the energy requirements of the country is insignificant when compared to other energy resources.One of the major reasons for the solar energy not being popular is the high input cost. The solar panel and battery, which is must for the solar energy set-up, comes at a high cost. "We are working to bring this cost down," said Tiwari. GoI has launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) as a major initiative to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing country's energy security challenges.
The immediate focus of the mission is to set up an enabling environment for solar energy penetration in the country through a multi-agency approach for centralised and decentralised applications of solar energy. To cut the costs, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GoI, has introduced a scheme to promote commercial marketing of solar energy systems and devices by extending capital and interest subsidy on loans availed from financial institutions by the target clientele.
UPNEDA is making efforts to promote use of solar energy systems and devices in the state. "Solar water heaters are being provided in Kasturba Gandhi hostels in the state," said Arun Kumar Srivastava, publicity officer, UPNEDA. Besides, in many of the primary health centres (PHCs), refrigerators are working on solar power to store medicines under certain temperature.
Ensuring affordable, adequate and uninterrupted power supply to domestic and other consumers remains one of the major challenges before the country. There is also an increasing concern and growing interest to reduce reliance on fossil fuel and other non-renewable sources of energy. Time is, therefore, ripe to opt for cleaner and greener fuel.
"Solar energy is a clean energy," said V K Tiwari, project officer, UPNEDA. With over 300 clear sunny days available annually in India, there is a huge potential to tap, store and retrieve solar power - much more than the current power requirements. However, the actual exploitation of solar power to meet the energy requirements of the country is insignificant when compared to other energy resources.One of the major reasons for the solar energy not being popular is the high input cost. The solar panel and battery, which is must for the solar energy set-up, comes at a high cost. "We are working to bring this cost down," said Tiwari. GoI has launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) as a major initiative to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing country's energy security challenges.
The immediate focus of the mission is to set up an enabling environment for solar energy penetration in the country through a multi-agency approach for centralised and decentralised applications of solar energy. To cut the costs, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), GoI, has introduced a scheme to promote commercial marketing of solar energy systems and devices by extending capital and interest subsidy on loans availed from financial institutions by the target clientele.
UPNEDA is making efforts to promote use of solar energy systems and devices in the state. "Solar water heaters are being provided in Kasturba Gandhi hostels in the state," said Arun Kumar Srivastava, publicity officer, UPNEDA. Besides, in many of the primary health centres (PHCs), refrigerators are working on solar power to store medicines under certain temperature.
2011年10月25日星期二
Solar panels installed to pick up part of Euclid library's power needs
Euclid City Hall and the city library are getting an assist from the sun for electric lighting.
Ohio Cooperative Solar, an employee-owned solar installation company, has completed massive solar panel arrays on the rooftop of each building.
The nearly 700 solar panels will generate a maximum of 155,000 watts and, over a year, will contribute between 10 percent and 15 percent of the power needs of each building, said Cliff Wood, chief executive officer of the cooperative.
The city dedicated the projects Tuesday.
Mayor Bill Cervenik said the solar arrays, the white roofs on city buildings, and Lincoln Electric's new wind turbine all send a message about the city.
"They all save energy and are good for the environment. But our goal in Euclid is to create jobs, to send a message to the alternative energy companies that Euclid and Northeast Ohio is a place in which they should locate," he said.
"We are positioning ourselves to be ready when the economy kicks in again, and it will,"Cervenik said.
The Euclid solar arrays are the largest the two-year-old company has completed, said Wood.
The company owns the array and has a 15-year contract with the city and the library for the purchase of the power. Euclid and the library paid nothing for the nearly $800,000 project, which was funded with a combination of tax credits and loans.
Any power the city does not use, for example on summer weekends, will automatically be fed to FirstEnergy through a net metering agreement.
Wood calculated that the Euclid installation will offset about 97 tons of carbon dioxide for coal that might not be burned because of the reduction in demand for power from FirstEnergy's system.
Previously, the company has built solar arrays for Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic, Wood said.
OCS one of the Evergreen Cooperatives created by the Cleveland Foundation.
In addition to backing from CWRU, and the two hospitals, Wood said the City of Cleveland, KeyBank, and the Cleveland Housing Network also have been critical supporters.
OCS has 21 employee-owners. Some are also involved in home weatherization, said Wood.
"We are really grateful for the work on the solar side and the weatherization projects that we have received from the anchor institutions," he said.
Ohio Cooperative Solar, an employee-owned solar installation company, has completed massive solar panel arrays on the rooftop of each building.
The nearly 700 solar panels will generate a maximum of 155,000 watts and, over a year, will contribute between 10 percent and 15 percent of the power needs of each building, said Cliff Wood, chief executive officer of the cooperative.
The city dedicated the projects Tuesday.
Mayor Bill Cervenik said the solar arrays, the white roofs on city buildings, and Lincoln Electric's new wind turbine all send a message about the city.
"They all save energy and are good for the environment. But our goal in Euclid is to create jobs, to send a message to the alternative energy companies that Euclid and Northeast Ohio is a place in which they should locate," he said.
"We are positioning ourselves to be ready when the economy kicks in again, and it will,"Cervenik said.
The Euclid solar arrays are the largest the two-year-old company has completed, said Wood.
The company owns the array and has a 15-year contract with the city and the library for the purchase of the power. Euclid and the library paid nothing for the nearly $800,000 project, which was funded with a combination of tax credits and loans.
Any power the city does not use, for example on summer weekends, will automatically be fed to FirstEnergy through a net metering agreement.
Wood calculated that the Euclid installation will offset about 97 tons of carbon dioxide for coal that might not be burned because of the reduction in demand for power from FirstEnergy's system.
Previously, the company has built solar arrays for Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic, Wood said.
OCS one of the Evergreen Cooperatives created by the Cleveland Foundation.
In addition to backing from CWRU, and the two hospitals, Wood said the City of Cleveland, KeyBank, and the Cleveland Housing Network also have been critical supporters.
OCS has 21 employee-owners. Some are also involved in home weatherization, said Wood.
"We are really grateful for the work on the solar side and the weatherization projects that we have received from the anchor institutions," he said.
2011年10月24日星期一
Solar Power's ROI Higher Than Other Renewable Energy Sources
A recent report from the USA has found return on investment from solar power is higher than any other renewable energy source.
The report entitled "Global Solar Inverter Markets", released by SBI Energy, states the payback period for a typical solar PV-based project has reduced from 7-10 years to 3-5 years currently.
This has also been the case for home solar power in some Australian states, where payback time on rooftop solar arrays can be under 4 years. With electricity prices rapidly increasing, investment in a home solar power system can in some scenarios provide a better return than putting the equivalent money in the bank.
SBI predicts the cost of solar power production will decrease by half every ten years, reaching $1 a watt by 2020 and as low as $0.50 per watt by 2030. Further reductions after that time are also possible due to large scale adoption of PV technology and the ongoing development of low cost production sites in China, Taiwan and other Asian countries.
SBI says cumulative PV installations have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 35% since 2000, reaching 40 GW globally in 2010; and are estimated to reach 400 GW by 2020.
SBI expects to see a short-term lull in the European Union PV market, mainly due to solar feed in tariff rate cuts and some regulatory issues, but this will be offset by installations in North America and Asia. The research firm believes China is likely to reach the 1 GW cumulative installation mark during this year.
Global Solar Inverters Markets covers the PV component sector; with a detailed analysis of PV cells, solar panels, wafers, polysilicon and solar inverters. In regard to the latter, SBI Energy estimates that the global solar inverter market, currently valued between $5.5- 5.8 billion, will hit $7.5 billion in 2015. A solar inverter is a device that convert DC electricity generated by a solar panel into AC power; suitable for use by standard home appliances.
The report entitled "Global Solar Inverter Markets", released by SBI Energy, states the payback period for a typical solar PV-based project has reduced from 7-10 years to 3-5 years currently.
This has also been the case for home solar power in some Australian states, where payback time on rooftop solar arrays can be under 4 years. With electricity prices rapidly increasing, investment in a home solar power system can in some scenarios provide a better return than putting the equivalent money in the bank.
SBI predicts the cost of solar power production will decrease by half every ten years, reaching $1 a watt by 2020 and as low as $0.50 per watt by 2030. Further reductions after that time are also possible due to large scale adoption of PV technology and the ongoing development of low cost production sites in China, Taiwan and other Asian countries.
SBI says cumulative PV installations have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 35% since 2000, reaching 40 GW globally in 2010; and are estimated to reach 400 GW by 2020.
SBI expects to see a short-term lull in the European Union PV market, mainly due to solar feed in tariff rate cuts and some regulatory issues, but this will be offset by installations in North America and Asia. The research firm believes China is likely to reach the 1 GW cumulative installation mark during this year.
Global Solar Inverters Markets covers the PV component sector; with a detailed analysis of PV cells, solar panels, wafers, polysilicon and solar inverters. In regard to the latter, SBI Energy estimates that the global solar inverter market, currently valued between $5.5- 5.8 billion, will hit $7.5 billion in 2015. A solar inverter is a device that convert DC electricity generated by a solar panel into AC power; suitable for use by standard home appliances.
2011年10月23日星期日
Solar energy coming to Swampscott schools
Construction will begin on solar projects at Swampscott Middle School and High School after an agreement was reached with Constellation Energy.
The solar panels, which are part of planned sustainability and cost-savings improvements at the two schools, will provide Swampscott School District long-term, fixed electrical power prices at less than projected market rates. A 383.2 kW DC solar power system is planned at the High School and a 67.62 kW DC solar power system is planned at the Middle School.
Energy products and services provider Constellation Energy , through its retail energy business, will finance, own and maintain the solar power systems, and Swampscott School District will purchase all of the electricity generated by the solar panels under a 20-year power purchase agreement. Johnson Controls, Inc. will provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for the solar installations. As part of a separate energy performance contact for the town of Swampscott, Johnson Controls, Inc. will conduct energy efficiency upgrades at the schools.
“Dr. Celli and I have been working for more than a year to make this extremely important project a reality,” said Swampscott Town Administrator Andrew Maylor. “This is part of our long-term goal to reduce our energy costs and thereby make the community more financially sustainable.” Maylor continued, “we are proud to be a municipal leader in arena of renewable energy.”
"On behalf of the Swampscott Schools, I am excited to partner with the Town on such an important project that will impact the Town of Swampscott well into the future,” said Superintendent Dr. Lynne Celli.
The solar installations will be comprised of 1,960 roof-mounted photovoltaic crystalline panels. They are expected to generate approximately 530,580 kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first year. The high school PV system is expected to provide electricity equivalent to roughly one-third of the school’s electrical consumption.
Generating the same amount of electricity using nonrenewable sources would result in the release of 366 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent emissions from 71 passenger vehicles annually, according to U.S. EPA data.
The solar panels, which are part of planned sustainability and cost-savings improvements at the two schools, will provide Swampscott School District long-term, fixed electrical power prices at less than projected market rates. A 383.2 kW DC solar power system is planned at the High School and a 67.62 kW DC solar power system is planned at the Middle School.
Energy products and services provider Constellation Energy , through its retail energy business, will finance, own and maintain the solar power systems, and Swampscott School District will purchase all of the electricity generated by the solar panels under a 20-year power purchase agreement. Johnson Controls, Inc. will provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for the solar installations. As part of a separate energy performance contact for the town of Swampscott, Johnson Controls, Inc. will conduct energy efficiency upgrades at the schools.
“Dr. Celli and I have been working for more than a year to make this extremely important project a reality,” said Swampscott Town Administrator Andrew Maylor. “This is part of our long-term goal to reduce our energy costs and thereby make the community more financially sustainable.” Maylor continued, “we are proud to be a municipal leader in arena of renewable energy.”
"On behalf of the Swampscott Schools, I am excited to partner with the Town on such an important project that will impact the Town of Swampscott well into the future,” said Superintendent Dr. Lynne Celli.
The solar installations will be comprised of 1,960 roof-mounted photovoltaic crystalline panels. They are expected to generate approximately 530,580 kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first year. The high school PV system is expected to provide electricity equivalent to roughly one-third of the school’s electrical consumption.
Generating the same amount of electricity using nonrenewable sources would result in the release of 366 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent emissions from 71 passenger vehicles annually, according to U.S. EPA data.
2011年10月20日星期四
Solar cos that eschewed silicon step up their game
From start-ups such as Miasole and eSolar to industry heavyweights like First Solar Inc, solar companies that use raw materials other than polysilicon are working to preserve both their competitive positions and their survival.
"We've stepped up our game," said Jim Lamon, senior vice president for engineering, procurement and construction at First Solar, the world's most valuable solar company.
Though First Solar makes the lowest-cost solar panels in the world using cadmium telluride as its raw material, Lamon said the company is nevertheless squeezing out costs for other system components. And because its in-house construction teams use the same products in every project, Lamon said that gives them an efficiency edge over other solar project developers.
"We are hell-bent on keeping that wide margin," Lamon said in an interview.
It is the goal of solar manufacturers to bring down the price of solar power so that it can be more competitive with dirtier energy sources. However, this year's dramatic fall in the price of silicon-based panels has squeezed their profits and margins even while it made their products more affordable and competitive with other technologies.
Up-and-coming solar companies that lack the scale of either First Solar or the leading silicon-based panel makers are under even more pressure to finally bring a product to market that can compete with ever-cheaper traditional modules. At the same time, weak capital markets have made fundraising for companies with unproven technologies more challenging than ever.
"The market in general is resistant to new technologies that don't have a strong balance sheet behind them," said John Van Scoter, chief executive of eSolar Inc, which makes modular solar thermal power plants.
PRICE CONUNDRUM
Many small, privately held solar companies were founded when the price of polysilicon was in the hundreds of dollars per kilogram and the industry was looking for alternatives that would bring down the cost of renewable power more quickly.
Today, however, the rise of China as a major player in solar has helped send the price of solar-grade silicon to about $40 per kg, while prices on traditional solar modules have slumped as much as 40 percent this year alone.
"Trying to differentiate on technology in an industry that is focused on price is tough," said Chaim Lubin, an associate in investment bank Lincoln International's solar practice.
The likes of Evergreen Solar Inc and Solyndra learned that lesson the hard way. Both companies had been scaling up production of silicon-light solar products and were caught flat-footed when the price of silicon-based panels collapsed this year. Both filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the last two months.
At Miasole, a photovoltaic solar startup that uses copper indium gallium selenide as its raw material, a "cultural shift" is under way to transform the company -- which until recently was laser-focused on developing its technology -- into a nimble and efficient manufacturer, according to its vice president of marketing, Rob DeLine.
Miasole earlier this year struck a deal with Intel Corp under which the chipmaker provides training and expertise to help the solar company improve manufacturing and lower costs. Then, about a month ago, former Intel manufacturing chief Bob Baker joined Miasole as its president.
With Intel's help, Miasole produced record quantities of its product in the third quarter, DeLine said, and its output has become more predictable.
"Technology guys like to turn the knobs on a machine and discover stuff, and manufacturing guys like to freeze the dial on that same machine and run it day in and day out and have predictability," DeLine said in an interview.
Another venture-backed startup -- with an entirely different technology -- said it prepared early for an increasingly tough competitive climate.
"We saw it coming," said eSolar's Van Scoter.
That's because last year, NRG Energy Inc switched to solar projects that had intended to use eSolar technology to cheaper photovoltaic panels, spurring Van Scoter to action.
First, eSolar made a strategic shift to develop power storage capabilities for its power plants using molten salt technology. Then, this year it secured General Electric Co as a strategic investor. GE is also incorporating eSolar's technology into a hybrid solar and natural gas power plant offering.
As more of eSolar's technology is deployed, costs will come down and the company will build stand-alone power plants that are competitive with fossil fuels, Van Scoter said.
"We've stepped up our game," said Jim Lamon, senior vice president for engineering, procurement and construction at First Solar, the world's most valuable solar company.
Though First Solar makes the lowest-cost solar panels in the world using cadmium telluride as its raw material, Lamon said the company is nevertheless squeezing out costs for other system components. And because its in-house construction teams use the same products in every project, Lamon said that gives them an efficiency edge over other solar project developers.
"We are hell-bent on keeping that wide margin," Lamon said in an interview.
It is the goal of solar manufacturers to bring down the price of solar power so that it can be more competitive with dirtier energy sources. However, this year's dramatic fall in the price of silicon-based panels has squeezed their profits and margins even while it made their products more affordable and competitive with other technologies.
Up-and-coming solar companies that lack the scale of either First Solar or the leading silicon-based panel makers are under even more pressure to finally bring a product to market that can compete with ever-cheaper traditional modules. At the same time, weak capital markets have made fundraising for companies with unproven technologies more challenging than ever.
"The market in general is resistant to new technologies that don't have a strong balance sheet behind them," said John Van Scoter, chief executive of eSolar Inc, which makes modular solar thermal power plants.
PRICE CONUNDRUM
Many small, privately held solar companies were founded when the price of polysilicon was in the hundreds of dollars per kilogram and the industry was looking for alternatives that would bring down the cost of renewable power more quickly.
Today, however, the rise of China as a major player in solar has helped send the price of solar-grade silicon to about $40 per kg, while prices on traditional solar modules have slumped as much as 40 percent this year alone.
"Trying to differentiate on technology in an industry that is focused on price is tough," said Chaim Lubin, an associate in investment bank Lincoln International's solar practice.
The likes of Evergreen Solar Inc and Solyndra learned that lesson the hard way. Both companies had been scaling up production of silicon-light solar products and were caught flat-footed when the price of silicon-based panels collapsed this year. Both filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the last two months.
At Miasole, a photovoltaic solar startup that uses copper indium gallium selenide as its raw material, a "cultural shift" is under way to transform the company -- which until recently was laser-focused on developing its technology -- into a nimble and efficient manufacturer, according to its vice president of marketing, Rob DeLine.
Miasole earlier this year struck a deal with Intel Corp under which the chipmaker provides training and expertise to help the solar company improve manufacturing and lower costs. Then, about a month ago, former Intel manufacturing chief Bob Baker joined Miasole as its president.
With Intel's help, Miasole produced record quantities of its product in the third quarter, DeLine said, and its output has become more predictable.
"Technology guys like to turn the knobs on a machine and discover stuff, and manufacturing guys like to freeze the dial on that same machine and run it day in and day out and have predictability," DeLine said in an interview.
Another venture-backed startup -- with an entirely different technology -- said it prepared early for an increasingly tough competitive climate.
"We saw it coming," said eSolar's Van Scoter.
That's because last year, NRG Energy Inc switched to solar projects that had intended to use eSolar technology to cheaper photovoltaic panels, spurring Van Scoter to action.
First, eSolar made a strategic shift to develop power storage capabilities for its power plants using molten salt technology. Then, this year it secured General Electric Co as a strategic investor. GE is also incorporating eSolar's technology into a hybrid solar and natural gas power plant offering.
As more of eSolar's technology is deployed, costs will come down and the company will build stand-alone power plants that are competitive with fossil fuels, Van Scoter said.
2011年10月19日星期三
Solar Firms Seek Duties in China Dumping Case
A group of U.S. solar-panel makers Wednesday called on the federal government to punish Chinese rivals with extra duties for allegedly dumping their products on the U.S. market.
Executives of SolarWorld AG, a German-based company that makes solar panels in Oregon, led the group at a news conference here, flanked by both U.S. senators from Oregon.
SolarWorld "can compete with anyone in the world," said Gordon Brinser, president of the company's U.S. unit. But, he added, "illegal subsidies in China" have prompted "the Chinese solar industry to come in and gut and own the U.S. solar industry."
One of China's top solar-panel makers, Suntech Power Holdings Co., rejected the accusations. It called SolarWorld's petition "protectionism" that could "put thousands of jobs at risk." Suntech added, "A solar trade war would deal a major blow to the global economy and to our common goal of achieving a clean energy future."
The solar battle touches on two hot debates in Washington and on the Republican presidential campaign trail: China's trading practices and the future of clean energy in the U.S. The Obama administration has blamed China in part for the demise of Solyndra LLC, the solar-panel maker that recently filed for bankruptcy after receiving $535 million in U.S. loan guarantees.
SolarWorld, one of the largest solar-panel suppliers in the U.S., recently shut down one of its Oregon facilities and laid off more than 150 workers.
The industry is struggling with soft demand in Europe—the world's largest solar market—and falling prices that executives blame on oversupply from China and other Asian countries. The difficulties have driven solar-panel company stock prices to multiyear lows.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) said that while U.S. demand for solar power has been "skyrocketing," the "American solar industry has been collapsing."
Joined by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.), Mr. Wyden said China was "cheating" by giving panel makers inexpensive loans. Mr. Merkley said Chinese government-backed banks extended $25 billion in loans to large solar-product manufacturers last year at fixed, subsidized rates.
Suntech has denied receiving special help from the Chinese government or government-backed banks.
The U.S. makers are asking the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission to impose a duty on panels imported from China, a market that totaled $1.6 billion in the first eight months of 2011. SolarWorld accused Chinese manufacturers of selling solar panels at less than half of what the production costs would be in a comparable free-market economy, and is asking for tariffs to make up the difference.
The U.S. could take a year to make a decision, though some duties could be imposed earlier on a preliminary basis.
The case includes only panels made with crystalline silicon. Some U.S. firms that use other technologies, including First Solar Inc., said they weren't involved in Solar World's petition and avoided endorsing it.
"We are a global firm, and in our experience the industry and our customers benefit most when trade is free and fair and all participants operate on a level playing field," First Solar said.
Executives of SolarWorld AG, a German-based company that makes solar panels in Oregon, led the group at a news conference here, flanked by both U.S. senators from Oregon.
SolarWorld "can compete with anyone in the world," said Gordon Brinser, president of the company's U.S. unit. But, he added, "illegal subsidies in China" have prompted "the Chinese solar industry to come in and gut and own the U.S. solar industry."
One of China's top solar-panel makers, Suntech Power Holdings Co., rejected the accusations. It called SolarWorld's petition "protectionism" that could "put thousands of jobs at risk." Suntech added, "A solar trade war would deal a major blow to the global economy and to our common goal of achieving a clean energy future."
The solar battle touches on two hot debates in Washington and on the Republican presidential campaign trail: China's trading practices and the future of clean energy in the U.S. The Obama administration has blamed China in part for the demise of Solyndra LLC, the solar-panel maker that recently filed for bankruptcy after receiving $535 million in U.S. loan guarantees.
SolarWorld, one of the largest solar-panel suppliers in the U.S., recently shut down one of its Oregon facilities and laid off more than 150 workers.
The industry is struggling with soft demand in Europe—the world's largest solar market—and falling prices that executives blame on oversupply from China and other Asian countries. The difficulties have driven solar-panel company stock prices to multiyear lows.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) said that while U.S. demand for solar power has been "skyrocketing," the "American solar industry has been collapsing."
Joined by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.), Mr. Wyden said China was "cheating" by giving panel makers inexpensive loans. Mr. Merkley said Chinese government-backed banks extended $25 billion in loans to large solar-product manufacturers last year at fixed, subsidized rates.
Suntech has denied receiving special help from the Chinese government or government-backed banks.
The U.S. makers are asking the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission to impose a duty on panels imported from China, a market that totaled $1.6 billion in the first eight months of 2011. SolarWorld accused Chinese manufacturers of selling solar panels at less than half of what the production costs would be in a comparable free-market economy, and is asking for tariffs to make up the difference.
The U.S. could take a year to make a decision, though some duties could be imposed earlier on a preliminary basis.
The case includes only panels made with crystalline silicon. Some U.S. firms that use other technologies, including First Solar Inc., said they weren't involved in Solar World's petition and avoided endorsing it.
"We are a global firm, and in our experience the industry and our customers benefit most when trade is free and fair and all participants operate on a level playing field," First Solar said.
2011年10月18日星期二
Energy Conversion Devices Subsidiary to Supply Solar Cells to GP Solar
United Solar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices Inc. The company has more than 25 years of experience in the solar industry and is the world’s largest producer of flexible solar panels with a lightweight, durable product that provides more total energy production than any other solar panel on the market. It was been awarded nearly 70 U.S. patents for its technology.
The company today announced a new customer relationship under their Open Solar initiative. The customer is GP Solar which is a GP Batteries company from Hong Kong. The initial order is for 600 kilowatts of UNI-SOLAR photovoltaic (PV) cells. United Solar initiated the Open Solar program to drive wide-scale acceptance of its technology, and the integration of its laminates and solar cells cost effectively into everyday applications.
GP Solar is deploying UNI-SOLAR PV technology with the introduction of its unique GP Solar Charger. The Charger combines UNI-SOLAR PV cells with GP Solar’s nickel-metal-hydride rechargeable batteries.
UNI-SOLAR’s unique, triple-junction, thin film cell architecture produces more real-world power than competitive products, differentiating products like the GP Solar Charger from the competition. Other United Solar products under the Open Solar program include building integrated PV roofing, solar-powered military shelters, and solar-powered consumer bags and chargers.
The company today announced a new customer relationship under their Open Solar initiative. The customer is GP Solar which is a GP Batteries company from Hong Kong. The initial order is for 600 kilowatts of UNI-SOLAR photovoltaic (PV) cells. United Solar initiated the Open Solar program to drive wide-scale acceptance of its technology, and the integration of its laminates and solar cells cost effectively into everyday applications.
GP Solar is deploying UNI-SOLAR PV technology with the introduction of its unique GP Solar Charger. The Charger combines UNI-SOLAR PV cells with GP Solar’s nickel-metal-hydride rechargeable batteries.
UNI-SOLAR’s unique, triple-junction, thin film cell architecture produces more real-world power than competitive products, differentiating products like the GP Solar Charger from the competition. Other United Solar products under the Open Solar program include building integrated PV roofing, solar-powered military shelters, and solar-powered consumer bags and chargers.
2011年10月17日星期一
Solar Energy's Future Remains Bright
Spending less on one's monthly energy bill -- that's appealing. Saving the environment at the same time, says Ryan Park, "that's icing on the cake."
In an August video interview, Park, director of business development for California-based REC Solar and a recent finalist on the reality television show The Bachelorette, told HuffPost that he sees solar as an "important piece of our energy future."
Two months later, many critics would question such optimism. The recent failure of another California solar panel manufacturer, Solyndra, which received half a billion dollars in loan guarantees from the federal government before crashing, has left the viability of solar under intense scrutiny.
In a recent follow-up interview, Park acknowledged the Solyndra bankruptcy has "cast a shadow over the whole industry," but added that the response to a single company's demise was "way overblown." He said Solyndra's failure was "not indicative for the future real winners," suggesting the current state of the solar industry is analogous to technology industry during the dot-com era, when several companies rose rapidly while others experienced dramatic demises.
As Thomas Maslin, a senior analyst for the North American solar power sector with IHS Emerging Energy Research, told HuffPost's Tom Zeller last month that such competition is just a sign of the solar industry "becoming more mature."
While Solyndra's concept of a lightweight, quickly installable panel was initially attractive, Park thinks it "never had a chance," especially as the price of more conventional silicon panels plummeted. In the end, the more efficient technology won.
"It's unfortunate that our government placed financial bets on the wrong technologies, but the good news is the industry as a whole is advancing rapidly down the cost curve," said Park, noting that during his 10 years in the business he's seen the solar cell prices fall from around nine dollars a watt to below three dollars a watt.
"Imagine where we'll be in 10 more" years, he added. "It's exciting."
It should come as no surprise that Park's house is fitted with solar panels and a tankless water heater. (People who watched the latest season of The Bachelorette may remember Park's long-winded pitch of the latter technology while on a date with Ashley.) He also drives a Prius, which he said he plans to replace soon with an all-electric car.
As Park told HuffPost, studies have shown that over 30 percent of electric vehicle owners also have solar electric systems. If the two are paired -- with the car, in effect, charged by the sun -- then the cost of driving a mile is 80 percent less than traveling by gas-powered car.
"It makes financial sense and environmental sense," he said.
In an August video interview, Park, director of business development for California-based REC Solar and a recent finalist on the reality television show The Bachelorette, told HuffPost that he sees solar as an "important piece of our energy future."
Two months later, many critics would question such optimism. The recent failure of another California solar panel manufacturer, Solyndra, which received half a billion dollars in loan guarantees from the federal government before crashing, has left the viability of solar under intense scrutiny.
In a recent follow-up interview, Park acknowledged the Solyndra bankruptcy has "cast a shadow over the whole industry," but added that the response to a single company's demise was "way overblown." He said Solyndra's failure was "not indicative for the future real winners," suggesting the current state of the solar industry is analogous to technology industry during the dot-com era, when several companies rose rapidly while others experienced dramatic demises.
As Thomas Maslin, a senior analyst for the North American solar power sector with IHS Emerging Energy Research, told HuffPost's Tom Zeller last month that such competition is just a sign of the solar industry "becoming more mature."
While Solyndra's concept of a lightweight, quickly installable panel was initially attractive, Park thinks it "never had a chance," especially as the price of more conventional silicon panels plummeted. In the end, the more efficient technology won.
"It's unfortunate that our government placed financial bets on the wrong technologies, but the good news is the industry as a whole is advancing rapidly down the cost curve," said Park, noting that during his 10 years in the business he's seen the solar cell prices fall from around nine dollars a watt to below three dollars a watt.
"Imagine where we'll be in 10 more" years, he added. "It's exciting."
It should come as no surprise that Park's house is fitted with solar panels and a tankless water heater. (People who watched the latest season of The Bachelorette may remember Park's long-winded pitch of the latter technology while on a date with Ashley.) He also drives a Prius, which he said he plans to replace soon with an all-electric car.
As Park told HuffPost, studies have shown that over 30 percent of electric vehicle owners also have solar electric systems. If the two are paired -- with the car, in effect, charged by the sun -- then the cost of driving a mile is 80 percent less than traveling by gas-powered car.
"It makes financial sense and environmental sense," he said.
2011年10月16日星期日
Cowboy traders blighting solar power industry
MORE than 900 complaints about solar panel installations, worth $7 million, have been lodged with NSW Fair Trading this year, as homeowners increasingly find themselves victims of faulty installations, unfinished work and unlicensed workmen.
The department has also suspended licences or imposed hefty fines on at least 35 solar panel installers, prompting the Fair Trading Minister, Anthony Roberts, to warn that the industry had become a ''total magnet for cowboys''.
''What we have seen is a lot of these cowboys have moved on from pink batts to solar panels and they are doing a dodgy job, especially in regional and rural areas, and leaving people with all sorts of problems,'' he said.
Mr Roberts said complaints ranged from panels not being supplied to shoddy work and incorrect installations.
''We have heard of cases where the contract has said someone would be given German-built panels or equivalent and the equivalent turns up and are cheap panels made in China.''
He said each complaint that had been lodged with his department was worth about $10,600.
''This is going to keep costing the taxpayer because we have all the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal generated issues and the Fair Trading audit costs so, at the end of the day, we are involved in a mopping up exercise,'' he said.
A spokeswoman for the department said the number of complaints had been increasing each month since May, when the government released its first audit of panels in Port Macquarie which found problems with 16 of 55 installations.
A further audit in June revealed 122 homes in Baulkham Hills, Blacktown and Kellyville had major defects in their solar panel systems that could cause fires and another 418 homes had minor defects.
A Coogee resident, Bill Hayes, lodged a complaint with Fair Trading this month after the panels he had installed on his property in March last year were switched off by an Ausgrid inspector who deemed them a potential fire risk.
The department has also suspended licences or imposed hefty fines on at least 35 solar panel installers, prompting the Fair Trading Minister, Anthony Roberts, to warn that the industry had become a ''total magnet for cowboys''.
''What we have seen is a lot of these cowboys have moved on from pink batts to solar panels and they are doing a dodgy job, especially in regional and rural areas, and leaving people with all sorts of problems,'' he said.
Mr Roberts said complaints ranged from panels not being supplied to shoddy work and incorrect installations.
''We have heard of cases where the contract has said someone would be given German-built panels or equivalent and the equivalent turns up and are cheap panels made in China.''
He said each complaint that had been lodged with his department was worth about $10,600.
''This is going to keep costing the taxpayer because we have all the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal generated issues and the Fair Trading audit costs so, at the end of the day, we are involved in a mopping up exercise,'' he said.
A spokeswoman for the department said the number of complaints had been increasing each month since May, when the government released its first audit of panels in Port Macquarie which found problems with 16 of 55 installations.
A further audit in June revealed 122 homes in Baulkham Hills, Blacktown and Kellyville had major defects in their solar panel systems that could cause fires and another 418 homes had minor defects.
A Coogee resident, Bill Hayes, lodged a complaint with Fair Trading this month after the panels he had installed on his property in March last year were switched off by an Ausgrid inspector who deemed them a potential fire risk.
2011年10月13日星期四
Solar panels on UWSP campus
The solar panels on UW-Stevens Point campus help save money by using energy from the sun, which is technically free. School leaders said say the panels on one building on campus have never been hooked up because they can't afford it.
Some students on UWSP campus said they think it's important to find ways to go green.
"You do see so many things going on that use energy so this is a way that we can conserve it and use other ways," said UWSP freshman Samantha Kucan.
Solar panels on top of the newest addition on campus -- The Suites @ 201 -- help heat water for the dorms. Knutzen Hall has some just like it. School leaders said all those panels work fine, but some on campus don't.
"We do have somesolar panels that are sitting on the top of the Health Enhancement Center," said UWSP sustainability coordinator Shelly Janowsky. "Those panels have never been functional."
School leaders said say they acquired additional panels in an agreement when a company went out of business. In order to protect the panels for future use, they put them on top of the HEC.
"We made the decision at the time to just put those on the top of the HEC building on the roof until we had time later to do something with them," said Janowsky.
Years later, campus leaders say those panels are out of date. They say it could cost more than $200,000 to install upgraded equipment -- a price tag they can't afford. With tighter budgets, campus leaders said they're not sure when that could happen. But they still hope to keep UWSP's campus as green as possible.
"We are looking at different types of renewable energy and will continue to do that andsolar might be the answer," said Janowsky.
"I think it is taken as a back burner but I think it should be almost one of the top things on the list because it does help out so much with the environment," said Kucan.
School officials said 16% of the energy used on campus is considered "green." They said if they ever get the opportunity to fix the HEC'ssolar panels, the plumbing is already in place to heat the swimming pool inside.
Some students on UWSP campus said they think it's important to find ways to go green.
"You do see so many things going on that use energy so this is a way that we can conserve it and use other ways," said UWSP freshman Samantha Kucan.
"We do have some
School leaders said say they acquired additional panels in an agreement when a company went out of business. In order to protect the panels for future use, they put them on top of the HEC.
"We made the decision at the time to just put those on the top of the HEC building on the roof until we had time later to do something with them," said Janowsky.
Years later, campus leaders say those panels are out of date. They say it could cost more than $200,000 to install upgraded equipment -- a price tag they can't afford. With tighter budgets, campus leaders said they're not sure when that could happen. But they still hope to keep UWSP's campus as green as possible.
"We are looking at different types of renewable energy and will continue to do that and
"I think it is taken as a back burner but I think it should be almost one of the top things on the list because it does help out so much with the environment," said Kucan.
School officials said 16% of the energy used on campus is considered "green." They said if they ever get the opportunity to fix the HEC's
2011年10月12日星期三
Rooftop solar panels overloading electricity grid
Power distribution lines and home wiring were designed for electricity to flow from power stations to appliances, but households with solar panels do the reverse of this.
One of Australia's biggest electricity network providers, Ausgrid, yesterday warned that there was a "significant likelihood" that costs would have to rise because of the impact of the solar photovoltaic cells.
In a letter to the NSW pricing regulator, obtained by The Australian, Ausgrid warns that in areas with a high concentration of solar cells, voltage levels can rise and this can have "consequences for appliances and equipment in customers' homes". It can also cause solar systems to switch off.
In Queensland, some new applications for rooftop solar systems have been rejected and Energex now urges customers to check that a solar PV system can be installed without threatening the operation of the network.
In Western Australia, Horizon Power has set limits on how much renewable energy can be installed in a system without affecting the power supply. Horizon is rejecting applications for new renewables installations in Exmouth and Carnarvon, and accepting them only from households, schools and not-for-profit organisations in Broome and Leonora.
Energex spokesman Mike Swanston said it was becoming difficult for electricity distribution authorities to set up the power system to ensure correct voltages when some houses in a street had solar and others did not.
"It is similar to the water network - the pipes get smaller and the pressure is designed to be lower as you get closer to the house," Mr Swanston said. "Start pumping water backwards into the smaller household pipes, and all sorts of strange things happen."
Energy Networks Association acting chief executive John Deveraux said the problem would only get worse as more rooftop solar panels were installed and the systems got bigger.
In southeast Queensland alone, more than 22,300 rooftop solar systems were installed in the first three months of this financial year - more than the 19,000 installed in the 2009-10 financial year, according to Energex.
Federal Labor's target of producing 20 per cent of electricity from renewable sources such as solar power by 2020 has pushed up demand for the rooftop PV systems. So, too, have state-based schemes that pay generous feed-in tariffs to households for injecting power back into the grid.
Meanwhile, a flood of cheap solar panels being made in Asia and imported into Australia has offset moves by the government and some states to wind back their subsidies.
Power quality problems are worse in rural areas as the network is sometimes weaker and there is generally more space, meaning that bigger solar PV systems with capacities of 5 kilowatts or more are being installed, compared with the 1kW-3kW systems more common in urban areas.
Essential Energy, which operates powerlines in country NSW and parts of southern Queensland, wants NSW to follow Queensland's lead on introducing a cap on solar PV systems of 5kW to avoid power quality problems.
Endeavour Energy, which runs the network in Sydney's greater west, warns that some solar panel installers have not done voltage checks and other measurements to ensure the solar PV system operates adequately.
"The biggest problem we've got with the accelerated rollout is making sure every installation is fully compliant," Endeavour's general manager of network development, Ty Christopher, said.
Adelaide solar panel installer Chris Hart said the problems were worse in the summer months, when airconditioner use added to the stress on the system.
Mr Hart, who owns EcoSouth Solar Electricity, said areas with a lot of solar panels pushed the voltage up to the maximum allowable level, triggering shutdowns in the individual systems and taking the load off the grid.
He said solar systems "drop out for a few minutes" when voltages get too high, a phenomenon known as "tripping out".
"Then they try to come online again and it pushes the voltage up again and it's very wearing," he said. "That's the problem with having too much solar in an area where the local authority hasn't got enough wires or copper in the street to hold the voltage down."
Mr Hart said the size of conductors and cables in the streets would have to be upgraded "so it can handle lots of solar, versus times when there's lots of load and no solar".
One of Australia's biggest electricity network providers, Ausgrid, yesterday warned that there was a "significant likelihood" that costs would have to rise because of the impact of the solar photovoltaic cells.
In a letter to the NSW pricing regulator, obtained by The Australian, Ausgrid warns that in areas with a high concentration of solar cells, voltage levels can rise and this can have "consequences for appliances and equipment in customers' homes". It can also cause solar systems to switch off.
In Queensland, some new applications for rooftop solar systems have been rejected and Energex now urges customers to check that a solar PV system can be installed without threatening the operation of the network.
In Western Australia, Horizon Power has set limits on how much renewable energy can be installed in a system without affecting the power supply. Horizon is rejecting applications for new renewables installations in Exmouth and Carnarvon, and accepting them only from households, schools and not-for-profit organisations in Broome and Leonora.
Energex spokesman Mike Swanston said it was becoming difficult for electricity distribution authorities to set up the power system to ensure correct voltages when some houses in a street had solar and others did not.
"It is similar to the water network - the pipes get smaller and the pressure is designed to be lower as you get closer to the house," Mr Swanston said. "Start pumping water backwards into the smaller household pipes, and all sorts of strange things happen."
Energy Networks Association acting chief executive John Deveraux said the problem would only get worse as more rooftop solar panels were installed and the systems got bigger.
In southeast Queensland alone, more than 22,300 rooftop solar systems were installed in the first three months of this financial year - more than the 19,000 installed in the 2009-10 financial year, according to Energex.
Federal Labor's target of producing 20 per cent of electricity from renewable sources such as solar power by 2020 has pushed up demand for the rooftop PV systems. So, too, have state-based schemes that pay generous feed-in tariffs to households for injecting power back into the grid.
Meanwhile, a flood of cheap solar panels being made in Asia and imported into Australia has offset moves by the government and some states to wind back their subsidies.
Power quality problems are worse in rural areas as the network is sometimes weaker and there is generally more space, meaning that bigger solar PV systems with capacities of 5 kilowatts or more are being installed, compared with the 1kW-3kW systems more common in urban areas.
Essential Energy, which operates powerlines in country NSW and parts of southern Queensland, wants NSW to follow Queensland's lead on introducing a cap on solar PV systems of 5kW to avoid power quality problems.
Endeavour Energy, which runs the network in Sydney's greater west, warns that some solar panel installers have not done voltage checks and other measurements to ensure the solar PV system operates adequately.
"The biggest problem we've got with the accelerated rollout is making sure every installation is fully compliant," Endeavour's general manager of network development, Ty Christopher, said.
Adelaide solar panel installer Chris Hart said the problems were worse in the summer months, when airconditioner use added to the stress on the system.
Mr Hart, who owns EcoSouth Solar Electricity, said areas with a lot of solar panels pushed the voltage up to the maximum allowable level, triggering shutdowns in the individual systems and taking the load off the grid.
He said solar systems "drop out for a few minutes" when voltages get too high, a phenomenon known as "tripping out".
"Then they try to come online again and it pushes the voltage up again and it's very wearing," he said. "That's the problem with having too much solar in an area where the local authority hasn't got enough wires or copper in the street to hold the voltage down."
Mr Hart said the size of conductors and cables in the streets would have to be upgraded "so it can handle lots of solar, versus times when there's lots of load and no solar".
2011年10月11日星期二
Solar energy facility gains OK in Howell
The Howell Zoning Board of Adjustment has unanimously approved preliminary and final site plans for a 17- megawatt solar energy facility to be constructed at the southwest corner of the intersection of Route 33 and Fairfield Road.
Rock Solid Realty, the applicant, was granted a use variance for the 100-acre site. A use variance was required because asolar energy facility is not a permitted used at the location, which is zoned for commercial and residential development.
In accordance with state law, the applicant vacated its original approvals for the site before the board members voted on thesolar farm at a special meeting held Sept. 19.
Attorney Kenneth Pape, representing the applicant, said economics led to the decision to pursue asolar facility (also known as a solar farm) over a mixed use. Pape said there is no construction date scheduled.
The board’s vote for approval came after two hours of testimony from planning,solar energy and engineering experts regarding visual buffers, security, environmental impact and other factors.
David Sirna, vice chairman, said the new use would be less intense than the original plan for the site and he saidsolar energy is a superior use.
“This is an application where there are very minimal, if any, impacts,” Sirna said.
Board members John Armata and Stephen Meier agreed with Sirna’s comments regarding the application.
“(Solar energy) is the wave of the future and I think that as these (solar ) panels come on board, we are going to see them all over the place,” Armata said.
“I’m a big fan ofsolar power to begin with,” Meier said. “I think they are doing everything they can to accommodate (the neighboring area) with the (visual) buffering. ”
Board member Thomas O’Donnell asked that signs be posted at the site to deter trespassing and hunting.
The sitewill feature a 6-foot tall chain link fence behind vegetative buffering. The fence will rise to 24 feet at the road access point on Fairfield Road.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Evelyn O’Donnell, who serves on the Howell Planning Board, raised concerns about drainage in light of recent flooding cause by Hurricane Irene.
In regard to her concerns, Jack Mallon, the board’s engineer, said the applicant “pretty much traps everything (water) on site.”
Board member Wendell Nanson cited recent media reports of economic troubles withsolar energy companies and asked what would happen if solar panel manufacturers or the applicant faced financial trouble. one transformer for the conversion of solar energy to electricity. Additional site elements will include an 8-foot tall chain link fence around the solar panels/operation, electrical conduits between the panels, a landscaping berm along Ely Harmony Road and additional landscaping and buffers around the site.
Solar energy facilities are not a permitted use in Freehold Township’s Rural Environmental Zone and the applicant was required to apply to the zoning board for a D-1 use variance. The use variance and several minor variances were granted.
According to EffiSolar Energy Corporation’s website, “Solar farms (utility-scale ground-mounted photovoltaic power generating facilities) consist of large arrays of solar PV panels that capture energy from sunlight and convert it to electricity for the local power grid. A 10MW solar farm generally consists of 50 to 70 acres of land upon which PV panels are mounted on racks in flat, unobstructed locations that possess strong solar resources and good soil for foundations.
“EffiSolar’s vertical integration from designing and manufacturing of PV panels,solar inverters, solar trackers to installation and operation of solar farms, allows us to offer turnkey solar farm projects that significantly reduce greenhouse gases emissions at a low cost.”
According to Galvin, the use of asolar energy facility is seen as inherently beneficial to society. The attorney said he believes more of these facilities will be seen going forward. Galvin said the state has created legislation regarding what it says is the inherently beneficial use of solar energy.
The applicable statute says, “Inherently beneficial use means a use which is universally considered of value to the community because it fundamentally serves the public good and promotes the general welfare. Such a use includes, but is not limited to a hospital, school, child care center, group home or a windsolar or photovoltaic energy facility or structure.”
Rock Solid Realty, the applicant, was granted a use variance for the 100-acre site. A use variance was required because a
In accordance with state law, the applicant vacated its original approvals for the site before the board members voted on the
Attorney Kenneth Pape, representing the applicant, said economics led to the decision to pursue a
The board’s vote for approval came after two hours of testimony from planning,
David Sirna, vice chairman, said the new use would be less intense than the original plan for the site and he said
“This is an application where there are very minimal, if any, impacts,” Sirna said.
Board members John Armata and Stephen Meier agreed with Sirna’s comments regarding the application.
“(
“I’m a big fan of
Board member Thomas O’Donnell asked that signs be posted at the site to deter trespassing and hunting.
The sitewill feature a 6-foot tall chain link fence behind vegetative buffering. The fence will rise to 24 feet at the road access point on Fairfield Road.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Evelyn O’Donnell, who serves on the Howell Planning Board, raised concerns about drainage in light of recent flooding cause by Hurricane Irene.
In regard to her concerns, Jack Mallon, the board’s engineer, said the applicant “pretty much traps everything (water) on site.”
Board member Wendell Nanson cited recent media reports of economic troubles with
According to EffiSolar Energy Corporation’s website, “
“EffiSolar’s vertical integration from designing and manufacturing of PV panels,
According to Galvin, the use of a
The applicable statute says, “Inherently beneficial use means a use which is universally considered of value to the community because it fundamentally serves the public good and promotes the general welfare. Such a use includes, but is not limited to a hospital, school, child care center, group home or a wind
2011年10月10日星期一
Research prowess powers Texas solar industry
As Austin-based AstroWatt's founders prepared to launch their solar technology company in 2008, they tallied the competition.
Solar energy startups were emerging around the world, fueled by global discussions about climate change and new government funding for renewable energy industries. The AstroWatt team wasn't the only one with a technology idea and the capital to invest in the booming industry of polysilicon solar energy.
"From Day One, we knew this was going to be a bloodbath," said co-founder Dharmesh Jawarani. "We counted 60 new entrants for polysilicon manufacturing in China alone."
At least three U.S. solar manufacturers have collapsed under the weight of that competition in recent weeks, including California-based solar-panel maker Solyndra.
Its bankruptcy is a hot political issue because the Obama administration touted the company's potential to create clean-energy jobs after it got $535 million in federal stimulus loans.
Those failures have led some industry watchers to conclude that China's low-cost panels have won the solar battle. But others still see hope for America's solar industry and suggest the flooded market is just shaking out the weakest companies.
The key, some say, is investing less in building panels and more on engineering them.
"It has become very hard to compete with Chinese manufacturers. Their labor costs are so low and they've been receiving giant subsidies from the Chinese government," said Keily Miller, a research associate for the Energy Forum at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. "If the U.S. government is going to promote this form of energy, they should be promoting research and development."
Such a focus could be a boon for Texas, where high-tech research facilities and a skilled workforce have been attracting solar startups, like AstroWatt.
While Texas has been a leader in wind energy, it has fallen behind other states in solar. Proponents blame a lack of tax benefits and financial incentives for consumers and companies involved in solar energy development.
A 2010 report by the Solar Foundation estimated that Texas has about 170 solar-related companies employing some 6,400 workers. The majority of them are solar installers, as opposed to manufacturers, according to the report.
Incentives sought
Texas exempts companies that manufacture, sell or install solar panels from the state franchise tax. But it doesn't offer additional benefits like equipment and utility rebates on a statewide level, said Natalie Marquis, executive director of Texas Solar Energy Society, an advocacy group.
"Our state government is not pushing for solar manufacturing and solar companies," Marquis said.
"There are so many other states that want to have that industry and the jobs, so they are offering great incentives," she said. "Texas is not doing that."
The state of Michigan gave Dow Chemical Co. $141 million in tax credits last year when the company decided to locate its new solar shingle manufacturing facility near its Midland, Mich., headquarters. The company also received a $12.8 million federal grant to develop a more advanced and lower-cost version of its solar shingles.
Dow expects the facility to create 1,275 jobs by 2015.
But where Texas has lacked the financial capital to attract the solar industry, it has provided human capital, says Ron Van Dell, chief executive officer of SolarBridge Technologies.
SolarBridge, which develops advanced technology for solar energy systems, moved to Austin in 2009 from Champaign, Ill. Van Dell said he wanted to draw from the skilled workforce of Austin's high-tech industries to build SolarBridge's staff. The company now has 60 employees, most of them from Austin, he said.
For AstroWatt, Texas provided the low-cost research facilities and equipment attractive to small startups. The company conducts its research and development of solar cells at the University of Texas at Austin's Microelectronics Research Center.
"That's the key to survival for startups: being capital-efficient," Jawarani said. "Most of the companies that went bankrupt … started with big investments in specialized equipment and new factories."
Solar energy startups were emerging around the world, fueled by global discussions about climate change and new government funding for renewable energy industries. The AstroWatt team wasn't the only one with a technology idea and the capital to invest in the booming industry of polysilicon solar energy.
"From Day One, we knew this was going to be a bloodbath," said co-founder Dharmesh Jawarani. "We counted 60 new entrants for polysilicon manufacturing in China alone."
At least three U.S. solar manufacturers have collapsed under the weight of that competition in recent weeks, including California-based solar-panel maker Solyndra.
Its bankruptcy is a hot political issue because the Obama administration touted the company's potential to create clean-energy jobs after it got $535 million in federal stimulus loans.
Those failures have led some industry watchers to conclude that China's low-cost panels have won the solar battle. But others still see hope for America's solar industry and suggest the flooded market is just shaking out the weakest companies.
The key, some say, is investing less in building panels and more on engineering them.
"It has become very hard to compete with Chinese manufacturers. Their labor costs are so low and they've been receiving giant subsidies from the Chinese government," said Keily Miller, a research associate for the Energy Forum at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. "If the U.S. government is going to promote this form of energy, they should be promoting research and development."
Such a focus could be a boon for Texas, where high-tech research facilities and a skilled workforce have been attracting solar startups, like AstroWatt.
While Texas has been a leader in wind energy, it has fallen behind other states in solar. Proponents blame a lack of tax benefits and financial incentives for consumers and companies involved in solar energy development.
A 2010 report by the Solar Foundation estimated that Texas has about 170 solar-related companies employing some 6,400 workers. The majority of them are solar installers, as opposed to manufacturers, according to the report.
Incentives sought
Texas exempts companies that manufacture, sell or install solar panels from the state franchise tax. But it doesn't offer additional benefits like equipment and utility rebates on a statewide level, said Natalie Marquis, executive director of Texas Solar Energy Society, an advocacy group.
"Our state government is not pushing for solar manufacturing and solar companies," Marquis said.
"There are so many other states that want to have that industry and the jobs, so they are offering great incentives," she said. "Texas is not doing that."
The state of Michigan gave Dow Chemical Co. $141 million in tax credits last year when the company decided to locate its new solar shingle manufacturing facility near its Midland, Mich., headquarters. The company also received a $12.8 million federal grant to develop a more advanced and lower-cost version of its solar shingles.
Dow expects the facility to create 1,275 jobs by 2015.
But where Texas has lacked the financial capital to attract the solar industry, it has provided human capital, says Ron Van Dell, chief executive officer of SolarBridge Technologies.
SolarBridge, which develops advanced technology for solar energy systems, moved to Austin in 2009 from Champaign, Ill. Van Dell said he wanted to draw from the skilled workforce of Austin's high-tech industries to build SolarBridge's staff. The company now has 60 employees, most of them from Austin, he said.
For AstroWatt, Texas provided the low-cost research facilities and equipment attractive to small startups. The company conducts its research and development of solar cells at the University of Texas at Austin's Microelectronics Research Center.
"That's the key to survival for startups: being capital-efficient," Jawarani said. "Most of the companies that went bankrupt … started with big investments in specialized equipment and new factories."
2011年10月9日星期日
Solar customers furious with utility over proposed rate change
"I'm new to
"The whole concept SDG&E is putting forth is ludicrous," he said.
On Monday, SDG&E filed a request to the California Public Utilities Commission that would allow it to separate how much it charges customers for electricity from how much it charges to transport that electricity. For traditional customers, the change would have little impact on their total bill. But
Donovan said the utility sees the change as a question of fairness, but
"I put up a big array," Perkins said. "I have a family of five, so I'm trying to do the right thing. SDG&E preaches conserve, conserve, conserve, then when you go conserve or do other things to make your life better and to reduce greenhouse gas and all that, they do everything they can to snuff that out."
Perkins bought his panels under the current rates to take advantage of "net metering."
When his
But in SDG&E's view, this means those customers aren't paying for the work the utility does to maintain its grid.
Under current rates, non-
But
"I'm thinking, 'Now, wait a minute,'" said Tim Regello, a local government employee living in San Marcos with a 7-kilowatt
Other customers said the utility benefited by not having to build extra infrastructure.
"One of the rationales for
Brewster also disputed SDG&E's argument that
"Note that they charged me $5.10 for 'distribution,' and that they define this as: 'This line reflects charges to distribute power to customers. It includes power lines, poles, transformers, repair crews and emergency services," he wrote in an email.
Sullivan said that he is worried about the potential changes. By his calculations, SDG&E's new charge would recoup $8 million a year. But mostly, he doesn't buy the whole concept of a subsidy.
"The energy produced by a
2011年10月8日星期六
Medway Middle School celebrates adding solar panels
The sun shone on Medway Middle School on Thursday, generating electricity, good feelings and a hug for Mother Earth.
At a ceremony in the auditorium celebrating 1,404 new solar panels on the building's roof, students learned that the array will provide the school with clean energy as well as lower electric bills.
Assistant Superintendent David Verdolino tried to get students to understand the significance of the work.
"So why are we here today?" he asked the students, some of whom are members of the school's "Green Team," a club dedicated to helping the environment.
"Maybe our parents helped pay for it?" one student asked.
"So we can learn about solar panels," answered another.
"My answer is because you are the ones with the most to get out of this," Verdolino said. "Let it be motivation that you can make a difference."
Medway High School added solar panels last year, but the middle school is three times as big a project, Verdolino said. The panels will provide about 70 percent of the school's electricity, school officials have said.
The ceremony, which included speakers from the offices of Gov. Deval Patrick, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-3rd, and state Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, celebrated the completion of the panels' installation.
The panels provide 386,000 watts of energy to the school, said Broadway Electrical Co. CEO Lawrence Hurwitz, whose company installed the array for free. The company will receive tax credits or tax advantages in the years following the project.
Solar work is part of the future of electricity, providing an inexpensive and environmentally sound alternative to other energy sources, Hurwitz said. Even his own company thrives from its benefits, he said.
"We have 100 to 125 electricians, and if we weren't doing solar work, we'd probably be down to almost 50," he told students.
Meg Lusardi, director of the green communities division for the Department of Energy and Resources, said the school was proof that communities are taking the green movement seriously. Gov. Patrick is committed to seeing similar projects, she said.
Through Patrick's Green Communities Act and the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Medway received a $150,000 grant from the federal energy grant program to install the panels. The project was at no cost to the school district or the town.
"When Gov. Patrick came into office, there was less than 4 megawatts of green energy. We're expecting 100 megawatts by the end of the year," Lusardi said.
At a ceremony in the auditorium celebrating 1,404 new solar panels on the building's roof, students learned that the array will provide the school with clean energy as well as lower electric bills.
Assistant Superintendent David Verdolino tried to get students to understand the significance of the work.
"So why are we here today?" he asked the students, some of whom are members of the school's "Green Team," a club dedicated to helping the environment.
"Maybe our parents helped pay for it?" one student asked.
"So we can learn about solar panels," answered another.
"My answer is because you are the ones with the most to get out of this," Verdolino said. "Let it be motivation that you can make a difference."
Medway High School added solar panels last year, but the middle school is three times as big a project, Verdolino said. The panels will provide about 70 percent of the school's electricity, school officials have said.
The ceremony, which included speakers from the offices of Gov. Deval Patrick, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-3rd, and state Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, celebrated the completion of the panels' installation.
The panels provide 386,000 watts of energy to the school, said Broadway Electrical Co. CEO Lawrence Hurwitz, whose company installed the array for free. The company will receive tax credits or tax advantages in the years following the project.
Solar work is part of the future of electricity, providing an inexpensive and environmentally sound alternative to other energy sources, Hurwitz said. Even his own company thrives from its benefits, he said.
"We have 100 to 125 electricians, and if we weren't doing solar work, we'd probably be down to almost 50," he told students.
Meg Lusardi, director of the green communities division for the Department of Energy and Resources, said the school was proof that communities are taking the green movement seriously. Gov. Patrick is committed to seeing similar projects, she said.
Through Patrick's Green Communities Act and the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Medway received a $150,000 grant from the federal energy grant program to install the panels. The project was at no cost to the school district or the town.
"When Gov. Patrick came into office, there was less than 4 megawatts of green energy. We're expecting 100 megawatts by the end of the year," Lusardi said.
2011年10月7日星期五
Why Americans like solar energy
Listening to an NPR story yesterday about a San Diego company that makes solar-powered parking meters and has doubled its number of employees during the past year was a nice counterpoint to all the frantic attempts recently by supporters of dirty energy to disparage the solar industry. Fortunately, most Americans haven’t been buying it. Recent polling and surveys indicate that, by and large, regardless of our politics, we still think developing solar energy is a great idea.
Think about that last sentence for just a second. People in this country who vote Democratic think that solar energy is smart for the country, and people who vote Republican feel the same way. It’s an issue that unites us. There don’t seem to be that many of those these days, so it’s worth examining why.
No, I don’t think it’s because the U.S. solar power market grew a record 67 percent last year, which makes it our fastest-growing energy sector. And it’s probably not solely because the solar industry created jobs at a much higher rate than the rest of the U.S. economy during the past year. I don’t even think it’s because the cost of residential solar panels has dropped to the point where it’s now affordable for millions of homeowners to buy or lease a system and start saving on energy while helping the environment.
These are all great things, obviously. The Sierra Club even has a program to promote solar-leasing to our members and supporters that runs through the end of this month. Too many homeowners still don’t realize that they can get a solar system installed for little — or even zero — money down.
But I don’t think economic stats are what’s behind solar energy’s broad-based support from the American public. Instead, it’s something so basic and obvious that folks just “get it”: Capturing energy from the sun is renewable and sustainable, while burning fossil fuels is not. Clean energy is easier. And that means that solar energy will always make more sense economically in the long run.
But what a lot of people might not realize is that we aren’t just talking about the long run anymore. Solar makes more sense economically right now. Compare it, for example, to generating electricity by burning coal. An article in the August issue of the American Economic Review (the journal of the American Economic Association, a group that no one has ever accused of being a bunch of tree-huggers), shows that the overall costs to our economy of burning coal are so high that they’re actually greater than the market price of the energy that’s generated. In other words, the roughly $53 billion in damages that the coal industry inflicts on our economy every single year is greater than the value of the electricity it generates!
And yet the supporters of Big Coal want us to believe that solar energy (the fast-growing, job-creating, renewable-energy alternative) doesn’t make economic sense? I think their meter’s in the red and their time is up. Want to help get the real facts out there? Take this Solar Energy Quiz and share it with your friends. I bet you already know more about solar than certain members of Congress.
Think about that last sentence for just a second. People in this country who vote Democratic think that solar energy is smart for the country, and people who vote Republican feel the same way. It’s an issue that unites us. There don’t seem to be that many of those these days, so it’s worth examining why.
No, I don’t think it’s because the U.S. solar power market grew a record 67 percent last year, which makes it our fastest-growing energy sector. And it’s probably not solely because the solar industry created jobs at a much higher rate than the rest of the U.S. economy during the past year. I don’t even think it’s because the cost of residential solar panels has dropped to the point where it’s now affordable for millions of homeowners to buy or lease a system and start saving on energy while helping the environment.
These are all great things, obviously. The Sierra Club even has a program to promote solar-leasing to our members and supporters that runs through the end of this month. Too many homeowners still don’t realize that they can get a solar system installed for little — or even zero — money down.
But I don’t think economic stats are what’s behind solar energy’s broad-based support from the American public. Instead, it’s something so basic and obvious that folks just “get it”: Capturing energy from the sun is renewable and sustainable, while burning fossil fuels is not. Clean energy is easier. And that means that solar energy will always make more sense economically in the long run.
But what a lot of people might not realize is that we aren’t just talking about the long run anymore. Solar makes more sense economically right now. Compare it, for example, to generating electricity by burning coal. An article in the August issue of the American Economic Review (the journal of the American Economic Association, a group that no one has ever accused of being a bunch of tree-huggers), shows that the overall costs to our economy of burning coal are so high that they’re actually greater than the market price of the energy that’s generated. In other words, the roughly $53 billion in damages that the coal industry inflicts on our economy every single year is greater than the value of the electricity it generates!
And yet the supporters of Big Coal want us to believe that solar energy (the fast-growing, job-creating, renewable-energy alternative) doesn’t make economic sense? I think their meter’s in the red and their time is up. Want to help get the real facts out there? Take this Solar Energy Quiz and share it with your friends. I bet you already know more about solar than certain members of Congress.
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