TEMPERS are running hot after the Government said it could slash in half the amount it pays households for solar power.
Solar panels – or photovoltaic (PV) panels – have popped up on roofs in Worcestershire with increasing regulatory, with people cashing in on the feed-in tariffs (FITs) the Government pays to people for generating excess electricity for the grid.
But admitting it had chronically underestimated take-up for solar, the Department of Energy and Climate Change has now launched a speedy consultation to halve the tariff from Tuesday, December 13.
This effectively means anyone not having panels fitted and registered for the FIT scheme within the next three weeks will miss out on the current tariff and get the reduced rate.
Cropthorne and Charlton Village Hall committee is unimpressed as it is trying to get grant money to pay for panels.
“There’s no way we’ll get a grant by December so we’ll have to re-cost our plan,” said Jacqui King, committee member and parish councillor. “This is not encouraging anyone to do such projects.”
While the FIT scheme is not paid directly by Government – it comes from a levy on electric bills – money is running out faster than predicted. With the tariff’s current rate of up to 43.3p per KWh (kilowatts hour), panels pay for themselves after between eight and 10 years on average.
But the rate will drop to 21p after Monday, December 12. Lynn Denham, who invested in solar panels for her home in Oaklands, off Newtown Road, Worcester, said that will mean not as many people will be able to afford solar panels.
The wife of Labour city councillor Paul Denham also said the changes had effectively killed off any hope of developing a community energy company in the city.
Jason Bishop, who runs Solar Valley Energy at Wichenford, near Worcester, said a tariff cut was expected in March but the halving would cost jobs and stall growth.
“It’s cost me £16,000 to set up so you can see why I am peeved,” he said.
“We have a three-man installations team and sales manager but I have had to let my sales manager go.
“We still have business because I have a building firm but the solar side just will not grow.
“It is just totally out of the blue; it’s ill thought out and reckless.”
The 45-year-old has written to West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin calling for her support and signed an online petition.
Mrs Baldwin said panels “should still make a worthwhile investment” for both new customers and installers. “With a lower subsidy, more people can benefit, as the money goes further,” she said, promising to pass on constituents’ concerns about the proposed change.
2011年11月9日星期三
2011年7月6日星期三
Lighting way for solar power
Zhao Chunjiang's dream is that one day every rooftop in this eastern metropolis will have a solar power generator.
Although he admits that day is still a way off, as the director of Shanghai University of Electric Power's solar energy institute he hopes to lead by example.
In 2006 he installed 22 solar panels on the roof of his apartment to gather data on the energy source. To date, he says he has generated some 14,000 kilowatt-hours of power without a breakdown - enough to satisfy the needs of his family and export to the State Grid.
"I'm an expert and an advocate for solar energy," he said. "There were times when I tried to persuade people the technology is practical and they responded by asking why, if I was so sure, I hadn't built my own system."
So he did. He moved out from the city center and bought a rooftop property in the outlying Minhang district.
Zhao has spent about 122,000 yuan ($18,800) on his mini power plant, including the cost of the solar panels that cover a total area of 21 square meters. Based on the current electricity prices, however, it will take Zhao roughly 60 years to break even on the investment.
Being located in Shanghai also posed challenges, especially when it comes to the weather in East China.
"There are frequent typhoons in the summer, so I had to fasten the panels tightly to the roof so that they won't blow off," he said, before pointing to his system and proudly adding: "You see, they've remained safe and sound all these years."
The one problem Zhao could not solve by himself was calculating the electricity he exports, as the ammeter installed by the power company does not separate power produced by his home generator from that provided by the State Grid Corporation.
The expert initially had to pay for whatever went through the ammeter, including his exported electricity. Yet, in April this year the power company installed another ammeter to calculate the power he generates.
"The company asked me to set a price for my electricity, but as an ordinary citizen I don't think I can," he said, explaining that in countries like Japan and Germany, power firms pay as much as five times the price for electricity retrieved from green home generators. "It is a national effort to encourage the development of green energy."
Despite his optimism, Zhao admits he feels China still has some way to go when it comes to promoting solar energy. For example, he said, in 2004 it was reported that the Shanghai government was planning to install solar panels on the roofs of 100,000 families' homes.
"It seems I was the only one who really took it seriously," Zhao said with a smile. "Of course, mine is only an experiment. My target is to gather some data to see whether the idea can be promoted in Shanghai."
The grid serving China's financial powerhouse does not have the capacity to meet peak demand in the summer, with rationing coming into force whenever the mercury hits 37 C, which is often.
Some 24,000 businesses, mainly factories and other industrial plants, will face mandatory power cuts, while this year 3,000 non-industrial businesses - shopping malls and office blocks - will also be asked to close their doors to guarantee household demand, according to media reports.
Zhao said that, based on his observations, the full use of solar power in Shanghai could satisfy one-third of residents' power demands. To make it happen, though, the government needs to be in support.
"The initial investment for a set of panels is about 60,000 yuan, so it's very important to provide subsidies for residents. There also needs to be a repurchase scheme for power exported to the State Grid," Zhao said. "Neither of these are there yet."
"The biggest obstacle comes from power providers. The law stipulates that power companies need to purchase solar power, but enforcement has been poor," he added.
Without financial support from the government and power companies, Zhao said it will be hard to make his dream come true. "It takes about 30 years for a solar power generator plant that costs 60,000 yuan to pay for itself," he said. "That may be too long for ordinary people to wait."
Although he admits that day is still a way off, as the director of Shanghai University of Electric Power's solar energy institute he hopes to lead by example.
In 2006 he installed 22 solar panels on the roof of his apartment to gather data on the energy source. To date, he says he has generated some 14,000 kilowatt-hours of power without a breakdown - enough to satisfy the needs of his family and export to the State Grid.
"I'm an expert and an advocate for solar energy," he said. "There were times when I tried to persuade people the technology is practical and they responded by asking why, if I was so sure, I hadn't built my own system."
So he did. He moved out from the city center and bought a rooftop property in the outlying Minhang district.
Zhao has spent about 122,000 yuan ($18,800) on his mini power plant, including the cost of the solar panels that cover a total area of 21 square meters. Based on the current electricity prices, however, it will take Zhao roughly 60 years to break even on the investment.
Being located in Shanghai also posed challenges, especially when it comes to the weather in East China.
"There are frequent typhoons in the summer, so I had to fasten the panels tightly to the roof so that they won't blow off," he said, before pointing to his system and proudly adding: "You see, they've remained safe and sound all these years."
The one problem Zhao could not solve by himself was calculating the electricity he exports, as the ammeter installed by the power company does not separate power produced by his home generator from that provided by the State Grid Corporation.
The expert initially had to pay for whatever went through the ammeter, including his exported electricity. Yet, in April this year the power company installed another ammeter to calculate the power he generates.
"The company asked me to set a price for my electricity, but as an ordinary citizen I don't think I can," he said, explaining that in countries like Japan and Germany, power firms pay as much as five times the price for electricity retrieved from green home generators. "It is a national effort to encourage the development of green energy."
Despite his optimism, Zhao admits he feels China still has some way to go when it comes to promoting solar energy. For example, he said, in 2004 it was reported that the Shanghai government was planning to install solar panels on the roofs of 100,000 families' homes.
"It seems I was the only one who really took it seriously," Zhao said with a smile. "Of course, mine is only an experiment. My target is to gather some data to see whether the idea can be promoted in Shanghai."
The grid serving China's financial powerhouse does not have the capacity to meet peak demand in the summer, with rationing coming into force whenever the mercury hits 37 C, which is often.
Some 24,000 businesses, mainly factories and other industrial plants, will face mandatory power cuts, while this year 3,000 non-industrial businesses - shopping malls and office blocks - will also be asked to close their doors to guarantee household demand, according to media reports.
Zhao said that, based on his observations, the full use of solar power in Shanghai could satisfy one-third of residents' power demands. To make it happen, though, the government needs to be in support.
"The initial investment for a set of panels is about 60,000 yuan, so it's very important to provide subsidies for residents. There also needs to be a repurchase scheme for power exported to the State Grid," Zhao said. "Neither of these are there yet."
"The biggest obstacle comes from power providers. The law stipulates that power companies need to purchase solar power, but enforcement has been poor," he added.
Without financial support from the government and power companies, Zhao said it will be hard to make his dream come true. "It takes about 30 years for a solar power generator plant that costs 60,000 yuan to pay for itself," he said. "That may be too long for ordinary people to wait."
2011年4月26日星期二
3 Bigger Hitters in CA: SunPower
This morning, I got to tinkering around with some numbers from California Solar Statistics, a program of the state’s Energy Commission and Public Utilities Commission. What did I find?
Well, beyond a wealth of details on system size, average installed cost and California solar incentives, I verified that most solar home energy systems in the state use name-brand panels from large, well established manufacturers.
Here’s a breakdown of all California residential photovoltaic (PV) systems, by solar panel manufacturer:
3 Bigger Hitters in CA: SunPower, BP Solar & Sharp
I wasn’t that shocked to see California-based SunPower at the top of the list. But I was somewhat surprised to discover that the top three manufacturers — SunPower, Sharp and BP Solar — account for nearly half of all residential solar installations. The top ten manufacturers (in terms of total number of residential systems), meanwhile, account for around 80 percent of installations to date.
A few notes:
First, the data presented here go back to 2006, when the California Solar Initiative first came into effect. My guess is that a look at data only from the past year or so would reveal a rise in the number of installations from manufacturers like Suntech Power, Canadian Solar and Trina Solar relative to makers like Evergreen Solar and SolarWorld. (More on this in a later post.) Bottom line: I’d argue that the above chart tells us more about where we’ve been than where we’re headed.
Second, the stats here are for the total number of solar PV home systems installed statewide — not total generating capacity. That is, we’re talking about the number of individual California homeowners who looked at a particular solar quote and said, yes, I’d like to buy X system with solar panels from Y manufacturer. It’s entirely plausible that a manufacturer that ranks relatively low in total number of residential systems actually sells more panels than what meets the eye. Especially when non-residential solar PV systems are considered…
Finally, it’s worth noting that I’ve excluded commercial systems from this brief analysis. Fans of First Solar, a maker of solar thin-film panels, are sure to know that that company’s relative rank is much higher when commercial systems are taken into account.
Well, beyond a wealth of details on system size, average installed cost and California solar incentives, I verified that most solar home energy systems in the state use name-brand panels from large, well established manufacturers.
Here’s a breakdown of all California residential photovoltaic (PV) systems, by solar panel manufacturer:
3 Bigger Hitters in CA: SunPower, BP Solar & Sharp
I wasn’t that shocked to see California-based SunPower at the top of the list. But I was somewhat surprised to discover that the top three manufacturers — SunPower, Sharp and BP Solar — account for nearly half of all residential solar installations. The top ten manufacturers (in terms of total number of residential systems), meanwhile, account for around 80 percent of installations to date.
A few notes:
First, the data presented here go back to 2006, when the California Solar Initiative first came into effect. My guess is that a look at data only from the past year or so would reveal a rise in the number of installations from manufacturers like Suntech Power, Canadian Solar and Trina Solar relative to makers like Evergreen Solar and SolarWorld. (More on this in a later post.) Bottom line: I’d argue that the above chart tells us more about where we’ve been than where we’re headed.
Second, the stats here are for the total number of solar PV home systems installed statewide — not total generating capacity. That is, we’re talking about the number of individual California homeowners who looked at a particular solar quote and said, yes, I’d like to buy X system with solar panels from Y manufacturer. It’s entirely plausible that a manufacturer that ranks relatively low in total number of residential systems actually sells more panels than what meets the eye. Especially when non-residential solar PV systems are considered…
Finally, it’s worth noting that I’ve excluded commercial systems from this brief analysis. Fans of First Solar, a maker of solar thin-film panels, are sure to know that that company’s relative rank is much higher when commercial systems are taken into account.
2011年3月14日星期一
U.S. Military to Save $336,000 Annually With Newly Installed Solar Panel Installation
The U.S. military has been at the forefront of solar energy research for the past few years,
albeit quietly. The Department of Defense has funneled large amounts of money into solar
research and has looked to utilize the technology's power to help troops, power its bases and
bring about technological advances in the field.
In Iraq and Afghanistan, for example, the military has worked with solar technology firms to
develop equipment that is light weight and powered by solar panels; the benefits of such
technology are myriad: Troops fighting abroad are able to cover longer distances, carry less
heavy equipment and have a source of energy with them that is not oil-based.
In yet another example of the military's commitment to solar power, Kyocera Solar Inc.
announced this week that it has completed the installation of a 1.4-megawatt solar panel
system on the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Located just north of San Diego,
California, the base recently celebrated the photovoltaic system's completion with the Naval
Facilities Engineering Command Southwest.
The solar panel system is vast in scope: It comprises 6,300 KD235 solar modules and not only
is the largest photovoltaic system on any Marine Corps base in the U.S., but also is one of
the biggest solar systems in San Diego County. The photovoltaic array was built to help
offset the base's electricity use and to serve as a model for other military bases throughout
the U.S. and around the globe, according to the base.
The solar panel system will save the Marines money on electricity in the future and will help
the base slash its greenhouse gas emissions, according to Bernadette Rose, NAVFAC Southwest
ROICC construction manager at Camp Pendleton. In fact, the photovoltaic system will generate
about 2,400 megawatt-hours of clean energy every year - enough to power 400 U.S. homes - and
save about $336,000 in reduced utility costs.
Moreover, in keeping with the military authorization law President Obama signed into law back
in January, the military bought all of the solar panels used in the construction of the
photovoltaic system domestically. The 225 solar panels used in the installation were sourced
from Kyocera's San Diego manufacturing facility, ensuring American workers benefited from the
military's newest renewable energy facility.
The military contracted Synergy Electric Company, through a partnership with AEE Solar, to
install the solar panel system; the photovoltaic array was actually installed on the site of
the Box Canyon landfill, which according to the military was a previously unused parcel of
land. Now, the land serves as the site of a renewable energy system.
The development of the solar panel system was a test for engineers, said the project's
backers. The land the solar array sits on presented difficult topographical challenges, but
the global engineering firm AECOM guided a team of designers to address the specific problems
that they were faced with, including the environmental hurdles they had to cross.
"AECOM incorporated numerous design elements to address the unique environmental and
engineering challenges of the landfill site," said AECOM project manager David Cyr in a
statement. "We are proud to have contributed to the success of this significant project."
"The Bos Canyon PV project is a very exciting venture that is making use of a previously
unusable piece of real estate, and providing a renewable energy source to help Camp Pendleton
meet its on-site renewable energy generation goals," said Ross. For its part, the U.S.
military has said it equates energy independence with national security and the solar panel
system is yet another example of the military's working to reduce its reliance on foreign
oil.
"This sizable solar installation and the Marine Corps' sustainable energy goals demonstrate
its commitment to environmental preservation and advancing national security through energy
independence," affirmed Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc.
albeit quietly. The Department of Defense has funneled large amounts of money into solar
research and has looked to utilize the technology's power to help troops, power its bases and
bring about technological advances in the field.
In Iraq and Afghanistan, for example, the military has worked with solar technology firms to
develop equipment that is light weight and powered by solar panels; the benefits of such
technology are myriad: Troops fighting abroad are able to cover longer distances, carry less
heavy equipment and have a source of energy with them that is not oil-based.
In yet another example of the military's commitment to solar power, Kyocera Solar Inc.
announced this week that it has completed the installation of a 1.4-megawatt solar panel
system on the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Located just north of San Diego,
California, the base recently celebrated the photovoltaic system's completion with the Naval
Facilities Engineering Command Southwest.
The solar panel system is vast in scope: It comprises 6,300 KD235 solar modules and not only
is the largest photovoltaic system on any Marine Corps base in the U.S., but also is one of
the biggest solar systems in San Diego County. The photovoltaic array was built to help
offset the base's electricity use and to serve as a model for other military bases throughout
the U.S. and around the globe, according to the base.
The solar panel system will save the Marines money on electricity in the future and will help
the base slash its greenhouse gas emissions, according to Bernadette Rose, NAVFAC Southwest
ROICC construction manager at Camp Pendleton. In fact, the photovoltaic system will generate
about 2,400 megawatt-hours of clean energy every year - enough to power 400 U.S. homes - and
save about $336,000 in reduced utility costs.
Moreover, in keeping with the military authorization law President Obama signed into law back
in January, the military bought all of the solar panels used in the construction of the
photovoltaic system domestically. The 225 solar panels used in the installation were sourced
from Kyocera's San Diego manufacturing facility, ensuring American workers benefited from the
military's newest renewable energy facility.
The military contracted Synergy Electric Company, through a partnership with AEE Solar, to
install the solar panel system; the photovoltaic array was actually installed on the site of
the Box Canyon landfill, which according to the military was a previously unused parcel of
land. Now, the land serves as the site of a renewable energy system.
The development of the solar panel system was a test for engineers, said the project's
backers. The land the solar array sits on presented difficult topographical challenges, but
the global engineering firm AECOM guided a team of designers to address the specific problems
that they were faced with, including the environmental hurdles they had to cross.
"AECOM incorporated numerous design elements to address the unique environmental and
engineering challenges of the landfill site," said AECOM project manager David Cyr in a
statement. "We are proud to have contributed to the success of this significant project."
"The Bos Canyon PV project is a very exciting venture that is making use of a previously
unusable piece of real estate, and providing a renewable energy source to help Camp Pendleton
meet its on-site renewable energy generation goals," said Ross. For its part, the U.S.
military has said it equates energy independence with national security and the solar panel
system is yet another example of the military's working to reduce its reliance on foreign
oil.
"This sizable solar installation and the Marine Corps' sustainable energy goals demonstrate
its commitment to environmental preservation and advancing national security through energy
independence," affirmed Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc.
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