The last 12 months have seen a massive increase in the number of North East homes being fitted with solar panels. But as Government subsidies are slashed by more than half, Equinox Energy’s PAUL MILLS says it’s more important than ever to make sure you pick the right people to add green energy to your home
THE last 12 months have been an exciting time for Equinox Energy. Over the next year the company’s customers will make more than 54 megawatt hours of clean, renewable electricity.
“That’s enough for almost 40,000 loads of washing and will generate almost 25,000 in income for those households,” said Paul Mills.
“But my major concern remains for people who may not be getting a good service from their installers.
“I recently witnessed a team carrying out a large installation on a house in a single day.
“The team drilled straight through the roof slates to erect the photovoltaic (PV) mounting structure and then sealed the holes with silicone.
“The advantage for the installer is that this takes a shorter amount of time. But this is not allowed under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) guidelines because over time the silicone will degrade and water may well enter the roof, directly into the timbers.
“My worry is that the householder could face unexpected large bills in the future if they have to repair or replace the roof structure.”
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme sets a range of minimum standards accredited installers must follow, with work inspected annually.
The MCS’s main guide to PV installation states “in all circumstances the building’s weather tightness must be maintained”.
Holes drilled through roofing felt or roof tiles and slates, sealed with mastic or silicone sealant, are not considered durable.
Mr Mills said to reassure customers that Equinox does not breach the rules, he sits down with each one to fully explain the work.
“Customers cannot be expected to have detailed knowledge of PV installation techniques,” he said.
“I take the time to explain to all our customers how the system will be installed and how I will ensure that their roof is at least as watertight as before I start the installation.
“I also explain how Equinox Energy only uses the highest quality components to ensure that our installations are constructed from the best materials available.
“None of the work of Equinox Energy is sub-contracted apart from erection of scaffolding. That way we have complete control of the quality of the installation from the selection of components and electrical and roofing work, to the production of the warranty pack.”
The REC panels used by Equinox Energy have just come top in the Photon 2012 test, an independent survey of electricity production by 45 different types of PV panels.
On average REC modules produced 6% more power than its nearest rival – which over the lifespan of the panels would make a significant difference to the return on the investment.
When it comes to PV installations – as in most things – Mr Mills said you really do get what you pay for.
2012年2月20日星期一
2011年4月20日星期三
Solar-Panel Makers Gain as Fukushima Spurs Japan's Anti-Nuclear Movement
Akiko Hirai says the Hamaoka power station 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from home evokes such dread of the crippled Fukushima plant that she would spend $6,000 installing solar panels if it helped make Japan nuclear free.
“Who can really guarantee that they’re 100 percent safe? I want nuclear plants to be halted if they’re so frail,” said the 53-year-old housewife, who’s lived in Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan, for more than 20 years. “It’s not that I’m worried about myself, it’s my daughter and other small children I’m concerned about.”
Hirai helps illustrate Japan’s growing anti-nuclear movement in the wake of the world’s biggest nuclear accident since Chernobyl. That’s creating an opportunity for makers of solar equipment such as Panasonic Corp. (6752) and Sharp Corp. to capitalize on orders that analysts estimate may exceed $100 billion over the next decade, bringing down costs for consumers.
“It’s become clear we can’t keep relying on nuclear power or fossil fuels,” said Koji Toda, chief fund manager at Resona Bank Ltd. in Tokyo. “Still, solar power is too expensive for the market to bloom without subsidies. It’s easy to agree on the big picture but not so easy to determine who pays the price.”
Toshiba Corp. (6502) and Hitachi Ltd. (6501), Japan’s two largest makers of nuclear reactors, have underperformed Japan’s Topix index, while shares of Panasonic and Sharp have outperformed the benchmark since last month’s natural disaster.
Japan’s Power Plan
Last June, Japan laid out plans to build nine atomic reactors by 2020 and at least five more the following decade to increase the nation’s portion of nuclear energy to 50 percent of overall power generation by 2030 from 29 percent in 2009. Prime Minister Naoto Kan said March 31 the country needs to revise those policies.
That means Japan will probably step up a campaign to encourage the use of solar cells for years at the expense of atomic power, Takashi Watanabe, a Tokyo-based analyst at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., wrote in an April 1 report. Solar may be the strongest option because of restrictions on where wind and thermoelectric power stations can be built, he said.
Replacing the proposed nuclear plants with solar ones would need 108 gigawatts of photovoltaic generation by 2020, according to Goldman. Based on the current estimated costs of solar cells, that capacity would cost more than $150 billion.
Solar panel prices will likely fall to $1.50 per watt in the second half of 2011 compared with about $1.80 in 2010, Jenny Chase, a solar analyst for Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said March 29.
Japanese Beneficiaries
Panasonic and Sharp, Japan’s biggest maker of solar panels, would benefit from increased domestic adoption of solar power as the companies earn about half of their solar-panel revenue from Japan, Watanabe said. The strength of their brands and relations with home builders would also help the Japanese companies over Chinese solar companies, he said. Sharp spokeswoman Miyuki Nakayama declined to comment.
“Interest in solar power and other alternative energy sources will probably rise further,” said Akihiko Oiwa, a spokesman for Sanyo Electric Co., Panasonic’s solar-panel unit. “Although they’re unlikely to replace nuclear energy right away, solar and other alternative energies will likely supplement existing power facilities.”
Politicians may help. Governor Yuji Kuroiwa held a 90- centimeter (3 foot) solar panel on the streets of Kanagawa prefecture this month as he pledged to install solar panels to support as many as 2 million households. Kanagawa, located south of Tokyo, will “kick off the revolution” to end Japan’s dependency on nuclear power, Kuroiwa said April 11, the day after the former journalist drew twice as many votes as his opponent in the election.
Insecurity
On the same day in Shizuoka prefecture, Governor Heita Kawakatsu said he aims to make Shizuoka the top municipality in terms of rate of solar panel usage. Kawakatsu plans to reduce Shizuoka’s reliance on nuclear energy from 80 percent by providing subsidies for consumers and funding research that could improve the efficiency of photovoltaic power.
“I’ve never felt such insecurity before,” said Tamako Sato, a 69-year-old housewife who lives in Kashiwazaki city, where the world’s biggest nuclear plant is located. “I want the plant to be out of the town.”
Reactors at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Kashiwazaki Kariwa plant have been halted since an earthquake hit the plant in 2007 and caused radiation to leak.
“Who can really guarantee that they’re 100 percent safe? I want nuclear plants to be halted if they’re so frail,” said the 53-year-old housewife, who’s lived in Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan, for more than 20 years. “It’s not that I’m worried about myself, it’s my daughter and other small children I’m concerned about.”
Hirai helps illustrate Japan’s growing anti-nuclear movement in the wake of the world’s biggest nuclear accident since Chernobyl. That’s creating an opportunity for makers of solar equipment such as Panasonic Corp. (6752) and Sharp Corp. to capitalize on orders that analysts estimate may exceed $100 billion over the next decade, bringing down costs for consumers.
“It’s become clear we can’t keep relying on nuclear power or fossil fuels,” said Koji Toda, chief fund manager at Resona Bank Ltd. in Tokyo. “Still, solar power is too expensive for the market to bloom without subsidies. It’s easy to agree on the big picture but not so easy to determine who pays the price.”
Toshiba Corp. (6502) and Hitachi Ltd. (6501), Japan’s two largest makers of nuclear reactors, have underperformed Japan’s Topix index, while shares of Panasonic and Sharp have outperformed the benchmark since last month’s natural disaster.
Japan’s Power Plan
Last June, Japan laid out plans to build nine atomic reactors by 2020 and at least five more the following decade to increase the nation’s portion of nuclear energy to 50 percent of overall power generation by 2030 from 29 percent in 2009. Prime Minister Naoto Kan said March 31 the country needs to revise those policies.
That means Japan will probably step up a campaign to encourage the use of solar cells for years at the expense of atomic power, Takashi Watanabe, a Tokyo-based analyst at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., wrote in an April 1 report. Solar may be the strongest option because of restrictions on where wind and thermoelectric power stations can be built, he said.
Replacing the proposed nuclear plants with solar ones would need 108 gigawatts of photovoltaic generation by 2020, according to Goldman. Based on the current estimated costs of solar cells, that capacity would cost more than $150 billion.
Solar panel prices will likely fall to $1.50 per watt in the second half of 2011 compared with about $1.80 in 2010, Jenny Chase, a solar analyst for Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said March 29.
Japanese Beneficiaries
Panasonic and Sharp, Japan’s biggest maker of solar panels, would benefit from increased domestic adoption of solar power as the companies earn about half of their solar-panel revenue from Japan, Watanabe said. The strength of their brands and relations with home builders would also help the Japanese companies over Chinese solar companies, he said. Sharp spokeswoman Miyuki Nakayama declined to comment.
“Interest in solar power and other alternative energy sources will probably rise further,” said Akihiko Oiwa, a spokesman for Sanyo Electric Co., Panasonic’s solar-panel unit. “Although they’re unlikely to replace nuclear energy right away, solar and other alternative energies will likely supplement existing power facilities.”
Politicians may help. Governor Yuji Kuroiwa held a 90- centimeter (3 foot) solar panel on the streets of Kanagawa prefecture this month as he pledged to install solar panels to support as many as 2 million households. Kanagawa, located south of Tokyo, will “kick off the revolution” to end Japan’s dependency on nuclear power, Kuroiwa said April 11, the day after the former journalist drew twice as many votes as his opponent in the election.
Insecurity
On the same day in Shizuoka prefecture, Governor Heita Kawakatsu said he aims to make Shizuoka the top municipality in terms of rate of solar panel usage. Kawakatsu plans to reduce Shizuoka’s reliance on nuclear energy from 80 percent by providing subsidies for consumers and funding research that could improve the efficiency of photovoltaic power.
“I’ve never felt such insecurity before,” said Tamako Sato, a 69-year-old housewife who lives in Kashiwazaki city, where the world’s biggest nuclear plant is located. “I want the plant to be out of the town.”
Reactors at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Kashiwazaki Kariwa plant have been halted since an earthquake hit the plant in 2007 and caused radiation to leak.
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