PV America - PT5 - Renusol Bart Leusink CEO
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
PV America - Part 2 - Solar Electric Power Assoc President/CEO Julia Hamm
PV America - Part 2 - Solar Electric Power Assoc President/CEO Julia Hamm
From the outset, SEPA recognized that many utilities and their customers lacked exposure or were skeptical about the potential of PV. In response, in 1994, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, SEPA initiated the Technology Experience to Accelerate Markets in Utility Photovoltaics, or TEAM-UP, program. DOE funding for the program totaled almost $15 million, and was matched by industry cost-share of over $60 million. 35 venture teams were part of the program and installed more than 1,100 PV systems, totaling 7.2 megawatts. I’m sure many of you will be surprised to hear that SEPA, through this one program, approximately doubled the installed PV in the U.S. at the time.
From the outset, SEPA recognized that many utilities and their customers lacked exposure or were skeptical about the potential of PV. In response, in 1994, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, SEPA initiated the Technology Experience to Accelerate Markets in Utility Photovoltaics, or TEAM-UP, program. DOE funding for the program totaled almost $15 million, and was matched by industry cost-share of over $60 million. 35 venture teams were part of the program and installed more than 1,100 PV systems, totaling 7.2 megawatts. I’m sure many of you will be surprised to hear that SEPA, through this one program, approximately doubled the installed PV in the U.S. at the time.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
U.S. Reaches Preliminary Decision on Solar Anti-Dumping Tariffs, Chinese Makers Pleasantly Surprised
U.S. Reaches Preliminary Decision on Solar Anti-Dumping Tariffs, Chinese Makers Pleasantly Surprised
1) Status of China’s Solar Industry
According to EnergyTrend, China’s second and third-tier solar panel manufacturers are not adept at taking orders themselves – the majority rely on orders outsourced by major makers. As a precaution against the U.S. AD and CVD lawsuits, Chinese manufacturers began moving production to Taiwan at the end of 2011, negatively affecting China’s second and third-tier makers. As the anti-dumping decision will not be reached until mid-May and the market currently remains in a state of oversupply, EnergyTrend believes major manufacturers will not significantly increase order volume to second and third-tier makers before May, which means the smaller makers will continue to suffer in the short term.
2) China-Taiwan Cooperation
As demand from the North American market is currently strong, it is unlikely Chinese manufacturers will give up on such a lucrative opportunity. According to EnergyTrend research, prior to the the AD ruling in May, Chinese makers will continue to maintain the same amount of outsourcing to Taiwanese manufacturers. Furthermore, the Taiwanese government recently decided to allow Chinese vendors to invest in the Taiwanese solar industry, a move that EnergyTrend believes will deepen cooperative ties between China and Taiwan.
1) Status of China’s Solar Industry
According to EnergyTrend, China’s second and third-tier solar panel manufacturers are not adept at taking orders themselves – the majority rely on orders outsourced by major makers. As a precaution against the U.S. AD and CVD lawsuits, Chinese manufacturers began moving production to Taiwan at the end of 2011, negatively affecting China’s second and third-tier makers. As the anti-dumping decision will not be reached until mid-May and the market currently remains in a state of oversupply, EnergyTrend believes major manufacturers will not significantly increase order volume to second and third-tier makers before May, which means the smaller makers will continue to suffer in the short term.
2) China-Taiwan Cooperation
As demand from the North American market is currently strong, it is unlikely Chinese manufacturers will give up on such a lucrative opportunity. According to EnergyTrend research, prior to the the AD ruling in May, Chinese makers will continue to maintain the same amount of outsourcing to Taiwanese manufacturers. Furthermore, the Taiwanese government recently decided to allow Chinese vendors to invest in the Taiwanese solar industry, a move that EnergyTrend believes will deepen cooperative ties between China and Taiwan.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Pulling Greenhouse Gases From The Air - Can It Be Done?
Pulling Greenhouse Gases From The Air - Can It Be Done?
This remains key to the appeal of air capture: Because greenhouse gases are dispersed around the globe, they can be extracted from the air anywhere. Carbon dioxide spewing from a tailpipe in Sao Paulo or a coal plant in China can be captured by a machine in Iceland or the Middle East because the atmosphere functions as a conveyor belt, moving CO2 from its sources to any sink. That’s important because while we can envision a world where most or all of the electricity we use comes from nuclear, solar or wind energy, or from fossil fuels where the CO2 is captured at the power plant, it’s harder to see how emissions from cars, trucks, trains, ships and planes can be eliminated. The beauty of air capture, Lackner and his colleagues explained, is that “one could collect CO2 after the fact and from any source….One would not have to wait for the phasing out of existing infrastructure before addressing the greenhouse gas problem.” Air capture plants, they wrote, could be located atop the best underground reservoirs for storing CO2, which may be in isolated locations. This fact is key to the business plans of all the air-capture startups. In only one regard was Lackner’s paper clearly mistaken — he estimated that the cost of air capture would be “on the order of $10 to $15 per ton,” a target that now looks wildly optimistic.
This remains key to the appeal of air capture: Because greenhouse gases are dispersed around the globe, they can be extracted from the air anywhere. Carbon dioxide spewing from a tailpipe in Sao Paulo or a coal plant in China can be captured by a machine in Iceland or the Middle East because the atmosphere functions as a conveyor belt, moving CO2 from its sources to any sink. That’s important because while we can envision a world where most or all of the electricity we use comes from nuclear, solar or wind energy, or from fossil fuels where the CO2 is captured at the power plant, it’s harder to see how emissions from cars, trucks, trains, ships and planes can be eliminated. The beauty of air capture, Lackner and his colleagues explained, is that “one could collect CO2 after the fact and from any source….One would not have to wait for the phasing out of existing infrastructure before addressing the greenhouse gas problem.” Air capture plants, they wrote, could be located atop the best underground reservoirs for storing CO2, which may be in isolated locations. This fact is key to the business plans of all the air-capture startups. In only one regard was Lackner’s paper clearly mistaken — he estimated that the cost of air capture would be “on the order of $10 to $15 per ton,” a target that now looks wildly optimistic.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
New Efficiency Record For Flexible Solar Panels
New Efficiency Record For Flexible Solar Panels
SoloPower uses innovative manufacturing technology to produce low-cost, high-efficiency CIGS-based photovoltaic cells. The CIGS cells are then packaged into unique, flexible, lightweight solar modules. The modules require less balance-of-system hardware and are easier to install than traditional solar panels.
SoloPower uses innovative manufacturing technology to produce low-cost, high-efficiency CIGS-based photovoltaic cells. The CIGS cells are then packaged into unique, flexible, lightweight solar modules. The modules require less balance-of-system hardware and are easier to install than traditional solar panels.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Unique Solar Trees Installation - Solar Energy
Unique Solar Trees Installation - Solar Energy
As property owners implement solar systems to save on energy costs and benefit the environment, they also appreciate the differentiation solar can provide the property and the city. Craig Merrigan, CEO of Spotlight Solar, the company that designed and manufactured the trees, commented that “the ultimate goal of the project is to make solar more visible and to increase the number of visitors to Discovery Place, where they can learn about renewable energy.”
As property owners implement solar systems to save on energy costs and benefit the environment, they also appreciate the differentiation solar can provide the property and the city. Craig Merrigan, CEO of Spotlight Solar, the company that designed and manufactured the trees, commented that “the ultimate goal of the project is to make solar more visible and to increase the number of visitors to Discovery Place, where they can learn about renewable energy.”
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wind Energy Industry Recovering
Wind Energy Industry Recovering
While global installed wind energy capacity increased dramatically during 2006-2009, the global recession sparked a 13.8% fall in annual additions during 2010, when major wind markets, including the US, Germany and Spain, faced economic struggles as a result of the global recession. These markets are soon expected to recover thanks to a huge order intake by major wind manufacturers across emerging regions. Wind power manufacturers worldwide received a high order intake in 2010, with expected delivery deadlines in 2011 and 2012, contributing to the large total of annual installations expected this year.
According to GlobalData, the value of the global wind repowering market has increased significantly during the last five years. In 2005, wind sites were repowered to an estimated cumulative capacity of 877 megawatts (MW). Since this time, the cumulative installed capacity has risen dramatically to 2,499.4 MW. Still, this explored capacity represents only around 17% of the total global repowering potential, which is estimated to exceed 50,000 MW by 2020.
In 2011, wind farms producing around 182.6 GWh of power were replaced with turbines capable of generating 773.7 GWh of power. In 2020, the repowered wind farms are expected to increase their power generation from 1,523.5 to 8,221.1 GWh due to the higher capacity and efficiency of the new turbines.
While global installed wind energy capacity increased dramatically during 2006-2009, the global recession sparked a 13.8% fall in annual additions during 2010, when major wind markets, including the US, Germany and Spain, faced economic struggles as a result of the global recession. These markets are soon expected to recover thanks to a huge order intake by major wind manufacturers across emerging regions. Wind power manufacturers worldwide received a high order intake in 2010, with expected delivery deadlines in 2011 and 2012, contributing to the large total of annual installations expected this year.
According to GlobalData, the value of the global wind repowering market has increased significantly during the last five years. In 2005, wind sites were repowered to an estimated cumulative capacity of 877 megawatts (MW). Since this time, the cumulative installed capacity has risen dramatically to 2,499.4 MW. Still, this explored capacity represents only around 17% of the total global repowering potential, which is estimated to exceed 50,000 MW by 2020.
In 2011, wind farms producing around 182.6 GWh of power were replaced with turbines capable of generating 773.7 GWh of power. In 2020, the repowered wind farms are expected to increase their power generation from 1,523.5 to 8,221.1 GWh due to the higher capacity and efficiency of the new turbines.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The Revolution of Solar Panels in the Home: Benefits Beyond Savings
The Revolution of Solar Panels in the Home: Benefits Beyond Savings
Incentives Galore
Not only are cheaper electricity bills an incentive to use solar panels, but the government rewards homeowners for using them as well with significant rebates, tax credits and other incentive programs. In fact, in some states homeowners can get government assistance to buy the solar panels for installation.
Incentives Galore
Not only are cheaper electricity bills an incentive to use solar panels, but the government rewards homeowners for using them as well with significant rebates, tax credits and other incentive programs. In fact, in some states homeowners can get government assistance to buy the solar panels for installation.
Since solar panels are constantly generating electricity, homeowners that are unable to use all of that energy don’t have to worry about it going to waste. Instead, a homeowner can sell that solar power credit to the electrical companies for utility credits. Though, it is rare for a homeowner to not use their energy, those that travel or leave their homes for a few weeks can store enough energy to sell back, which means turning a profit on a renewable and green purchase.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Zero Energy Homes and Alternative Energy
Zero Energy Homes and Alternative Energy
One of the problems for the industry is that only switched on home buyers are going to be able to appreciate the benefits of a low carbon home. As with many purchases consumers and builders tend to go for the cheapest short term option, consumers worry about costs and builders about profits. Without a clear compromise these beneficial types of home are not going to make a significant enough impact so we will end up building outdated housing stock that is not going to be replaced for decades to come.
One of the problems for the industry is that only switched on home buyers are going to be able to appreciate the benefits of a low carbon home. As with many purchases consumers and builders tend to go for the cheapest short term option, consumers worry about costs and builders about profits. Without a clear compromise these beneficial types of home are not going to make a significant enough impact so we will end up building outdated housing stock that is not going to be replaced for decades to come.
Monday, March 5, 2012
T Bone Pickens Energy Plan For America
T Bone Pickens Energy Plan For America
“The country uses almost 20 million barrels (of oil) a day, and of the 20 million we import 12,” Pickens said. “Some of that oil comes from friendly sources such as Canada and Mexico, but you do have 5 million barrels from OPEC countries. So any fool can see that you’re paying for both sides of a war. And you don’t have to do it. So what is a quick solution to the problem? Get on your own resources. And we have plenty of resources in America. What is missing is leadership in America.”
The Pickens Plan is comprised of several steps that would comprehensively rearrange how America sources its energy needs.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The US Solar Market Looking Bright
The US Solar Market Looking Bright
Anyone installing solar panels, whether it’s on their home or as part of a large solar farm is eligible for a 30% federal grant towards this cost. This is very valuable – a domestic sized system can easily cost $15,000 or more, so it’s a generous move by the government. Critics of the scheme dislike how solar panels are still not an affordable choice for the poorest of families, but in certain states there are further subsidies available.
Additional help comes in the form of feed in tariff schemes, which pay the owner of solar panels extra money if they are connected to the national grid – the electricity the panels generate but isn’t used can be transferred into the grid for a different house to use. The first President to implement such a scheme was Carter in the 1970s, but it has really become popular for solar energy in more recent years, being introduced in California, Washington, Hawaii and Michigan at varying rates, although in 2010 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission deemed it illegal to implement tariffs above the market value of electricity due to the Federal Power Act which prohibits setting wholesale electricity rates. This does mean there is a theoretical cap on tariff rates, although hopefully an exception will be made soon to allow renewable energy to be encouraged on a large scale.
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