[amor de cosmos]

bio photovoltaic panel produces energy from bacteria in soil

the bio-photovoltaic panel consists of a battery in which energy is harvested from bacteria inside the soil to release electrons. installed at the valldaura campus of the institute for advanced architecture of catalonia, the system has sensors that display its status, as well as make it self sufficient. the bacteria is fed through by-products from the photosynthesis of plants, and by introducing an anode and cathode (battery) into the soil, the free electrons can be extracted and put into the circuit.

bacteria living in the soil takes these plant nutrients and metabolizes them, releasing hydrogen protons and electrons – the introduction of a microbial fuel cell, anode and cathode means a redox process occurs, transferring the free electons in the soil from anode to cathode. by connecting a circuit with a capacitor or step-down converter into the fuel cell, it is possible to use this source of flow to power appliances or any other electrical device.

http://www.designboom.com/technology...voltaic-panel/

Ingenious to Funnel Half of IPO Proceeds Into U.K. Solar Assets
24 February 2014

Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) — Ingenious Media Holdings Plc, an investor in films such as “Life of Pi” and “Avatar,” plans to channel more than half of its planned 160 million-pound ($266 million) fundraising into U.K. solar assets.

The financial adviser will put about 99 million pounds into six ground-mounted solar energy projects totaling 80 megawatts, according to Roberto Castiglioni, the U.K. firm’s investment director for clean energy. That should power about 85,000 homes, he said, and four of the six plants are set to be operating next month.

“Capitalizing on the experience of their European counterparts, U.K. income investors have become increasingly attracted to investing in operational solar photovoltaic parks,” Castiglioni said in an e-mailed response to questions. “The sector has matured and offers long-term stable cashflows with a link to inflation.”

Ingenious Media is planning to raise 160 million pounds to 200 million pounds through an initial public offering of a closed-end investment company on the London Stock Exchange to invest in U.K. solar, onshore wind and energy efficiency projects. It’s seeking to close fundraising on March 18.

Ingenious plans to invest 47 million pounds in land-based wind-power assets and 25 million pounds in projects that curb energy waste and boost efficiency in public-sector buildings. Efficiency measures include installing low-energy light bulbs. It’s targeting a dividend of 6 pence for shares selling at 1 pound.

http://about.bnef.com/bnef-news/inge...-solar-assets/
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-0...ar-assets.html

Japan’s Third-Quarter Domestic Solar Shipments Double, JPEA Says
24 February 2014

Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) — Japan, the world’s second-largest solar market, saw domestic shipments of cells and modules double in the fiscal third quarter as developers took advantage of government incentives.

Local shipments totaled 2,043 megawatts in the three months through December, compared with 1,003 megawatts a year earlier, the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association said in a statement. Exports fell to 15 megawatts from 111 megawatts as growth in the Japanese market outpaced that in Europe.

The country’s solar industry is expanding after the government introduced subsidies for clean-energy developments, which also include wind, geothermal, hydropower and biomass, in July 2012. Japan added the most solar capacity after China last year, according to researcher Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Japanese suppliers accounted for 70 percent of all modules shipped domestically last quarter, including 541 megawatts produced at plants abroad, the statement shows. Forty companies including Sharp Corp. and Panasonic Corp. contributed data.

http://about.bnef.com/bnef-news/japa...ble-jpea-says/

Renewable Energy: 100% Of New U.S. Generating Capacity In January
By Pete Danko
Renewable Energy, Solar Power
February 24, 2014

Renewable energy comprised virtually 100 percent of the new generating capacity installed in the United States in January, according to a new government report.

The monthly Energy Infrastructure Update from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shows 325 megawatts of new generation going into service in January. The breakdown: 287 MW of solar; 30 MW of geothermal steam; 4 MW of wind; 3 MW of biomass; and 1 MW of “other” [PDF]. Don’t know what that “other” was, but it wasn’t natural gas, coal or oil, so we’re calling this an all-renewables month.

Most of the new solar power came in the form of a few big projects in the Southwest, but North Carolina was active (again), too. Here’s the full roster of projects highlighted in the FERC update:

• Exelon Corp’s 130 MW Antelope Valley Solar Phase II expansion project in Los Angeles County, CA is online. The power generated is sold to Pacific Gas and Electric under long-term contract.
• Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s 61 MW Topaz Solar Farm Phase III expansion project in San Luis Obispo County, CA is online. The power generated is sold to Pacific Gas and Electric under long-term contract.
• Duke Energy Corp’s 20 MW Dogwood Solar Power project in Halifax County, NC is online. The power generated is sold to Dominion Virginia Power under long-term contract.
• NextEra Energy Inc.’s 20 MW Mountain View Solar project in Clark County, NV is online. The power generated is sold to NV Energy under long-term contract.
• Strata Solar LLC has three solar projects that came online in NC: 6 MW Marshville Farm Solar project in Union County, and 6.4 MW Waco Farm Solar project in Cleveland County (The power generated from Marshville and Waco is sold to Duke Energy Carolinas under long-term contracts); and 6.4 MW Nash 58 Farm in Nash County (The power generated from Nash 58 Farm is sold to Progress Energy Carolinas under long-term contract).
• Wagstaff Farm I LLC’s 5 MW Wagstaff Farm I Solar project in Person County, NC is online. Power generated is sold to Progress Energy Carolinas under long-term contract.
• KKR Global Infrastructure Investors LP’s 20 MW Recurrent Gillespie 1 Solar project in Maricopa County, AZ is online. The power generated is sold to a local utility under long-term contract.
• Consolidated Edison Inc.’s 4 MW Russell Point Wind Farm project in Logan County, OH is online. The power generated is sold to Buckeye Power Inc. under long-term contract.
• Gradient Resources Inc.’s 30 MW Patua Hot Springs Geothermal project in Lyon County, NV is online. The power generated is sold to Sacramento Municipal Utility District under long-term contract.

http://earthtechling.com/2014/02/ren...ty-in-january/

Solar leads pack in new US generation capacity
24. February 2014 | Applications & Installations, Global PV markets, Investor news, Markets & Trends | By: Max Hall

Solar led the charge of renewables which accounted for over 99% of new electrical generation capacity installed in the US last month. But despite providing 287 MW of the 324 MW added in January, solar still represents only 0.7% of America's total electricity generation mix.

With the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) annnouncing more than 99% of domestic electrical generating capacity installed in the U.S. last month was from renewable sources, solar topped the pile.

FERC announced on Friday, solar dominated the new electric energy capacity mix in January with 13 new units accounting for 287 MW of the 324 MW installed.

That means solar dwarfed the second highest source of new electric generation capacity in the U.S. with three new geothermal steam units boasting 30 MW.

Three biomass facilities added 3 MW to the mix and a wind installation a further 1 MW with FERC's office of energy projects classifying the remaining 1 MW as 'other' in its latest Energy Infrastructure Update report.

If the figures represent encouraging news for the U.S. solar industry, the scale of the mountain to be climbed by renewables is represented by the latest figures for total electric generation capacity in the country.

Despite huge advances, solar still accounts for just 0.7% of the total energy mix, lagging behind wind – with 5.2% of the total figure – and even biomass, with 1.36%.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ity_100014323/

Greece awaits 'new deal' after adding 1 GW of solar in 2013
24. February 2014 | Markets & Trends, Investor news, Global PV markets, Industry & Suppliers | By: Ilias Tsagas

Greece's Environment Ministry is set to introduce new measures in the hopes of reaching a long-term solution, including FIT cuts and loan extensions. Consumers, however, face still more RES fee hikes.

According to a recent report by Greek electricity market operator LAGIE, Greece added an impressive 1,047 MW of new solar photovoltaic systems in 2013. Of these, 972 MW were ground-mounted systems and 75 MW were roof installations.

However, preliminary LAGIE data published on Wednesday indicates the country added only 3 MW of new solar PV in January 2014. While this data does not include autonomous electricity grids on Greece’s islands and may therefore increase slightly, a stark contrast with January 2013 when Greece had added 300 MW of new solar PV is inevitable.

PV is now the most widespread renewable power technology in Greece, accounting for a staggering 2,586 MW of installed solar capacity at the end of January. Wind power comes in second, reaching 1,828 MW of installed cumulative capacity.

Greece's photovoltaic growth last year came in somewhat irregular installments, with 797 MW of new capacity installed in the first quarter alone. An additional 158 MW, 36 MW and 56 MW were added in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively. Considering this year’s installations in January, Greece's PV market is apparently slowing down.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...013_100014319/

Solar manufacturing equipment sales lag the boom
24. February 2014 | Global PV markets, Industry & Suppliers, Investor news, Markets & Trends, Trade cases | By: Max Hall

US semiconductor giant Applied Materials has reported more gloomy news from its solar division. With a manufacturing overcapacity worldwide, PV companies are not investing in plant, says Applied.

The booming demand for solar worldwide that has seen manufacturers start the year wth renewed optimism is yet to feed through into orders for solar manufacturing equipment, according to the latest quarterly update from Applied Materials.

In a familiar tale for the U.S. semiconductor giant, rising sales in ist core business concealed further losses from its Energy and Environmental Services (EES) division, which includes solar.

As the company's US$29 billion merger with Tokyo Electron nears, Applied Materials' future in solar looks less certain than ever, with the EES division blaming the company's sole operating loss on an ongoing global solar manufacturing overcapacity that means solar and wafer makers are reluctant to invest in new plant.

With the U.S. company also citing the uncertainty caused by solar trade wars and the tightening of access to capital for solar developments as negative factors, Applied's priorities were further hinted at in the full analysis of the first quarter figures released to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday.

"Applied has taken certain actions, including workforce reductions and re-prioritization of existing spending to enable increased funding for investments in technical capabilities and critical RD&E programs that address profitable opportunities in current and new markets with a focus on semiconductor technologies," said the report.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...oom_100014317/

Australian firm to fund 150MW cell and module factory in Sri Lanka
By John Parnell - 24 February 2014, 11:36
In News, Fab & Facilities, PV Modules

An Australian energy consultancy has signed a deal with the Sri Lankan government to develop a US$190 million PV cell and module factory.

The facility in the country’s Board of Investment (BOI) trade zone near the southern city of Hambantota with have a capacity of 150MW.

Sydney-based Energy Puzzle will provide the investment for the project, which was approved in January with the final agreement signed on 21 February.

The majority of the facility’s output will be exported but some could be held back for local use, according to the BOI.

“Sri Lanka offers Australian enterprises many opportunities in the renewable energy sector,” said Patrick Featherston, director, Energy Puzzle. “The country has a well-educated workforce and maintains high standards of manufacturing, which is vital for a renewable energy sector such as the manufacture of solar panels.

“I am therefore, confident that the choice we made to invest in this rapidly developing country, with excellent connections to the South Asian region, East Asia, the Middle East and other parts of the world, is indeed the right one."

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/australi...y_in_sri_lanka

Network operator says rooftop solar PV shifts peak by several hours
By Giles Parkinson on 24 February 2014

The operator of South Australia’s electricity distribution network says rooftop solar PV played important role in protecting networks in recent heatwave and has shifted the peak of demand by several hours into the early evening.

Spark Infrastructure, which owns SA Power Networks in South Australia, as well as networks in Victoria, says data from the recent heatwaves in January and February made it clear that the proliferation of rooftop solar PV has shifted the peak in demand by a “couple of hours”, from around 5pm to 7pm.

“(Solar PV) helped reduce stress on the network during the heatwave,” Spark said in an analysts presentation on Monday. This, and greater preparation, meant that the network suffered little more than a “few blown fuses” this year despite two separate weeks of 5 consecutive days of 40C plus temperatures (and warm evenings), compared to a signficant “loss of assets” in the last major heatwave in 2009.

Five years ago, South Australia had little rooftop solar PV, but over the course of 2013 it jumped from 366MW of capacity at the start of the year to 548MW, and installations doubled in the second half. Its solar penetration is now an Australian high of 21.2 per cent of dwellings. (See separate story).

The conclusions by SA Power Networks fits in with the observations of private analysts and the Australian Energy Market Operator, which noted earlier this month that solar PV had shifted the peaks quite considerably.

This graph illustrates what has happened, compared to a similar day in 2009. It is similar to the AEMO graph of the same week. As we noted then, not only has it reduce the size of the peak by more than 5 per cent, and shifted it back by a couple of hours, but the volume and duration of the peak that has been dramatically reduced during the day. It would not take a lot of battery storage to shift and reduce that peak even further.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/netw...al-hours-89109

Uptake of rooftop solar PV surges in South Australia in 2nd half 2013
By Giles Parkinson on 24 February 2014

The uptake of rooftop solar PV in South Australia – already the state with the highest penetration of solar PV in the country – surged in the second half of 2013.

According to data provided by electricity distributor Spark Infrastructure, there was 548MW of rooftop solar PV on 157,000 South Australian rooftops as the end of the year. This represents 21.2 per cent of its about 750,000 residential customers.

According to Spark, the total capacity of rooftop solar PV in the state jumped 50 per cent over the year, from 366MW.

But the rate of installations actually doubled in the second half to 121MW, from 61MW in th first half, as the feed in tariff was reduced in September.

South Australia removed a 16c/kWh payment made through the networks in September, meaning that new households connections would receive only 9.8c/kWh for electricity exported to the grid.

That price has since fallen to 7.6c/kWh, as a result of falling wholesale prices (courtesy of South Australia’s large renewable contribution and falling demand), and will fall further to 6c/kWh when and if the carbon price is removed).

Rob Stobbe, the CEO of SA Power Networks, the South Australian business of Spark, said the average size of the rootop solar PV systems has doubled to 4MWh from 2MWh, and the other interesting trend is the uptake by commercial users.

“If you look at trends overseas, it is starting to happen here, and that is the move from residential to commercial installations,” Stobbe told an analysts briefing on Monday.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/upta...half-2013-2013

Distributed Generation Complicates Resource Planning for Utilities
Utilities might lobby for state regulatory tweaks, Dominion exec says
Wayne Barber, GenerationHub
February 24, 2014 | 0 Comments

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Distributed generation is complicating the previously straightforward task of resource planning, a Dominion (NYSE) official told a Washington, D.C., gathering Feb. 20.

“Even in Virginia, where the sun doesn’t shine like it does in Arizona,” and rates are relatively low, more customers are choosing to produce power during daylight hours via rooftop solar, said David Shuford of Dominion Resource Services.

Shuford, the company’s vice president of policy and business evaluation, said this further complicates utility integrated resource planning. Regulated utilities already use an analytical “crystal ball” to predict population growth and economic trends.

Now, however, utilities also have to estimate how many people in their regulated territory might employ distributed generation through rooftop solar in coming years.

Shuford appeared at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. as part of a presentation sponsored by ICF International, a technology, policy and management consulting firm. ICF dubbed the presentation, “Barbarians at the Gates or Utility 2.0.”

Shuford drew laughter when he said that neither he nor Dominion picked the title for the session and doesn’t consider DG proponents “barbarians.”

“The vast majority of our customers do not choose to self-generate,” Shuford said. Nevertheless, guessing wrong on DG estimates could cause a utility to either over-build or under-build generation.

This situation complicates the traditional utility compact where regulated electric monopolies provided power to captive customers, typically through centralized power plants, Shuford said.

Even customers who install rooftop solar still get most of their electricity from the power company’s generation assets.

If self-generating customers are no longer obligated to buy power from the regulated utility, it affects the utility business, Shuford said.

Shuford believes the current setup allows distributed generation participants to use the utility’s network of wires and infrastructure “as a battery.” The Dominion official also said the current package of legal incentives tends to grant DG customers a break from some of the expenses that go into reliable electric infrastructure.

With more customers looking into self-generation, it has created some talk of a “utility death spiral” where the regulated companies’ cost of maintaining infrastructure remains high while profit potential erodes, Shuford said.

“In the long term as prices come down, you may see to see utilities change their business dramatically,” to avoid stranded assets, Shuford said. “We are nowhere close to that point yet” and it might not happen in certain parts of the country.

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/...-for-utilities

New Year Off to Hot Start for US Solar Industry
Rhone Resch
February 24, 2014 | 0 Comments

With the coldest winter in two decades gripping much of the country this year – and wild price swings for natural gas rattling the markets, not to mention American consumers – it’s easy for many people to overlook the “hot start” in 2014 for solar energy.

But so far this year, it’s been good news followed by even more good news for the U.S. solar industry.

News flash: On Thursday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its latest “Energy Infrastructure Update” report, showing that early 90 percent of all new electric generation that came online in January was solar.

News flash: On Wednesday, the Department of the Interior (DOI) formally approved two new utility-scale solar power projects in California and Nevada, totaling 550 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity. Both projects are being developed by First Solar Inc. and mark a regulatory milestone. President Obama’s administration has now approved 50 large-scale renewable energy projects on public lands in the West since 2009 – more than half of them for solar.

News flash: Last week, the huge $2.2 billion Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System – located near the California-Nevada border – was completed, generating enough power for 140,000 homes. This state-of-the-art concentrating solar power (CSP) complex is owned by BrightSource Energy, NRG Energy and Google. San Francisco-based Bechtel, the largest construction company in the United States, provided engineering, procurement, construction and start-up services for the project.

News flash: Three weeks ago, in his nationally-televised State of the Union address, President Obama gave a personal “shout out” for solar, telling an audience of 35 million people: “Every four minutes, another American home or business goes solar; every panel pounded into place by a worker whose job can’t be outsourced.”

News flash: Four days before the President’s address to Congress, more than 3 million people took part in National “Shout Out For Solar” Day – celebrated as part of SEIA’s 40th anniversary as a national trade association – on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. This first-of-its-type event was also enthusiastically supported by hundreds of business and environmental groups nationwide.

News flash: On the same day, working with its member companies, SEIA launched its new “America Supports Solar” campaign, which highlights solar energy’s explosive growth across the United States, as well as its record-shattering year in 2013. It’s estimated that the U.S. now has 13 GW of installed solar capacity – enough to power more than 2 million American homes. What’s more, when all of the 2013 numbers are in, solar is expected to account for more new electric generating capacity in the U.S. than any other renewable energy source.

While 2013 was a record-breaking year, 2014 may be even better with 30 percent growth being forecast. Part of this unprecedented expansion is due to the fact that the average price of a solar system has dropped by more than 50 percent since 2010, benefitting consumers, businesses, schools and government entities.

And guess what? There’s even more good news on the horizon. The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Sunshot Initiative, which is working on ways to make solar more competitive with entrenched energy sources, estimates that by 2020 soft costs should not exceed 65 cents per watt for residential solar systems and 44 cents per watt for commercial systems.

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/...solar-industry