Solar Power Thread

[amor de cosmos]

BREAKING NEWS: And The Earth Moved: General Motors Throws Its Weight Behind Solar
February 6, 2013 Frank Andorka



GM has decided to take its considerable talents and power, and put themselves full-force into the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

So what? you might say. Another company is joining SEIA. Why is this big news?

Well, oh skeptical friends, this is not just any company. This is General Motors, the company about which President Eisenhower’s Secretary of Defense Charles Erwin Wilson legendarily once said, “What’s good for GM is good for the country.” This is that GM.

This decision by the company immediately raises the profile of the solar industry infinitely. Consider:

GM’s solar arrays in the United States generated enough electricity in 2012 to power 800 U.S. homes. That number is expected to double in 2013.

Its U.S. solar installations include:

• 1.8 MW rooftop solar array at Toledo (Ohio) Transmission Plant expected to generate 3 percent of the plant’s electric consumption.
• 1.237 MW array on the rooftop of its White Marsh, Md. plant near Baltimore – one of the largest in the state – generates nearly 6 percent of the facility’s electric consumption.
• 1 MW solar array on the rooftop of its Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. distribution center. It was the first public solar project in the United States at 1 megawatt when it began operating in 2006.
• 900 kW rooftop array on its parts distribution warehouse in Fontana, Calif.
• 516 kW ground-mount solar array at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly — the largest of its kind in Michigan.
• 350 kW ground-mount array at GM’s Lake Orion Assembly Plant will provide enough energy to power the equivalent of 45 homes annually in Michigan.

In the United States alone, 2.1 percent of GM’s energy consumption comes from renewable resources.

“We’ve been involved in putting solar on our facilities for the past seven years,” Threlkeld said. “GM a lot of experience in the solar industry as an end-user. We’ve learned a number of lessons — good and bad — that we think we can help the industry get its message out to the public.”

In its nine-point sustainability initiative, GM has committed to using 125 MW of power from renewable sources by 2020. Threlkeld said renewable energy used to be 5% of his job — now it’s nearly 100% of his job.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...-behind-solar/

[amor de cosmos]

Solar Business News: Panasonic Partners With Power-One
February 7, 2013 Kathleen Zipp : 0 Comments

Panasonic Corporation has entered into a strategic alliance agreement with Power-One Inc. The agreement aims for the global promotion of energy management businesses, such as stationary power storage systems. In the agreement, the two companies have agreed to jointly develop the business of non-residential and industrial large-scale power inverters in Japan. Panasonic will expand the non-residential and industrial energy management systems business.

Panasonic is developing an energy management system business that combines its high-efficiency solar panels and power inverters, power storage systems and Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), and already has prominent results in the Japanese residential market. Panasonic’s strengths lie in the development and production of lithium-ion battery cells, which are vital for power storage systems.

Meanwhile, Power-One is one of the largest designers and manufacturers of inverters used for solar power systems globally with operations in North America, Europe and Asia. As a leading innovator, Power-One markets best-in-class inverters for residential, commercial and utility-scale applications that provide the most design and installation flexibility of any products on the market today while delivering the highest energy harvest.

Power inverters are one of the core components of stationary power storage systems, which have been gaining a lot of attention for their ability to reduce investment required in equipment through power leveling and cutting peak power consumption in the large scale installation of renewable energy systems, as well for their use as backup power supplies in the event of earthquakes or other disasters. It is estimated that the size of the global market for stationary power storage systems will exceed 1 trillion yen1 by 2020, mainly in Europe, North America, and Japan, where renewable energy technology is being adopted.

Panasonic signed this strategic alliance agreement with Power-One in order to achieve the early introduction of large-scale power inverters to strengthen the energy management system business for the non-residential and industrial sector in Japan. The company is also aiming to achieve the early launch of a global business for stationary power storage systems with a wide line-up of systems from small to large-scale systems. Based on this alliance, Power-One is also aiming to expand its power storage system business globally with Panasonic’s power storage technology, while achieving entry into the growing Japanese market for large-scale solar power generation systems.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...ith-power-one/

US$150 million in tax credits for clean energy manufacturers
08. February 2013 | Industry & Suppliers, Markets & Trends | By: Shamsiah Ali-Oettinger

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Treasury have released US$150 million in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy and energy efficiency manufacturing projects in the country.

The tax program aims to strengthen U.S. global competitiveness in clean energy manufacturing, increase energy security and create new jobs and opportunities for American workers.

The tax credit was established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support investment into domestic, clean energy and energy efficiency manufacturing facilities via a competitively awarded 30% investment tax credit. The initial round provided $2.3 billion in credits to 183 projects across the U.S. and $150 million in tax credits that have not been used by previous awardees have been made available today.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ers_100010132/

2:50 mark

• Video Link

Fox News: Can You Get Any More Insane? Germany Is Sunnier Than The US? (VIDEO)
February 8, 2013



I could go on and on about this hilarious joke (tragic comedy, I guess, given that it wasn’t a joke and probably influenced a few million people). However, let’s get to the crux of the matter — the differences between Germany and the US when it comes to solar power and solar policy.

For some perspective, here are a few standout stats to put Germany’s solar capacity into perspective:

• In 2011, Germany had over 80 times more peak solar power compared to electricity demand than the US.
• Germany has over 57 times more solar power per capita than the “Sunshine State,” my home state of Florida.
• Germany has over 21 times more solar power per capita than the US.
• Germany has over 39 times more solar power relative to electricity production than the US.
• Germany has about 24 times more solar power per GDP than the US.

So, let’s get back to the question Fox & Friends started with — why does Germany have so much more solar power? Luckily, this is a topic CleanTechnica has covered many times. There are a few key reasons (which are quite interrelated):

• Germany installs solar power for about half the cost the US installs solar power.
• Germans get much more profit out of their solar power systems than Americans.
• Germans install solar systems much more quickly than Americans.

The next question, naturally, is why there are the above differences. Solar panels themselves are a global commodity, the prices are essentially the same all across the world.

The thing is, due to Germany’s better solar policies, permitting is much cheaper in Germany, and achieving a permit to install a solar system is much quicker. Also, due to the country’s feed-in tariff (a simple policy that requires utilities pay solar power producers of any size a set rate for the electricity they generate), greater financial benefits are available to the common household and more residents have seen the value in installing solar.

With greater market penetration, a much simpler government incentive, and faster installation times, customer acquisition costs are much lower than in the US, supply chain costs are much lower, labor is much cheaper, and overhead costs are much lower.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/08/...-the-us-video/

[ShooFlyPie]

These simpleton fox news pundits should just stay the f*ck away from blathering their stupidity about technology and overall human advancement. They are corporate shills, period. It is saddening that America is no longer the country that the world looks for in advancing technology.

[amor de cosmos]

Renewable Energy In The EU: Solar PV Leads Gains In Output, Turnover, & Employment
February 9, 2013



Green Energy, Jobs, and Economic Growth in the EU

Key takeaways from EurObserv’ER’s latest report on renewable energy in the EU include:

• Renewable energy share of gross final energy consumption 2011: 13.4% vs. 12.5% in 2010
• Renewable energy share in total electricity consumption 2011: 20.6% vs. 20.0% in 2010
• Renewable energy based employment 2011: 1.19 million employed vs. 1.11 million in 2010
• Renewable energy based economic activity 2011: 137 billion euro vs. 132 billion euro in 2010

A “slight” increase in gross consumption of final energy from renewable energy sources in 2011 – to 151.5 million metric tons oil equivalent (Mtoe) vs. 148.5 Mtoe in 2010 – along with a slight decrease in total gross energy consumption (to 1,126.6 Mtoe from 1,184.6 Mtoe in 2010 – accounts for the year-to-year increase, EurObserv’ER elaborated.

The value of renewable energy economic activity across the 27 EU member states for 2011 totaled more than €137 billion, a year-to-year increase of 3%. Revenue from sales in the solar photovoltaic (PV) market segment led the way, totaling €45,924 million, followed by that in the wind power and solid biomass segments of the renewable energy market.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/09/...nd-employment/

Renewable energy now cheaper than new fossil fuels in Australia
7 February 2013

Australia wind beats new coal in the world’s second-largest coal exporter

Sydney, 7 February 2013 – Unsubsidised renewable energy is now cheaper than electricity from new-build coal- and gas-fired power stations in Australia, according to new analysis from research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

This new ranking of Australia’s energy resources is the product of BNEF’s Sydney analysis team, which comprehensively modelled the cost of generating electricity in Australia from different sources. The study shows that electricity can be supplied from a new wind farm at a cost of AUD 80/MWh (USD 83), compared to AUD 143/MWh from a new coal plant or AUD 116/MWh from a new baseload gas plant, including the cost of emissions under the Gillard government’s carbon pricing scheme. However even without a carbon price (the most efficient way to reduce economy-wide emissions) wind energy is 14% cheaper than new coal and 18% cheaper than new gas.

“The perception that fossil fuels are cheap and renewables are expensive is now out of date”, said Michael Liebreich, chief executive of Bloomberg New Energy Finance. “The fact that wind power is now cheaper than coal and gas in a country with some of the world’s best fossil fuel resources shows that clean energy is a game changer which promises to turn the economics of power systems on its head,” he said.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s research on Australia shows that since 2011, the cost of wind generation has fallen by 10% and the cost of solar photovoltaics by 29%. In contrast, the cost of energy from new fossil-fuelled plants is high and rising. New coal is made expensive by high financing costs. The study surveyed Australia’s four largest banks and found that lenders are unlikely to finance new coal without a substantial risk premium due to the reputational damage of emissions-intensive investments – if they are to finance coal at all.



Before that time, clean energy investment will be driven up, and power sector emissions down, only with the support of Australia’s Large-scale Renewable Energy Target. Despite compelling economics for new-build renewables today, Australia’s fleet of coal-fired power stations built by state governments in the 1970s and 1980s can still produce power at lower cost than renewables, because their original construction cost has now been depreciated.

“New wind is cheaper than building new coal and gas, but cannot compete with old assets that have already been paid off,” Bhavnagri said. “For that reason policy support is still needed to put megawatts in the ground today and build up the skills and experience to de-carbonise the energy system in the long-term.”

http://about.bnef.com/2013/02/07/ren...-in-australia/

Tracker Pumps Up Solar Energy Production As Much As 25%
February 8, 2013 Kathleen Zipp : 0 Comments

Solar FlexRack says its wind-tunnel tested FlexRack Tracker can increase energy production of PV modules as much as 25%. The solution also includes advanced programming features that maximize output and assembles simply with just two people.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...gy-production/

[amor de cosmos]

loads of graphs & data:

10 Huge Lessons We’ve Learned From Solar Power Success In Germany
February 9, 2013

1. Feed-in tariffs (aka CLEAN Contracts in the US) can drive solar power growth like nothing else.
2. A more mature solar power market sells solar power for a much lower price.
3. More streamlined permitting works.
4. Feed-in tariffs democratize the electric grid.
5. Democratizing the grid gets residents informed and motivated about energy.
6. The grid will not fall apart at 5% solar penetration… or 10%… or 15%… or 20%.
7. Solar power brings down the price of wholesale electricity.
8. Even very grey places can generate a lot of solar power.
9. Even once solar power capacity is equal to 50% of electricity demand, utility execs, fossil fuel execs, their buddies in government, and their buddies in the media won’t stop fighting it.
10. People love the sun — they love clean, solar energy — and they always will.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/09/...power-lessons/
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison

7 Solar, Wind, Energy Efficiency, Geothermal, & EV Charts & Graphs From Bloomberg New Energy Finance
February 9, 2013

1. Solar PV prices have been falling fast globally
2. Renewable energy growth has been strong
3. LCOE has been changing quickly, but here’s the breakdown at the end of 2012
4. Hybrid & EV sales represented 3% of US auto sales in 2012
5. US commercial building energy intensity has been dropping for years
6. US utilities are spending more and more money on energy efficiency
7. US energy-related CO2 emissions have dropped and primary energy consumption has dropped while GDP has risen

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/09/...nergy-finance/

[amor de cosmos]

Czech Republic Has 35.5 Times More Solar Per Capita Than The Sunshine State (Florida)
February 11, 2013

The stat above comes from my quick analysis of the top solar power countries in the world (per capita) versus the top solar power states in the world (per capita). It’s actually based on Q3 2012 state data and Q4 2011 country data, so it gives Florida a 9-month bonus.

It’s a “fun stat” and there are many more like it that I could have chosen, but I’m simply using the stat to get to the matter of importance: why is solar power growth in “The Sunshine State” and much of the US so much weaker than solar power growth in the super grey Czech Republic, super grey Germany (Germany has over 57 times more solar power per capita than Florida.), super grey Belgium, etc?

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/11/...unshine-state/

Barclays Ponies Up £1 Million Loan For Pay-As-You-Go Solar Systems For Sub-Saharan Homes
February 11, 2013

A £1 million working capital loan from Barclays is providing the funding for British solar technology company Azuri to bring another 30,000 pay-as-you-go solar systems to homes in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Azuri IndiGo “brings power at scale to off-grid customers in rural emerging markets, providing basic needs that are regarded as routine in more developed countries,” according to the web site.

For many homes in sub-Saharan Africa, lack of electricity means that lighting often comes from kerosene, which emits fumes and is expensive and dangerous. With IndiGo, users can have about eight hours of light per night and charge their mobile phones via solar power.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/11/...saharan-homes/

Solar Battle Afoot In Arizona Due To Cheap Solar?
February 11, 2013



Rather than embracing the economic engine (and long-term insurance on the cost of future generation) that the solar industry could provide, Arizona is moving aggressively in the opposite direction. The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), which is Arizona’s version of a public service commission (it is an all elected body – unusual, as only 9 states have publicly elected commissioners – and is presumably representative of the state), has taken three distinct steps against the solar industry.

This is part of a broader trend to attack state based policies supporting clean energy. Underpinned by the American Legislative Exchange Council, which has taken a very public stance against renewable portfolio standards and has drafted a model bill for repealing state RPS programs, and supported by other conservative groups that have publicly proclaimed state support for clean energy a key target, there are a number of actions to reduce clean energy support being tested across the country.

In Virginia, the Attorney General is leading efforts to remove financial incentives for renewable energy projects. In North Carolina, rumors are rampant that the state tax credit for renewable energy is at risk (though there are also broader efforts to repeal the whole of the state income tax regime). However, while these are noteworthy developments, it is in sunny Arizona that the anti-clean energy campaign (and this is really about solar in Arizona) has found an ally.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/11/...o-cheap-solar/

French Solar Power Generation Advances By 67% In 2012
February 11, 2013

French solar energy generation in 2012 saw some big gains.

According to the 2012 French Electricity Report, 4 terrawatt hours (Twh) of solar energy came from photovoltaic systems, making up for 0.79% of France’s energy demand last year.

Meanwhile 1.022 gigawatts (GW) of solar energy was installed, boosting the overall solar capacity to 3.5 GW.

The report noted that the leaps and bounds made by solar in France is helping to boost the country’s overall renewable energy mix to 16.4%.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/11/...by-67-in-2012/

India: Kerala unveils 10,000 PV rooftop program
11. February 2013 | Applications & Installations | By: Becky Beetz

The Indian state of Kerala has unveiled a program aimed at installing 10,000 one kW rooftop photovoltaic systems. The initiative was launched today by India’s Minister for New and Renewable Energy.

Overall, the state aims to install 10 MW of photovoltaics on rooftops in Kerala. A total of INS1.75 billion (around €24.3 million; US$32.5 million) will be invested in the project, INS800 million of which will come from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ram_100010176/

Schwarzenegger and Stern hail solar’s role in turning tide of climate apathy
By Ben Willis - 11 February 2013, 14:45
In Editors' Blog

If the global solar industry was looking for ambassadors, it may just have found two – one in the form of former California governor and Hollywood action man Arnold Schwarzenegger, the other in the starkly contrasting figure of leading climate change economist Lord Stern. Both were headline speakers at an international clean-tech conference in Germany last week organised by renewable energy investment bank ThomasLloyd.

The ‘Governator’ gave a typically robust account of his achievements in power. Chief among these was his flagship California Solar Initiative (CSI), which set a goal of seeing solar panels installed on one million Californian rooftops.

It was an inevitable success for Schwarzenegger to point to – a high profile initiative that, whatever your feelings for the former Terminator actor, has brought solar firmly into the mainstream in California.

http://www.pv-tech.org/editors_blog/...climate_apathy

Pacific Solar submits plans for 123.5MW of Chilean solar plants
By Julia Chan - 11 February 2013, 11:18
In News, Power Generation, Project Focus



The first plant, called Inti Photovoltaic Project, will have a capacity of 69.5MW and will be developed by Chile-based Inti Pacific 1, an affiliate of Spanish renewable energy developer. It will require an investment of around US$139 million and be equipped with 350,280 polycrystalline silicon PV modules.

If approved, the plant will begin construction in December 2013. When complete, it will be connected to the Northern Interconnected System (SING) grid through a purpose-built substation located within the project area.

The second plant, called Pacific Photovoltaic Project, will have a capacity of 54MW and will be developed by Inti Pacific 2, also an affiliate of Nexer. The development of the project will be split into two phases. The first phase will involve installing 17MW of capacity while the second phase will involve installing the remaining 37MW.

In total, the plant will require an investment of US$108 million and utilise 272,160 polycrystalline silicon modules. It is slated to begin construction towards the end of December 2013 and expected to come into operation in April 2014.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/pacific_...n_solar_plants

10 Tips For Submitting A 1603 Grant Application For Solar
February 11, 2013 Kathleen Zipp : 0 Comments

1) Canceled Checks
2) “Expensive” Projects
3) Management/Development Fees
4) Cost Breakdown

a. Site work
b. Permitting
c. Engineering
d. Panels – How many, what brand?
e. Inverters – How many?
f. Transponders

5) Disqualified Costs
6) Checklists
7) Related Parties
8) Dual Emails
9) Register for Payment
10) Time Limits

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...ion-for-solar/

[amor de cosmos]

Vikram Solar commissions 40MW PV plant in Rajasthan
By Julia Chan - 12 February 2013, 13:54
In News, Power Generation, Project Focus

Module manufacturer Vikram Solar has commissioned a 40MW PV facility in Rajasthan, India.

Speaking to PV-Tech, a spokesperson from Vikram Solar confirmed that the plant became operational 10-12 days ago. As EPC provider, Vikram Solar began constructing the plant in September 2012. In addition to providing EPC services, the company also supplied and installed its polycrystalline modules at the plant.



The 40MW project — which required an investment of around US$74 million — was awarded to Vikram Solar under the Indian government’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) programme which aims to install 20GW of PV capacity in the country by 2022.

The spokesperson from Vikram Solar also confirmed that the company is planning to install more than 300MW of PV capacity in the next five years.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/vikram_s...t_in_rajasthan

Financial risk of solar’s growing pains
By Felicity Carus - 12 February 2013, 11:22
In Editors' Blog

One renewable energy form's loss is another’s gain. After a year of breakneck installations in the wind industry and a stay of execution for the Production Tax Credit until the end of 2013, investors are swinging their focus towards the sun. That much was clear from PV America East last week.

Izzet Bensusan, the President and Chief Executive of Karbone, a renewables and carbon brokerage and project finance adviser based in New York, is clearly optimistic about solar's horizon, at least until 2017, when solar's own tax credit drops to 10%.

"We think huge growth is going to happen. I don't mean to say this only on the side of where the need is to build renewable energy, but I also mean it in the sense of where we see investment coming in. That's very important."

The day before his presentation in Philadelphia, he said he had been talking to managers at a fund looking to invest in renewable projects that has already raised $500 million equity and close to getting another $500 million. Another "shop" was slated to close a $750 million fund, he added.

"If you start adding … it's close to $29 billion over the next four years. People should see this as an opportunity and a risk. With more capital you can be sure that any commodity price we're chasing will go down in value."

http://www.pv-tech.org/editors_blog/..._growing_pains

NPD Solarbuzz: UK PV installations surpass 2GW milestone
By Julia Chan - 12 February 2013, 10:55
In News, Power Generation

Cumulative UK PV capacity has surpassed the 2GW mark following a record year of PV installations in 2012, according to the forthcoming NPD Solarbuzz Marketbuzz 2013 report.

PV demand during 2012 reached 965MW, exceeding the record levels seen during 2011. According to the market intelligence firm, this increased demand was spurred by an attractive policy environment, declining PV system prices and a low-risk investment climate.

“The UK has now been a top-10 country for PV demand during both 2011 and 2012,” commented Finlay Colville, Vice-President at NPD Solarbuzz. “With demand trending at the gigawatt-level and cumulative PV installs passing the 2GW mark, the UK can now officially be prioritised as a GW-size market by the global PV supply chain.”

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/npd_sola..._2gw_milestone

Panasonic hits 24.7% cell efficiency
12. February 2013 | Markets & Trends, Research & Development | By: Jonathan Gifford

The Panasonic Corporation has claimed what it says is a world record for a crystalline silicon-based photovoltaic cell of a "practical size" with an efficiency of 24.7%. Japan’s Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology has evaluated the efficiency.

While photovoltaic cells produced for CPV applications have pushed efficiencies north of 40%, c-Si cells of a "practical size" are also continuing to increase efficiencies.

In the latest result, Japan’s Panasonic has produced a cell with a conversion efficiency of 24.7%. The cell utilizes Panasonic’s HIT technology and is 98 μm thick. Panasonic reports that such a thickness also has "significant implications" in terms of cost reduction.

The Panasonic HIT solar cell has a surface area of 101.8cm².

Panasonic applies a stack cell approach, where an amorphous silicon (a-Si) layer is in place on top of a monocrystalline silicon (c-Si) substrate. Key to Panasonic’s technology, the company claims, is that it's a-Si application is done so without damaging the c-Si substrate. The result is an open voltage improvement from 0.748 V to 0.750 V, according to the company statement.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ncy_100010185/

Global Solar Capacity Tops 100 Gigawatts on Asian Markets
11 February 2013

Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) — Global solar-power capacity rose to at least 101 gigawatts last year as growth in China, the U.S. and Japan outstripped some markets in Europe.

About 30 to 32 gigawatts were completed worldwide, compared with almost 30 gigawatts in 2011, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association said today in an e-mailed statement. Solar photovoltaic plants can now generate as much electricity as about 16 mid-sized nuclear power stations, the lobby group said.

Governments from India to Chile are promoting sun-based power to satisfy growing energy demand while meeting emission targets. Global installations expanded last year after an equipment glut drove down solar-panel prices, even as European markets slowed following a reduction in state subsidies.

“No one would have predicted even 10 years ago that we would see more than 100 gigawatts of photovoltaic capacity in the world by 2012,” EPIA President Winfred Hoffman said in the statement. “The industry clearly faces challenges but the results of 2012 show there is a strong global market.”

http://about.bnef.com/2013/02/11/glo...ian-markets-2/

Macquarie says rooftop solar juggernaut is unstoppable
By Giles Parkinson on 12 February 2013

The fundamental transformation of energy markets brought about by the growing incursions of renewables such as wind and solar has been underlined in a new report by the European energy analysts at Macquarie Group, who have concluded that the plunge in costs for rooftop solar PV has fallen to such an extent that its continued rapid deployment may be unstoppable.

In an analysis that broadly reflects the conclusion of UBS energy analysts about how rooftop solar PV is heralding an energy revolution, Macquarie notes that many existing fossil fuel generators in Germany are losing money and could go out of business. And even steep subsidy cuts to renewables would not reverse the trend.

“Traditional wisdom suggests that steep subsidy cuts can bring the solar build-out under control again,” the Macquarie analysts note. “We disagree, though, as the ever-increasing prices for domestic and commercial customers as well as rapid solar cost declines have brought on the advent of grid parity for German roofs. Thus, solar installations could continue at a torrid pace.”

Here are some key graphs to illustrate its point. Macquarie notes that wholesale prices in Germany have fallen 29 per cent over the last five years, while retail prices have risen 31 per cent – both movements at least partly due to the impact of renewables. But those movements pale in comparison with the dramatic fall in the cost of rooftop solar PV.

Macquarie says rooftop solar generation in Germany currently costs between €0.12kWh and €0.14/kWh (assuming 85 per cent debt financing and 4 per cent interest rate). These compare favourably with retail grid electricity prices of €0.28/kWh (even at just 50 per cent on-site self-consumption). But solar PV can even offer savings at industrial and commercial grid prices which are even lower at €0.11-0.17/kWh.

“Consequently, solar installations could continue at a rapid pace even without subsidies,” Macquarie notes. “Ultimately, this would threaten the role of coal-fired generation as the price setter in wholesale power price formation.”

Macquarie says that these effects seem self-reinforcing and hard to stop, unless there is a total power system overhaul. That, though, is unlikely. “We cannot see political will for such an overhaul. Quite to the contrary, German Environment Minister (Peter) Altmaier proposed in October 2012 to lift the country‟s 2020 renewable energy target to 40 per cent” (and its 2030 target to 80 per cent).

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/macq...toppable-40618

Solar module price forecasts lowered to 42c/watt
By Giles Parkinson on 12 February 2013

One of the most common misconceptions about the global solar PV market is that is it the massive oversupply that is driving the bulk of technology cost reductions, and that these cost cuts will evaporate once the market has reached some sort of equilibrium.

Nothing could be further from the truth. As we have remarked before, the intense competition in the market is sparking remarkable innovation and efficiencies in the manufacturing process.

Last July, we noted how Greentech Media was heralding the arrival of US50c/Watt solar modules by 2015 – a development that would likely herald the arrival of parity between the cost of fossil fuels and utility scale solar in the US, China and India.

Six months later, Greentech Media have already cut that forecast for solar modules by 18 per cent, and brought forward the time interval by a year. According to research published overnight, the group is now forecasting the price of conventional silicon based solar modules to fall to US42c/Watt by 2015.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/sola...-42cwatt-53901

2013-02-12 [ ]
New Material Promises Better Solar Cells
Researchers at the Vienna University of Technology show that a recently discovered class of materials can be used to create a new kind of solar cell.

Single atomic layers are combined to create novel materials with completely new properties. Layered oxide heterostructures are a new class of materials, which has attracted a great deal of attention among materials scientists in the last few years. A research team at the Vienna University of Technology, together with colleagues from the USA and Germany, has now shown that these heterostructures can be used to create a new kind of extremely efficient ultra-thin solar cells.

Discovering New Material Properties in Computer Simulations

“Single atomic layers of different oxides are stacked, creating a material with electronic properties which are vastly different from the properties the individual oxides have on their own”, says Professor Karsten Held from the Institute for Solid State Physics, Vienna University of Technology. In order to design new materials with exactly the right physical properties, the structures were studied in large-scale computer simulations. As a result of this research, the scientists at TU Vienna discovered that the oxide heterostructures hold great potential for building solar cells.

http://www.tuwien.ac.at/en/news/news.../article/8020/

500-KW Solar Array in NC is Complete
February 11, 2013 Kathleen Zipp : 0 Comments

PCX Corporation LLC, manufacturer of offsite fabricated and modular electrical power systems for the commercial construction and data center industry, recently commissioned a rooftop solar array at its 70,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Clayton, North Carolina.

PCX is proud to host one of the first large roof mounted solar arrays energized in the Johnston County area. It demonstrates our commitment to the environment and our participation in the Green Energy movement with all of our customers.” said Gary Pollock, VP and General Manager of PCX Corporation.

The solar farm is expected to generate approximately 650,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of power annually, which would be enough electricity to power approximately 46 average sized homes. The installation is comprised of 2,030 solar panels supplied by Yingli Green Energy and is assembled on approximately 54 thousand square feet of unused roof space on PCX Corporation’s manufacturing facility. The system will offset 670 tons of CO2 emissions equivalent to 78 passenger vehicles and keep 1,100 barrels of oil from being used each year. All of the power generated from the system will be sold back to the utility under a 20 year power purchase agreement.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...c-is-complete/

[amor de cosmos]

100MW Solar Project Planned For North Carolina
February 13, 2013

Strata Solar is planning a 100-megawatt (MW) solar power farm in Duplin County, North Carolina, about 40 miles north of Wilmington and the same distance from the eastern coast. When finished, this new solar power facility will actually be one of the largest east of the Mississippi River.

Currently, no solar farm in North Carolina is anywhere near the size of the planned Strata Solar project. For the sake of comparison, one of the leading energy companies in North Carolina – Duke Energy – has about 26 MW of solar power in operation providing enough electricity for up to approximately 3,900 homes (when there is adequate sunshine).

Photovoltaics will be used to cover about 400 acres of land, and roughly 400 workers will be employed during the construction phase. Total cost is an estimated $250 million. Solar panels will be provided by Canadian Solar, an Ontario-based company. The Duplin County installation will sell electricity to Progress Energy Carolinas.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/13/...orth-carolina/

First Self-Assembling Quantum-Dot-in-Nanowire System: A “Game-Changer” For Solar PV?
February 13, 2013

Working at the frontiers of photonics and nano-scale semiconductor fabrication, an international team of researchers from universities and laboratories in Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, and the US have “demonstrated a process whereby quantum dots can self-assemble at optimal locations in nanowires, a breakthrough that could improve solar cells, quantum computing, and lighting devices,” according to a February 8 NREL press release.

Reproducing breakthrough research undertaken by Swiss scientists, US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) senior researcher Jun-Wei Luo made use of NREL’s supercomputer to demonstrate a “quantum-dot-in-nanowire” system that “raises a huge potential for their use in detecting local electric and magnetic fields. The quantum dots also could be used to charge converters for better light-harvesting, as in the case of photovoltaic (PV) cells.”

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/13/...-for-solar-pv/

Three Charts to Help You Understand Chile’s Emerging Utility-Scale Solar Market
Chile offers major opportunities for solar companies. But the conditions on the ground will make development tricky.
Stephen Lacey: February 12, 2013

1. Installations will grow strongly in Chile, but it will take many years for the 6 GW of project announcements to materialize.
2. Initial development will focus on the mining sector, but larger projects will sell into the spot market.
3. Only the most sophisticated companies will be able to navigate Chile's complicated electricity market.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articl...-strong-growth

Solar 2.0: The Next Business Cycle in PV
What does the solar industry look like in the post-ITC, post-CSI, post-tariff, $0.50-per-watt-module world?
Eric Wesoff: February 12, 2013

One hundred gigawatts of solar PV is installed on the global grid.

That first 100 gigawatts has brought the solar industry to this curious point.

• The solar industry is living through the denouement of a market jacked up on incentives and the associated manufacturing overcapacity and painful consolidation.
• Entrepreneurs are witnessing the collapse of a venture capital bubble in solar and its legacy of dead-men-walking thin-film and CPV firms, funded and abandoned by VC investors and their limited partners.
• This is the twilight of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and California Solar Initiative (CSI) in the U.S. -- which faces a future absent any federal incentive for photovoltaics.
• The new global trade reality entails tariffs on Chinese solar panels in the U.S. and looming trade wars between China, the U.S., India and the EU.
• Major shifts are happening in China's solar manufacturing industry and its domestic solar market.
• There is also a shift in solar markets from the EU to the The Americas, Japan, and the Global South.

Despite all of these dynamics and headwinds, the solar industry continues to grow, while the cost of panels, electronics, etc. continues to fall.

So what does solar in the post-ITC, post-CSI, post-tariff, $0.50-per-watt-module future look like? It won't look like today's industry.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articl...ss-Cycle-in-PV

US Residential Solar Financing to Reach $5.7 Billion by 2016
As residential solar leases become available in fourteen U.S. states, GTM Research releases the market’s first complete vendor analysis.
STAFF: February 11, 2013

Third-party financing of solar PV has become the predominant business model in some of the largest residential markets in the U.S.; today, third-party financed residential installations comprise greater than 50 percent of new residential solar capacity in California, Arizona, Colorado and Massachusetts, with the model gaining greater market share in other states such as Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.

Today GTM Research, the leading solar market analysis and advisory firm in the U.S., releases U.S. Residential Solar PV Financing: The Vendor, Installer and Financier Landscape, 2013-2016. This 21-page report provides an integrated look at the vendors, installers and financiers offering residential solar financing across the U.S.. The report analyzes the leading vendors and their business models, the strategic relationships and market shares of third-party residential installers as well as the financiers that are capitalizing on the market. In addition, the brief examines the total addressable residential market in the U.S. with forecasts through 2016.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articl...illion-by-2016

Super-Mono Is One Path to Gross Margins in Solar Manufacturing
A focus on N-type solar cells distinguishes Comtec from its peers.
Carolyn Campbell: February 12, 2013

With earnings season just around the corner, you can expect a surge of articles highlighting the financial results of the usual solar suspects. However, as we wrote last week, a number of lesser-known, yet important, trends are overlooked in most solar coverage.

In this series, we'll highlight some of these less prominent global supply chain trends by sharing a selection from GTM Research’s Global Competitive Intelligence (CI) Tracker. Here, we focus on Shanghai Comtec Solar Technology and its success in the N-type cell market.



What sets Comtec apart from its competitors? The company has successfully focused on ramping up production of wafers for high-efficiency (21 percent-plus) N-type cells, where the majority dopant is phosphorus instead of boron as in standard (P-type) cells. Comtec commenced production of its N-type product, called “Super Mono,” in mid-2011 and has been generating strong purchase orders ever since.

Comtec’s focus on N-type product (assuming that it can be produced cost-effectively) not only allows them to command a sizeable price premium, but also means they serve a far less competitive market -- namely, manufacturers producing N-type cells. Right now, the only companies doing so at scale are SunPower, Sanyo, and Yingli, the last of which produces its own wafers. But lest this seem a niche market, all three are major producers: total N-type capacity for these three firms at the end of 2012 was almost 2.5 gigawatts, and for a producer of Comtec’s size (YE 2012 capacity: 600 megawatts), that is more than enough, given that they have almost no competition at the moment.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articl...eading-Margins

PV 2013: No guts, no glory
13. February 2013 | Top News, Global PV markets, Industry & Suppliers, Investor news, Markets & Trends | By: Cheryl Kaften

Photovoltaics will see expansion during 2013, but those who are looking to invest globally must study the landscape and take astute risks – exemplifying the attitude, "No guts, no glory." A local presence in key developed regions, including the U.S., Japan and China, will pay dividends, according to Lux Research, particularly in terms of distributed generation.

Those are the findings of a report just released by the Boston-based research company. "While some historically strong demand markets will continue to pay dividends, the real winners going forward will need to make a few well-informed bets," said Matt Feinstein, Lux Research analyst and the lead author of the study, "Past is Prologue: Market Selection Strategy in a New Solar Policy Environment."

"Successful players will anchor business in key developed regions like the United States, Europe, Japan, and China, and place informed bets in markets like South/Central America, the Middle East, and Africa, through new offices or partnerships," he added.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ory_100010191/

China, India Emerge as Most Promising High-Growth Markets for Solar
February 12, 2013 Kathleen Zipp : 0 Comments

Global policy changes and the crystalline silicon module price crash have brought the solar industry to a pivotal point from which it must transform and thrive in a cost-conscious environment, targeting high-growth markets such as China and India, says Lux Research.



Lux Research analyzed the risk vs. reward, based on policy and market factors, for both distributed and utility-scale solar in countries around the world. Among their findings:

• Europe shines for distributed generation. Established markets remain fruitful for distributed generation despite downturns in demand and reduced feed-in tariffs. Markets such as Germany and Italy have demonstrated a strong preference for rooftop systems and have strong existing channels to market.
• Utility-scale generation soars in emerging markets. High-growth markets come with high risks as well, but emerging economies of India, China, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia are set to become solar powers. Competition is booming in the last three in particular, and each will exceed installation targets.
• Fortune favors the bold. In solar, firms that take calculated risks and expand quickly into foreign markets will boost success, as First Solar and many Chinese module manufacturers have shown. As the Chinese industry consolidates, opportunities exist for other global players.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...ets-for-solar/

Mexico reaches 14 MW of PV installations
12. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Global PV markets, Markets & Trends | By: Ilias Tsagas

Mexico has reported a cumulative installed photovoltaic capacity of 14 MW – almost double that of 2011. Growth is projected to continue on the same trajectory this year.

Mexico's National Solar Energy Association (ANES) has confirmed the figure, and further estimated that there are about 60,000 photovoltaic modules installed in the country.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ons_100010187/

UK hits 2 GW of PV
12. February 2013 | Markets & Trends, Global PV markets | By: Jonathan Gifford

Figures released today from NPD Solarbuzz have shown that cumulative photovoltaic demand from the U.K. market has now hit 2 GW. 2012 saw close to 1 GW of demand.

The U.K. has become one of the top-10 countries in terms of photovoltaic demand for both 2011 and 2012, with the cumulative total now reaching 2 GW. The figures, from NPD Solarbuzz, show that demand for photovoltaics in the country has exceeded expectations, reaching 965 MW in 2012.

In a statement announcing the result, NPD Solarbuzz’s Finlay Colville said that the U.K. can now be considered a market of note by the industry. "With demand trending at the GW level and cumulative PV installs passing the 2 GW mark, the U.K. can now officially be prioritized as a GW-size market by the global PV supply chain," said Colville.

Driving the strong result has been the certainty that has been restored to the market through the predictable digressive FIT regime (DFIT) and the Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) requirement. 2011 was a tumultuous year for the photovoltaic industry with sudden changes to FITs and legal challenges as to their validity. Legal action is currently underway regarding the cuts, led by a group of "solar and construction companies" seeking £140 million (US$222 million) in damages from the government.

Declining photovoltaic system prices are also behind the steady growth pattern observed now. Both the residential market and ground-mounted systems are seeing growth, reports NPD Solarbuzz.



"Support from the U.K. government for PV has improved considerably within the past 12 months and photovoltaics is now officially included in the UK’s long-term renewables mix," added Colville. "However, there is currently scope for only 10 GW of extra capacity to be fed into the U.K. grid. Meeting the 20 GW target for PV will require additional investments to upgrade the aging UK infrastructure." Colville added that rising household electricity prices should drive continued installation growth.

Current internal rates of return for photovoltaic installations in the U.K. are said to be 10% under the RFIT to 2015 and under the ROCs to 2017.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...-pv_100010188/

Solar PV accounts for 1.7% electricity in Spain
By Nilima Choudhury - 13 February 2013, 14:55
In News, Power Generation

Spain’s National Energy Commission (CNE) has announced that electricity generated by solar PV accounted for 1.7% of the country’s energy demand in December 2012.

The country added 163 PV systems in December, to a total of 59,603 installations that had access to the feed-in tariff last year, representing a total installed capacity of 4,475MW.

Currently, the FiT in Spain stands at €0.321 (US$0.43) per kWh. These PV systems received a total of €2.61 billion (US$3.49 billion) in incentives.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/solar_pv...icity_in_spain

SolarWorld Introduces All-American Financing
February 12, 2013 Steven Bushong : 0 Comments

SolarWorld EntranceSolarWorld has launched the SolarWorld Freedom Plan, the solar industry’s first financing program dedicated exclusively to American-made solar products. The program is designed for homeowners seeking freedom from rising utility costs by replacing a portion of their electricity bill with a low monthly solar-power payment. Unlike competitors’ financing programs, this plan guarantees the use of high-quality American-made solar panels in every installation, responding to American consumers’ recently surveyed strong preference for products made in the U.S.

“The majority of leased solar systems installed in the U.S. last year relied on imported panels from China,” says Rusty Pittman, director of marketing for SolarWorld Americas. “Increasingly, Americans are seeking out U.S.-made products not only to provide them with quality, safety and environmental assurances but also to enable them to invest in their local and national economies.”

American consumers have a strong belief that American-made products are of better quality than imports, according to a survey released last month by Harris Interactive and the Made in the USA Foundation. In fact, 75% of U.S. consumers said they would pay more for American-made products of the same or better quality than imported goods.

With zero-down, low-down and prepaid options, the SolarWorld Freedom Plan gives homeowners the freedom to choose how they finance their American-made solar investment and minimize their upfront costs. The plan is offered in conjunction with SolarWorld’s complete solar-electric systems, which include photovoltaic equipment, installation, monitoring services, system insurance and maintenance for up to 20 years.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...can-financing/

PG&E accused of declaring war on solar
By Nilima Choudhury - 13 February 2013, 11:52
In News, Power Generation

Californian utility company Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has accused solar net metering users of increasing energy rates for its customers.

Helen Burt, PG&E Chief Customer Officer and a Senior Vice President, wrote in a blog, “When customers install solar and use net energy metering, they avoid paying their fair share of the electricity grid they use at night. Remaining utility customers pay for the fixed costs of the electricity grid and other programs, driving their rates higher.”

Although she emphasises that PG&E has offered “unparalleled” commitment to solar power, she states the utility has a responsibility “to protect customers who choose not to install solar or can’t afford solar.”

Net metering is a programme that provides rooftop solar customers with utility bill credits for the surplus clean energy that their solar systems feed onto the electric grid.

Run on Sun Founder Jim Jenal has called her blog a “Declaration of War” and said Burt’s “populist attack on solar” is “nonsense”.

Jenal said, “All customers, including those who install solar and use net metering, are billed the same way to cover the costs mentioned by Ms. Burt. But here’s the thing, the amount of that payment is tied to energy usage – the more kilowatt hours you consume in a billing period, the more you pay for grid maintenance.”



Jenal concludes, “Utilities like PG&E know that as solar costs come down, they are going to start losing more and more revenue.

“Since distributed generation reduces their peak load, they have less and less justification to build more generation capacity, which is the basis for their guaranteed returns. In a world where many more utility customers can afford to install solar, this is simply not a sustainable business model. So PG&E is doing what every dying industry does – attacking the “fairness” of the competitor that is eroding their bottom line.”

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/pge_accu...g_war_on_solar

GM boosts support for solar by joining SEIA
By Felicity Carus - 13 February 2013, 10:04
In News, Fab & Facilities, Power Generation

General Motors became the first automaker to join the Solar Energy Industries Association at last week's PV America East in Philadelphia.

GM already has 30MW of solar installed globally, and has set a target to double that figure by 2015 and bring its total renewable energy capacity to 120MW by 2020.

Rob Threlkeld, renewable energy manager for GM, said that its solar and landfill gas installations had saved the company around $100 million since the early 1990s. "Long-term electricity contracts that can save us money and hedge against increasing rates on the grid," he said.

In the US, some 2.1% of GM's energy comes from renewables and its solar arrays alone are enough to power 800 homes.

In 2011, GM partnered with utility company DTE Energy to build a 516kw project at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant. It will generate enough electricity to charge 150 Chevrolet Volts every day and save the company $15,000 a year in reduced energy bills. That year GM also commissioned Constellation Energy to build an array that will save approximately $330,000 during the life of the project.

GM also has a 350kW ground-mount array at GM’s Lake Orion Assembly Plant in Michigan, a 1.8MW rooftop solar array at Toledo Transmission Plant in Ohio and a 1.237MW array on the rooftop of its White Marsh plant in Maryland and a 1MW solar array on the rooftop of its Rancho Cucamonga distribution centre in California.



Threlkeld said: "The strong driving factor is that renewable energy is here, costs have come down significantly, and it's to the point where it's getting to grid parity, which is the driver. As you look at large corporations that are end users we have the ability to drive scale, and that ultimately drives down costs even further and we have the ability to reach a lot of consumers with our end products."

The company has tended towards poly- and monocrystalline silicon in recent years from the likes of First Solar, although it had used Unisolar's thin film panels in the past. But load-bearing rooftops are not so much of an issue at GM facilities, he said.

"We are pretty agnostic on technology. It's really what works best for the application and the limitations we may have on our facilities. Most of our facilities are 40 to 50 years old and a lot of the equipment is hung from the roof such as conveyor systems. So weight hasn't been a big issue and we've gone more for mono and poly crystalline type panels in the last installations."

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/gm_boost...y_joining_seia

New world record efficiency for thin film silicon solar cells

12.02.13 - EPFL’s Institute of Microengineering has reached a remarkable 10.7% efficiency single-junction microcrystalline silicon solar cell, clearly surpassing the previous world record of 10.1% held by the Japanese company Kaneka Corporation since 1998. Such significant efficiency, independently certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE CalLab PV Cells), was achieved in addition with less than 2 micrometers of photovoltaic active material.

The Photovoltaics-Laboratory (PV-Lab) of IMT, founded in 1984 by Prof. Arvind Shah and now headed by Prof. Christophe Ballif, is well known as a pioneer in the development of thin-film silicon solar cells, and as a precursor in the use of microcrystalline silicon as a photoactive material in thin-film silicon photovoltaic (TF-Si PV) devices. A remarkable step was achieved this week by the team led by Dr. Fanny Meillaud and Dr. Matthieu Despeisse with a new world record efficiency of 10.7% for a single-junction microcrystalline silicon solar cell, independently confirmed at Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE CalLab PV Cells), Freiburg, Germany.

http://actu.epfl.ch/news/new-world-r...film-silicon-/

• Video Link
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/12/...n-going-solar/

[amor de cosmos]

Isofotón signs 150 MW PV project agreement in Mexico
14. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Industry & Suppliers | By: Becky Beetz

Isofotón has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Yucatán state government in Mexico to develop a 150 MW photovoltaic plant. Construction is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2014.

Amid insolvency rumours and staff restructuring announcements, the Spanish photovoltaic manufacturer and project developer said it signed the MOU with Yucatán’s Governor and Environment and Economy Secretaries on February 8.

According to a statement released today, February 14, construction on the 150 MW photovoltaic project is slated to start on January 1, 2014. It added that when complete the installation will include six panels comprising 25 MW worth of modules. They will be produced at Isofotón’s Malaga factory.

Around €360 million will be invested in the project, which is expected to generate enough energy for 30,000 households.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ico_100010222/

Californian third party-owned solar generated a record US$938 million in 2012
By Julia Chan - 14 February 2013, 11:42
In News, Power Generation

Third party-owned solar in California generated US$938 million in 2012, according to PV Solar Report, a research company specialising in solar market data, and residential solar firm Sunrun.

The companies claim that this record figure for 2012 — which went directly into local businesses and communities — means that Californian third party-owned solar generated approximately the same amount in 12 months as in the previous five years in total. It also represents 74% of the state’s residential solar market.

“Nearly 75% of homeowners who went solar in 2012 chose third-party-owned, compared to 56% in 2011,” said Stephen Torres, Founder and Managing Director of PV Solar Report.

“We are seeing the most growth in low and median-income zip codes as companies like Sunrun continue to remove the barriers to access.”

Under the terms of third-party-owned solar, residential PV systems are provided by companies such as Sunrun which own, maintain and insure the system on a homeowner’s roof. It enables homeowners to switch to solar without the high upfront cost and avoiding the responsibilities of ownership.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/californ...million_in_201

France sets up task forces to meet solar PV target
By Nilima Choudhury - 13 February 2013, 16:58
In News, Power Generation, Finance, Tariff Watch

The French government has set up two new task forces to improve grid-connection procedures and develop criteria for the next call for tenders.

French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy Delphine Batho and Minister of Industrial Renewal Arnaud Montebourg met with 30 representatives of the country’s solar industry to discuss key issues facing the sector.

This roundtable discussion focused on corporate finance, innovation, technology choices for the next call for tenders for systems over 100kW and structuring the PV value chain.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/france_s...olar_pv_target

Solectria and SolarOne Financial completes 1.2MW Florida installation
By Nilima Choudhury - 14 February 2013, 13:20
In News, Power Generation, Project Focus

Manufacturer Solectria has provided inverters for a 1.2MW solar PV installation by US-based SolarOne Financial in Florida.

Solectria’s PVI 60-95kW inverters will be used for an installation at the 26 year old Fleamasters Market in Fort Myers. The market is a 900,000 square foot retail sale property incorporating 1,000 retailers, with energy bills reaching on average US$300,000.

SolarOne claims that since the system has been turned on, it has reduced actual energy usage by nearly 90%.

Over the next 30 years the nearly 4000 modules will generate a forecasted US$16 million dollars in net electric savings, said SolarOne.

“During our initial evaluation we confirmed our payment of over US$7.5 million to our local utility in our first 26 years of business. By retaining these additional dollars the value of our family business will increase over US$1 million in just the first year. It was nearly the equivalent of increasing our business by 10% without the investment in expanding buildings and the related future costs of maintaining those buildings” said Andy Steele, Owner, Fleamasters Fleamarket.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/solectri...a_installation

Solar Insights: Utility-scale solar at 7c/kWh?
By Giles Parkinson on 14 February 2013

Auctions of solar power contracts in the Indian state of Rajasthan have produced some remarkably low bids, with the lowest bid coming in at Rs6.45/kWh, equivalent to A11.6c/kWh, according to press reports in India. The tender of 100MW of solar power is one of a number being held in India, both as part of the National Solar Mission, which aims to install more than 20GW of solar in the next decade, and individual state initiatives.

According to Hindu Business Line, the lowest bid was made for a 10MW solar PV plant, while the highest bid came in at Rs8.25/kWh (A14.9c/kWh). In all, 23 bids representing 185MW of capacity were submitted, but under the rules of the tender, all winning bids will be asked to match the lowest tender.

This is not actually the lowest result produced this year. A similar tender in Tamil Nadu saw a bidder (Mohan Breweries) quote Rs5.97/kWh, but that tender had a 5 per cent annual escalation for 10 years. The auctions are being held along similar lines as that in South Africa, which has already allocated more than 1.6GW of wind and solar energy developments, and in the ACT last year, when FRV won a tender to build a 20MW solar PV plant for 18c/kWh, which converts to around 15c/kWh when indexing is taken into account.



It was revealed earlier this months that First Solar has contracted to deliver electricity from a 50MW solar PV plant in New Mexico for US5.8c/kWh. But while that was assisted by tax credits, its biggest rival in the US-market, the California-based SunPower, is now suggesting that it can produce utility scale solar for between 7c/kWh and 10c/kWh, cost competitive with coal in areas with good sun.

In an analyst briefing with Deutsche Bank this week, the company said the production cost of panels fell 25 per cent in calendar 2012, and it expected the cost of panels to continue to fall in 2013. This echoes an earlier briefing where Chairman and CEO Tom Werner said: “I think our innovation pipeline to get cost out is as strong as it’s ever been as we look to 2013 and 2014.” SunPower expects up to half of its revenues to come from utility scale solar, where it has already installed 700MW of capacity.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/sola...at-7ckwh-92409

California Growers Install Solar, Reduce Operating Costs
February 13, 2013 Kathleen Zipp : 0 Comments

Peter Rabbit Farms in Coachella and Amaral Ranches in the Imperial Valley have joined the ranks of growers, cold storage and food processing facilities that are “harvesting the sun” to hedge against rising electricity costs and save money. REC Solar completed the solar projects, which total one megawatt of electricity.

With the completion of these systems, Peter Rabbit Farms and Amaral Ranches align with more than 300 California farmers and ranchers now utilizing solar energy to reduce utility bills. Agriculture represents nearly 30% of California’s commercial solar capacity, according to PV Solar Report, and experts anticipate the sector will continue to gain strength. Solar energy is an attractive choice for California farmers for a number of reasons, among them that California farmers face the third-highest electricity costs in the nation. With rates expected to rise 5-7% over the next decade, farmers can hedge against electricity cost increases by locking in lower rates via solar energy. Furthermore, most growers plan to remain on their land for the long term, making it particularly compelling to invest in a solar system with a longer payback to start saving on electricity costs immediately.

Peter Rabbit Farms, a fourth-generation family-run farm that grows carrots, lettuce, table grapes and other vegetables, worked with REC Solar to install a 358 kilowatt solar system that provides enough power to offset 40% of their energy use and save an estimated $80,000 off their yearly utility bills. The system is already providing power at 100% of its projected production rate.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...erating-costs/

A cooler way to protect silicon surfaces
New room-temperature process could lead to less expensive solar cells and other electronic devices.
David L. Chandler, MIT News Office
February 13, 2013

Silicon, the material of high-tech devices from computer chips to solar cells, requires a surface coating before use in these applications. The coating “passivates” the material, tying up loose atomic bonds to prevent oxidation that would ruin its electrical properties. But this passivation process consumes a lot of heat and energy, making it costly and limiting the kinds of materials that can be added to the devices.

Now a team of MIT researchers has found a way to passivate silicon at room temperature, which could be a significant boon to solar-cell production and other silicon-based technologies.

The research, by graduate student Rong Yang and engineering professors Karen Gleason and Tonio Buonassisi, was recently published online in the journal Advanced Materials.

Typically, silicon surfaces are passivated with a coating of silicon nitride, which requires heating a device to 400 degrees Celsius, explains Gleason, the Alexander and I. Michael Kasser Professor of Chemical Engineering. By contrast, the process Gleason’s team uses decomposes organic vapors over wires heated to 300 C, but the silicon itself never goes above 20 C — room temperature. Heating those wires requires much less power than illuminating an ordinary light bulb, so the energy costs of the process are quite low.

Conventional silicon-nitride passivation “is one of the more expensive parts, and one of the more finicky parts, in the processing” of silicon for solar cells and other uses, says Buonassisi, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, “so replacing part of silicon nitride’s functionality with a simplified, robust organic layer has the potential to be a big win.”

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/a...aces-0213.html

[amor de cosmos]

Europe allocates €5.1 billion for energy, including solar
15. February 2013 | Global PV markets, Industry & Suppliers, Investor news, Markets & Trends | By: Max Hall

As the dust settles following all-night negotiations between Europe's heads of state over the next EU budget, the embattled solar industry has been digesting news of an increase of 20% for the energy budget to 2020.

A European Council spokesman was unable to confirm to pv magazine how much had been shaved off the original planned figure for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) as an austerity-driven group of national leaders, led by British Prime Minister David Cameron, locked horns with EC President Herman Van Rompuy.

The spokesman confirmed only that a budget of €29.3 billion has been agreed for the CEF for the years 2014-2020, a rise of 129.2% on the amount provided for 2007-13.

Of that figure, €5.1 billion will be set aside for energy projects, of which implementing smart grids and modernising the European grid network to accommodate solar photovoltaic and other renewables, will form a major component.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...lar_100010236/

NYSEIA throws weight behind NY-Sun initiative
14. February 2013 | Markets & Trends, Global PV markets | By: Jonathan Gifford

The New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) has announced that it will work to support the NY-Sun initiative in the state. The body wants to see a longer-term commitment to the initiative and is lobbying for four policy changes to see photovoltaics supported in the state.



The program is designed to support solar in the state through a 10-year, US$150 p.a. solar job initiative, the establishment of a $1 billion Green Bank and the creation of a cabinet level energy advisor to coordinate the programs.

The NYSEIA has come out in support of the measures and called for further measures to in support of photovoltaics. The measures are:

• Expansion of "On Bill Financing" to include PV;
• Facilitating remote net metering to facilitate community solar;
• A bill to "clean up" net metering technologies; and
• Change the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) cap for residential consumers.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ive_100010226/

Yale Research Paves Way For Next-Generation Solar Cells
February 14, 2013 Steven Bushong : 0 Comments

In a pair of recent papers, Yale engineers report a novel and cost-effective way to improve the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells through the application of thin, smooth carbon nanotube films. These films could be used to produce hybrid carbon and silicon solar cells with far greater power-conversion efficiency than reported in this system to date.

“Our approach bridges the cost-effectiveness and excellent electrical and optical properties of novel nanomaterials with well-established, high efficiency silicon solar cell technologies,” says André D. Taylor, assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering at Yale and a principal investigator of the research.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...n-solar-cells/

[amor de cosmos]

Envision Plans to Install 2,300 Rotating Solar Tree Car Shelters in South Carolina
by Morgana Matus, 02/15/13

In the United States, we have paved over 160 billion square feet of land simply to provide places to park cars. Recognizing these asphalt areas as opportune places for energy generation, California-based company Envision has created the Solar Tree, a rotating structure that shelters cars while generating energy with photovoltaic panels. The Solar Tree can provide shelter for six cars while charging six EV’s each day. Later this year, Envision plans to build 2,300 Solar Trees in South Carolina that are projected to be able to generate 35 megawatts of electricity.

Founded in 2006 by architect Robert Noble, Envision is a San Diego based business that offers a variety of solar technologies. The Solar Tree stands as their flagship product, and is touted as an innovative way to generate electricity while improving the aesthetics of a parking lot. Each Solar Tree can accommodate six cars, and can rotate in order to capture the maximum amount of sunlight. The tracking system is guided by their proprietary EnvisionTrak, and energy is stored in Axion batteries.

http://inhabitat.com/envision-plans-...outh-carolina/

TPO solar model worth $5.5 billion in 2016
15. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Global PV markets, Industry & Suppliers, Investor news, Markets & Trends | By: Max Hall

The third-party ownership (TPO) model could become "the most significant innovation in the U.S. solar market," according to a report this week from GTM Research.

TPO involves providers financing, installing and maintaining residential systems on households, giving homeowners lower electricity bills with no upfront capital costs in return for a monthly leasing fee to the provider.

GTM Research is predicting TPO could be a US$5.5 billion market by 2016, totaling 1.4 GW and with an average system cost of $3.18/W.

The report's authors claim these are "conservative" estimates and take-up could be much larger if TPO systems become cost competitive without incentives across U.S. states outside the 14 currently embracing the TPO model.

California is one of those and TPO provider SunRun, with market research company PV Solar Report, this week announced TPO attracted $938 million to the state's economy in 2012 and already accounts for 74% of residential solar installations state wide.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...016_100010239/

Solar Industry Impressing Investors
February 15, 2013 Steven Bushong : 0 Comments

After struggling through most of 2012, the solar industry has started 2013 on an impressive run. Both the Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (KWT) and the Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN), both of which are indexes to give investors a way to track performance of the solar industry, have gained nearly 20% year-to-date.

Solar companies received a boost last week after analysts from Citigroup’s global solar sector research team initiated coverage on several companies in the industry. First Solar, Inc. and SunPower Corp. were the biggest gainers after receiving an initial “buy” rating from Citi, while Trina Solar Ltd. and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. benefited from a “neutral” rating, according to analysis firm Research Driven Investing.

“The upstream segment of the solar value chain is going through a permanent structural shift – mainly the commoditization of the panel manufacturing business,” wrote Citigroup analyst Shahriar Pourreza.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...ing-investors/

[amor de cosmos]

Solar PV Below $2/Watt In Australia
February 18, 2013

Solar Choice provides a solar PV price index for Australian solar that is updated monthly. Its price index is broken down by region, and from what I’ve gathered, it’s the best source for solar PV prices in Australia. Solar Choice has a network of over 100 solar installers.

The comparison shopping firm just recently released its February price index. As you can see in the table below, the median price for a 5kW solar PV system is now under $2/watt in Australia — $1.98/watt, to be specific. (I think that must be in AUD, though. At the current transfer rate, that would be USD $2.04/watt — still a great deal less than solar in the U.S.)

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/18/...-in-australia/

Why German Solar Is So Much Cheaper Than U.S. Solar — Updated Study
February 17, 2013

The whole “Why is German solar about half the price of U.S. solar?” question is one of the most important solar questions of the day. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has probably most extensively studied this matter. In a recently updated version of its analysis, LBNL examines why a residential German solar system goes for $3.00/watt and a residential U.S. solar system goes for $6.19/watt.

As no surprise to anyone who follows this matter, LBNL still concludes that the massive price differences above are basically due to soft costs. But the updated study also digs into the reasons why the soft costs are (or might be) so much lower. As LBNL rightly noted, relatively little has been known about how or why various soft cost differ.

First of all, let’s quickly run down how LBNL conducted this study:

• It conducted two surveys of German PV installers (the first one, conducted in September, included 27 installers; while the second one, conducted in October, included 41 installers). LBNL’s studies were “adapted from NREL’s survey of U.S. installers, to collect data on residential PV soft costs.“
• The installations the study were focus on were customer-owned residential solar systems (not 3rd-party-owned solar systems, which dominate the U.S. residential market).
• The study also “Comprehensively reviewed public and private consultant data relevant to the cost structure of residential PV in Germany.”

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/17/...updated-study/

India: Andhra Pradesh sees 1.35 GW of solar bids submitted
18. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Markets & Trends | By: Becky Beetz

Over 180 bids for solar projects totaling 1.35 GW have been submitted under Andhra Pradesh’s solar policy, thus exceeding the Indian state’s 1.16 GW target. Meanwhile, Rajasthan has received India’s lowest valid solar bid, and seen the completion of a 40 MW photovoltaic project by Azure Power.

According to India-based consultancy Efficient Carbon, 184 bidders submitted 294 applications to install solar projects in Andhra Pradesh under its solar policy, unveiled last September. The state is looking to install 1.16 GW of projects via its auction process.

Overall, the Andhra Pradesh Power Transmission Company has identified 161 locations where solar projects may be developed. It has further stated that no more than 20 MW can be generated from each location, although developers can apply for an aggregate capacity of up to 200 MW.

As such, while the 1.35 GW worth of bids received exceeds the state’s target, Efficient Carbon points out that not all locations received bids – just 110 worth 850 MW – and that some locations received more than one bid. Thus, not all available capacity – 350 MW across 51 locations – is accounted for.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ted_100010255/

PV in the Philippines beginning to pay off
18. February 2013 | Top News, Applications & Installations, Global PV markets, Industry & Suppliers, Investor news, Markets & Trends | By: Hans-Christoph Neidlein

The photovoltaic market in the Philippines may be small, but it is increasingly gaining momentum, with cumulative capacity totaling over 5 MW. An important driver is the high cost of conventional electricity which, coupled with the country’s FIT program, means the technology is starting to pay off.

While electricity blackouts make headlines daily, photovoltaics is seldom the subject of discussion in the sun-drenched island nation, where the focus is largely on new coal and diesel power plants.

According to Tetchi Cruz-Capellan, president of the Philippine Solar Power Alliance Inc., the total output of photovoltaic systems connected to the mains last year amounted to just 2.2 MW, in addition to around 3 to 3.5 MW of output from off-grid systems.

Nevertheless, the Philippine photovoltaic market is gaining momentum. Indeed, while just 280 kW were installed in the form of grid-connected plants in 2011, in 2012, according to Cruz-Capellan, the figure reached 1.2 MW. Furthermore, the project pipeline for grid-connected systems already amounts to more than 800 MW.



PV drivers

Crucial factors for the accelerated development of photovoltaics in the economically booming country are the high electricity prices, reduced system prices for PV systems and a FIT program that started last summer, which pays PHP9.68/kWh (US$0.24/kWh).

In other words, PV is beginning to pay off. The current average retail electricity price for final consumers is approximately PHP11.35/kWh (US$0.28/kWh) according to Cruz-Capellan, while on remote islands a kilowatt-hour of electricity from a diesel generator can cost as much as PHP28.39 (US$$0.70).

"In Manila we see costs of up to US$0.34 per kilowatt-hour, PHP13.79, for conventional current," added Conergy’s Bohne. "Thus with costs of less than US$0.24/kwh (PHP9.73) solar electricity has already reached grid parity for the final consumer in many cases and, in part, generation parity for industrial customers."

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...off_100010251/

China Gogreen announces 60 MW PV project plans
18. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Industry & Suppliers | By: Becky Beetz

China Gogreen Assets Investment Limited is planning to install a 60 MW photovoltaic rooftop project in China’s Xuchang City, in Henan Province.

The company announced that subsidiary Beijing Jun Yang Investment Company Limited entered into a memorandum of understanding on February 16 with the Xuchang Government to develop the Xuchang Solar PV Power Stations project.

Around RMB 720 million (roughly US$115.2 million; €86.4 million) will be invested in the rooftop project, using a mixture of the company’s own funds, bank loans and subsidies from the Golden Sun project.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ans_100010256/

Solar Frontier posts first positive quarterly results; sales hit US$833 million in 2012
By Mark Osborne - 18 February 2013, 14:43
In News, Thin Film, CIGS, PV Modules, Finance

Solar Frontier strengthened its position as the closest thin-film PV module manufacturer competitor to First Solar in 2012, posting record revenue of US$833 million (JPY78.2 billion).

The Japanese CIS thin-film technology leader reported an 18.9% increase in sales for the full year. The company reduced its operating loss to JPY15.4 billion in 2012, a JPY13.4 billion reduction from the previous year.

Solar Frontier makes up the vast majority of Showa Shell Sekiyu’s Energy Solution Business segment.

Solar Frontier posted an operating income of 15.4 billion yen in 2012, up by 13.4 billion yen compared to the previous year. Significantly, the company reported a small operating income of JPY0.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2012, the first time the company has reported positive quarterly operating income since starting manufacturing operations in 2010.

Showa Shell Sekiyu noted in its annual report that the company had been successful in expanding solar sales both in Japan and overseas in 2012, though highlighted that strong demand in Japan due to the new FiT was a key factor in its growth as its boosted its sales operations in the country.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/solar_fr...it_us833_milli

[Wizened Variations]

We in the US talk things to their death, while the rats in the shadows keep us in debt slavery. We make huge studies (employing thousands I grant you), that take years to clear through layer after layer of beaurocracy, then we make incredibly mediocre public works in the name of energy efficentcy (our public transportation infrastructural projects must make the transportation communitee in Europe and Asia laugh).

The Conservatives state that this is the result of 'Regulation', but, the Conservatives are supported by those who make money as things stand, so nothing changes.

The Liberals talk endlessly about utopian schemes whose practical implementation would be prohibitively expensive- often they too are supported by those who make money as things stand.

How bad must life become in US for what percentage of the population, for things to get done?

Thanks "Amor de Cosmos" very much for this excellent education in solar power.

[amor de cosmos]

FINALLY a story about canada

• Video Link

Solar Power Cheaper Than Nuclear In Cloudy Old England
February 19, 2013

The projected cost of the 1,600 megawatt Hinkley Point C reactor in England is 14 billion pounds or $22 billion. That’s $13,600 per kilowatt. And just because the projected cost is $22 billion doesn’t mean that it will cost $22 billion. When one is as skilled at reading nuclearese as I am, one knows that it actually means it will cost at least $22 billion. Nuclear power plants have a tendency to go over budget in a way that is rather similar to how the ocean has a tendency to be wet.

Even in cloudy old England, the cost of electricity from rooftop solar is much cheaper than the cost of electricity from new nuclear. I realize that a certain type of person reading this may feel the need to point out that solar power doesn’t produce electricity at night. Perhaps they’ll even use one or more exclamation marks when they do, as if it’s some sort of astounding revelation that they’ve only just been struck by. This never fails to surprise me, as I’ve always thought the fact that solar power depends on the sun is sort of given away by its name. Personally, I realized the sun was required years ago. Nuclear power has a problem because rooftop solar does produce electricity during the day, which pushes the price of electricity down and makes the economics of nuclear power even worse than they currently are. And just for the benefit of that certain type of idiot, I’ll mention that there are quite a few countries without nuclear power that still manage to have electricity at night.

In the final quarter of last year in the UK, installed rooftop solar apparently cost an average of about $3.30 a watt. This is quite a bit more than in Australia, and a heck of a lot more than in Germany, but even at this price, it’s still cheaper than new nuclear. How do I know this? Well, first I looked up how much light actually makes it through all the clouds, rain, mist, smog, sleet, and pipe smoke that tends to cover England, not to mention the fleets of spaceships full of Daleks, Cybermen, and Sontarans that are queued up waiting their turn to invade the place. Then I made reasonable estimates of the costs of fuel, operations and maintenance, nuclear waste disposal, decommissioning, and government oversight and inspections…. Oh, wait a minute. I just realized there’s a certain type of nutter, sorry, I mean person, who is never going to accept my estimates for the cost of nuclear power. They’ll be frothing at the mouth and waving around “studies” on how a nuclear reactor in Japan in 1974 cost negative dollars to build and straightened teeth. How can I convince these people to trust me? I know! I’ll go to some pro-nuclear site and use their figures! How about the NEI or Nuclear Energy Institute, a U.S. nuclear lobbying group? I’m sure their site can be trusted to have reliable information!

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/19/...y-old-england/

Seoul's solar plans take shape
19. February 2013 | Markets & Trends, Global PV markets | By: Jonathan Gifford

The Seoul Municipal Government is pursuing its plans to become a leading solar city, with the latest development a "Solar Map" of the city, which will be released next month. The map will show areas suitable for photovoltaics and the savings rooftop installations will deliver.

Last year the Seoul Municipal Government (SMG) released its plans to transform the city into a "Sunlight City," by adding 320 MW of photovoltaic capacity by the end of 2014. The goal is a part of the South Korean capital’s "One Less Nuclear Power Plant" (ULNPP) program, which aims to increase the city’s energy independence through a range of measures including the promotion of photovoltaics.

The programs are in part a response to public opposition to a reliance on nuclear energy, in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

As a part of the ULNPP program, 100 MW of photovoltaics is planned to be installed across public school buildings in the city. The photovoltaic installations will then feature on the school syllabus, helping to increase salience about solar energy.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ape_100010257/

Argentina Heads for Solar Surge With Incentives
By Marc Roca - 2013-02-18T10:22:31Z

Argentina, which along with Venezuela has the least renewable energy in Latin America, is set to expand solar capacity as much as 35-fold as the government plans its first incentives for individual projects.

International developers are planning plants in Argentina’s western regions, which get about twice the solar radiation of the largest solar market, Germany. In the past year, they’ve applied to build 11 projects of about 20 megawatts each, said Marcelo Alvarez, head of solar for trade group Camara Argentina de Energia Renovable, or CADER.

“There’s a lot of interest in solar energy in Argentina and very good potential,” said Hector Nordio, head of clean- power projects at Energia Argentina SA, the state energy company known as Enarsa.

The work would help President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s administration meet an ambition to get 8 percent of Argentina’s power from renewables by 2016, up from 2 percent now. The nation that defaulted on debts in 2001 and seized energy company YPF SA last year is struggling to lure overseas capital and is relying on domestic measures to pay for solar.

Argentina plans to build 3,000 megawatts in clean-energy capacity, of which about 10 percent may come from solar, according to CADER. About 625 megawatts, mainly small hydropower projects, are in operation. Solar accounts for only 6.2 megawatts of that capacity.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...s-premium.html

Solar systems could be offered as standard in new Texas homes
By Julia Chan - 19 February 2013, 10:04
In News, Power Generation, Tariff Watch

House builders in Texas will be obliged to offer customers the option of installing a solar system in new build homes under proposed legislation.

Two bills, SB 304 and SB 305, were filed earlier this month by Senator José Rodriguez and are designed to promote the uptake of solar energy in the state.

Under the SB 304 bill, homebuilders in Texas would be obliged to offer home buyers the option to install a solar energy system in their homes for “heating or cooling or for the production of power”. However, home buyers are not obliged to say yes.

As stated in the proposed bill, it will only apply to “a contract for construction of a new home in a subdivision that contains more than 50 lots on which the builder has built or is offering to build new homes”.

Under the SB 305 bill, certain solar energy systems will be exempt from sales tax providing a further incentive to adopt solar. In the proposed bill, it states that “the sale, use, or installation of a solar energy device that is installed on a retail customer’s side of the metre is exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter”.

A statement sent to PV-Tech from Senator José Rodriguez’s office explained why the senator put forward the proposed bills: “The point of both of these bills is to support development of solar energy. By giving consumers an option — and an incentive — we will benefit in multiple ways. As demand rises for solar from both builders and consumers the technology will evolve faster; that has environmental, economic and supply implications. Clean energy that helps people lower their bills and potentially ease seasonal strain on the electrical grid — as well as help build new industries — makes too much sense not to pursue and support.”

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/homebuil..._proposed_bill

EU tariffs against Chinese could cost European solar industry €27.8 billion
By Nilima Choudhury - 19 February 2013, 11:42
In News, PV Modules, Tariff Watch

The imposition of European Commission tariffs of up to 60% against Chinese manufacturers could lead to 242,000 job losses in Europe during the first year, new research claims.

At the end of last year, the European Commission launched anti-dumping and anti-subsidy proceedings against Chinese wafer, cell and module manufacturers, following complaints from Euro ProSun, a group of European manufacturers led by German manufacturer SolarWorld.

Prognos's report, commissioned by the Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy (AFASE), which opposes the imposition of tariffs against Chinese manufacturers, shows the impact any punitive measures would have on employment and value added in the EU from 2013 to 2015 based on three scenarios of duties: 20%, 35% and 60%.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/european...10.479_billion

Solar glass buildings now possible, at just 10% extra to total cost
By Cleantechnica on 19 February 2013
By Nathan

Huge skyscrapers covered in glass solar cells that able to generate more than enough electricity for their own operations could become common in the future. Oxford Photovoltaics, a solar power company that produces colorful photovoltaic glass specifically for this purpose, recently announced a big boost in investment funding, receiving over £2 million.

The investment comes from the cleantech investors MTI Partners. It will help to bring the solar glass to the commercial market.

“What we say here is rather than attach photovoltaics to the building, why not make the building the photovoltaics?,” Kevin Arthur, the company’s founder and CEO, told the Guardian. “If you decide to build a building out of glass, then you’ve already decided to pay for the glass. If you add this, you’re adding a very small extra cost. (The solar cell treatment) costs no more than 10% of the cost of the facade.”

“These generally cost between £600 and £1,000 per square meter, meaning the new cell treatment would cost just £60–£100 extra per square meter.”

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/sola...tal-cost-20447

Panasonic To Offer New Financing Model
February 19, 2013 Steven Bushong : 0 Comments

Panasonic Eco Solutions North America has announced that it signed an exclusive multi-year solar photovoltaic solutions development agreement with Coronal Management LLC. The agreement highlights Panasonic efforts to bring a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for solar PV projects from 250 KW up to 20 MW to the commercial, industrial, municipal and small utility sectors. Together, the two companies aim to develop, build and operate a portfolio of solar PV systems in the United States and Puerto Rico.

“The agreement with Coronal Management brings additional momentum to our platform as we become an integrated solar energy solution provider for customers with a shared understanding of the value of solar energy production and sustainability, both on the bottom line and from an environmental perspective,” says Jamie Evans, managing director, Panasonic Eco Solutions North America. “We are committed to developing and promoting eco solutions, and with Coronal we can deliver more value for our customers.”

The Panasonic and Coronal offering provides a single solution that includes financing, development, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), as well as operations and maintenance (O&M) for the life-cycle of its installed solar systems. With its formidable financial strength, engineering and project management expertise, active environmental commitment and a robust system performance guarantee, Panasonic solutions will benefit both customers and partners.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...nancing-model/

[amor de cosmos]

Jamaica’s Solar Industry To Receive A Major Boost From USSolar
February 20, 2013

Jamaica is an island in which the solar panel industry is small, but the Jamaican government’s Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) have implemented some policies that would provide solar panel owners and prospective buyers with more options to lower their electricity bills.

One of the key policies is net metering. Residents are now able to connect their own solar panels to Jamaica’s electricity grid so that the panels supply electricity to the grid, helping to supply the nation with electricity.

One benefit of solar is that solar panels generate the most electricity when it is needed most, and that is during the afternoon, and Jamaica is particularly sunny. It enjoys 4,443 hours of sunshine annually.

Electricity demand is particularly high during the afternoon, and that can be partially attributed to hot weather. Air conditioners have a very high power consumption, and they consume the most power during hot weather as their users turn them up to stay cool.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/20/...-from-ussolar/

Clean Power Research Brings Down Solar Soft Costs
February 19, 2013 in Solar $, Solar Research

It’s no secret that soft costs have not come down as fast as solar module costs (in the U.S.). Solar module costs have come down about 75% in the past 3–4 years. But soft costs haven’t moved nearly as much. As the story linked above shows, there are a number of reasons why that’s the case.

A handful of companies, university researchers, and government agencies are working hard to find ways to bring soft costs down. Clean Power Research is one of those.

In a short article on the matter, Clean Power Research writes, “Module prices, which three or four years ago made up 50% or more of total system costs for residential customers, are now often less than 25% of total system costs. Soft costs have barely budged in absolute terms, and have increased from 25% or so of system costs just a few years ago to close to half of system costs today.”

• Video Link

http://solarlove.org/clean-power-res...ar-soft-costs/
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/20/...ar-soft-costs/

German Solar PV Price Down To €1.52 Per Watt
February 16, 2013 in Market Research, Solar $, Solar Research

German solar PV power prices continue to fall. According to the latest data, the price of solar power for solar power plants with up to 100 kW of capacity has dropped to €1.52 per watt (or $2.03 per watt). Here’s a chart on solar’s long price drop in Germany, via a German PV website:

http://solarlove.org/german-solar-pv...1-52-per-watt/
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/20/...ary-e1-52watt/

Department of Energy’s aggressive fight against solar soft costs
February 12th, 2013
Written by Mark

Clean Power Research recently attended a U.S. Department of Energy workshop focused on solar soft cost reduction. We came away impressed by the DOE SunShot team’s clear focus on the right problem.

While the cost of modules was once the dominant component of photovoltaic (PV) system costs, that trend has reversed as component prices have fallen. Today, soft costs, including permitting, interconnection, customer acquisition and installation labor, now drive half or more of the total cost of installing a PV system.



We were also pleased to learn that the DOE SunShot team is funding very careful analysis. One example is the report entitled “Benchmarking Non-Hardware Balance of System (Soft) Costs for U.S. Photovoltaic Systems Using a Data-Driven Analysis from PV Installer Survey Results,” which is authored by a team from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. This report provides excellent benchmark data for soft costs, and helps both the SunShot program and the industry understand where to focus their efforts in reducing soft costs.

Finally, the DOE is carefully targeting incubator funding to projects with the potential for real-world impact. The last round of funding included development of the National Solar Permitting Database.

http://www.cleanpower.com/2013/doe-f...ar-soft-costs/

Guatemala plans 50 MW PV plant
20. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Industry & Suppliers | By: Vladimir Pekic

Guatemala is gearing up to install a 50 MW photovoltaic plant, according to Guatemalan president, Otto Pérez Molina and Energy and Mining Minister, Erick Archila, following a meeting with Spanish business representatives in Madrid.

Archila revealed that the project was already awarded to Spain’s Grupo Ortiz by the National Electrical Energy Commission (CNEE) in 2012. Overall, the Madrid-based construction and energy firm is expected to invest an initial US$140 million in the project, according to a government press release.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ant_100010286/

US: AVSR1 PV project grid connects first 100 MW
20. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Industry & Suppliers | By: Becky Beetz

First Solar Inc. has completed and grid connected the first 100 MW of the Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One (AVSR1) photovoltaic project in northern Los Angeles County. The whole 230 MW are expected to be online later this year.

The U.S. thin film manufacturer began installing the first modules at the site last June, after overcoming several hurdles throughout the permitting and financing process. Initial construction work began in 2011, however.

Overall, the AVSR1 is scheduled to be completed this year, with the generated energy being sold to Pacific Gas and Electric Company under a 25 year PPA. The 230 MW are expected to produce enough for around 75,000 households.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...-mw_100010284/

China: JinkoSolar to deliver 600 MW of PV modules to CTGNE
20. February 2013 | Industry & Suppliers | By: Becky Beetz

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with China Three Gorges New Energy Corp. (CTGNE) under which the company will deliver 600 MW worth of its photovoltaic modules.

The Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer will deliver the modules between 2013 and 2015. They will be used in projects in Western China.

In 2012, JinkoSolar entered into a similar agreement with the wholly-owned subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation – one of the largest state-owned power corporations in China – worth 50 MW.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...gne_100010282/

ReneSola hits 100 MW Greek supply milestone
20. February 2013 | Markets & Trends, Global PV markets | By: Jonathan Gifford

Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer ReneSola announced today that it has hit the milestone of 100 MW of modules shipped to the Greek market. The company partially attributes the achievement to its partnership with Greek distributor Big Solar.

While the Greek photovoltaic market has certainly had its ups and downs, the falling cost of photovoltaic components and modules and Greece’s plentiful sunshine has meant that the number of installations has grown steadily in recent years. This has been demonstrated today by ReneSola’s announcement that it has shipped 100 MW to the country since November 2011.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...one_100010279/

French electricity regulator predicts 6.7GW capacity by 2017
By Nilima Choudhury - 20 February 2013, 11:24
In News, Power Generation

The French government has published the winners for the third and fourth periods of tender, approving 231 projects to build PV systems between 100 to 250kW.

In keeping with its plans to boost the French solar industry, energy regulator Commission de Régulation d’Énergie (CRE), advised the government to select projects from April-June and July-September 2012, for a total installed capacity of 49.4MWp. CRE believes France will produce 6.7GW of cumulative installed PV capacity by 2017.



CRE has predicted that the annual cost of incentives for French PV installations will surpass €2.25 billion (US$3 billion) by 2017, expecting the average cost for PV incentives to decrease from €542.2 per MWh in 2011 to €377.9 per MWh at the end of 2017.

In January, Batho announced new support measures to enable France to install 1GW of new PV capacity this year, doubling the previous target of 500MW.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/french_e...pacity_by_2017

K&W Natural Energy completes 2.7MW PV project on former tar acid disposal site
By Julia Chan - 19 February 2013, 13:15
In News, Power Generation, Project Focus

K&W Natural Energy has installed a 2.7MW solar park which has been constructed on a former tar acid disposal site in Neukirchen, Germany.

The former 60,000 square metre disposal site underwent 15 years of intensive remediation activities headed by the Federal Government of Germany and the Land of Saxony. As a result, the site is no longer a source of air and soil pollution. However, strict controls on areas that remain contaminated limit the future uses of this land. According to Hanwha SolarOne, the module suppliers for the project, constructing a solar park on this land was one of the most viable and beneficial uses of this site.

“The plant in Neukirchen demonstrates how even contaminated land can be utilised to generate green energy,” said Anke Johannes, Hanwha SolarOne’s Director of Sales in Germany. “Using remediated land for solar projects is also a profitable, future-oriented business strategy, as PV companies are constantly searching for more space to build energy-efficient decentralized production sites.”

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/kw_natur...id_disposal_si

9 Points Of Confusion On Small-Scale Solar Development
February 19, 2013 Frank Andorka : 0 Comments

1. No solar project is easy.

2. There is no such thing as a standard PPA/lease.

3. Few solar developers have a portfolio that exceeds 25 MW in the distributed-generation market.

4. Many solar developers of projects or portfolios of projects still lack capital.

5. The equity capital provided for solar development still does not seem to meet the returns of the market.

6. The market continues to be clouded by panel manufacturers, inverter manufacturers, engineering, procurement and construction (EPCs), etc., that want to offer financing terms, as well as their products or services, in return for development of projects. Some of these parties are responsible for the lower return projects, but not all of them.

7. Some solar developers – especially in renewable energy credit (REC) markets – are taking a risk/reward approach by taking large amounts of risk on the viability of selling RECs over the long-term and at sufficient pricing to provide private equity-like returns (more than 20% levered).

8. Finding debt for solar distributed-generation (DG) projects is not easy.

9. The tax equity market for small-scale solar deals still remains limited.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...r-development/

[amor de cosmos]

Belgian Solar Up To 3% Of Power Consumption, 14% Of Housing Consumption
February 15, 2013 in Market Research, Solar Research

Belgium, like many other countries across the world, just saw another solid year of solar power growth. 2012 didn’t come close to its record solar growth in 2011, and it was just a bit shy of the 528 MW it added in 2009, but 2012′s 525 MW now bring it up to a total of 2,600 MW of solar power capacity.

According to a translation from the APERe (Belgian Renewable Energy Association) website, “With 2600 MW installed to date in Belgium, [photovoltaics] can cover 14% of Belgian housing consumption (3500 kWh / year), or 2.8% of consumption total electricity (80 TWh / year).”

http://solarlove.org/belgian-solar-u...g-consumption/

Florida PACE Funding Agency Gets $500 Million Boost
February 16, 2013 in Solar $, Solar Policy



As you can see in that paragraph above, PACE financing is still available in Florida. Furthermore, as noted in the title, the Florida agency funding PACE projects recently received a nice infusion of cash.

“Florida PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) Funding Agency has announced that it has secured up to $500 million in funding through Samas Capital, LLC (Samas) to provide business and residential property owners with financing for energy-related and wind-hardening improvements in counties that choose to participate,” the Florida PACE Funding Agency noted in a press release published earlier this month.

http://solarlove.org/florida-pace-fu...million-boost/

Sunpower to supply panels to US$1.2bn San Francisco stadium
By Felicity Carus - 21 February 2013, 09:43
In News, Power Generation, Project Focus

Sunpower will supply panels for the PV system at the new US$1.2 billion San Francisco 49ers stadium in Santa Clara, a source close to the deal confirmed this week.

NRG Energy will install the 400kW arrays and will provide enough power over the course of a year to offset the power consumed at the stadium during 49ers home games. Although the system is relatively small, the Sunpower deal also comes at a time when the San Jose-based company is struggling to return a profit and there are plans to expand capacity.

Construction began on the 68,500-seat football stadium last year and is due for completion in 2014. NRG Energy now has eight deals with 10 of the top NFL teams, but the Santa Clara project is the first to have been designed into the construction of a new stadium rather than retrofitted.

NRG will install three solar array-covered bridges, solar panels over the 49ers training centre and a solar canopy over the green roof terrace, with views looking down into Silicon Valley and across the San Francisco Bay Area.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/sunpower...ncisco_stadium

First Solar connects first 100MW of 230MW AV Solar Ranch One project
By Julia Chan - 21 February 2013, 12:46
In News, Power Generation, Project Focus

US thin-film solar giant First Solar has announced that the first 100MW of the planned 230MW Antelope Valley (AV) Solar Ranch One project has been connected to the grid.

Initial construction of the project, which is located in Los Angeles, began in September 2011 while module installation started in June 2012 after First Solar was forced to temporarily cease construction in order to deal with module code certification issues.

Located on 850 hectares of former farmland, First Solar claims AV Solar Ranch One is one of the largest construction projects under way in Los Angeles County. During the construction phase, the project is providing an average of 400 jobs.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/first_so...ch_one_project

Martin LaMonica
February 20, 2013
Care for Home Solar Panels with Your Honda?
Honda signs on installer SolarCity to offer new car buyers an option to have home solar panels financed by Honda.

American Honda Motor and SolarCity today announced the creation of a $65 million investment fund to finance installation of rooftop solar panels. Honda and Acura dealerships in the 14 states where SolarCity operates can take advantage of the offering.

It may sounds like an odd pairing, but it could be a sign of things to come in residential solar power in the U.S. Rather than buy panels, more than half of solar customers opt for third-party financing in the states where it’s available, according at a recent report by GTM Research.

Rather than purchase panels, consumers either buy the power they produce or pay a monthly lease. The installer owns the panels and takes advantage of renewable energy incentives, such as federal and state tax credits. For consumers, it’s compelling because contracts are typically structured to lower monthly electricity bills.

Financing has fueled rapid growth in residential and commercial solar over the past few years. Installer SolarCity, which has a software system for rapidly generating a bid and system design, went public earlier late last year. (See, SolarCity IPO Tests Business Model Innovation in Energy.)

Honda, which expects to sign on thousands of joint customers, entered into the partnership with SolarCity to burnish its image with environmentally conscious consumers. It says they will explore the possibility of having electric car chargers installed in homes through SolarCity to power Honda’s plug-in hybrid Accord or Fit EV.

For its part, SolarCity has access to more capital and sales leads.

http://www.technologyreview.com/view...th-your-honda/

[amor de cosmos]

Giant Solar Farms Capacity Doubling Inside 12 Months Breaking 12 GW
February 22, 2013

A new update from analyst firm Wiki-Solar has concluded that by the end of February utility-scale solar farms will have reached 12.2 GW of capacity across 488 installations, a figure almost double that of 12 months ago.

The report found that 6 GW of new utility-scale capacity has been connected worldwide in the last 12 months, with China alone installing nearly 2 GW since last February, pipping Germany as the country for solar power plants.

“The rate of growth is breath-taking”, says industry expert Philip Wolfe. “These figures get out-of-date before they are even published. In the last quarter alone, over 70 utility-scale solar projects totalling 1.5GW were registered under the Clean Development Mechanism.”

The report defined ‘utility-scale’ as any solar farm over the 10 MW barrier, gathering its data from Wiki-Solar’s database of solar projects published on its website and shown on an interactive global map.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/22/...reaking-12-gw/

In California, Affordable Solar Power for the 99%
February 22, 2013

It wasn’t too long ago that rooftop solar panels were yet another expensive add-on for high end homes, but then again, it wasn’t too long ago that only the rich kids at your high school could afford pocket calculators, let alone mobile phones. Affordable solar power is starting to make its way down the income ladder, and a pair of statewide California solar programs show how that’s good news for utility customers and taxpayers, too.



Solar Power for the 99%

What could really blow the lid off the affordable rooftop solar market, though, is the skyrocketing popularity of power purchase agreements (PPAs). Under a PPA, the property owner pays only for the solar power, typically at a rate far below grid-supplied electricity.

Just last summer the Baltimore Sun reported on a company called Skyline Innovations, which installed solar thermal hot water systems under a PPA for the “cash-strapped” housing authority in Annapolis, Maryland. With no money required up front, the new system is saving about 30 percent on hot water heating.

Another opportunity has been demonstrated by the Department of Defense. Back in the 1990′s, DoD privatized its on-base housing, which now serves as the launching pad for solar PPA projects including $1 billion in rooftop solar projects by solar industry leader SolarCity. Called SolarStrong, that PPA project alone will total up to 300 megawatts and cover up to 120,000 military housing units.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/22/...er-for-the-99/

Solar energy to get boost from cutting-edge forecasts
February 21, 2013

BOULDER—Applying its atmospheric expertise to solar energy, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is spearheading a three-year, nationwide project to create unprecedented, 36-hour forecasts of incoming energy from the Sun for solar energy power plants.

The research team is designing a prototype system to forecast sunlight and resulting power every 15 minutes over specific solar facilities, thereby enabling utilities to continuously anticipate the amount of available solar energy. The work, funded primarily with a $4.1 million U.S. Department of Energy grant, will draw on cutting-edge research techniques at leading government labs and universities across the country, in partnership with utilities, other energy companies, and commercial forecast providers.

Much of the focus will be on generating detailed predictions of clouds and atmospheric particles that can reduce incoming energy from the Sun.

“It’s critical for utility managers to know how much sunlight will be reaching solar energy plants in order to have confidence that they can supply sufficient power when their customers need it,” says Sue Ellen Haupt, director of NCAR’s Weather Systems and Assessment Program and the lead researcher on the solar energy project. “These detailed cloud and irradiance forecasts are a vital step in using more energy from the Sun.”



NCAR is launching the solar project with numerous partners in the public and private sectors. These include:

Government labs: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Earth System Research Laboratory and other NOAA facilities;

Universities: The Pennsylvania State University, Colorado State University, University of Hawaii, and University of Washington;

Utilities: Long Island Power and Light, New York Power Authority, Public Service Company of Colorado, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), Southern California Edison, and the Hawaiian Electric Company;

Independent system operators: New York ISO, Xcel Energy, SMUD, California ISO, and Hawaiian Electric; and

Commercial forecast providers: Schneider Electric, Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Global Weather Corporation, and MDA Information Systems.

http://www2.ucar.edu/atmosnews/news/...edge-forecasts

White paper unveils details of Saudi's 54 GW renewable energy plans
22. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Global PV markets, Industry & Suppliers, Investor news, Markets & Trends | By: Becky Beetz

A white paper has been released detailing the proposed competitive procurement process (CPP) of Saudi Arabia’s K.A.Care program, which aims to install 41 GW of solar in the region by 2032. The first tendering round is scheduled to be held in the first half of this year. Local content will play a significant role.

Overall, the K.A.Care program intends to install 54 GW of renewable energy – including solar, wind, geothermal and waste-to-energy – by 2032 in Saudi Arabia. The aim is to reach around 5.1 GW by 2018, and 23.9 GW by 2020.

Under the plans, project developers will be invited to bid on power purchase contracts. Over the next two to three years, three tendering rounds – introductory, and first and second procurement rounds – will be held, for 7 GW worth of projects. The first is scheduled to be held in the first half of 2013. Subsequent rounds are then expected to be announced.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ns-_100010308/

The 145MW Neuhardenberg solar project nears grid connection
By Maria Alexopoulou - 22 February 2013, 13:00
In News, Power Generation, Project Focus

A 145MW solar project located in Neuhardenberg, Germany, and owned by a number of unnamed financial institutions and investors has been completed and is set to connect to the grid on 8 March, 2013.

The 145MW project was completed in two months in September and was officially inaugurated on 3 October.

Located on 240 hectares of land on a former military airfield, the facility is equipped with polycrystalline PV modules supplied by Talesun Solar and inverters from KACO new energy.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/the_145m...rid_connection

India to install 1.4GW in 2013 despite trade war
By Nilima Choudhury - 22 February 2013, 11:38
In News, Power Generation

India will install another 1.3 to 1.4GW of PV capacity despite its lacklustre 2012, predicts clean energy communications and consulting firm Mercom Capital.

Cumulative PV installations to date in India now stand at only 1.2GW due to delays in Gujarat to commission 144.5 MW of PV projects.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently issued a draft solar policy for Phase II of the country’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), outlining its strategy to install 10GW of PV capacity by 2017 through an aggressive approach to domestic manufacturing and by implementing a domestic content requirement.

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/india_to...pite_trade_war

[amor de cosmos]

Solar Frontier to cut thin-film module costs by half by 2017
By Giles Parkinson on 19 February 2013

Showa Shell, the Japanese subsidiary of global oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, has predicted that its solar unit Solar Frontier will be able to cut production costs of its solar modules by half in the next few years as it seeks to emerge as one of the world’s biggest solar module manufacturers.

Some pundits are convinced that the dramatic price plunge that has accompanied a glut in solar panels will be reversed once the market returns to balance, but such predictions ignore the ongoing cost reductions being achieved by solar module manufacturers.

Last week, US manufacturer SunPower (majority owned by another international oil major, Total) said it had reduced costs by 25 per cent in 2012 and expected reductions to continue this year.

Showa Shell, which owns Solar Frontier, said it expected the cost of its thin-filmed CIGS (copper, indium, gallium and serenium) solar panels to fall by half by 2017. Last month, the company announced it had gained an energy conversion efficiency record of 19.7 per cent, breaking a 10-year record for thin-film modules, and without the use of cadmium.

The 50 per cent cost reduction target was outlined by Showa Shell president Jun Arai this week as part of a five-year management plan that aimed to elevate Solar Frontier to among the leading solar manufacturers in the world, reclaiming a position that Japanese solar firms once dominated in the 1990s before the emergence of German and then Chinese manufacturers. “Once we gain a foothold in Japan, we want to gain ground in the international market,” Arai told the briefing. Solar Frontier is regarded as one of the closes competitors to thin-film industry leader, the U.S. based First Solar.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/sola...f-by-2017-2017

Yingli ups PV shipment guidance by 40%
22. February 2013 | Industry & Suppliers, Markets & Trends | By: Vera von Kreutzbruck

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited has issued preliminary Q4 and full year 2012 financial results. It anticipates that photovoltaic module shipments will sequentially increase by around 40%.

The vertically integrated Chinese manufacturer expects to reach approximately 2.3 GW of photovoltaic module shipments in 2012 – a significantly higher figure than the previous guidance of 2.1 to 2.2 GW. From Q3 to Q4, it expects shipments to increase by around 40%.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...-40_100010321/

NCAR launches project to develop 36 hour sunlight forecasting tool for PV plants
By Julia Chan - 22 February 2013, 15:46
In News, Power Generation

Researchers from the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) have launched a three-year project which seeks to create 36 hour forecasts of incoming sunlight.

Funded primarily by a US$4.1 million grant from the US Department of Energy, the researchers will seek to design a prototype system which has the capabilities to forecast sunlight and the resulting power every 15 minutes at specific solar facilities, thereby enabling utilities to continuously anticipate the amount of available solar energy.

The project will utilise cutting-edge research techniques at various government laboratories and universities across the US and work in partnership with a number of utilities, energy companies and commercial forecast providers.

The project will mostly concentrate on generating detailed predictions of clouds and atmospheric particles that can reduce incoming energy from the sun.

“It’s critical for utility managers to know how much sunlight will be reaching solar energy plants in order to have confidence that they can supply sufficient power when their customers need it,” says Sue Ellen Haupt, Director of NCAR’s Weather Systems and Assessment Program and the lead researcher on the solar energy project. “These detailed cloud and irradiance forecasts are a vital step in using more energy from the Sun.”

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/ncar_lau..._tool_for_pv_p

Sec. Chu: We’re Reaching For The Sun
February 22, 2013 Steven Bushong : 0 Comments

In an online panel discussion, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and others today discussed America’s growing solar industry. Dr. Chu said the industry has a lot of room for development – especially in lowering soft costs and improving electronic components – yet in terms of cost per watt, solar will soon rival other forms of energy.

“Without subsidy, solar power can hold its own against other forms of energy,” Chu said during the video chat. “We’re going further than reaching for the moon. We’re reaching for the sun. It’s important that we recognize this is now within grasp.”



Dr. Chu used the Google+ Hangout as a moment to discuss three concepts that are pushing solar ahead (quotes are modified):

The Sunshot Initiative

If you look at how much it costs for a homeowner in Germany to install solar, it’s roughly $2.50 per watt. In the U.S., the average is around $5.50 a watt. The module itself is becoming commodity price, within 5 or 10% around the world. Already, the soft costs are more than the hard costs. As we get to our SunShot Goal of $2 a watt on a home rooftop, soft costs are key. The technology is racing ahead.

A new technology

One thing that will get us to this goal is a radical new approach to solar where the different layers are lattice matched. There is an expectation that the modules could be more robust. It’s a higher efficiency. That’s an example of how much technical headroom there is in the solar field.

And solar thermal

It’s an old idea engineered better. You can go to scale and be commercially viable. These are three examples of how we’re taking a technological lead in this area. Within a decade, we’ll be the world leader in not only the R&D part, but also the manufacturing, deployment and demonstration of these components.

http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com...g-for-the-sun/

[amor de cosmos]

Graph of the Day – How fossil fuels lose out to wind and solar
By Giles Parkinson on 20 February 2013

The story that has really captured the imagination of our readers this year has been on the Bloomberg New Energy Finance analysis that demonstrated that wind energy was already cheaper than new coal and gas plants in Australia, and solar PV was not all that behind.

Because of that interest, we’ve decided that today’s Graph of the Day should be another set from the BNEF report, because they demonstrate so vividly how the technology costs of wind, solar PV, solar thermal, biomass and even geothermal fall below rising coal and gas plant costs over the coming decades.

Remember when looking at this graph of the day that Australia needs no new baseload power plants for another 10 years – that’s according to the Australian Energy Market Operator and the utilities themselves. So this shows that the new plants we are getting built now – wind farms, thanks to the renewable energy target – are the cheapest option.

By the time 2020 comes around, solar PV will have well and truly joined wind on the southern side of the cost curve (and will no doubt be competing for space in the RET), and solar thermal – with its ability for storage and dispatchable energy, will be competing vigorously with gas.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/grap...nd-solar-94119

US: LADWP receives influx of solar FIT applications
18. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Markets & Trends | By: Becky Beetz

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has received applications to build 107 MW of solar projects in the first week of its new renewable energy FIT program.

Overall, LADWP aims to install 100 MW of solar and other renewable energy projects in the department’s service territory by 2016. However, already in the opening week of its new FIT program, the first 20 MW allocation has been oversubscribed to.

Both customers and developers have submitted applications totaling 107 MW of solar projects to be installed across the city and in the Owens Valley service area, including 2 MWs worth of projects 30 to 150 kW in size, and 76 MW worth of projects 151 kW to 3 MW in size.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ons_100010250/

• Video Link
http://solarlove.org/microfinancing-...-in-sri-lanka/

Japan Banks Follow Goldman to $19 Billion Solar Market
By Chisaki Watanabe, Shigeru Sato & Shingo Kawamoto - Feb 7, 2013 12:15 AM PT

Japan’s biggest banks are following Goldman Sachs Group Inc. into domestic solar-power projects, anticipating an eightfold increase for investments in the industry.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Mizuho Financial Group Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. expect the market to be worth as much as 1.8 trillion yen ($19 billion) over the next three years. That’s more than eight times the roughly 223 billion yen of investment into Japanese solar installations in 2012, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The subsidy program Japan’s government started in July is forecast to turn it into the world’s third-largest market for solar power in 2013 behind China and either the U.S. or Italy, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The incentive pays about triple the amounts Germany extends for its solar industries and already has lured solar backers from Goldman Sachs to International Business Machines Corp.



Solar Boom

The pace of expansion forecast for the solar companies contrasts with declining support for other industries from the banks. Lending to manufacturers for plant investments has fallen 30 percent from the fiscal year ended in March 2009 to 1.98 trillion yen in the year through March 2012, the latest annual data available from the Bank of Japan show.

The banks are competing for control of the market. Mizuho forecasts construction costs of solar power plants may total 1.8 trillion yen in Japan in the next three years. Bank of Tokyo- Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. estimates the market may be worth 1.35 trillion yen and wants the “biggest share” of the business, according to Tetsuo Nishikawa, an official in charge of structured finance for the lending division. Sumitomo Mitsui says it wants more than a third of the market.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...ar-market.html

39% Of California EV Owners Have Solar, 17% More Planning It Within 1 Year (Infographic)
February 23, 2013 in Consumer Electronics, Market Research, New Technology, Solar Research

A recent survey by the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) found that 39% of plug-in electric vehicle owners in California owned solar panel systems, and another 17% were planning to go solar within the next year.

http://solarlove.org/39-of-ev-owners...a-infographic/

[amor de cosmos]

South Indian City Of Anantapur To Go Solar And Save $1 Million Every Year
February 25, 2013

The municipal corporation of Anantapur in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is set to become the first municipality in the country to set up a solar power project to power its water pumping operations and street lights. The impressive plan includes installation of 5 MW of a solar PV project in the city. The project will be connected to the state’s power grid and will power the water pumping and street lights of the entire municipality’s area.

Anantapur is blessed with significantly high solar energy resource and has already attracted investment from project developers under India’s famous Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).

The project would require an investment of $11 million (Rs 60 crore) and would include installation of nearly 40,000 solar panels. The municipality currently consumes 5 MW on water pumping operations and powering the street lights. This entails an average electricity bill of $1 million per year.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/25/...on-every-year/

35X Increase For Solar In Argentina
February 24, 2013

Currently Argentina is far behind in solar capacity with only about 10 MW in operation. That could change soon due to plans to expand by up to thirty-five times. Solar farms are being planned in the western parts of the country, where there is approximately twice was much solar radiation as in Germany, the world’s number one solar market.There is a great deal of solar radiation in the western areas waiting to be utilized.

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/24/...-in-argentina/

Energy News
Startup Engineers See-Through Solar Cells
A spectrally selective approach could let tablets, e-readers, and windows turn light into power.
By Kate Greene on February 25, 2013

Imagine a world where any surface could be coated with solar cells, converting sunlight and even the glow of light bulbs into small amounts of usable energy. This is the goal of a new startup called Ubiquitous Energy. The company hopes to develop affordable, transparent coatings and films that could harvest light energy when applied to windows or the screens of e-readers or tablet devices. One way to use the technology might be in electrochromic windows that turn from clear to dark when the sun is brightest.

The trick is the way the company’s photovoltaics take up light: they collect wavelengths in the ultraviolet and infrared portion of the spectrum but let visible light pass through. Traditional solar cells, in contrast, collect light in the ultraviolet and visible regions and therefore can’t be made completely transparent.

“It’s definitely an interesting approach if the cost of such cells can be low enough and the stability of the materials is sufficient,” says Zhenan Bao, a professor of chemical engineering at Stanford University, who is not affiliated with the startup. He adds that by collecting infrared and ultraviolet light, the technology is filtering the parts of the spectrum people generally want windows to keep out anyway.

http://www.technologyreview.com/news...h-solar-cells/

India allocates 1.172 GW of solar power
25. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Markets & Trends | By: Becky Beetz

Over the last three years, India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has assigned 1.172 GW worth of grid-connected solar power plants. Of these, 369 MW have already been commissioned.

Overall, MNRE has allocated 1.172 GW worth of solar projects via various programs over the last three years. Until January 31, 369 MW have been commissioned via 132 power plants, including one 2.5 MW solar thermal plant and 131 photovoltaic plants totaling 366 MW.

Of the 131 photovoltaic plants completed, says MNRE, 65 comprise locally made solar cells and modules. Meanwhile, it adds that bids for photovoltaic tariffs under the first and second phases of India’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) averaged Rs. 12.16/kWh (around US$0.22, or €0.17) and Rs. 8.77, respectively.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...er-_100010334/

Canadian Solar partners with Strata Solar on 85 MW PV project
25. February 2013 | Applications & Installations, Industry & Suppliers | By: Becky Beetz

Canadian Solar, Inc. and Strata Solar have joined forces to work on 85 MW of photovoltaic plants in the U.S.

Canadian Solar says it has invested in and partnered with Strata Solar to complete 15 utility-scale photovoltaic plants in North Carolina.

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/deta...ect_100010326/

Czech Company Investing €400 Million ($530 Million) Into Ukraine Solar Power Plants
February 25, 2013 in Solar $, Solar Projects

ukraine solar power plantThe Czech Republic is actually the #3 country in the world for solar power per capita. Unfortunately, the feed-in tariff policy that spurred the growth was cut a couple of years ago, and solar has practically been banned from the country since then. Nonetheless, some Czech businessmen and investors must have gotten a first-hand sense for the potential that lies in solar power. So, it’s not all that surprising that the Czech group of companies called Ekotechnik Czech is looking to invest a whopping €400 million into some solar power plants in solar-ripe Ukraine.

The power plants will be located in the Khmelnytskyi oblast. They’ll have a total power capacity of 160 MW when completed.

http://solarlove.org/czech-company-i...-power-plants/

Graphene: A material that multiplies the power of light

ICFO scientists show that graphene is highly efficient in converting light to electricity

Bottles, packaging, furniture, car parts... all made of plastic. Today we find it difficult to imagine our lives without this key material that revolutionized technology over the last century. There is wide-spread optimism in the scientific community that graphene will provide similar paradigm shifting advances in the decades to come. Mobile phones that fold, transparent and flexible solar panels, extra thin computers... the list of potential applications is endless. Scientists, industries and the European Commission are so convinced of the potential of graphene to revolutionize the world economy that they promise an injection of €1.000 million in graphene research.



"In most materials, one absorbed photon generates one electron, but in the case of graphene, we have seen that one absorbed photon is able to produce many excited electrons, and therefore generate larger electrical signals" explains Frank Koppens, group leader at ICFO. This feature makes graphene an ideal building block for any device that relies on converting light into electricity. In particular, it enables efficient light detectors and potentially also solar cells that can harvest light energy from the full solar spectrum with lower loss.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releas...-gam022213.php