Given recent developments in Germany and Spain, will the UK's solar feed-in tariff be enough to engender a long-term sustainable solar manufacturing and installation industry in Britain? If not, then how can this be achieved? And how should the UK's policymakers seek to avert a boom-and-bust-scenario?
Leading players in the British solar industry share their views on the likely impact of the UK's feed-in tariff, which came into effect in April 2010.
Source: Renewable Energy World To read the full article click here.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Study shines new light on Sun's role in Earth's climate
London, England (CNN) -- A new study has shed light on the sun's impact on the Earth's climate, confounding current thinking about solar cycles and how they influence temperatures on Earth. Previously scientists had thought that radiation reaching the Earth rises and falls in line with the Sun's activity, which during the 11-year solar cycle goes though periods of low and high activity.
But research by Imperial College, London and the University of Colorado in the U.S. examining solar radiation levels from 2004 to 2007 -- a period of declining solar activity -- revealed that levels of visible radiation reaching the Earth actually increased during the period.
Using data collected by NASA's SORCE (SOlar Radiation and Climate Experiment) satellite, which launched in 2003, the scientists were able to scrutinize the full solar spectrum -- x-ray, ultraviolet (UV), visible (VR), near-infrared, and total solar radiation -- and compare it to earlier, less comprehensive data.
Joanna Haigh, leader author of the study published in the journal Nature told CNN: "What the data has shown, rather unexpectedly, is that the decline in ultra-violet radiation is much larger than anticipated. But more surprisingly the visible radiation actually increased as solar activity was declining."
Haigh, a professor of atmospheric physics, says that UV radiation is mostly absorbed in the stratosphere but visible radiation gets through to the earth's surface. The observed increase in VR, despite declining solar activity, may have caused small rises in temperature.
But, as Haigh points out, the research, which covers a short period, comes with some caveats.
"The sun has been behaving very strangely. Its magnetic activity is lower than it has been for several hundred years, perhaps. And so the fact that it's doing strange things in its spectrum is perhaps not that unexpected," she said.
It's also just starting to come out of a very long period (two years) of minimum activity, she says. As the Sun's activity starts to increase, "it will also be very, very interesting to see if the visible radiation starts to decline," Haigh says.
Haigh is aware that research which contradicts existing ideas about how the Sun's activity affects the Earth's climate is likely to fuel some climate skepticism.
But she says the solar cycles cancel each other out, going up and down over roughly an 11-year period.
"They [the solar cycles] are contributing nothing to long-term global warming," she said, "and it has no bearing on what we understand about greenhouse gases and their influence on climate."
Robert von Fay-Siebenburgen, a solar physicist from the UK's University of Sheffield told CNN: "What has been published is very interesting and a little unexpected, to be honest."
But he says that despite the Sun being our closest star, scientists still know very little about it.
"We have a better understanding of the internal processes -- what is below the surface of the Sun. However, what is above that and how it affects the Earth's climate is very poorly understood," he said."But what Professor Haigh has found is very exciting and an important step towards increasing our understanding."
Sir Brian Hoskins, director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College, London said in a statement: "Studies like this are vital for helping us create a clear picture of how our climate is changing and through this, to work out how we can best protect our planet."
Source: CNN
But research by Imperial College, London and the University of Colorado in the U.S. examining solar radiation levels from 2004 to 2007 -- a period of declining solar activity -- revealed that levels of visible radiation reaching the Earth actually increased during the period.
Using data collected by NASA's SORCE (SOlar Radiation and Climate Experiment) satellite, which launched in 2003, the scientists were able to scrutinize the full solar spectrum -- x-ray, ultraviolet (UV), visible (VR), near-infrared, and total solar radiation -- and compare it to earlier, less comprehensive data.
Joanna Haigh, leader author of the study published in the journal Nature told CNN: "What the data has shown, rather unexpectedly, is that the decline in ultra-violet radiation is much larger than anticipated. But more surprisingly the visible radiation actually increased as solar activity was declining."
Haigh, a professor of atmospheric physics, says that UV radiation is mostly absorbed in the stratosphere but visible radiation gets through to the earth's surface. The observed increase in VR, despite declining solar activity, may have caused small rises in temperature.
But, as Haigh points out, the research, which covers a short period, comes with some caveats.
"The sun has been behaving very strangely. Its magnetic activity is lower than it has been for several hundred years, perhaps. And so the fact that it's doing strange things in its spectrum is perhaps not that unexpected," she said.
It's also just starting to come out of a very long period (two years) of minimum activity, she says. As the Sun's activity starts to increase, "it will also be very, very interesting to see if the visible radiation starts to decline," Haigh says.
Haigh is aware that research which contradicts existing ideas about how the Sun's activity affects the Earth's climate is likely to fuel some climate skepticism.
But she says the solar cycles cancel each other out, going up and down over roughly an 11-year period.
"They [the solar cycles] are contributing nothing to long-term global warming," she said, "and it has no bearing on what we understand about greenhouse gases and their influence on climate."
Robert von Fay-Siebenburgen, a solar physicist from the UK's University of Sheffield told CNN: "What has been published is very interesting and a little unexpected, to be honest."
But he says that despite the Sun being our closest star, scientists still know very little about it.
"We have a better understanding of the internal processes -- what is below the surface of the Sun. However, what is above that and how it affects the Earth's climate is very poorly understood," he said."But what Professor Haigh has found is very exciting and an important step towards increasing our understanding."
Sir Brian Hoskins, director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College, London said in a statement: "Studies like this are vital for helping us create a clear picture of how our climate is changing and through this, to work out how we can best protect our planet."
Source: CNN
CEC Approves 959 MW of Solar
Following the recent success of licensing solar energy facilities, the California Energy Commission today approved nearly 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power in Southern California.
The Genesis Solar Energy Project and the Imperial Valley Solar Project, totaling 959 MW, are now the fifth and sixth solar power plants that the Energy Commission has licensed in the past five weeks. Since late August, the Commission has licensed 2,829 MW of renewable solar power in the California desert.
In two separate unanimous votes, the Energy Commission adopted the presiding member's proposed decisions (PMPD) that recommended licensing the 250-MW Genesis project in Riverside County and the 709-MW Imperial Valley project in Imperial County. In order to qualify for federal stimulus funds, the projects needed to be approved by the Energy Commission before December 31, 2010.
These projects are a direct result of the successful partnership between California and the Department of the Interior (DOI). In October 2009, California was the first state to sign a memo of understanding with the DOI to develop long-term renewable energy plans through state and federal permitting processes that can receive 30 percent federal tax credits under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The two projects would be among the first commercial solar thermal power plants permitted on federal public land in the United States. Both projects still require decisions from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which approves the use of federal public lands, before they can proceed. The BLM's actions are scheduled for October.
The Genesis Solar Energy Project is being proposed by Genesis Solar LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. The project site is located in eastern Riverside County about 25 miles west of Blythe. The project is north of Ford Dry Lake and Interstate 10. The project is seeking a right-of-way grant from the BLM for 4,640 acres, with construction and operation of the facility taking up about 1,800 acres.
The proposed project would use parabolic trough technology where parabolic mirrors are used to heat a transfer fluid which is then used to generate steam. Electricity is produced from the steam expanding through steam turbine generators.
The Imperial Valley Solar Project is being developed by Imperial Valley Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of Tessera Solar, in Imperial County. The project is located about 14 miles west of El Centro.
The project would be located on approximately 6,140 acres of land managed by the BLM and about 360 acres of privately-owned land.
The facility would use solar dish Stirling systems, or "SunCatchers", consisting of a solar receiver heat exchanger and a closed-cycle, high efficiency engine designed to convert solar power to rotary power, then driving an electrical generator to produce electricity.
The Genesis and Imperial Valley projects are among nine large solar thermal projects scheduled to go before the Commission before the end of the year. More than 4,100 megawatts of solar power will be added if all nine projects are approved. The nine projects would provide more than 8,000 construction jobs and more than 1,000 operational jobs.
The four previously licensed plants are: the 250-MW Beacon Solar Energy Project (Aug. 25); the 250-MW Abengoa Mojave Solar Project (Sept. 8); the 1,000-MW Blythe Solar Power Project (Sept. 15); and the 370-MW Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System project (Sept. 22). The 663.5-MW Calico Solar Project is scheduled for the Oct. 28 meeting. Two other projects, the 500-MW Palen Solar Power Project and the 150-MW Rice Solar Energy Project, are still under review.
The PMPDs for the Genesis and Imperial Valley projects said the facilities, even with mitigation measures, will have significant impacts on cultural resources, land use, and visual resources. The Imperial Valley project also will have significant impact on biological resources and would be inconsistent with an Imperial County land use ordinance.
However, the benefits of the projects would override those impacts. The Genesis project will require a peak workforce of 1,085 during construction, with another 50 jobs when the plant is in operation. The Imperial Valley project will need a peak workforce of 731 during construction, with another 164 operational jobs.
The PMPDs were based solely on the record of facts that were established during the facilities' certification proceedings.
The proposed solar thermal power projects that the Energy Commission is considering will help meet the state's Renewables Portfolio Standard, which requires California's electricity utility companies to use renewable energy to produce 20 percent of their power by 2010 and 33 percent by 2020. Solar energy is a main source of renewable power.
The federal government and the State of California have established the need to increase the development and use of renewable energy in order to enhance the nation's energy independence, meet environmental goals, and create new economic growth opportunities.
Source: Renewable Energy World
The Genesis Solar Energy Project and the Imperial Valley Solar Project, totaling 959 MW, are now the fifth and sixth solar power plants that the Energy Commission has licensed in the past five weeks. Since late August, the Commission has licensed 2,829 MW of renewable solar power in the California desert.
In two separate unanimous votes, the Energy Commission adopted the presiding member's proposed decisions (PMPD) that recommended licensing the 250-MW Genesis project in Riverside County and the 709-MW Imperial Valley project in Imperial County. In order to qualify for federal stimulus funds, the projects needed to be approved by the Energy Commission before December 31, 2010.
These projects are a direct result of the successful partnership between California and the Department of the Interior (DOI). In October 2009, California was the first state to sign a memo of understanding with the DOI to develop long-term renewable energy plans through state and federal permitting processes that can receive 30 percent federal tax credits under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The two projects would be among the first commercial solar thermal power plants permitted on federal public land in the United States. Both projects still require decisions from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which approves the use of federal public lands, before they can proceed. The BLM's actions are scheduled for October.
The Genesis Solar Energy Project is being proposed by Genesis Solar LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. The project site is located in eastern Riverside County about 25 miles west of Blythe. The project is north of Ford Dry Lake and Interstate 10. The project is seeking a right-of-way grant from the BLM for 4,640 acres, with construction and operation of the facility taking up about 1,800 acres.
The proposed project would use parabolic trough technology where parabolic mirrors are used to heat a transfer fluid which is then used to generate steam. Electricity is produced from the steam expanding through steam turbine generators.
The Imperial Valley Solar Project is being developed by Imperial Valley Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of Tessera Solar, in Imperial County. The project is located about 14 miles west of El Centro.
The project would be located on approximately 6,140 acres of land managed by the BLM and about 360 acres of privately-owned land.
The facility would use solar dish Stirling systems, or "SunCatchers", consisting of a solar receiver heat exchanger and a closed-cycle, high efficiency engine designed to convert solar power to rotary power, then driving an electrical generator to produce electricity.
The Genesis and Imperial Valley projects are among nine large solar thermal projects scheduled to go before the Commission before the end of the year. More than 4,100 megawatts of solar power will be added if all nine projects are approved. The nine projects would provide more than 8,000 construction jobs and more than 1,000 operational jobs.
The four previously licensed plants are: the 250-MW Beacon Solar Energy Project (Aug. 25); the 250-MW Abengoa Mojave Solar Project (Sept. 8); the 1,000-MW Blythe Solar Power Project (Sept. 15); and the 370-MW Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System project (Sept. 22). The 663.5-MW Calico Solar Project is scheduled for the Oct. 28 meeting. Two other projects, the 500-MW Palen Solar Power Project and the 150-MW Rice Solar Energy Project, are still under review.
The PMPDs for the Genesis and Imperial Valley projects said the facilities, even with mitigation measures, will have significant impacts on cultural resources, land use, and visual resources. The Imperial Valley project also will have significant impact on biological resources and would be inconsistent with an Imperial County land use ordinance.
However, the benefits of the projects would override those impacts. The Genesis project will require a peak workforce of 1,085 during construction, with another 50 jobs when the plant is in operation. The Imperial Valley project will need a peak workforce of 731 during construction, with another 164 operational jobs.
The PMPDs were based solely on the record of facts that were established during the facilities' certification proceedings.
The proposed solar thermal power projects that the Energy Commission is considering will help meet the state's Renewables Portfolio Standard, which requires California's electricity utility companies to use renewable energy to produce 20 percent of their power by 2010 and 33 percent by 2020. Solar energy is a main source of renewable power.
The federal government and the State of California have established the need to increase the development and use of renewable energy in order to enhance the nation's energy independence, meet environmental goals, and create new economic growth opportunities.
Source: Renewable Energy World
Thursday, October 7, 2010
LDK Solar gains $ 8.9 billion financing boost from China
LDK Solar Company Limited will secure up to 60 billion Chinese yuan ($8.97 billion) in credit from the China Development Bank over five years to bolster its long-term growth and development plans.
Details of the individual credit facilities will be subject to the bank’s internal risk management requirements and operational regulations."Through our strong partnership with [China Development Bank], we will have an enhanced ability to pursue our long-term growth strategy and further strengthen our position within the [photovoltaic] industry market,” said Xiafeng Peng, chairman and chief executive of LDK Solar.
The company is the largest producer of multicrystalline solar wafers in the world and is a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic products.
Early this month, LDK Solar completed the installation and trial runs of the first production line of solar cells in its new manufacturing facility in Xinyu city in China. The new manufacturing line has an annualized capacity of 60 megawatts and is expected to reach 120 MW by the end of the third quarter.
“Our objectives of in-house cell production are to produce approximately [50 percent] of our module manufacturing needs, thereby reducing the cost of our modules and attaining a stable supply of cells,” Mr. Peng explained.
The company also signed numerous agreements that will support its long-term growth goals. LDK Solar recently modified an existing solar wafer supply contract with Q-Cells S.E. inked in December 2007 worth $244.5 million. In the new agreement, LDK Solar will repay the prepayment in its entirety, which currently stands at $224.9 million, by the end of 2011.
Meanwhile, LDK Solar entered a research collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that will look into ways to develop standards for solar grade silicon, as well as evaluation methods, crystallization technologies and commercial implementation.
Meanwhile, the China Development Bank also extended credit to JA Solar Holdings Company Limited worth $4.42 billion, with Suntech Power Holdings for $7.29 billion and Trina Solar for $4.3 billion.
Source: EcoSeed
Details of the individual credit facilities will be subject to the bank’s internal risk management requirements and operational regulations."Through our strong partnership with [China Development Bank], we will have an enhanced ability to pursue our long-term growth strategy and further strengthen our position within the [photovoltaic] industry market,” said Xiafeng Peng, chairman and chief executive of LDK Solar.
The company is the largest producer of multicrystalline solar wafers in the world and is a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic products.
Early this month, LDK Solar completed the installation and trial runs of the first production line of solar cells in its new manufacturing facility in Xinyu city in China. The new manufacturing line has an annualized capacity of 60 megawatts and is expected to reach 120 MW by the end of the third quarter.
“Our objectives of in-house cell production are to produce approximately [50 percent] of our module manufacturing needs, thereby reducing the cost of our modules and attaining a stable supply of cells,” Mr. Peng explained.
The company also signed numerous agreements that will support its long-term growth goals. LDK Solar recently modified an existing solar wafer supply contract with Q-Cells S.E. inked in December 2007 worth $244.5 million. In the new agreement, LDK Solar will repay the prepayment in its entirety, which currently stands at $224.9 million, by the end of 2011.
Meanwhile, LDK Solar entered a research collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that will look into ways to develop standards for solar grade silicon, as well as evaluation methods, crystallization technologies and commercial implementation.
Meanwhile, the China Development Bank also extended credit to JA Solar Holdings Company Limited worth $4.42 billion, with Suntech Power Holdings for $7.29 billion and Trina Solar for $4.3 billion.
Source: EcoSeed
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
World's biggest solar project powers up in Canada
The world's largest solar energy facility, the 80-megawatt Sarnia photovoltaic project in Ontario, is now fully operational and is supplying energy to the Canadian province's power grid, its owner and operator said on Monday.
The project, located in southern Ontario, is expected to make enough energy from sunlight to power 12,800 homes, its owner Enbridge Inc ENB.TO and operator First Solar Inc said in a statement.
"Completing the world's largest PV (photovoltaic) power plant demonstrates the migration of solar PV toward utility scale," said Frank De Rosa, senior vice-president of North American project development at First Solar, the world's biggest solar company by market value.
Enbridge, Canada's biggest oil pipeline operator, will sell the power from the Sarnia facility to the Ontario Power Authority under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The agreement was awarded under the provincial government's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program.
In addition to its standard offer program, Ontario last year unveiled a green energy feed-in tariff (FIT), which offers rich incentives to renewable energy developers to set up shop in the province. The FIT program has lured a number of big-name companies including South Korea's Samsung, C&T and Germany's Siemens AG.
Enbridge, which has been much in the news recently because of pipeline leaks in the United States, has invested C$2 billion in green energy assets in recent years and now also has interests in seven wind farms and a geothermal project, among others.
It bought the 20 MW Sarnia project from First Solar last year in an agreement in which First Solar remained as the project's operator. The two companies then expanded the project's capacity by 60 MW.
First Solar's de Rosa said U.S.-based company expects to install 145 MW of solar power in North America this year, including this project. The Sarnia facility was built using First Solar's thin film solar panels.
Editors Note: Sarnia is also where the first commercial oil wells in North America were located.
Source: Reuters News Service
The project, located in southern Ontario, is expected to make enough energy from sunlight to power 12,800 homes, its owner Enbridge Inc ENB.TO and operator First Solar Inc said in a statement.
"Completing the world's largest PV (photovoltaic) power plant demonstrates the migration of solar PV toward utility scale," said Frank De Rosa, senior vice-president of North American project development at First Solar, the world's biggest solar company by market value.
Enbridge, Canada's biggest oil pipeline operator, will sell the power from the Sarnia facility to the Ontario Power Authority under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The agreement was awarded under the provincial government's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program.
In addition to its standard offer program, Ontario last year unveiled a green energy feed-in tariff (FIT), which offers rich incentives to renewable energy developers to set up shop in the province. The FIT program has lured a number of big-name companies including South Korea's Samsung, C&T and Germany's Siemens AG.
Enbridge, which has been much in the news recently because of pipeline leaks in the United States, has invested C$2 billion in green energy assets in recent years and now also has interests in seven wind farms and a geothermal project, among others.
It bought the 20 MW Sarnia project from First Solar last year in an agreement in which First Solar remained as the project's operator. The two companies then expanded the project's capacity by 60 MW.
First Solar's de Rosa said U.S.-based company expects to install 145 MW of solar power in North America this year, including this project. The Sarnia facility was built using First Solar's thin film solar panels.
Editors Note: Sarnia is also where the first commercial oil wells in North America were located.
Source: Reuters News Service
Companies Plan 100 MW for India
Developers and manufacturers are eyeing India's burgeoning solar market.
he European power-electronics company AEG Power Solutions and the Indian solar developer Electrotherm have partnered to deploy 100 MW of solar PV projects around India in the next three years.
The first installations are targeted for the last quarter of 2010 (15 MW) and for the beginning of 2011 (30 MW) in the states of Gujrat and Rajastan.
Electrotherm will give AEG access to the Indian market through its existing presence in the country. The company will act as an EPC contractor (Engineering, Procurement and Construction). In addition, Electrotherm will provide MV transformers and other basic components such as structures and complete wiring which are parts of the company’s portfolio.
AEG will provide engineering services and will deliver key components such solar inverters, metering, monitoring and controlling equipment and intelligent combiner boxes, part of the total solar power solutions of the group.
Both companies expect to develop together a minimum of 100MW of business activity in India over a period of 36 months.
Source: Renewable Energy World
he European power-electronics company AEG Power Solutions and the Indian solar developer Electrotherm have partnered to deploy 100 MW of solar PV projects around India in the next three years.
The first installations are targeted for the last quarter of 2010 (15 MW) and for the beginning of 2011 (30 MW) in the states of Gujrat and Rajastan.
Electrotherm will give AEG access to the Indian market through its existing presence in the country. The company will act as an EPC contractor (Engineering, Procurement and Construction). In addition, Electrotherm will provide MV transformers and other basic components such as structures and complete wiring which are parts of the company’s portfolio.
AEG will provide engineering services and will deliver key components such solar inverters, metering, monitoring and controlling equipment and intelligent combiner boxes, part of the total solar power solutions of the group.
Both companies expect to develop together a minimum of 100MW of business activity in India over a period of 36 months.
Source: Renewable Energy World
Germany Adds 4.88 GW in 2010 so Far
Seemingly determined to put an end to speculation that solar photovoltaics (PV) can't "scale" quickly enough to make a dent in electricity consumption, the German solar industry continues to break records.
According to the latest data from the Bundesnetzagentur, Germany's solar industry added another 1,000 MW during July and August. This brings the total for the eight-month period from January through August to 4,900 MW from nearly 175,000 solar installations.
Solar PV installations to date in 2010 are capable of generating slightly less than 5 TWh of electricity under German conditions.
Germany consumed 580 TWh of electricity in 2009.
Installations of solar PV during the first eight months of 2010 are capable of providing 0.86% or nearly 1% of the country's electricity. At the current pace of development, Germany will add about 6,000 MW of PV for all of 2010 or more than enough to provide 1% of electricity supply.
Germany currently meets approximately 1% of its supply with solar PV. With the 2010 additions, the country will meet 2% of its supply with solar PV.
Wind energy supplied 6.5% of Germany's electricity in 2009. Germany is expected to add another 4 TWh of generation from wind energy in 2010 or somewhat less than 1% of consumption.
Critics of solar energy have often charged that solar could not be scaled or installed quickly enough to have a significant effect on electricity supply. It is now clear that solar PV can indeed scale where the policies are designed to do so.
Source: Renewable Energy World
According to the latest data from the Bundesnetzagentur, Germany's solar industry added another 1,000 MW during July and August. This brings the total for the eight-month period from January through August to 4,900 MW from nearly 175,000 solar installations.
Solar PV installations to date in 2010 are capable of generating slightly less than 5 TWh of electricity under German conditions.
Germany consumed 580 TWh of electricity in 2009.
Installations of solar PV during the first eight months of 2010 are capable of providing 0.86% or nearly 1% of the country's electricity. At the current pace of development, Germany will add about 6,000 MW of PV for all of 2010 or more than enough to provide 1% of electricity supply.
Germany currently meets approximately 1% of its supply with solar PV. With the 2010 additions, the country will meet 2% of its supply with solar PV.
Wind energy supplied 6.5% of Germany's electricity in 2009. Germany is expected to add another 4 TWh of generation from wind energy in 2010 or somewhat less than 1% of consumption.
Critics of solar energy have often charged that solar could not be scaled or installed quickly enough to have a significant effect on electricity supply. It is now clear that solar PV can indeed scale where the policies are designed to do so.
Source: Renewable Energy World
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)