SunEdison, the solar energy development division of MEMC Electronic Materials Inc., has signed an agreement with First Reserve Corp. to establish a joint venture that could provide for the acquisition of up to $1.5 billion in current and future SunEdison solar photovoltaic energy projects.
The initial equity commitment for the joint venture of $167 million will be contributed by First Reserve and SunEdison. When combined with contemplated additional debt financing, these equity commitments are expected to fund the acquisition of solar assets developed by SunEdison with an enterprise value of $825 million, according to the companies.
The agreement contemplates that depending on market conditions, development opportunities and existing capital of the joint venture, First Reserve may raise an additional $150 million of equity which, when coupled with a corresponding increase in project debt financing, could scale the joint venture up to an aggregate of $1.5 billion of solar projects developed by SunEdison.
Qualifying projects will be constructed in the targeted markets of the U.S., Italy, Spain and Canada. SunEdison will lead the project identification and development process, and First Reserve will lead the project financing efforts. Once constructed, the projects will be purchased by the joint venture and then operated and managed by SunEdison.
SOURCE: SunEdison
Monday, May 31, 2010
25 Year Warranty on Astronergy PV Modules
Astronergy (also known as Chint Solar) - with headquarters in China, says that Munich Re, a reinsurance company, will be covering Astronergy's crystalline silicon and thin-film PV modules. This guarantee holds PV panels to high performance standards for the power-output warranty period.
The agreement covers the length of the 25-year warranty on the solar panels, guaranteeing a rated power output of greater than 90% for the first 10 years and a rated power output of greater than 80% for the remaining 15 years. Additional efficiency losses qualify for compensation.
SOURCE: Astronergy To learn more about Astronergy click here.
The agreement covers the length of the 25-year warranty on the solar panels, guaranteeing a rated power output of greater than 90% for the first 10 years and a rated power output of greater than 80% for the remaining 15 years. Additional efficiency losses qualify for compensation.
SOURCE: Astronergy To learn more about Astronergy click here.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Most Efficient Inverters in the USA
SolarEdge Technologies announced that the California Energy Commission (CEC) today published the updated List of Eligible Inverters, placing SolarEdge's range of single-phase 3300W-6000W PV inverters at the highest efficiency rank with up to 97.5% weighted efficiency rating.
DC and AC disconnects and a built-in communication gateway are included and the inverters are rated for indoor or outdoor use (NEMA3R) and are provided with a standard 12 year warranty.
The SolarEdge Monitoring solution is also eligible by the California Solar Initiative (CSI) and appears on the List of Performance Monitoring and Reporting Service Providers (PMRS). The SolarEdge system is available in the US through the distributors AEE Solar, DC Power Systems, and others.
“We are proud to be confirmed as America's most efficient single-phase solar inverter” said John Berdner, SolarEdge General Manager for North America. “It is part of our commitment to our customers world-wide, to supply the most efficient, safe, reliable and cost effective PV systems."
The SolarEdge inverters, intended for residential and commercial installations, were specifically designed to work with the company's PowerBoxes – module-integrated power optimizers – that provide module-level performance-monitoring and safety mechanisms, and maximize energy throughput by individually tracking Maximum Power Point (MPP) for each and every PV module.
Due to the distributed architecture, the inverters always operate at their optimal input voltage, which remains fixed regardless of temperature or string length, the company said. DC and AC disconnects and a built-in communication gateway are included and the inverters are rated for indoor or outdoor use (NEMA3R) and are provided with a standard 12 year warranty.
DC and AC disconnects and a built-in communication gateway are included and the inverters are rated for indoor or outdoor use (NEMA3R) and are provided with a standard 12 year warranty.
The SolarEdge Monitoring solution is also eligible by the California Solar Initiative (CSI) and appears on the List of Performance Monitoring and Reporting Service Providers (PMRS). The SolarEdge system is available in the US through the distributors AEE Solar, DC Power Systems, and others.
“We are proud to be confirmed as America's most efficient single-phase solar inverter” said John Berdner, SolarEdge General Manager for North America. “It is part of our commitment to our customers world-wide, to supply the most efficient, safe, reliable and cost effective PV systems."
The SolarEdge inverters, intended for residential and commercial installations, were specifically designed to work with the company's PowerBoxes – module-integrated power optimizers – that provide module-level performance-monitoring and safety mechanisms, and maximize energy throughput by individually tracking Maximum Power Point (MPP) for each and every PV module.
Due to the distributed architecture, the inverters always operate at their optimal input voltage, which remains fixed regardless of temperature or string length, the company said. DC and AC disconnects and a built-in communication gateway are included and the inverters are rated for indoor or outdoor use (NEMA3R) and are provided with a standard 12 year warranty.
Source: Renewable Energy World
Solar Growth in Germany Continues in 2010
According to predictions from the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar), sales of solar installations in Germany will experience clear double-digit percentage growth rates this year. This was announced by the Association in the run-up to Intersolar Europe, which will take place from June 9 – 11 at the grounds of the Munich New Trade Fair Centre.
In 2009, the German solar power industry and its suppliers generated sales of more than €10 billion and a total of 60,000 jobs now depend directly upon the photovoltaics industry.
The demand for solar installations in Germany rose sharply last year, with a newly installed photovoltaic capacity of 3.8 gigawatts (GW) registered at the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). In total photovoltaic installations that are currently connected to the German grid reached a capacity of close to 10 gigawatts.
The significant market growth expected again this year has been triggered by the extraordinary amendment to the Renewable Energies Act (EEG) recently passed by the German Bundestag. The amendment provides for a substantial reduction in solar feed-in tariff starting from July 1, 2010, and again from the beginning of next year. This includes a 16% reduction for rooftop mounted systems and a 15% reduction for ground-mounted and other installations.
“Many consumers and investors are currently trying to take advantage of the old subsidies. This is why we anticipate an impact from pre-emptive purchasing and record demand in 2010,” said Carsten Körnig, CEO of BSW-Solar.
With a total installed capacity of over 9.8 gigawatts as of the end of 2009, Germany remains the largest solar energy market worldwide. In 2009, the German solar power industry and its suppliers generated sales of more than €10 billion and a total of 60,000 jobs now depend directly upon the photovoltaics industry.
In 2009, the German solar power industry and its suppliers generated sales of more than €10 billion and a total of 60,000 jobs now depend directly upon the photovoltaics industry.
The demand for solar installations in Germany rose sharply last year, with a newly installed photovoltaic capacity of 3.8 gigawatts (GW) registered at the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). In total photovoltaic installations that are currently connected to the German grid reached a capacity of close to 10 gigawatts.
The significant market growth expected again this year has been triggered by the extraordinary amendment to the Renewable Energies Act (EEG) recently passed by the German Bundestag. The amendment provides for a substantial reduction in solar feed-in tariff starting from July 1, 2010, and again from the beginning of next year. This includes a 16% reduction for rooftop mounted systems and a 15% reduction for ground-mounted and other installations.
“Many consumers and investors are currently trying to take advantage of the old subsidies. This is why we anticipate an impact from pre-emptive purchasing and record demand in 2010,” said Carsten Körnig, CEO of BSW-Solar.
With a total installed capacity of over 9.8 gigawatts as of the end of 2009, Germany remains the largest solar energy market worldwide. In 2009, the German solar power industry and its suppliers generated sales of more than €10 billion and a total of 60,000 jobs now depend directly upon the photovoltaics industry.
Higher CO2 Leads to Lower Protein Content in Grains
A new study published in the journal Science states that rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere aren't just affecting climate, but could affect the nutrition contained in the world's food crops too. Scientists at the University of California, Davis found that increased CO2 could reduce the protein content of crop plants by as much as 20 percent.
This slash in nutritional value happens because higher concentrations of CO2 interfere with a plant's ability to convert nitrates into proteins, which leads to a less protein-rich food.
The scientists tested two common forms of soil nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) with wheat plants that were exposed to elevated CO2 and the plants had reduced abilities to produce proteins.
Going Solar is an excellent way to reduce CO2 levels -
Source: EcoGeek
This slash in nutritional value happens because higher concentrations of CO2 interfere with a plant's ability to convert nitrates into proteins, which leads to a less protein-rich food.
The scientists tested two common forms of soil nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) with wheat plants that were exposed to elevated CO2 and the plants had reduced abilities to produce proteins.
Going Solar is an excellent way to reduce CO2 levels -
Source: EcoGeek
NREL Study Shows US Grid Can Accommodate Large Amounts of Solar
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study, an initial study assessing the operational impacts and economics of increased contributions from wind and solar energy producers on the power grid.
The study specifically focuses on the operational impacts of photovoltaics, concentrating solar power (CSP) and wind on the power system operated by the WestConnect group of utilities in the Mountain and Southwest states. WestConnect is a group of transmission providers including Arizona Public Service, El Paso Electric Co., NV Energy, Public Service of New Mexico, Salt River Project, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Tucson Electric Power, Western Area Power Administration, and Xcel Energy.
The study examines the benefits and challenges of integrating enough solar and wind energy capacity onto the grid to produce 35% of its electricity by 2017. This target is technically feasible and does not necessitate extensive additional infrastructure, but it does require key changes to current operational practice, NREL says.
The results offer a first look at the issue of adding a significant amount of variable renewable energy in the West and will help utilities across the region plan how to ramp up their production of renewable energy as they incorporate more solar and wind plants into the power grid.
Technical analysis performed showed that it is operationally possible to accommodate 30% wind and 5% solar energy penetration. To accomplish such an increase, utilities will have to substantially increase their coordination of operations over wider geographic areas and schedule their generation deliveries, or sales, on a more frequent basis, NREL notes.
Currently, generators provide a schedule for a specific amount of power they will provide in the next hour. More frequent scheduling would allow generators to adjust that amount of power based on changes in system conditions, such as increases or decreases in solar or wind generation.
The study also finds that if utilities generate 27% of their electricity from wind and solar energy across the Western Interconnection, it would lower carbon emissions by 25% to 45%. It would also decrease fuel and emissions costs by 40%, depending on the future price of natural gas.
Other key findings from the study include the following:
- Existing transmission capacity can be more fully utilized to reduce the amount of new transmission that needs to be built;
- To facilitate the integration of solar and wind energy, coordinating the operations of utilities can provide substantial savings by reducing the need for additional backup generation, such as natural gas-burning plants;
- Use of solar and wind forecasts in utility operations to predict when and where it will be sunny and windy is essential for cost-effectively integrating these renewable energy sources.
The full study can be downloaded at www.nrel.gov/wwsis.
The study specifically focuses on the operational impacts of photovoltaics, concentrating solar power (CSP) and wind on the power system operated by the WestConnect group of utilities in the Mountain and Southwest states. WestConnect is a group of transmission providers including Arizona Public Service, El Paso Electric Co., NV Energy, Public Service of New Mexico, Salt River Project, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Tucson Electric Power, Western Area Power Administration, and Xcel Energy.
The study examines the benefits and challenges of integrating enough solar and wind energy capacity onto the grid to produce 35% of its electricity by 2017. This target is technically feasible and does not necessitate extensive additional infrastructure, but it does require key changes to current operational practice, NREL says.
The results offer a first look at the issue of adding a significant amount of variable renewable energy in the West and will help utilities across the region plan how to ramp up their production of renewable energy as they incorporate more solar and wind plants into the power grid.
Technical analysis performed showed that it is operationally possible to accommodate 30% wind and 5% solar energy penetration. To accomplish such an increase, utilities will have to substantially increase their coordination of operations over wider geographic areas and schedule their generation deliveries, or sales, on a more frequent basis, NREL notes.
Currently, generators provide a schedule for a specific amount of power they will provide in the next hour. More frequent scheduling would allow generators to adjust that amount of power based on changes in system conditions, such as increases or decreases in solar or wind generation.
The study also finds that if utilities generate 27% of their electricity from wind and solar energy across the Western Interconnection, it would lower carbon emissions by 25% to 45%. It would also decrease fuel and emissions costs by 40%, depending on the future price of natural gas.
Other key findings from the study include the following:
- Existing transmission capacity can be more fully utilized to reduce the amount of new transmission that needs to be built;
- To facilitate the integration of solar and wind energy, coordinating the operations of utilities can provide substantial savings by reducing the need for additional backup generation, such as natural gas-burning plants;
- Use of solar and wind forecasts in utility operations to predict when and where it will be sunny and windy is essential for cost-effectively integrating these renewable energy sources.
The full study can be downloaded at www.nrel.gov/wwsis.
More Inverter Shortages Predicted
Global inverter shipments reached 3.1 gigawatts (GW) in Q1 2010 – the largest first quarter total for the industry, and the second highest quarterly result on record, according to latest confirmed results from IMS Research.
Despite this strong result, demand for inverters still outstripped supply and the component shortage and inverter production problems that began in Q4 2009 in fact worsened in Q1 with quarter-to-quarter supply falling. Total global inverter shipments were 3.7 GW in Q4, some 16% higher than Q1.
“In a ‘normal’ year this kind of seasonality would be expected; however, as strong demand has continued into early 2010 with the impending cut to Germany’s feed-in tariff, this sequential decline of inverter shipments contrasts the increasing shipments of PV modules and highlights that the supply of inverters may still be restraining growth of the PV industry," said Ash Sharma PV group director at IMS.
Production constraints still blight the PV inverter industry, with even market leader SMA having to issue a formal apology to its customers; it recently indicated its production capacity would be limited to around 1.3 GW in the second quarter and supply constraints would not ease until July at the earliest.
Whether or not the shortage will impact developers project pipelines in the coming months remains to be seen, but the shortage will likely increase the amount of lead time needed for larger, commercial and utility scale projects.
Despite this strong result, demand for inverters still outstripped supply and the component shortage and inverter production problems that began in Q4 2009 in fact worsened in Q1 with quarter-to-quarter supply falling. Total global inverter shipments were 3.7 GW in Q4, some 16% higher than Q1.
“In a ‘normal’ year this kind of seasonality would be expected; however, as strong demand has continued into early 2010 with the impending cut to Germany’s feed-in tariff, this sequential decline of inverter shipments contrasts the increasing shipments of PV modules and highlights that the supply of inverters may still be restraining growth of the PV industry," said Ash Sharma PV group director at IMS.
Production constraints still blight the PV inverter industry, with even market leader SMA having to issue a formal apology to its customers; it recently indicated its production capacity would be limited to around 1.3 GW in the second quarter and supply constraints would not ease until July at the earliest.
Whether or not the shortage will impact developers project pipelines in the coming months remains to be seen, but the shortage will likely increase the amount of lead time needed for larger, commercial and utility scale projects.
Source: Renewable Energy World To read full article click here.
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