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  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 14,766 Forumite
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    I've been following these guys for a year or so, but I don't think I've ever mentioned them on MSE. Well now they've reached the UK.

    Basically, they use a small number of robots to mechanically move 'dumb' trackers. This means that the individual trackers don't need complex motors, hydralics or computers to track the sun. Instead the 'ickle' robots buzz around mechanically cranking them through the day.

    PV, trackers and robots :j:j:j ...... now I know what I want for Xmas!

    Europe’s ‘first’ robotically tracked PV project is completed in Northern Ireland

    Mart
    Mart. Cardiff. 5.58 kWp PV systems (3.58 ESE & 2.0 WNW). Two A2A units for cleaner heating.

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
  • Dave_Fowler
    Dave_Fowler Posts: 612 Forumite
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    I hope they don't suffer from leaves on the track!:rotfl:

    Dave F
    Solar PV System 1: 2.96kWp South+8 degrees. Roof 38 degrees. 'Normal' system
    Solar PV System 2: 3.00kWp South-4 degrees. Roof 28 degrees. SolarEdge system
    EV car, PodPoint charger
    Lux LXP 3600 ACS + 6 x 2.4kWh Aoboet LFP 2400 battery storage. Installed Feb 2021
    Location: Bedfordshire
  • zeupater
    zeupater Posts: 5,355 Forumite
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    Dave_Fowler wrote: »
    I hope they don't suffer from leaves on the track!:rotfl:

    Dave F
    .... they've probably got their own broomsticks available for that eventuality .... ;)

    Z
    "We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit. " ...... Aristotle
    B)
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 14,766 Forumite
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    Just in case anyone missed this, here's a Green blog considering the potential importance of such a move:

    Is E.ON about to become a green corporate powerhouse?
    But those caveats aside, the decision by one of the Big Six to align itself so explicitly with the transition to a low carbon economy still feels like a watershed moment. In one stroke of a pen, E.ON will soon recreate itself as a 40,000-strong green corporate powerhouse focused exclusively on renewables generation, distribution networks, with a particular focus on smart grids, and services for its 33 million customers, which translates as smart meters, energy efficiency upgrades, and microgeneration installation and maintenance.

    Mart.
    Mart. Cardiff. 5.58 kWp PV systems (3.58 ESE & 2.0 WNW). Two A2A units for cleaner heating.

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
  • zeupater
    zeupater Posts: 5,355 Forumite
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    Martyn1981 wrote: »
    Just in case anyone missed this, here's a Green blog considering the potential importance of such a move:

    Is E.ON about to become a green corporate powerhouse?


    Mart.
    Hi

    The answer to the question is obviously no ...

    Great spin, but, throughout the world, isn't the renewables sector the one getting all of the tax-breaks and other incentives ? - makes you wonder! .... 'I've had this great idea boss - let's restructure the business, dump all of the debt on a renewables focussed subsidiary to dilute the margin and therefore defend a higher premium for renewables energy which, of course, will be subsidised by taxpayers on a CFD basis' ... great conversation, give the accountant a goldfish ....

    ... doesn't fool me as a layperson, so shouldn't fool anyone else with a reasonable level of common-sense either ...

    HTH
    Z
    "We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit. " ...... Aristotle
    B)
  • ed110220
    ed110220 Posts: 1,475 Forumite
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    Not really, worldwide fossil fuels attract huge subsidies and tax breaks. The UK is no exception as we see with fracking.
    Solar install June 2022, Bath
    4.8 kW array, Growatt SPH5000 inverter, 2x Growatt ML33RTA batteries.
    SSW roof. ~22° pitch, BISF house. 12 x 400W Hyundai panels
  • zeupater
    zeupater Posts: 5,355 Forumite
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    edited 3 December 2014 at 6:20PM
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    ed110220 wrote: »
    Not really, worldwide fossil fuels attract huge subsidies and tax breaks. The UK is no exception as we see with fracking.
    Hi

    Yes, but the global trend for tax breaks and subsidies is very much towards renewables and low(er) carbon energy sources. I'm not looking to start a 'this source' Vs 'that source' debate, just using 'common sense' to look at what they've announced ....

    Here's the real detail ...( http://www.eon.com/en/media/news/press-releases/2014/11/30/new-corporate-strategy-eon-to-focus-on-renewables-distribution-networks-and-customer-solutions-and-to-spin-off-the-majority-of-a-new-publicly-listed-company-specializing-in-power-generation-global-energy-trading-and-exploration-and-production.html )....have a read and see what they propose, from the 'horse's mouth' ... take note that the bond debt is to remain with the remaining company and that the existing 'non-renewables' capacity will become a separately listed entity, seemingly with little debt ....

    ... looking at the current generating profile ( http://www.eon.com/en/business-areas/power-generation/energy-mix.html ) the scale of the split becomes obvious, however, simply reading the text in the press release we find this little gem .... ".. New Company’s investors will benefit from the cash flow from its current business portfolio in Europe and Russia and from additional opportunities created by the anticipated restructuring of generation markets in Europe .." ... so it looks like they're contemplating a round of mergers & acquisitions in the generating market and are restructuring in order to take advantage ..... A group with little debt and a strong cash flow makes both a decent predator and a tasty target, both of which would likely generate shareholder value ....

    HTH
    Z
    "We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit. " ...... Aristotle
    B)
  • lstar337
    lstar337 Posts: 3,442 Forumite
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    Leighton Buzzard electricity facility tests 'largest battery'
    Scientists have built the biggest battery of its kind in Europe, to see if it can store power locally, rather than rely on the national grid.
    It is a first for the UK, and could save hundreds of millions of pounds and cut the cost of electricity bills.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30488657
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 14,766 Forumite
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    Couple of articles on domestic storage. Still too far away for me (I'm a little impatient) but getting closer every year. Fingers crossed for the early 2020's.

    Germany sees price drop in solar power storage systems
    Prices for solar power storage systems have fallen by 25% since spring. The German solar industry expects continued growth in demand for storage systems.


    US solar-plus-storage market set to hit US$1b by 2018 - GTM
    The US market for solar-plus-storage is predicted to grow more than twentyfold in the next three years, rapidly expanding from US$42 million in value this year to US$1 billion by 2018, according to GTM Research.

    Mart.
    Mart. Cardiff. 5.58 kWp PV systems (3.58 ESE & 2.0 WNW). Two A2A units for cleaner heating.

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
  • Martyn1981
    Martyn1981 Posts: 14,766 Forumite
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    Here's a couple of articles on solar and storage, but coming from very different directions. Shows the huge potential that solar (PV and CSP) has in the sunnier regions.

    Energy independence: La Paz, Mexico to meet 100% of electricity demand through solar
    Grupotec expects the plant to meet 40-42% of the electricity needs of La Paz, a city of 215,000 persons and the capital of Baja California Sur. When the electricity supplied by the 39 MW Aura Solar 1 is included, solar is expected to meet 100% of the electricity demand of La Paz.

    The southern end of Baja California has an isolated grid, and prior to the Aura Solar 1 the region was entirely dependent upon imported fossil fuels for its electricity generation. This resulted in very high and volatile prices.


    Abengoa beats fossil fuels on price with solar PV & CSP plus storage in Chile
    In addition to the large amount of solar PV awarded in Chile's latest energy supply auction, the Spanish developer has been awarded contracts to supply electricity on a 24-hour basis from concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar PV projects with storage.
    The company will be supplying this round-the-clock electricity for the sum of US$0.115 per kilowatt-hour (KWh), which is a very low cost for combined solar and storage, particularly for CSP. Since this supply auction was open to conventional generators as well as renewable energy sources, it appears that Abengoa's solar and storage solution beat other bids by fossil fuel generators on price.

    Mart.
    Mart. Cardiff. 5.58 kWp PV systems (3.58 ESE & 2.0 WNW). Two A2A units for cleaner heating.

    For general PV advice please see the PV FAQ thread on the Green & Ethical Board.
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