Solar ... In the news

lstar337

I believe new rules coming in in 2016 will mean that mains gas will no longer be allowed for new build properties. They will only be allowed to use electricity for heating.

This may get overruled at some point, but I believe that is the current plan.

KevinG

lstar337 wrote: »

I believe new rules coming in in 2016 will mean that mains gas will no longer be allowed for new build properties. They will only be allowed to use electricity for heating.

I think it's just going to be a voluntary code, but it's hard to find definitive information. I won't feel so left out with my LPG (no mains gas in the village) - although that has higher CO2 emmissions than mains gas so presumably would also be ruled out.

lstar337

KevinG wrote: »

I think it's just going to be a voluntary code, but it's hard to find definitive information. I won't feel so left out with my LPG (no mains gas in the village) - although that has higher CO2 emmissions than mains gas so presumably would also be ruled out.

Nothing I have read has hinted at it being voluntary.

As I understand it, all new builds have to be carbon neutral after 2016. This doesn't say 'no gas allowed', but since any carbon footprint has to be offset, it makes gas more or less impossible because you would need to offset the all the carbon for the lifespan of the boiler. This makes it near impossible!

No house builder is going to try to offset gas (too costly), they will go for the cheapest other option.

The result is a halt in gas boiler installations for new builds.

ed110220

I think a perverse effect of the rules is that house builders are installing far fewer panels than could fit on the roof, just to scrape through the regs. Saw a new house near my parents the other day that had just three panels on the roof, which could probably have fitted 12 or 14. Can't think of any other explanation as such a small system would normally be uneconomic surely.

Ed

lstar337

ed110220 wrote: »

I think a perverse effect of the rules is that house builders are installing far fewer panels than could fit on the roof, just to scrape through the regs. Saw a new house near my parents the other day that had just three panels on the roof, which could probably have fitted 12 or 14. Can't think of any other explanation as such a small system would normally be uneconomic surely.

Ed

I agree.

Our house (new build completed jan 2014) has just 6 panels on a roof space that could easily fit 12 (possibly more). In fact the other 4 houses in the terrace have the same 6 panels. The total roof is long, unshaded, and perfect south facing. They could have put panels end to end, but they didn't. I'm pretty sure the panels were fitted to offset something in the regs.

Shame, we have a good powerful inverter and a few more panels would be a great benefit to the system. Still, we don't complain because the house has an A rating on the EPC which is much better than the F rated scum hole we moved from!

Martyn1981

Not exactly about PV, but more the full package in which it sits. Plus an honourable mention for Scotland (near the end).

Hawaii Wants To Be The First State To Run Completely On Renewable Energy

With strong trade winds, volcanic heat and abundant solar and hydropower, the Hawaiian islands have a plethora of natural resources.

Yet the state is America’s largest consumer of fossil fuels per capita, according to Hawaii’s Environmental Council for the Office of Environmental Quality Control.

A bill currently going through the state's legislature aims to change that by setting the ambitious goal of using renewable energy exclusively by 2050.

“We increased our renewable portfolio standards in 2009 to current levels,” Glick said. The state set a goal of getting 15 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2015.

Today, Hawaii is close to 23 percent, he noted, “and 2015 isn’t finished yet.”

Mart.

Martyn1981

The long awaited Tesla announcement on Li-ion storage systems has finally been made.

Not cheap, by far. But at this point in time, a lot less than I'd expected.

Powerwall - 10kWh for $3,500 or 7kWh for $3,000. Approx 4ft by 3ft by 6 inches, and can be installed inside or out. 10 year warranty.

Powerpack - 100kWh modules, for systems of 500kWh up (10MWh+). Designed for commercial installs (been/being tested already) and for grid scale storage. Also can be used by intermittent generators (wind, solar etc) to stabilise output.

No idea if/when we'll see similar over here, but certainly suggests (to me) that things could get very interesting in 5 years or so.

Also hopefully expect to see some sort of support/subsidy scheme in the US, probably from the leccy companies, as these devices could help to reduce peak demands, and therefore the cost of peak generation leccy. As storage gets cheaper it can actually be cost effective for suppliers whose purchase price varies (through the day), but who sell on to customers (particularly domestic) at a fixed price.

Some articles, starting small, and building up:

Tesla charges into home battery market despite challenges

"I don't believe this product in its first incarnation will be interesting to the average person," conceded Peter Rive, SolarCity's chief technology officer.

Tesla’s new “Powerwall” home battery will cost $3500 for 10kWh units

Tesla Energy is Elon Musk's battery system that can power homes, businesses, and the world

Mart.

JimLad

Just read about this Tesla one on bbc news. Very interesting!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32545081

Martyn1981

The FiT rates for upto 4kWp and 4-10kWp PV installs will degress again on 1/7/15 by another 3.5% to 12.92p/kWh and 11.71p/kWh respectively.

This will be the 3rd degression in a row. I think we are seeing a perfect storm now. Install prices have fallen, and the usual rush to install before 'the' FiT reduction each qtr is resulting in installation rates above 100MWp and thereby triggering another rush ....... rinse and repeat.

Good news for renewables as subsidies continue to fall fast.

Mart.

Martyn1981

Yingli raises doubts over ability to continue trading

The world’s second largest solar manufacturer, Yingli Green Energy, has raised "substantial doubts" over its ability to continue "as a going concern".

In its delayed annual report released on Friday evening, the company said its level of debt, sequential losses, its inability to raise new finance and other industry risks, including trade disputes, mean the company faces an uncertain future.

“In the past we have relied primarily on borrowings from commercial banks to fund a significant portion of our capital expenditures and working capital needs, and we expect to continue doing so in the future. Substantial doubt exists as to our ability to continue as a going concern. We have also incurred significant net losses in recent years," the report states.

“Like we saw with Suntech a few years back, we’re again seeing the potential failing of another industry leader," said Ash Sharma, senior director, solar research at IHS. "Yingli was the largest module supplier in both 2012 and 2013 before being surpassed by Trina. Throughout that time it made some questionable strategic decisions, such as sponsoring the FIFA World Cup and its unsuccessful move upstream into polysilicon manufacturing. Both of which ultimately proved costly and possibly contributed to the dire position it is now in. Yet again we’re seeing that no company within the solar industry is too big to fail.”

Mart.