Solar ... In the news

Martyn1981

rogerblack wrote: »

This gives a somewhat depressing reading.
Over the past six months, sub 4kW installations have been more-or-less constant at a rate of 300MW/year.
We're now at 1.6GW, and at the current rate would hit 17GW in about 40 years.

And unfortunately for this ambition, the price of installs is about to jump.
From 6th of August, a levy of 47% comes in on chinese solar modules and cells.

Hiya Roger, yep, pretty depressing reading, it seems every time momentum builds something goes wrong.

It's not all bad news, larger installs are doing well under ROC's (or perhaps 'better than under FITs') as the rate is fractionally better, but I think the system is more predictable.

Also commercial installs on business roofs etc, are starting to do a bit of the heavy lifting (finally) so we're up to a total of 2.5GW:

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/guest_blog/uk_solar_pv_demand_reached_520mw_in_q1_2013

But even if they share the 17GW, that still leaves 5.67GW for domestic installs, which at 300MW pa is closer to 20 years than 6.5. Mind you, it doesn't have to be an equal share, I read a long report from the States, where they estimated approx 20% of domestic properties were 'PV friendly' (same as here I think), but that closer to 80% of commercial properties were suitable - less of them but larger roofs. Even some buildings 70 years old are ideal:

http://www.pv-magazine.com/services/press-releases/details/beitrag/bentley-factory-goes-green-with-the-uks-largest-roof-top-solar-installation-_100010738/#axzz2WeXup82u


The Chinese taxes actually started to hit back in Mch, as the threat was made that any tax would be retrospective, so suppliers couldn't sell them in case they were asked for tax later.

Reading some comments on other forums, they suggest price rises of about 10%, as they are sourcing non-Chinese panels and China is already trying to establish supply chains outside of China.

On top of this, China has decided to hit back with anti-dumping taxes on European wine, which could be painful, and a large proportion of the EU don't want the PV tax anyway.

Politics ..... you've gotta laugh?

Mart.

EricMears

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Politics ..... you've gotta laugh?

Mart.

Or cry ?

silverwhistle

Interesting article in The Grauniad:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/18/japan-solar-energy-fukushima-nuclear-renewable-abe

Martyn1981

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Hiya Roger, yep, pretty depressing reading, it seems every time momentum builds something goes wrong.

Right! Enough of the bad news, been looking for something more PV positive for a change, so here's a collection of news articles addressing all the issues and problems (hopefully!):

1. China v's EU - "China, EU to hold talks on solar dispute"

http://www.solardaily.com/reports/China_EU_to_hold_talks_on_solar_dispute_999.html


2. Long term pricing - "PV module costs to fall to 36c per watt by 2017" [currently 50c]

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/pv_module_costs_to_fall_to_36c_per_watt_by_2017_gtm_research


3. Pick up in UK sub 50kWp installs (racing to beat FIT drop?) - "Weekly solar installations break 10MW barrier"

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/weekly_solar_installations_break_10mw_barrier_2356


4. Falling module prices have helped to boost UK large scale installs - "Large-scale solar in the UK generates over £13 million a year"

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/large_scale_solar_in_the_uk_generates_over_13_million_a_year_2356


So not all bad news, but fingers need to remain firmly crossed.

Mart

Cardew

silverwhistle wrote: »

Interesting article in The Grauniad:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/18/japan-solar-energy-fukushima-nuclear-renewable-abe

"The downside is definitely that [consumers] are paying for it. It's great to introduce all this, but it's going straight on your electricity bill."

Even before the tariff was introduced, Japan had among the world's highest energy costs. If 15GW of already-approved solar projects come online, those bills could increase 5%, Woodward said.

Same old story.

EricMears

No doubt when all our lights start going out because we didn't install enough generation capacity, people will claim that they'd have been quite happy to pay 15% (or even 50%) to avoid that.

rogerblack

EricMears wrote: »

No doubt when all our lights start going out because we didn't install enough generation capacity, people will claim that they'd have been quite happy to pay 15% (or even 50%) to avoid that.

If your energy policy relies on solar to keep the lights on, you have some rather fundamental misunderstandings at the policy level.

Cardew

EricMears wrote: »

No doubt when all our lights start going out because we didn't install enough generation capacity, people will claim that they'd have been quite happy to pay 15% (or even 50%) to avoid that.

Can you give an estimate of the contribution the UK's solar generated electricity makes at the time when our maximum generation capacity is required?(early on a winter's evening)

I can give a very accurate estimate!

EricMears

rogerblack wrote: »

If your energy policy relies on solar to keep the lights on, you have some rather fundamental misunderstandings at the policy level.

I don't think I actually said solar generation capacity ! The price premium is attributable to all renewables even though SP critics insist on claiming it's all paid for SP.

And to answer Cardew's point in same posting, there isn't of course any solar power produced after dark. However, maximum demand at those times will be reduced by the effect of SP owners time-shifting their usage to some extent - e.g. by having a cooked lunch and cold supper rather than cold lunch and a full scale dinner.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Probably a bit simplistic but quite interesting...
https://www.dvice.com/archives/2010/09/scientists_disc.php

(From 2010 so may not meet some definitions of "News")