Solar ... In the news

Martyn1981

Fruit_and_Nut_Case wrote: »

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")

Hiya F&N, not exactly the same, but recently read about another idea incorporating carbon nano-tubes. Currently about 1% efficient (compared to silicon PV ~ 15%) but with theoreticals of 75%:

http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Future_looks_bright_for_carbon_nanotube_solar_cells_999.html

Mart.

rogerblack

Martyn1981 wrote: »

Hiya F&N, not exactly the same, but recently read about another idea incorporating carbon nano-tubes. Currently about 1% efficient (compared to silicon PV ~ 15%) but with theoreticals of 75%:
.

As always - dollars per watt is king.
On efficiency - single junction silicon solar cells have shown efficiencies in direct solar (not concentrated with mirrors) of about 25%, compared to todays 17%ish.
We're at about - for commercial panels - where research panels were in 1985.

There are other interesting options.
http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/view/23033/company-profile-3ms-new-facility-tests-solar-products/ - this shows 3M's 'cool mirror film' - this reflects the most useful for solar PV onto an adjacent panel.
This could fairly inexpensively boost certain sorts of normal panel, in a way very suitable for flat roofs.

Martyn1981

HMRC mulls impact of European court solar VAT ruling

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

The government today said that it was considering the implications of a European Court of Justice judgement that could mean domestic PV installations are exempt from VAT.

The judgement last week on a case in Austria has received an uncertain response in the UK, with some experts claiming it could cost the government millions of pounds and undermine the future subsidy of solar energy, while others say it will have no impact at all.

The Court of Justice ruling found that the operation of solar equipment to sell back to an energy network counts as economic activity, meaning the owner could claim back the VAT cost of his initial system purchase.

The verdict arrives in the midst of a continuing feud between the UK government and the EU in which the latter is trying to force the UK to raise its reduced VAT rate on solar equipment from 5 to 20%.

Well, that's clear then!

Mart.

Martyn1981

[Similar to previous article]

"Homeowners will now be able to reclaim VAT paid on domestic PV installations following a European Court of Justice ruling."

Does this mean we can claim our VAT back?

"The court said its ruling would be binding in other EU member states, but PV Tech understands that it would not have implications for countries that do not use net metering, such as the UK."

Guess not then!

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

Mart.

Martyn1981

Article looking at how much and what type of PV we might see this decade:

20GW by 2020: What mix are we looking to achieve?

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/editors_blog/20gw_by_2020_what_mix_are_we_looking_to_achieve_2356

Depending on who you ask, energy minister Greg Barker’s ambition of 20GW by 2020 is either pie-in-the-sky rhetoric or a critical underestimation of what solar can achieve in the UK.

Regardless of where you stand, 17.5GW over the next seven years will require the UK solar sector to install significant capacity across the market.


Also, the article mentions contracts for difference (CfD's), these subsidies will replace ROCs (but will overlap for a short period). The exact numbers have not yet been finalised, but this article has the latest estimates.

As you'll see, PV has already moved through the pack and is now one of the 'cheaper' subsidies.
Off-shore wind is high, but newer turbines are ever larger and costs are falling.
No new, news on nuclear, last numbers I read were for a strike price of £100, possibly for 40 years (v's 15 years), but now the documents only state 'not less than 15 yrs.

Solar strike prices announced by government

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/solar_strike_prices_announced_by_government_2356

The government has released the strike price that large-scale solar will receive under the new Contracts for Difference mechanism.

From 2014, large-scale solar developers will receive £125/MWh – a rate the government claims is broadly in line with predicted Renewable Obligation funding.

Mart.

Martyn1981

Here come the small guys:

1,000 children take part in sponsored skip to get schools solar panels

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/1000_children_take_part_in_sponsored_skip_to_get_schools_solar_panels_3759

Nearly 1,000 children across England will be skating, skipping or staying silent today to get their schools solar panels.

The children are from three primary schools who are pushing for a final surge in sponsorship to make their schools greener as part of Solar Schools.

Since launching last October, 29 schools have taken part this year and have collectively raised over £140,000. After the final fundraising efforts, schools hope to install solar panels over the summer holidays.

Solar Schools was created by 10:10; a 100,000-strong global community of people and organisations tackling climate change, aiming to cut carbon emissions by 10% in a year.


& here come the big guys:

Morrison’s seals deal with GMI for PV installations

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/morrisons_seals_deal_with_gmi_for_pv_installations_23561

Supermarket chain Morrison’s has signed a deal with solar installations firm GMI Energy to build rooftop PV systems on its new stores as well as existing distribution centres.

The firm is already underway with projects across England, from Littlehampton to Blyth, as well as at Morrison’s distribution centre in Bridgwater, Somerset.

And the chain said that GMI would work on further installations over coming months with a 2MW site at Sittingbourne due for completion by the end of July.

Mart.

Martyn1981

China lifts PV installation target to 35 GW by 2015

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/china-lifts-pv-installation-target-to-35-gw-by-2015_100012056/#axzz2ZCQfOdeL

Just one year after announcing an increase in its cumulative 2015 PV target from 15 GW to 21 GW, the Chinese government said it was now raising the goal to 35 GW.

To this end, the country will add approximately 10 GW of PV capacity annually from 2013 through 2015.


and;

Europe's PV industry rallies against import tariffs

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/europes-pv-industry-rallies-against-import-tariffs_100012065/#axzz2ZCQfOdeL

A part of Europe's PV industry is increasing the pressure on the European Commission’s punitive import duties against Chinese solar products.

The chief executive of German module manufacturer Solar-Fabrik is demanding the end of the anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese PV imports in an effort to ensure the competitiveness of the European production sector. On Wednesday more than 30 European PV companies will travel to Brussels to make their case against the already visible negative economic impact that the provisional punitive duties have had on the industry.

Mart.

zeupater

Martyn1981 wrote: »

.... A part of Europe's PV industry is increasing the pressure on the European Commission’s punitive import duties against Chinese solar products.

The chief executive of German module manufacturer Solar-Fabrik is demanding the end of the anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese PV imports in an effort to ensure the competitiveness of the European production sector. On Wednesday more than 30 European PV companies will travel to Brussels to make their case against the already visible negative economic impact that the provisional punitive duties have had on the industry ....

Hi

Looks like another example of Brussels' bureaucrats poking their noses into areas which they neither understand or are welcomed .... blatant protectionism under the guise of 'anti-dumping' simply doesn't work if the industry which they are seeking to protect don't agree ....

If China is gearing up production by an additional 10GWp year on year then protectionism within Europe will simply exclude European panel manufacturers from exporting their own product, after all, if the EU claim that Chinese manufacturers are dumping product into Europe at prices which are below the cost of European or Chinese manufacture, then how could any European panel exports be classified as being competitive against Chinese units and not be seen elsewhere as being product dumping ?? ....

Who exactly are these faceless Muppets ? - it certainly makes you wonder what they'll come up with next ! ... protectionism does absolutely nothing to protect anyone in the long-run, it simply supports and then drives industry further into the abyss of un-competitiveness ....

Z

Martyn1981

zeupater wrote: »

Hi

Who exactly are these faceless Muppets ? - it certainly makes you wonder what they'll come up with next ! ... protectionism does absolutely nothing to protect anyone in the long-run, it simply supports and then drives industry further into the abyss of un-competitiveness ....

Z

Hiya Zeup, crazy old world isn't it!

I thought those two articles went well together. There have probably been at least another 100 this year looking at all the 'anti-dumping' issues. Views in Europe have been split right from day one.

Most of the concerns of the solar industry (excluding panel manufacturers) have come true, things have slowed down, and look like they could get worse given the lead times of larger projects (as many were already in the pipeline).

So, to protect a small and shrinking number of manufacturers (a not entirely wrong thing to do) the rest of the supply chain has suffered badly and the far larger industry as a whole, has taken a knock just as it was starting to settle down.

Should we bet against the Chinese, I wouldn't. Currently they have decided to drop their counter claims against the US and EU over the dumping of silicon, and are buying companies outside of China, forming partnerships with companies outside of China, or simply building/buying or leasing manufacturing bases outside of China - so they will be coming back fast.

And if that doesn't work, then they'll just sell to 'not Europe' or themselves.

Sometimes it's simply not a good idea for David to irritate Goliath, especially if Goliath has a long memory.

Mart.

Martyn1981

Not happy with just imposing anti-dumping taxes on European wine, China now goes after Uncle Sam:

China imposes anti-dumping duties on US, South Korean polysilicon

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/china-imposes-anti-dumping-duties-on-us--south-korean-polysilicon_100012085/#axzz2ZNLbnGzX

China's Ministry of Commerce is set to impose import duties of as much as 57% on solar-grade polysilicon from the U.S. and South Korea.

The move is widely seen as a direct response to the U.S.' decision in 2012 to impose duties of as much as 250% on Chinese PV modules after falling prices resulted in the bankruptcies of a number of U.S. manufacturers.

China has spared European polysilicon producers (namely Germany) after Beijing and Berlin reached an agreement on the matter earlier this month.

'It'll all end in tears!'

Mart.