Solar ... In the news

Martyn1981

It does in Spain! Ok, try to follow this, it gets a little confusing.

Spain’s government accused of killing solar market

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

Consumers will also be hit hard with increased levies on self-consumed solar energy now so high, that many will pay more for the electricity they generate themselves than they would for the regular grid power.

Responding to the changes for self-consuming customers UNEF said the changes ended any hopes for the survival of the domestic PV sector wasting the accumulated expertise and adding they would “close the door” on energy competition via distributed generation. The government owes money to the big five energy firms in the country.

Fictional converstaion:

So, what does this mean?

Well, domestic subsides for PV generation are being removed.

Surely, that's OK, Spain gets about 50% more gen that S West UK. Has more predictable sun, and has a smaller winter to Summer difference. So what will they pay for export?

-8c/kWh.

Pardon?

-8c/kWh.

Pardon?

For allowing a grid-tied pv install to 'exist' the grid will pay nothing for exported units, but will charge 8c/kWh.

So they will charge domestic PV'ers in Spain 8c/kWh for every unit they export?

No. They will charge PV'ers 8c/kWh for every unit they generate, in exchange for being grid-tied and having the grid as a potential dump load service.

Surely not!

Yes (and stop calling me Shirley):

http://www.suelosolar.es/newsolares/newsol.asp?id=8479

Not sure what to say. My friend/contact in Spain that has been giving me info on leccy and PV there, has often referred to the companies as the electricity ***** (the filter here won't allow the word, but think of close families, and a horse's head!). I'm now beginning to understand why he kept using that term.

Mart.

Martyn1981

Some breaking news.

EU announces solar trade deal reached with China

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

The EU has announced that it has reached a deal with China to settle their long-running solar panel trade dispute.


EU reaches ‘amicable’ deal with China over solar duties

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/eu_reaches_amicable_deal_with_china_over_solar_duties_2356

The European Commission (EC) has announced that it has reached an agreement with China that will avoid the imposition of anti-dumping duties.

What effect this will have on current or future prices, I've no idea, but at least things should settle down a bit now.

Mart.

Martyn1981

DECC have finally decided how they should allocate installs to quarters, having chopped 1 month out. They decided to calculate Feb/Mch and Apr/May/June. With Apr to June installs totalling 93.416MWp, this didn't hit the 100MWp degression point that would have triggered a degression on 1/10/13.

So no further degressions till next year on any of the bandings.

Details here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/monthly-mcs-and-roofit-statistics

Mart.

Martyn1981

Go ahead for 6MW renewables storage trial facility in UK

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/europes_largest_energy_storage_centre_to_integrate_70_renwables_to_grid

Some extracts:

The smarter network storage (SNS) project has been given the go-ahead to build a 6MW electricity storage facility in Leighton Buzzard -- the largest of its kind in Europe.

Clemens Triebel, founder and speaker of the board of Younicos said after the 5MW commercial project opened in Germany this April: “If we are serious about transitioning to renewable energy we have to be able to switch off fossil plants at times when wind and solar energy produce sufficient power. High-power storage systems are the key to that.”

“They also leverage the use of renewables: to achieve the same grid stability, every installed MW of battery storage can replace 10MW of conventional generation, providing space in the grids for wind and solar power.”

Nick Heyward, UK Power Networks’ project director for SNS said the centre will “provide a leading test bed for exploring the capabilities and economics of high-voltage energy storage, which is very useful for the industry”.

Mart.

rogerblack

Martyn1981 wrote: »

For allowing a grid-tied pv install to 'exist' the grid will pay nothing for exported units, but will charge 8c/kWh.

If this does not apply to off-grid - it would be sensible in some cases to simply disconnect your solar panels from the grid.
Especially if you have large fixed loads tied to solar input - say - airconditioning.

Martyn1981

rogerblack wrote: »

If this does not apply to off-grid - it would be sensible in some cases to simply disconnect your solar panels from the grid.
Especially if you have large fixed loads tied to solar input - say - airconditioning.

Hiya Roger. I asked my Spanish friend about this. I suggested a way round might be to have an off-grid system with batts that isn't connected to the grid, plus a grid connection to a separate consumer unit, powering a couple of sockets and lights, for periods when the PV (wind etc) can't maintain battery levels.

His answer was that some are pondering going off-grid, but relying on grid connected neighbours for emergency 'extension lead' assistance.

The problem though, is that the PV house will still have to invest in batteries, controllers, dump loads etc etc so as not to be penalised.

The proposal seems designed to prevent PV installs taking place by pushing the cost up, either through additional investment or a fee - So if you generated 4,000kWhs and exported 1 (or none but had the GTI connection) you'd have to hand over €320 for the right to give them free leccy that they'll go on to sell.

I think this bugs me, because Spain ticks all the boxes for PV, with good sun (total amount, predictability, more even through the year), it has the land, and whilst being in financial difficulties, it's still a rich country compared to many that have good sun. And what happens - the leccy companies try to ban it via sneaky back door practices.

On the brighter side, it shows how far PV has come in such a short time that it has these companies rattled.

Mart.

tunnel

Here's an interesting article. Not quite solar but may go very nicely with anyone with panels and a smart meter(that maybe a problem for most at the moment:()

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23526389

Martyn1981

EU solar trade deal sets floating price on Chinese panels

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

The EU and China have announced the terms of the deal to end their long-running solar trade dispute, setting a minimum import price linked to industry price reports.

&

Asian rivals might undercut Chinese in the EU

http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/asian-rivals-might-undercut-chinese-in-the-eu_100012262/#axzz2b7NUEEe7

IHS predicts solar manufacturers in Taiwan and Korea will soon be able to offer solar products in Europe below the minimum price negotiated for Chinese products last week.

The wild card is likely to come from manufacturers outside the People's Republic with de Haan predicting panel makers in Taiwan and Korea will soon be able to sell solar products to Europe at lower levels than the minimum prices agreed between the EU and their Chinese rivals.

If that happens, the reaction from China and the EU is likely to prove riveting viewing.

Mart.

EricMears

Hopefully, none of us will have been customers of this chap ?

Martyn1981

MPs call for more medium-scale renewable support

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/mps_call_for_more_medium_scale_renewable_support_2356

More financial support is needed to bolster the installation of medium-sized renewable energy generating systems, according to the Energy and Climate Change Committee (ECCC).

The ECCC’s Local Energy report states that medium-scale energy projects have the potential to provide a significant proportion of the UK’s energy capacity but at the moment government risks failing to capitilise on their potential due to a lack of support.

Whitehead added: "We support the government’s ambition to return decision-making powers to local authorities, but carbon reduction is a national priority. Although it is unlikely that local energy projects will eliminate the need for larger, centralised power stations completely, with some government support they could provide a significant proportion of the UK's energy capacity while reducing carbon emissions and increasing efficiency."

Mart.