Solar ... In the news

Coastalwatch

This is really good news so let's hope it is reflected upon when considering the multitude of planning applications now under consideration. Time for the silent majority to stop hiding their light under a bushel and make show their support when applications are submitted in their neighbourhood.

Public support for solar reaches record high for the second year

The increasing level of public support for renewables coincides with continued concerns around climate change; 83% of people in the UK are worried about climate change, whilst the number of people “very concerned” has risen by 6% to 45%.

The latest polling from the Public Attitudes Tracker showed that 88% of people support the use a renewable energy in the UK, including solar, beating last year’s previous high of 84%, whilst only 2% of the public oppose it.

Conducted this autumn, the survey was published this Thursday (15 December) by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

74% of the public also agreed that renewable energy benefits the UK economically.

Multiple organisations have recently highlighted the economic benefits of solar. Earlier this week the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit announced that solar is a gateway to 19 years of free electricity.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/public_support_for_solar_reaches_record_high_for_the_second_year

JKenH

Coastalwatch said:

This is really good news so let's hope it is reflected upon when considering the multitude of planning applications now under consideration. Time for the silent majority to stop hiding their light under a bushel and make show their support when applications are submitted in their neighbourhood.

Public support for solar reaches record high for the second year

The increasing level of public support for renewables coincides with continued concerns around climate change; 83% of people in the UK are worried about climate change, whilst the number of people “very concerned” has risen by 6% to 45%.

The increasing level of public support for renewables coincides with continued concerns around climate change; 83% of people in the UK are worried about climate change, whilst the number of people “very concerned” has risen by 6% to 45%.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/public_support_for_solar_reaches_record_high_for_the_second_year

As usual with statistics, if one is selective about which data you use, one can usually find something to demonstrate the point you are trying to make.

Here is a table from the BEIS survey which shows the numbers concerned about climate change has actually  fallen over the last year. (85% down to 83%). 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1123571/BEIS_PAT_Autumn_2022_Net_Zero_and_Climate_Change.pdf

Edited to try and reinstate the missing quote from the Solar Power Portal article (below)

“The increasing level of public support for renewables coincides with continued concerns around climate change; 83% of people in the UK are worried about climate change, whilst the number of people “very concerned” has risen by 6% to 45%.”

JKenH

Coastalwatch said:

This is really good news so let's hope it is reflected upon when considering the multitude of planning applications now under consideration. Time for the silent majority to stop hiding their light under a bushel and make show their support when applications are submitted in their neighbourhood.

Public support for solar reaches record high for the second year

The latest polling from the Public Attitudes Tracker showed that 88% of people support the use a renewable energy in the UK, including solar, beating last year’s previous high of 84%, whilst only 2% of the public oppose it.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/public_support_for_solar_reaches_record_high_for_the_second_year

I apologise that my comments have been split over 2 posts but I messed up the formatting. 

Again, the Solar Power Portal article is selective with the data. If we look at the BEIS data support for solar has actually fallen year on year from 90% to 89%.

Meanwhile there has been a significant increase in support for fracking year on year.



https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1123572/BEIS_PAT_Autumn_2022_Energy_Sources_and_Energy_Infrastructure.pdf

Martyn1981

Coastalwatch said:

This is really good news so let's hope it is reflected upon when considering the multitude of planning applications now under consideration. Time for the silent majority to stop hiding their light under a bushel and make show their support when applications are submitted in their neighbourhood.

Public support for solar reaches record high for the second year

The increasing level of public support for renewables coincides with continued concerns around climate change; 83% of people in the UK are worried about climate change, whilst the number of people “very concerned” has risen by 6% to 45%.

The latest polling from the Public Attitudes Tracker showed that 88% of people support the use a renewable energy in the UK, including solar, beating last year’s previous high of 84%, whilst only 2% of the public oppose it.

Conducted this autumn, the survey was published this Thursday (15 December) by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

74% of the public also agreed that renewable energy benefits the UK economically.

Multiple organisations have recently highlighted the economic benefits of solar. Earlier this week the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit announced that solar is a gateway to 19 years of free electricity.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/public_support_for_solar_reaches_record_high_for_the_second_year

I remember when we first started chatting about these 10yrs ago. The progress has been incredible, and support for RE (especially onshore wind which was one of the lowest (66% support and 12% oppossed)) has grown massively.

Back in survey one total concerned about climate change was only 65% and those not concerned was 34%, so gradually both awareness and acceptance of science has grown ....... but about 30+yrs too late. 

michaels

Martyn1981 said:

Coastalwatch said:

This is really good news so let's hope it is reflected upon when considering the multitude of planning applications now under consideration. Time for the silent majority to stop hiding their light under a bushel and make show their support when applications are submitted in their neighbourhood.

Public support for solar reaches record high for the second year

The increasing level of public support for renewables coincides with continued concerns around climate change; 83% of people in the UK are worried about climate change, whilst the number of people “very concerned” has risen by 6% to 45%.

The latest polling from the Public Attitudes Tracker showed that 88% of people support the use a renewable energy in the UK, including solar, beating last year’s previous high of 84%, whilst only 2% of the public oppose it.

Conducted this autumn, the survey was published this Thursday (15 December) by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

74% of the public also agreed that renewable energy benefits the UK economically.

Multiple organisations have recently highlighted the economic benefits of solar. Earlier this week the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit announced that solar is a gateway to 19 years of free electricity.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/public_support_for_solar_reaches_record_high_for_the_second_year

I remember when we first started chatting about these 10yrs ago. The progress has been incredible, and support for RE (especially onshore wind which was one of the lowest (66% support and 12% oppossed)) has grown massively.

Back in survey one total concerned about climate change was only 65% and those not concerned was 34%, so gradually both awareness and acceptance of science has grown ....... but about 30+yrs too late. 

Sadly only a very small proportion of the concerned would actually consider buying less shiny new stuff for Christmas, eating less meat or having fewer aviation holidays

Coastalwatch

I'm aware Perovskite is still to attain the necessary longevity in service to make them an attractive proposition. But manufacturing wise should this ever be resolved then increasing efficiency figures should at least encourage further development for the potential rewards on offer.

Researchers achieved world record 32.5% efficiency for a perovskite tandem solar cell

Scientists from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) have once more broken the efficiency world record of tandem solar cells consisting of a silicon bottom cell and a perovskite top cell. The 32.5% efficiency record has been officially confirmed by the certifying institute European Solar Test Installation.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/12/20/hzb-achieves-world-record-32-5-efficiency-for-perovskite-tandem-solar-cell/

Coastalwatch

Good to see Inchcape grasping the nettle with regard to anticipated dwindling sales figures for FF cars while making a positive move toward generating their own energy source including that required for the cleaner vehicles set to replace them.

Can't see there being many objections from locals with most panels located out of site.

I wonder if they will eventually consider adding storage batteries for the overnight charging of their new offering of demonstraters!

Solar panels to save Inchcape £500,000 a year

In response to the announcement David Tyler, director of estates and facilities at Inchcape said: “The car industry as a whole has been given a major challenge in terms of our environmental impact with the ban of the sale of new diesel and petrol cars planned from 2030. At Inchcape we’re rising to this challenge, embracing new technology and wanted to do everything in our power to improve our sustainability.

Solar panels continue to offer cost benefits to businesses in the UK, with a report from PowerMarket suggesting that if the UK used 5% of available UK commercial rooftop space for solar, it could lead to an estimated £12.6 billion per year in energy cost savings.

https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/solar_panels_to_save_car_showrooms_500000_a_year

Martyn1981

Coastalwatch said:

I'm aware Perovskite is still to attain the necessary longevity in service to make them an attractive proposition. But manufacturing wise should this ever be resolved then increasing efficiency figures should at least encourage further development for the potential rewards on offer.

Researchers achieved world record 32.5% efficiency for a perovskite tandem solar cell

Scientists from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) have once more broken the efficiency world record of tandem solar cells consisting of a silicon bottom cell and a perovskite top cell. The 32.5% efficiency record has been officially confirmed by the certifying institute European Solar Test Installation.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/12/20/hzb-achieves-world-record-32-5-efficiency-for-perovskite-tandem-solar-cell/

Apologies for repeating this waffle, but I don't think the potential of these tandem cells can be overstated.

Yes, tandem technology is more complex (more expensive), but Perovskite materials are much cheaper. Hence predictions are that the more efficient (higher power panels) will not cost more per Wp. Eg a 20% efficient 400Wp panel my cost £200, whilst a 30% efficient 600Wp panel costs £300.

That'll help drive down the cost of generation significantly, for all. And open up so many areas / roofs etc, that weren't quite economical before. I can see lots of the early PV farms upgrading where possible, could be a doubling of generation if 30% efficient panels displace the early 15%.

I wonder if we'll see these hit the market this decade?

Coastalwatch

Progress too on durability Mart, so possibly an early Christmas present.

New method brings durability of perovskite solar cells closer to silicon

Researchers from the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia have reportedly developed a perovskite solar cell with comparable stability and durability to commercial silicon PV cells. They used a high-temperature processing method with dimethylammonium chloride to control the intermediate phases of perovskite crystallization.

They subjected 138 sample devices to accelerated aging and testing processes at high temperatures. The formamidinium-caesium perovskite solar cells created with the DMF/DMACI process reportedly outperformed the control group and demonstrated resistance to thermal conditions, humidity, and light degradation.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/12/21/new-method-brings-durability-of-perovskite-solar-cells-closer-to-silicon/

Martyn1981

Thanks CW. That's got my brain pondering some generation cost impacts then.

So, PV panels represent about 50% of the capital cost for a PV farm. So moving from 20% to 30% efficient panels would add 50% to the panel cost, and some, but less to the other costs, 10%? So, maybe (and this is all guesswork) the 50% PV cost increases by +50%, and the other 50% by +10%. Hope I get this right, so we now have 75% + 55% = 130%.

But generation increases by 50%, so 150%.

Current generation cost (again just an estimate for 'fun') = £55/MWh.

£55 x 130% / 150% = £46/MWh.



On a domestic level, let's assume high prices at the moment, so £6k for 4kWp install, and £2k represents the PV (may be less, but I'll balance that against any small increased inverter and cabling costs).

We bump up the PV by 50% cost and 50% generation, and we get £7k for 6kWp.

So we go from £1.50/Wp installed, to £1.17/Wp installed ....

....... I think.


That would be a nice PV present, especially if it could happen sooner rather than later this decade.