The Clinton Climate Initiative, a programme of the William J Clinton Foundation, is in the process of setting up four ‘solar parks’ across the world with an overall capacity of 20,000 Mw. On Monday,it signed an agreement with the Gujarat government for setting up what is billed as the world’s largest solar project. IRA MAGAZINER, CCI’s chairman, talked to Maulik Pathak on his plans. Excerpts:
So, you have finally firmed your plans on Gujarat after exploring for over a year now. Have you identified the location?
We have identified three to four locations and will be finalising these in the next three to four weeks. About 5,000 hectares of land is required. We have been to many places where they talk and talk. Finally, we came to Gujarat, where people act. CCI is aiming to set up a solar park with a generation capacity of 3,000 Mw, which could go up to 5,000 Mw. The cost of the project would be about $8-10 billion for 3,000 Mw and for 5,000 Mw, it would be about $15 billion. The feasibility study will be over in 2010 and the plant will start in 2012.
How much of solar capacities has Clinton Climate Initiative planned worldwide?
We are planning four solar parks across the globe. We are looking at South Africa, California in the US, Australia and Gujarat. All these projects are of the same size, as of now. The overall capacity to be generated from solar energy in the four projects could go as high as 20,000 Mw.
From the progress made so far, we feel the Gujarat project will be the first to come up. And this would be the world’s largest solar project.
The cost of generation for solar power is very high as compared to other fossil fuel-fired units.
A solar park can decrease the cost of solar power significantly. The initial cost for setting up the project is very high. Once the plant is set up, its cost comes down. There is no extra cost, except managing the mirrors.
You don’t have to adjust to any fluctuations in cost. In fact, there is no fuel cost. It (solar plant) can go on as long as the sun shines. Of course, we have got to make arrangements when the weather is cloudy. By our calculations, the cost of solar power generation in India will come down to Rs 5-6 per kilo watt hour/unit in the next five years. And this will be lower than the cost of a coal-fired plant.
How do you propose to finance these projects? How many developers have shown interest in the Gujarat project so far?
As the project is very costly in the initial phases, we will arrange finance for the solar developers. We are already in talks with Asian Development Bank for this. As I said earlier, once the project takes off, the cost of generation goes down, so finance is initially essential. About 10 international developers have already shown interest.
The central government had recently written to the state to consider setting up a solar SEZ (Special Economic Zone) in Gujarat. Any plans to park your solar project in the SEZ? Also, do you propose to set up hybrid plants?
We have held talks with the central government on this. In fact, we are very hopeful about the National Solar Mission. Along with developers, research and development, even component manufacturers have shown interest in our project. So, there is a good export market. We can certainly consider that (SEZ).
Hybrid plants are something else that we are considering at the moment.
Source: Business Standard
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Land of the rising subsidy
Until five years ago Japan made around half of the world’s solar cells, thanks to its thirst for native energy and its expertise in the related fields of computer chips and flat screens for televisions. Sharp, which alone has made a quarter of all the solar cells ever produced, dominated the industry. But as solar technology matured and demand grew, new companies emerged, notably in China and Taiwan, eroding Japanese firms’ share of the market to around 20%. Sharp slipped to fourth place among manufacturers in 2008, after Q-Cells of Germany, First Solar of America and Suntech of China.
Factories have mushroomed all over the world in recent years, on the assumption that subsidies and loans for solar power would continue to grow, along with the world economy. Chinese manufacturers’ share grew sixfold from 2004 to 2008, capturing more than one-third of the global market. This prompted fears that Japan’s strength in solar would go the way of computer chips and television screens, in which Japanese firms have lost their dominance over rivals from elsewhere in Asia.
To avoid this fate, Japanese firms have concentrated on improving their technology and adjusting their business models. They have the most sophisticated kit, respected brands and healthy balance-sheets, notes Travis Bradford, president of the Prometheus Institute, a solar advocacy group. All this should spare them the worst amid the present solar glut. The entire industry’s sales are expected to be below 7,000 megawatts this year. That is roughly half of its capacity. The economic crisis has led to the cancellation of many big projects, and subsidies for solar power in Germany and Spain are being reduced.
Excess supply has forced the prices of solar panels down by more than 40% this year. In Asia factories that recently cropped up are running at 40% of capacity, with a huge shakeout expected, explains Joe Boyce of Gaia Consulting. But Japanese makers are protected because they can manufacture cells less expensively than European firms and have better technology than Chinese ones. They are also sheltered in their home market, where customers prefer domestic products.
Additionally, Japanese companies are following some American and European rivals into electricity generation. Sharp, for example, is negotiating a deal with Enel, Italy’s biggest power company, under which it will build solar panels for use in Enel’s solar-power plants. Enel will help to finance the panel factory and Sharp will take a stake in the
plants. In March Mitsubishi, a large trading company, acquired 34% of Amper Central Solar, a power plant in Portugal. Showa Shell, an oil distributor and panel-maker, plans to enter the generation business with Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant.
Many Japanese solar firms are in fact expanding. The country’s four biggest—Sharp, Kyocera, Sanyo and Mitsubishi Electric—are investing billions of dollars to double their production, at least, over the next three years. They expect an increase in demand owing to growing subsidies for renewable energy in America and Japan. The Japanese government reintroduced generous handouts for solar power this year. These had stopped in 2006, when it had seemed that the market could support itself. Between April and June domestic sales increased by 80% in volume, while sales elsewhere slumped. Goldman Sachs says solar sales in Japan may double next year if the Democratic Party of Japan, an opposition party with green policies, wins a general election on August 30th, which it is expected to do.
At the Motosumiyoshi commuter-train station in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo, sleek solar panels serve as an awning over the platform. On a recent sweltering day, they were producing 33 kilowatts of electricity, equivalent to the consumption of 40 homes. The system supplies 15% of the energy used by the station, and avoids many tons of greenhouse-gas emissions annually. As long as the state’s gravy-train keeps running, solar power’s future is bright in the land of the rising sun.
Source: Financialexpress
Factories have mushroomed all over the world in recent years, on the assumption that subsidies and loans for solar power would continue to grow, along with the world economy. Chinese manufacturers’ share grew sixfold from 2004 to 2008, capturing more than one-third of the global market. This prompted fears that Japan’s strength in solar would go the way of computer chips and television screens, in which Japanese firms have lost their dominance over rivals from elsewhere in Asia.
To avoid this fate, Japanese firms have concentrated on improving their technology and adjusting their business models. They have the most sophisticated kit, respected brands and healthy balance-sheets, notes Travis Bradford, president of the Prometheus Institute, a solar advocacy group. All this should spare them the worst amid the present solar glut. The entire industry’s sales are expected to be below 7,000 megawatts this year. That is roughly half of its capacity. The economic crisis has led to the cancellation of many big projects, and subsidies for solar power in Germany and Spain are being reduced.
Excess supply has forced the prices of solar panels down by more than 40% this year. In Asia factories that recently cropped up are running at 40% of capacity, with a huge shakeout expected, explains Joe Boyce of Gaia Consulting. But Japanese makers are protected because they can manufacture cells less expensively than European firms and have better technology than Chinese ones. They are also sheltered in their home market, where customers prefer domestic products.
Additionally, Japanese companies are following some American and European rivals into electricity generation. Sharp, for example, is negotiating a deal with Enel, Italy’s biggest power company, under which it will build solar panels for use in Enel’s solar-power plants. Enel will help to finance the panel factory and Sharp will take a stake in the
plants. In March Mitsubishi, a large trading company, acquired 34% of Amper Central Solar, a power plant in Portugal. Showa Shell, an oil distributor and panel-maker, plans to enter the generation business with Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant.
Many Japanese solar firms are in fact expanding. The country’s four biggest—Sharp, Kyocera, Sanyo and Mitsubishi Electric—are investing billions of dollars to double their production, at least, over the next three years. They expect an increase in demand owing to growing subsidies for renewable energy in America and Japan. The Japanese government reintroduced generous handouts for solar power this year. These had stopped in 2006, when it had seemed that the market could support itself. Between April and June domestic sales increased by 80% in volume, while sales elsewhere slumped. Goldman Sachs says solar sales in Japan may double next year if the Democratic Party of Japan, an opposition party with green policies, wins a general election on August 30th, which it is expected to do.
At the Motosumiyoshi commuter-train station in Kawasaki, a suburb of Tokyo, sleek solar panels serve as an awning over the platform. On a recent sweltering day, they were producing 33 kilowatts of electricity, equivalent to the consumption of 40 homes. The system supplies 15% of the energy used by the station, and avoids many tons of greenhouse-gas emissions annually. As long as the state’s gravy-train keeps running, solar power’s future is bright in the land of the rising sun.
Source: Financialexpress
Solar industry interaction on MNRE’s solar PV program for 2009-10
MNRE along with the Indian Semiconductor Association (ISA) and IREDA organized a one-day seminar in New Delhi to share the details of the recently announced Unified Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Program to promote the use of decentralized SPV systems for various applications in rural/ urban areas and SPV roof top systems for diesel saving in urban areas.
The seminar was organized to share the view of the concerned stakeholders such as manufacturers of solar PV modules and equipment, system integrators, service providers, consultants, banks and financial institutions, and reputed NGOs on the programme. The main objective of the seminar was to initiate a government-industry interaction.
Welcoming the delegates, Mr. B.V. Naidu, Chairman, ISA said that it was good to be part of a new revolution taking place in India. He added: “We have seen the success of the Indian IT industry and the Indian semiconductor design sector. That the MNRE is organizing an industry interaction on solar photovoltaics is a step in the right direction.” Naidu noted that India has all the features required for becoming a successful solar country.
Addressing the delegates, Ms Gauri Singh, IAS, Joint Secretary, MNRE said that the purpose of this interaction between the government and the industry is to give a loud and clear message to industry that “we would like to work with you as partners.” She said, “A large portion of the solar mission target will come from grid connected solar power. However, the off-grid opportunity is also huge. We have tried to open up our policy slightly and take the whole process forward by taking inputs from you and open up the policy for suggestions.” She further added that the MNRE was also working to see whether it could get the IREDA into a refinance operation with banks. There are schemes in place, where if anyone wants to work with a bank, a lot of incentives are available to the banks. Now, the ministry would like to see incentives being given to the manufacturers. She also called for a need to put out a third party monitoring system.
Dr B.M.S. Bist, Advisor, MNRE, said that solar PV is going to play a big role in assuring green technology in the country. He said that significant targets have been set for the SPV systems. The ministry has now tried to make new schemes. These will be presented to the delegates and their views are welcome. Those views will be compiled and the ministry will revert to the industry, so both of them can march together. Solar Mission will also be active from 14th November 2009.
Mr. Debashish Majumdar, Chairman and Managing Director, IREDA, said “When solar PV started about 15 years ago in India, we had small manufacturers starting in garages, etc., and who have now grown to become very large companies. It gives us a lot of hope that things can be done very well here as well.”
“We look at solar from two aspects — off-grid and on-grid. We would like to see what kind of demand we can convert in the off-grid applications. The policy by MNRE has been made keeping the best interests of the industry in mind. We would like to get your feedback and see how best to get the market going.”
There were presentations on the following topics as well:
* Details of the solar PV off-grid program (rooftop systems) — Dr. AK Varshney, MNRE
* Details of the solar PV off-grid program (other applications) — Dr. A. Raza, MNRE
* Financing of IREDA schemes for solar — BV Rao, IREDA
Dr. A K Varshney, Director, MNRE spoke about the Solar PV off-grid program on Roof Top Systems which was announced in February 2009. He said that main focus of these systems was commercial complexes, malls, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes etc. Ministry has a set target of 4.35 MW rooftop SPV systems for the remaining period of 11th plan. Regarding the Central Financial Assistance (CFA), he said, “With the submission of a copy of DPR and delivery of the material at the site, ministry grants 50% of the subsidy amount in advance and rest of the subsidy amount is given after the commissioning of the project.” Recently, the ministry has sanctioned two projects - in Dehradun (100 Kwp) and in Serco BPO in Gurgaon (25 Kwp).
Dr. Ahmar Raza, Director, MNRE shared the scheme of Solar PV off-grid program on other applications which was announced in July 2009. He told about various financial assistance provided by the ministry for setting up Solar PV roof top systems. He also told about the incentives to Banks/Micro financing institutions for capacity building and other specified activities to extend loans to consumers for Home lights and other small SPV systems in villages.
Mr. B.V. Rao from IREDA told about various financial schemes provided by IREDA on solar. He mentioned various kind of loans provide by IREDA to different players in the industry. Like for manufacturers, IREDA provides a loan of upto 80% of the total investment and 20% is to be paid by the manufacturer himself. The interest rate is 12.75% and repayment has to be made in 10 years.
These presentations were followed by questions and views shared by the industry delegates with officials from the ministry.
The seminar was organized to share the view of the concerned stakeholders such as manufacturers of solar PV modules and equipment, system integrators, service providers, consultants, banks and financial institutions, and reputed NGOs on the programme. The main objective of the seminar was to initiate a government-industry interaction.
Welcoming the delegates, Mr. B.V. Naidu, Chairman, ISA said that it was good to be part of a new revolution taking place in India. He added: “We have seen the success of the Indian IT industry and the Indian semiconductor design sector. That the MNRE is organizing an industry interaction on solar photovoltaics is a step in the right direction.” Naidu noted that India has all the features required for becoming a successful solar country.
Addressing the delegates, Ms Gauri Singh, IAS, Joint Secretary, MNRE said that the purpose of this interaction between the government and the industry is to give a loud and clear message to industry that “we would like to work with you as partners.” She said, “A large portion of the solar mission target will come from grid connected solar power. However, the off-grid opportunity is also huge. We have tried to open up our policy slightly and take the whole process forward by taking inputs from you and open up the policy for suggestions.” She further added that the MNRE was also working to see whether it could get the IREDA into a refinance operation with banks. There are schemes in place, where if anyone wants to work with a bank, a lot of incentives are available to the banks. Now, the ministry would like to see incentives being given to the manufacturers. She also called for a need to put out a third party monitoring system.
Dr B.M.S. Bist, Advisor, MNRE, said that solar PV is going to play a big role in assuring green technology in the country. He said that significant targets have been set for the SPV systems. The ministry has now tried to make new schemes. These will be presented to the delegates and their views are welcome. Those views will be compiled and the ministry will revert to the industry, so both of them can march together. Solar Mission will also be active from 14th November 2009.
Mr. Debashish Majumdar, Chairman and Managing Director, IREDA, said “When solar PV started about 15 years ago in India, we had small manufacturers starting in garages, etc., and who have now grown to become very large companies. It gives us a lot of hope that things can be done very well here as well.”
“We look at solar from two aspects — off-grid and on-grid. We would like to see what kind of demand we can convert in the off-grid applications. The policy by MNRE has been made keeping the best interests of the industry in mind. We would like to get your feedback and see how best to get the market going.”
There were presentations on the following topics as well:
* Details of the solar PV off-grid program (rooftop systems) — Dr. AK Varshney, MNRE
* Details of the solar PV off-grid program (other applications) — Dr. A. Raza, MNRE
* Financing of IREDA schemes for solar — BV Rao, IREDA
Dr. A K Varshney, Director, MNRE spoke about the Solar PV off-grid program on Roof Top Systems which was announced in February 2009. He said that main focus of these systems was commercial complexes, malls, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes etc. Ministry has a set target of 4.35 MW rooftop SPV systems for the remaining period of 11th plan. Regarding the Central Financial Assistance (CFA), he said, “With the submission of a copy of DPR and delivery of the material at the site, ministry grants 50% of the subsidy amount in advance and rest of the subsidy amount is given after the commissioning of the project.” Recently, the ministry has sanctioned two projects - in Dehradun (100 Kwp) and in Serco BPO in Gurgaon (25 Kwp).
Dr. Ahmar Raza, Director, MNRE shared the scheme of Solar PV off-grid program on other applications which was announced in July 2009. He told about various financial assistance provided by the ministry for setting up Solar PV roof top systems. He also told about the incentives to Banks/Micro financing institutions for capacity building and other specified activities to extend loans to consumers for Home lights and other small SPV systems in villages.
Mr. B.V. Rao from IREDA told about various financial schemes provided by IREDA on solar. He mentioned various kind of loans provide by IREDA to different players in the industry. Like for manufacturers, IREDA provides a loan of upto 80% of the total investment and 20% is to be paid by the manufacturer himself. The interest rate is 12.75% and repayment has to be made in 10 years.
These presentations were followed by questions and views shared by the industry delegates with officials from the ministry.
Slowdown dims solar panel prices 40-50%
Inventory build-up can brighten power project prospects.
Solar panel prices have fallen 40-50 per cent in the international markets in the last 6-9 months, triggered by the global liquidity crunch. This has led to tighter funding for solar farm power projects and a consequent build-up in inventory of panels.
Despite an improvement in global liquidity and revival of orders, there is no imminent prospect of prices returning to mid-2008 levels, say industry experts.
Solar panel manufacturers say prices are unlikely to return to the early 2008 levels even though some large projects are getting off the ground, particularly in western and southern Europe, the largest market for solar power projects.
The crash in prices has substantially brought down the delivered cost of electricity from solar projects.
Inventory build-up
According to industry experts, a number of reasons contributed to the price crash. Solar panels cost around $3.75-4 a Watt till the third quarter of 2008, after which they started falling. The prices are about $1.9-2 a Watt now, according to Mr Yogesh Mathur, Chief Financial Officer, Moser Baer India Ltd, which has subsidiaries that manufacture photovoltaic cells and modules and develop integrated photovoltaic systems.
Solar farm projects are large in size, about 1-5 MW, which is quite significant in terms of volume and value. A 5-MW solar farm typically used to cost about $30 million and this has now dropped to around $20 million. Till mid-to- late-2008 the market was booming and order books for all manufacturers were full, according to Mr Mathur.
Mr Shankar Rao Chodagam, Managing Director of the Hyderabad-based Titan Energy Systems Ltd, says that up to September 2008, the supply of panels was less than demand. Many companies, based on the earlier high growth projections, built up inventories, which also contributed to a fall in prices.
Attractive costs
Apart from Germany, which is Europe’s largest solar power market, Spain too is getting active in solar power, followed by Italy. Japan and the US too are growing solar power markets.
Mr Hari Surapaneni, CEO, Solar Semiconductor, a major player, said that with manufacturers trying to get rid of inventories, prices softened appreciably. “It is good for the consumer and the Indian industries involved in the solar business,” said Mr Surapaneni, whose company has orders over $3 billion from European customers of solar PV modules.
Chinese competition
Despite the high capital cost, solar farm projects were attractive both for investors and lenders because of the incentives offered by various European governments. Hence, even at the high costs, investors were assured of reasonable internal rate of return. “Because of the government support, the attractiveness to leverage, to borrow and to invest in that farm was quite high. The investors got a 10/20-year tariff,” said Mr Mathur.
Credit used to be available in plenty, but between the latter part of 2008 and early this year it dried up, resulting in a number of solar farm projects being put on hold.
Combined with this, says Mr K.E. Raghunathan, Managing Director of the Chennai-based Solkar Solar Industry Ltd, a manufacturer of solar products, Chinese manufacturers of panels also started dumping products in the global markets at rock-bottom prices. The Chinese manufacturers were able to do this due to various reasons, principal among which is the huge government support they get for exports.
Industry players say credit availability is improving and solar projects are slowly taking off, resulting in growing demand for solar panels.
Mr Mathur says that as the credit crunch eases, it has become attractive for banks to lend to the sector, especially with the lower overall system costs and consequently lower cost of energy. He does not expect prices to go back to the 2008 peak levels even though inventories are getting reduced. “As scale builds up in manufacturing, costs will come down. There could be a price uptick, but not to the extent as last year,” he says.
Grid parity
Along with scale economies, increase in cell efficiency — the quantum of incidental solar rays that gets converted to electricity — from 15 per cent to 17-18 per cent, should result in prices dropping over the next couple of years to grid parity.
According to Mr Chodagam, the developments augur well for Indian players as the current prices are better than diesel parity. “By 2011, it is expected to come to grid parity for the production of solar power.” Simultaneously, the country’s grid connection policy and the Solar Energy Mission will get a boost as the rate of return will improve.
Adds Mr Surapaneni, “we believe this trend (of lower prices) will continue and the cost will come down to Rs 10-12 crore a MW, bringing solar power closer to other forms of power.” On Thursday, Moser Baer said it got a contract to install a 1 MW solar project for Mahagenco, Maharashtra’s State-owned generation utility, for Rs 12.5 crore.
Indian manufacturers are confident that this means good business, as apart from the domestic market, Europe, Japan and the US will once again become large markets.
Solar panel prices have fallen 40-50 per cent in the international markets in the last 6-9 months, triggered by the global liquidity crunch. This has led to tighter funding for solar farm power projects and a consequent build-up in inventory of panels.
Despite an improvement in global liquidity and revival of orders, there is no imminent prospect of prices returning to mid-2008 levels, say industry experts.
Solar panel manufacturers say prices are unlikely to return to the early 2008 levels even though some large projects are getting off the ground, particularly in western and southern Europe, the largest market for solar power projects.
The crash in prices has substantially brought down the delivered cost of electricity from solar projects.
Inventory build-up
According to industry experts, a number of reasons contributed to the price crash. Solar panels cost around $3.75-4 a Watt till the third quarter of 2008, after which they started falling. The prices are about $1.9-2 a Watt now, according to Mr Yogesh Mathur, Chief Financial Officer, Moser Baer India Ltd, which has subsidiaries that manufacture photovoltaic cells and modules and develop integrated photovoltaic systems.
Solar farm projects are large in size, about 1-5 MW, which is quite significant in terms of volume and value. A 5-MW solar farm typically used to cost about $30 million and this has now dropped to around $20 million. Till mid-to- late-2008 the market was booming and order books for all manufacturers were full, according to Mr Mathur.
Mr Shankar Rao Chodagam, Managing Director of the Hyderabad-based Titan Energy Systems Ltd, says that up to September 2008, the supply of panels was less than demand. Many companies, based on the earlier high growth projections, built up inventories, which also contributed to a fall in prices.
Attractive costs
Apart from Germany, which is Europe’s largest solar power market, Spain too is getting active in solar power, followed by Italy. Japan and the US too are growing solar power markets.
Mr Hari Surapaneni, CEO, Solar Semiconductor, a major player, said that with manufacturers trying to get rid of inventories, prices softened appreciably. “It is good for the consumer and the Indian industries involved in the solar business,” said Mr Surapaneni, whose company has orders over $3 billion from European customers of solar PV modules.
Chinese competition
Despite the high capital cost, solar farm projects were attractive both for investors and lenders because of the incentives offered by various European governments. Hence, even at the high costs, investors were assured of reasonable internal rate of return. “Because of the government support, the attractiveness to leverage, to borrow and to invest in that farm was quite high. The investors got a 10/20-year tariff,” said Mr Mathur.
Credit used to be available in plenty, but between the latter part of 2008 and early this year it dried up, resulting in a number of solar farm projects being put on hold.
Combined with this, says Mr K.E. Raghunathan, Managing Director of the Chennai-based Solkar Solar Industry Ltd, a manufacturer of solar products, Chinese manufacturers of panels also started dumping products in the global markets at rock-bottom prices. The Chinese manufacturers were able to do this due to various reasons, principal among which is the huge government support they get for exports.
Industry players say credit availability is improving and solar projects are slowly taking off, resulting in growing demand for solar panels.
Mr Mathur says that as the credit crunch eases, it has become attractive for banks to lend to the sector, especially with the lower overall system costs and consequently lower cost of energy. He does not expect prices to go back to the 2008 peak levels even though inventories are getting reduced. “As scale builds up in manufacturing, costs will come down. There could be a price uptick, but not to the extent as last year,” he says.
Grid parity
Along with scale economies, increase in cell efficiency — the quantum of incidental solar rays that gets converted to electricity — from 15 per cent to 17-18 per cent, should result in prices dropping over the next couple of years to grid parity.
According to Mr Chodagam, the developments augur well for Indian players as the current prices are better than diesel parity. “By 2011, it is expected to come to grid parity for the production of solar power.” Simultaneously, the country’s grid connection policy and the Solar Energy Mission will get a boost as the rate of return will improve.
Adds Mr Surapaneni, “we believe this trend (of lower prices) will continue and the cost will come down to Rs 10-12 crore a MW, bringing solar power closer to other forms of power.” On Thursday, Moser Baer said it got a contract to install a 1 MW solar project for Mahagenco, Maharashtra’s State-owned generation utility, for Rs 12.5 crore.
Indian manufacturers are confident that this means good business, as apart from the domestic market, Europe, Japan and the US will once again become large markets.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
BHEL augments Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing Facility to 8 MW per annum
Sh. Vilasrao Deshmukh dedicates the new state-of-the-art plant to the nation
As another step towards supporting the Government of India’s Green Energy Initiative, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has enhanced the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Module manufacturing facility at its Electronics Division, Bangalore, from 3 MW to 8 MW per annum.
The company’s new state-of-the-art, upgraded unit was dedicated to the nation today by Sh. Vilasrao Deshmukh, Hon’ble Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, in the presence of Sh. Arun Yadav, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Sh. Ananth Kumar, Member of Parliament. Sh. M. Krishnappa and Sh. D.K. Shivakumar, MLAs; Dr. Satyanarayana Dash, Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry, Govt. of India; Sh. Sudhakar Rao, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka and Sh. K. Ravi Kumar, Chairman & Managing Director, BHEL, were also present on the occasion, in addition to the Board of Directors and senior officials of BHEL.
The additional photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing facility has enabled BHEL to handle larger (156x156-mm) and thinner (200-mm) solar-grade mono/multi-crystalline silicon wafers, for which process optimisation trials have been successfully completed.
BHEL has been committed to promoting eco-friendly sources of energy and has reinforced its commitment towards renewable energy by upgrading its Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing Capacity.
In another step forward in this direction, the Joint Venture between BHEL and BEL for establishing a 250 MW PV production facility for processing Silicon Wafers, Solar Cells and PV Modules is under finalisation. With this JV, BHEL and BEL are expected to assume a leading position in the area of Photovoltaics in the country.
BHEL has been actively contributing to the application of Solar Photovoltaics in remote and rural parts of the country for over 3 decades. The company’s Grid Interactive/Stand Alone Solar Power Plants as well as independent systems have enabled the people of Lakshadweep, Sagar Islands of West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, etc., to vastly improve their quality of life. Solar cells and modules manufactured by BHEL are also exported to countries like Germany, Australia and Italy. The company’s PV modules are certified to international standards by JRC, Ispra, Italy.
BHEL has been committed to the nation’s power development programme and has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian Power Sector by equipping itself for the future, by way of technology, facilities and trained manpower to meet the country’s power forecast for the 11th Plan and beyond. For this, it has already enhanced its manufacturing capacity to 10,000 MW per annum and is further augmenting it to 15,000 MW per annum which is proceeding apace and plans are afoot to hike it further to 20,000 MW by 2011-12.
Source: BHEL
As another step towards supporting the Government of India’s Green Energy Initiative, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has enhanced the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Module manufacturing facility at its Electronics Division, Bangalore, from 3 MW to 8 MW per annum.
The company’s new state-of-the-art, upgraded unit was dedicated to the nation today by Sh. Vilasrao Deshmukh, Hon’ble Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, in the presence of Sh. Arun Yadav, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Sh. Ananth Kumar, Member of Parliament. Sh. M. Krishnappa and Sh. D.K. Shivakumar, MLAs; Dr. Satyanarayana Dash, Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry, Govt. of India; Sh. Sudhakar Rao, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka and Sh. K. Ravi Kumar, Chairman & Managing Director, BHEL, were also present on the occasion, in addition to the Board of Directors and senior officials of BHEL.
The additional photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing facility has enabled BHEL to handle larger (156x156-mm) and thinner (200-mm) solar-grade mono/multi-crystalline silicon wafers, for which process optimisation trials have been successfully completed.
BHEL has been committed to promoting eco-friendly sources of energy and has reinforced its commitment towards renewable energy by upgrading its Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing Capacity.
In another step forward in this direction, the Joint Venture between BHEL and BEL for establishing a 250 MW PV production facility for processing Silicon Wafers, Solar Cells and PV Modules is under finalisation. With this JV, BHEL and BEL are expected to assume a leading position in the area of Photovoltaics in the country.
BHEL has been actively contributing to the application of Solar Photovoltaics in remote and rural parts of the country for over 3 decades. The company’s Grid Interactive/Stand Alone Solar Power Plants as well as independent systems have enabled the people of Lakshadweep, Sagar Islands of West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, etc., to vastly improve their quality of life. Solar cells and modules manufactured by BHEL are also exported to countries like Germany, Australia and Italy. The company’s PV modules are certified to international standards by JRC, Ispra, Italy.
BHEL has been committed to the nation’s power development programme and has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian Power Sector by equipping itself for the future, by way of technology, facilities and trained manpower to meet the country’s power forecast for the 11th Plan and beyond. For this, it has already enhanced its manufacturing capacity to 10,000 MW per annum and is further augmenting it to 15,000 MW per annum which is proceeding apace and plans are afoot to hike it further to 20,000 MW by 2011-12.
Source: BHEL
Monday, August 31, 2009
Two missions on climate change ready for implementation, says Shyam Saran
Two of the eight missions in the National Action Plan on Climate Change were ready for implementation through the cabinet-level decisions regulatory mechanisms and even through legislation if necessary, said Shyam Saran, the special envoy of the Prime Minister on climate change, here on Friday.
The National Solar Mission and the National Mission for Enhanced Energy have already been through by discussions and evaluation by the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate change, Mr. Saran said at the Environment and Energy Conclave 2009 hosted by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“The Prime Minister has said that the National Solar Mission will be in operation by November 14,” Mr. Saran said.
Experts were considering the possibility of producing solar power with a threshold capacity of 20,000 MW, which could result in grid parity by 2020 and parity in pricing with coal-generated power in 2030, he said.
Grid parity was the point at which electricity from renewable sources is equal to or cheaper than grid power. Reiterating India’s stand that no legally binding restrictions on emissions would be acceptable, Mr. Saran also outlined the expectations of India and other developing countries from the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen (COP15) in December this year.
“We are not negotiating a new Climate Change treaty at Copenhagen,” said Mr. Saran, adding that the measures deliberated at previous international summits had not been implemented by developed countries.
“Under the National Action Plan India has a certain vision, but if developing countries have to take mitigation actions beyond their resources, they must be aided by developed countries with technology transfers and financial resources,” he said.
On the question of climate change, the impact of accumulated emissions must be considered, which was the position of all developing nations and stated in the UNFCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), he said.
“The Prime Minister has already made a commitment that at no point in time will India’s per capita emission be higher than those of the developed countries,” he said.
Source: The Hindu
The National Solar Mission and the National Mission for Enhanced Energy have already been through by discussions and evaluation by the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate change, Mr. Saran said at the Environment and Energy Conclave 2009 hosted by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“The Prime Minister has said that the National Solar Mission will be in operation by November 14,” Mr. Saran said.
Experts were considering the possibility of producing solar power with a threshold capacity of 20,000 MW, which could result in grid parity by 2020 and parity in pricing with coal-generated power in 2030, he said.
Grid parity was the point at which electricity from renewable sources is equal to or cheaper than grid power. Reiterating India’s stand that no legally binding restrictions on emissions would be acceptable, Mr. Saran also outlined the expectations of India and other developing countries from the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen (COP15) in December this year.
“We are not negotiating a new Climate Change treaty at Copenhagen,” said Mr. Saran, adding that the measures deliberated at previous international summits had not been implemented by developed countries.
“Under the National Action Plan India has a certain vision, but if developing countries have to take mitigation actions beyond their resources, they must be aided by developed countries with technology transfers and financial resources,” he said.
On the question of climate change, the impact of accumulated emissions must be considered, which was the position of all developing nations and stated in the UNFCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), he said.
“The Prime Minister has already made a commitment that at no point in time will India’s per capita emission be higher than those of the developed countries,” he said.
Source: The Hindu
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Solar power system to be installed at railway stations
To find alternative sources of energy, everybody is on the lookout for better options. As such, solar power equipments are picking up fast as apart from several government departments, private institutions are also coming forward for the same.
Joining the list of new entrants are the railway authorities, who have also started installing solar equipments in railway running rooms, hospitals and even at crossings, where solar lamps were being used. This has helped them to get rid of kerosene lamps which were being earlier used.
According to information, the authorities have installed solar geysers in railway running rooms at Amritsar and Jalandhar, whereas the running room at the city station is presently under construction where solar geysers would be installed.
Sources in the railway department revealed that authorities are also planning to install solar lights by replacing the existing streetlights at the station and in railway colonies.
Earlier, it was the duty of the gatekeeper at the railway crossings to light the kerosene lamps, but now the authorities have installed solar lamps which will get charged during the day and provide light during the night hours.
While talking to the TOI, divisional railway manager Satish Chander said, "We had started installing solar geysers on an experimental basis but now we are getting a positive response and have decided to expand it at other places."
He said they would now install solar lights at railway crossings and city railway station, while the running room for guards and drivers was under construction where they would also install solar geysers like it had been done at Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ferozepur.
Discussing the issue, Rajinder Singh joint director Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) said, "The demand for solar equipments has increased manifold. We have forwarded a demand to the Centre for 500-kilowatt power plants which are being demanded by various private institutions across the state."
Source: Times of India
Joining the list of new entrants are the railway authorities, who have also started installing solar equipments in railway running rooms, hospitals and even at crossings, where solar lamps were being used. This has helped them to get rid of kerosene lamps which were being earlier used.
According to information, the authorities have installed solar geysers in railway running rooms at Amritsar and Jalandhar, whereas the running room at the city station is presently under construction where solar geysers would be installed.
Sources in the railway department revealed that authorities are also planning to install solar lights by replacing the existing streetlights at the station and in railway colonies.
Earlier, it was the duty of the gatekeeper at the railway crossings to light the kerosene lamps, but now the authorities have installed solar lamps which will get charged during the day and provide light during the night hours.
While talking to the TOI, divisional railway manager Satish Chander said, "We had started installing solar geysers on an experimental basis but now we are getting a positive response and have decided to expand it at other places."
He said they would now install solar lights at railway crossings and city railway station, while the running room for guards and drivers was under construction where they would also install solar geysers like it had been done at Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ferozepur.
Discussing the issue, Rajinder Singh joint director Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) said, "The demand for solar equipments has increased manifold. We have forwarded a demand to the Centre for 500-kilowatt power plants which are being demanded by various private institutions across the state."
Source: Times of India
Saturday, August 29, 2009
JSW forays into solar power, to launch its IPO soon
JSW Energy Limited, a part of JSW group, is soon coming out with its Initial Public Offer to raise Rs.3000 for its under construction 3000MW power projects. With this JSW Energy is targeting to be a leading power generator by 2015 with 11,400MW generation capacity.
JSW Energy is distributing its business and investments into renewables such as Solar Energy. As per the draft offer document, JSW Energy has been allotted a 5 MW Solar Power Plant based on photo voltaic technology by the Government of Gujarat. Apart from this it is also proposing solar power plant in Rajasthan with a capacity of 5-10MW. It is also exploring different technology options and suppliers.
As per the Gujarat policy 2009 a slew of incentives are available to prospective developers who want to set up solar projects in state. The Gujarat government has set a tariff of Rs 13 per KWhr for 1st twelve years,to know details about tariff of various states click here (for Gujarat Policy)
The company has installed 560 MW capacity power project in Karnataka and is implementing a 1,200 MW coal-based power project in Maharashtra and a 1,080 MW pit head lignite project in Rajasthan. The company also has one Hydro electric project of 240 MW under implementation in Himachal Pradesh.
JSW is planning to develop a 3,200 (4x800) Mw coal based power plant at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra near the upcoming 1,200 Mw and the second phase of the 2x135 MW power plant at Barmer in Rajasthan. Other projects are a 1,320 Mw coal-based thermal plant at Chhattisgarh, a 1,600 Mw domestic coal-based power plant in West Bengal and a 1,620 Mw coal-based thermal plant at Jharkhand.
Source:Solarindiaonline
JSW Energy is distributing its business and investments into renewables such as Solar Energy. As per the draft offer document, JSW Energy has been allotted a 5 MW Solar Power Plant based on photo voltaic technology by the Government of Gujarat. Apart from this it is also proposing solar power plant in Rajasthan with a capacity of 5-10MW. It is also exploring different technology options and suppliers.
As per the Gujarat policy 2009 a slew of incentives are available to prospective developers who want to set up solar projects in state. The Gujarat government has set a tariff of Rs 13 per KWhr for 1st twelve years,to know details about tariff of various states click here (for Gujarat Policy)
The company has installed 560 MW capacity power project in Karnataka and is implementing a 1,200 MW coal-based power project in Maharashtra and a 1,080 MW pit head lignite project in Rajasthan. The company also has one Hydro electric project of 240 MW under implementation in Himachal Pradesh.
JSW is planning to develop a 3,200 (4x800) Mw coal based power plant at Ratnagiri in Maharashtra near the upcoming 1,200 Mw and the second phase of the 2x135 MW power plant at Barmer in Rajasthan. Other projects are a 1,320 Mw coal-based thermal plant at Chhattisgarh, a 1,600 Mw domestic coal-based power plant in West Bengal and a 1,620 Mw coal-based thermal plant at Jharkhand.
Source:Solarindiaonline
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Baoding Tianwei Starts Mass Production of Thin Film Solar Panels with Oerlikon Solar Technology
One of the largest Thin Film Solar Fabs in Mainland China Ramps up in Record Time
Trubbach, Switzerland/Baoding, China, August 18th, 2009, — As China boosts solar
energy to meet growing power demand and reduce dependence on imported fuels,
Tianwei and Oerlikon Solar announced the completion of one of the mainland China’s
largest thin film solar panel factories. The facility was completed ahead of schedule.
This first phase of the Tianwei project produces 500,000 modules per year, which
generates a total of 46 megawatts of power.
Oerlikon Solar leads the thin film solar equipment sector with ten factories in production
and the fastest time to market. Thin film solar offers a cost-advantage over traditional
crystalline silicon, and is making strong efficiency gains. Tianwei is using Oerlikon
Solar’s Amorph High Performance PV technology for Phase 1.
“Oerlikon Solar surpassed its promised completion time and efficiency,” said Mr.Ma
Wenxue, General Manager of Baoding Tianwei Solarfilms Co.,Ltd. “Watching this state
of-the-art fab go from an empty room to full production in six months was stunning.”
Reaching production quickly is essential to allow Tianwei to address the rapidly growing
Chinese solar market. Under the “Golden Sun” program announced on July 21, China's
Ministry of Finance will subsidize half of the construction costs for on-grid solar power
plants. The ministry of finance will also pay for up to 70 percent of off-grid installations
and cover transmission costs where necessary. In response, analysts have predicted
that China could develop more than 500 megawatts of solar power within three years.
Just 50 megawatts of solar power were installed in 2008.
“Oerlikon Solar has designed, tested and perfected its methodology for bringing new
factories and equipment online on time and on budget,” said Jeannine Sargent, CEO of
Oerlikon Solar. “This is key in being the leader on the path to grid parity and placing
clean renewable solar power on equal footing with traditional fossil fuel sources.
Oerlikon Solar has the first thin film silicon technology to have IEC certification from TÜV
Rheinland for Amorph Basic, Amorph High Performance and Micromorph®. Certification
compresses the time to production by reducing administration efforts and guaranteeing
durability and performance. With more challenging credit markets, certification also
makes Oerlikon Solar’s customers projects more predictable and bankable. TÜV
certification for the Tianwei line is expected in September 2009.
About Baoding Tianwei SolarFilms Co. Ltd.
Tianwei is an international high-tech company with more than 50 years experience in the
energy industry and is the leading company in the power transmission industry and the
world’s biggest transformer supplier in output as the only state-owned enterprise in
China with a vertical industrial chain in PV industry. Its affiliate Tianwei SolarFilms Co
and specializes in designing, manufacturing, selling and installing thin film solar modules
and related accessories. Located in the National Renewable Energy & Equipment
Industry Base, with its well-recognized R&D teams and facilities Baoding Tianwei
SolarFilms Co., Ltd. invested about RMB 1.2 billion for Phase 1 and a capacity of round
50 megawatts.
About Oerlikon Solar
Oerlikon Solar offers field proven equipment and end-to-end manufacturing lines for the
mass production of thin film silicon solar modules. Engineered to reduce device cost and
maximize productivity, its end-to-end solutions are fully automated, high yield, high
uptime, and low maintenance.
The production lines are complete systems, yet modular and upgradeable in both
throughput and process technology. As a global leader in thin film PV technology, the
company provides its customers with extensive experience in both amorphous and high-
efficiency Micromorph® tandem technology.
Source: Oerlikon Solar
Trubbach, Switzerland/Baoding, China, August 18th, 2009, — As China boosts solar
energy to meet growing power demand and reduce dependence on imported fuels,
Tianwei and Oerlikon Solar announced the completion of one of the mainland China’s
largest thin film solar panel factories. The facility was completed ahead of schedule.
This first phase of the Tianwei project produces 500,000 modules per year, which
generates a total of 46 megawatts of power.
Oerlikon Solar leads the thin film solar equipment sector with ten factories in production
and the fastest time to market. Thin film solar offers a cost-advantage over traditional
crystalline silicon, and is making strong efficiency gains. Tianwei is using Oerlikon
Solar’s Amorph High Performance PV technology for Phase 1.
“Oerlikon Solar surpassed its promised completion time and efficiency,” said Mr.Ma
Wenxue, General Manager of Baoding Tianwei Solarfilms Co.,Ltd. “Watching this state
of-the-art fab go from an empty room to full production in six months was stunning.”
Reaching production quickly is essential to allow Tianwei to address the rapidly growing
Chinese solar market. Under the “Golden Sun” program announced on July 21, China's
Ministry of Finance will subsidize half of the construction costs for on-grid solar power
plants. The ministry of finance will also pay for up to 70 percent of off-grid installations
and cover transmission costs where necessary. In response, analysts have predicted
that China could develop more than 500 megawatts of solar power within three years.
Just 50 megawatts of solar power were installed in 2008.
“Oerlikon Solar has designed, tested and perfected its methodology for bringing new
factories and equipment online on time and on budget,” said Jeannine Sargent, CEO of
Oerlikon Solar. “This is key in being the leader on the path to grid parity and placing
clean renewable solar power on equal footing with traditional fossil fuel sources.
Oerlikon Solar has the first thin film silicon technology to have IEC certification from TÜV
Rheinland for Amorph Basic, Amorph High Performance and Micromorph®. Certification
compresses the time to production by reducing administration efforts and guaranteeing
durability and performance. With more challenging credit markets, certification also
makes Oerlikon Solar’s customers projects more predictable and bankable. TÜV
certification for the Tianwei line is expected in September 2009.
About Baoding Tianwei SolarFilms Co. Ltd.
Tianwei is an international high-tech company with more than 50 years experience in the
energy industry and is the leading company in the power transmission industry and the
world’s biggest transformer supplier in output as the only state-owned enterprise in
China with a vertical industrial chain in PV industry. Its affiliate Tianwei SolarFilms Co
and specializes in designing, manufacturing, selling and installing thin film solar modules
and related accessories. Located in the National Renewable Energy & Equipment
Industry Base, with its well-recognized R&D teams and facilities Baoding Tianwei
SolarFilms Co., Ltd. invested about RMB 1.2 billion for Phase 1 and a capacity of round
50 megawatts.
About Oerlikon Solar
Oerlikon Solar offers field proven equipment and end-to-end manufacturing lines for the
mass production of thin film silicon solar modules. Engineered to reduce device cost and
maximize productivity, its end-to-end solutions are fully automated, high yield, high
uptime, and low maintenance.
The production lines are complete systems, yet modular and upgradeable in both
throughput and process technology. As a global leader in thin film PV technology, the
company provides its customers with extensive experience in both amorphous and high-
efficiency Micromorph® tandem technology.
Source: Oerlikon Solar
Ban on scrap polysilicon to boost China solar sector
A Chinese ban on imports of a waste material used for solar wafers may be bad news for foreign competitors but it is a big boost to China's solar sector.
Scrap polysilicon, which can be reused to make solar wafers, is low-grade silicon that fails to meet the grade for chips found in most electronics.
Beginning this month, China stopped accepting scrap polysilicon to comply with environmental regulations.
The ban threatens the income of Chinese scrap polysilicon traders and limits the market for companies that sell to them, such as top contract chipmaker TSMC. It is particularly harsh for small and new domestic solar players who rely on the cheap material to make wafers and panels.
For China's polysilicon companies, including GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and LDK Solar, the ban is an opportunity to expand business. For foreign rivals South Korean OCI Co Ltd, MEMC Electronic Materials Inc or Japan's Tokuyama Corp the ban is a potential threat.
China produces over 60 percent of the world's solar panels, and is among the heaviest users of pure polysilicon and the scrap variety. Scrap polysilicon accounts for up to 30 percent of silicon fed into some of the solar wafers and panels in China.
"In a way, the ruling was designed to protect (China's) very young polysilicon industry," said KK Chan, chief executive of private equity firm Nature Elements Capital. "The sector needs all the help it can get given a supply glut of the material."
The ban comes at a time when Chinese polysilicon companies are ramping up production, despite an oversupply of the key solar component.
GCL-Poly, which acquired $3.4 billion worth of solar assets in June, is on track to produce about 3,000 tons of polysilicon by year end. LDK Solar aims to produce 5,000 tons by 2010.
Yingli Green Energy Holding Co, ReneSola and Tongwei Co should benefit.
After the credit crunch dried up funding for solar projects, the sector was hit by a massive oversupply of polysilicon. Prices fell to $69 per kilogram from its peak of $400 in 2008.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR
China's Environmental Protection Ministry said it imposed the ban because the heavy chemicals that come in contact with scrap polysilicon when reused to make solar wafers and panels produce waste that could harm the environment.
The ministry said in a notice posted on its website last month that the regulation was imposed in line with China's solid waste pollution laws.
A ministry spokesman declined to comment.
"This is positive for China's polysilicon sector, and the environment," said GCL-Poly president Hunter Jiang.
The new rule is slowly having a positive impact for local makers of the solar component. Spot prices of polysilicon in China rose to $72 per kg in August from $67 in July weeks after the rule was enforced, said New Energy Finance analyst Julia Wu.
"The segment most likely affected by the policy are local panel and wafer makers, especially the smaller ones," Wu said.
Established Chinese solar wafer companies are least affected.
"It should not have an impact, given there is sufficient supply of polysilicon in the market," said Renesola chief financial officer Charles Bai.
Source: Reuters
Scrap polysilicon, which can be reused to make solar wafers, is low-grade silicon that fails to meet the grade for chips found in most electronics.
Beginning this month, China stopped accepting scrap polysilicon to comply with environmental regulations.
The ban threatens the income of Chinese scrap polysilicon traders and limits the market for companies that sell to them, such as top contract chipmaker TSMC. It is particularly harsh for small and new domestic solar players who rely on the cheap material to make wafers and panels.
For China's polysilicon companies, including GCL-Poly Energy Holdings and LDK Solar, the ban is an opportunity to expand business. For foreign rivals South Korean OCI Co Ltd, MEMC Electronic Materials Inc or Japan's Tokuyama Corp the ban is a potential threat.
China produces over 60 percent of the world's solar panels, and is among the heaviest users of pure polysilicon and the scrap variety. Scrap polysilicon accounts for up to 30 percent of silicon fed into some of the solar wafers and panels in China.
"In a way, the ruling was designed to protect (China's) very young polysilicon industry," said KK Chan, chief executive of private equity firm Nature Elements Capital. "The sector needs all the help it can get given a supply glut of the material."
The ban comes at a time when Chinese polysilicon companies are ramping up production, despite an oversupply of the key solar component.
GCL-Poly, which acquired $3.4 billion worth of solar assets in June, is on track to produce about 3,000 tons of polysilicon by year end. LDK Solar aims to produce 5,000 tons by 2010.
Yingli Green Energy Holding Co, ReneSola and Tongwei Co should benefit.
After the credit crunch dried up funding for solar projects, the sector was hit by a massive oversupply of polysilicon. Prices fell to $69 per kilogram from its peak of $400 in 2008.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR
China's Environmental Protection Ministry said it imposed the ban because the heavy chemicals that come in contact with scrap polysilicon when reused to make solar wafers and panels produce waste that could harm the environment.
The ministry said in a notice posted on its website last month that the regulation was imposed in line with China's solid waste pollution laws.
A ministry spokesman declined to comment.
"This is positive for China's polysilicon sector, and the environment," said GCL-Poly president Hunter Jiang.
The new rule is slowly having a positive impact for local makers of the solar component. Spot prices of polysilicon in China rose to $72 per kg in August from $67 in July weeks after the rule was enforced, said New Energy Finance analyst Julia Wu.
"The segment most likely affected by the policy are local panel and wafer makers, especially the smaller ones," Wu said.
Established Chinese solar wafer companies are least affected.
"It should not have an impact, given there is sufficient supply of polysilicon in the market," said Renesola chief financial officer Charles Bai.
Source: Reuters
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Deepak Lal: Spiking the road to Copenhagen
The Western obsession with curbing carbon emissions is wicked and also economically foolish, says Deepak Lal
Three cheers for Jairam Ramesh! India at last has an environment minister who is willing and able to denounce the hypocrisy and immorality of the West in twisting the arms of India and China to curb their carbon emissions. He is right to make it clear that India has no intention of signing the new ‘climate change’ treaty in Copenhagen in December, which would put curbs on the carbon emissions of the Third World. If they do not comply they are being threatened by the draft bill going through the US Congress to levy carbon tariffs on their exports.
As this column has argued many times, this is a blatant attempt to prevent these countries from industrialising and achieving the standards of living of the West. For, until technological advances can allow alternative ‘green’ energy sources to compete with the fossil fuels, whose use is gradually eliminating poverty in the Third World as in the West’s own ascent from poverty, a call to put any curbs on carbon emissions is in fact to condemn their billions to continuing poverty. Whilst numerous Western economists and do-gooders shed crocodile tears about the Third World’s poor, they are willing at the same time to prevent them from taking the only feasible current route out from this abject state. Nothing is more hypocritical and immoral than rich Westerners driving their gas-guzzling SUVs emoting about the threat to Spaceship Earth from the millions of Indians who want to drive Nanos. Whilst the salving of their consciences by buying carbon offsets (as Al Gore claims to do every time he jets around the world) is akin to the Papal indulgences sold by the Catholic Church, which allowed its richer adherents to assuage their guilt and ‘fornicate on clean sheets’. For Gore to have the lights on his mansion blazing throughout the night, and seek to restrict the emissions from Indian power stations, when most Indians don’t even have an electric light bulb, is deeply wicked.
A study of the costs to the Indian poor of curbing carbon emissions has estimated that, over a 30-year time horizon, with a 10 per cent annual emission restriction the number of poor increases by 21 per cent, even in the short run, and by nearly 50 per cent for a 30 per cent annual emission reduction (Murthy, Panda, Parikh: ‘CO2 emission reduction strategies and economic development of India’, Margin, 2007). Those development economists and sundry celebrities, who on the one hand, want to see the end of world poverty and on the other, to curb Third World carbon emissions, should be ashamed of themselves for advocating the latter path which will make the former goal impossible to achieve.
This is particularly heinous as the claim by the IPCC that, it is scientifically proven, CO2 emissions are the cause of global warming, is increasingly being questioned by climatologists. Particularly, as since 1997, both the terrestrial and more accurate satellite temperature readings (which are not contaminated by the ‘heat island’ urbanisation effect) show global cooling, even though there has been a large increase in CO2 emissions. This is also the period in which the sunspot activity in the Sun has ceased. My earlier column on climate change (June 2007) had outlined the rival theory for climate change developed by the Danish physicist and climatologist, Henrik Svensmark — cosmo-climatology. In a remarkable March 2009 internal study on climate science suppressed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but put into the public domain by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (see www.cei.org) the whole scientific basis of the current CO2 theory of climate change is put into question. It emphasises that “global temperatures have declined — extending the current downward trend to 11 years with a particularly rapid decline in 2007-8. At the same time atmospheric CO2 levels have continued to increase and CO2 emissions have accelerated”(p. iii). This means that “the IPCC projections for large increases [in global temperature] are looking increasingly doubtful” (p.3). On the IPCC’s rejection of the alternative explanation of solar variability as the cause of climate change, it states: “There appears to be a strong association between solar sunspots/irradiance and global temperature fluctuations”. “A new paper by Scafetta and Wilson (Geophysical Research Letters, 3 March 2009) suggests the IPCC used faulty solar data in dismissing the direct effect of solar variability on global temperatures. Their research suggests that solar variability [rather than green house gasses] could account for up to 68% of the increase in Earth’s global temperature.” (p.iv)
It then provides a table (p.58) from K Gregory (Climate Change Science 2009) which summarises the evidence for CO2 and the Sun/Cosmic Ray Warming hypotheses for climate change. This table, reproduced here, shows that, on a number of predictions involving observable evidence on the two hypotheses, the sun/cosmic ray explanation for climate change wins hands down. Moreover, as on this hypothesis it is the sunspot activity which controls the climate, as the sun seems to have gone to sleep over the last 12 years there is a growing likelihood “that sunspots may vanish by 2015. Given the strong association between sunspots and global temperatures, this suggests the possibility that we may be entering a period of global cooling” (p.60). Perhaps another ice age.
This new and growing scientific evidence that human CO2 emissions have little to do with climate change makes the current Western political obsession to curb carbon emissions at a vast economic cost extremely foolish. For India it would mean not only reversing the current trends in poverty alleviation, but a vast increase in the numbers of the poor who would otherwise be pulled out of poverty. India should have nothing to do with Copenhagen. If this means there is no climate change treaty, it might also save the West from its current path to committing economic hara-kiri.
Source: Business Standard
Three cheers for Jairam Ramesh! India at last has an environment minister who is willing and able to denounce the hypocrisy and immorality of the West in twisting the arms of India and China to curb their carbon emissions. He is right to make it clear that India has no intention of signing the new ‘climate change’ treaty in Copenhagen in December, which would put curbs on the carbon emissions of the Third World. If they do not comply they are being threatened by the draft bill going through the US Congress to levy carbon tariffs on their exports.
As this column has argued many times, this is a blatant attempt to prevent these countries from industrialising and achieving the standards of living of the West. For, until technological advances can allow alternative ‘green’ energy sources to compete with the fossil fuels, whose use is gradually eliminating poverty in the Third World as in the West’s own ascent from poverty, a call to put any curbs on carbon emissions is in fact to condemn their billions to continuing poverty. Whilst numerous Western economists and do-gooders shed crocodile tears about the Third World’s poor, they are willing at the same time to prevent them from taking the only feasible current route out from this abject state. Nothing is more hypocritical and immoral than rich Westerners driving their gas-guzzling SUVs emoting about the threat to Spaceship Earth from the millions of Indians who want to drive Nanos. Whilst the salving of their consciences by buying carbon offsets (as Al Gore claims to do every time he jets around the world) is akin to the Papal indulgences sold by the Catholic Church, which allowed its richer adherents to assuage their guilt and ‘fornicate on clean sheets’. For Gore to have the lights on his mansion blazing throughout the night, and seek to restrict the emissions from Indian power stations, when most Indians don’t even have an electric light bulb, is deeply wicked.
A study of the costs to the Indian poor of curbing carbon emissions has estimated that, over a 30-year time horizon, with a 10 per cent annual emission restriction the number of poor increases by 21 per cent, even in the short run, and by nearly 50 per cent for a 30 per cent annual emission reduction (Murthy, Panda, Parikh: ‘CO2 emission reduction strategies and economic development of India’, Margin, 2007). Those development economists and sundry celebrities, who on the one hand, want to see the end of world poverty and on the other, to curb Third World carbon emissions, should be ashamed of themselves for advocating the latter path which will make the former goal impossible to achieve.
This is particularly heinous as the claim by the IPCC that, it is scientifically proven, CO2 emissions are the cause of global warming, is increasingly being questioned by climatologists. Particularly, as since 1997, both the terrestrial and more accurate satellite temperature readings (which are not contaminated by the ‘heat island’ urbanisation effect) show global cooling, even though there has been a large increase in CO2 emissions. This is also the period in which the sunspot activity in the Sun has ceased. My earlier column on climate change (June 2007) had outlined the rival theory for climate change developed by the Danish physicist and climatologist, Henrik Svensmark — cosmo-climatology. In a remarkable March 2009 internal study on climate science suppressed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but put into the public domain by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (see www.cei.org) the whole scientific basis of the current CO2 theory of climate change is put into question. It emphasises that “global temperatures have declined — extending the current downward trend to 11 years with a particularly rapid decline in 2007-8. At the same time atmospheric CO2 levels have continued to increase and CO2 emissions have accelerated”(p. iii). This means that “the IPCC projections for large increases [in global temperature] are looking increasingly doubtful” (p.3). On the IPCC’s rejection of the alternative explanation of solar variability as the cause of climate change, it states: “There appears to be a strong association between solar sunspots/irradiance and global temperature fluctuations”. “A new paper by Scafetta and Wilson (Geophysical Research Letters, 3 March 2009) suggests the IPCC used faulty solar data in dismissing the direct effect of solar variability on global temperatures. Their research suggests that solar variability [rather than green house gasses] could account for up to 68% of the increase in Earth’s global temperature.” (p.iv)
It then provides a table (p.58) from K Gregory (Climate Change Science 2009) which summarises the evidence for CO2 and the Sun/Cosmic Ray Warming hypotheses for climate change. This table, reproduced here, shows that, on a number of predictions involving observable evidence on the two hypotheses, the sun/cosmic ray explanation for climate change wins hands down. Moreover, as on this hypothesis it is the sunspot activity which controls the climate, as the sun seems to have gone to sleep over the last 12 years there is a growing likelihood “that sunspots may vanish by 2015. Given the strong association between sunspots and global temperatures, this suggests the possibility that we may be entering a period of global cooling” (p.60). Perhaps another ice age.
This new and growing scientific evidence that human CO2 emissions have little to do with climate change makes the current Western political obsession to curb carbon emissions at a vast economic cost extremely foolish. For India it would mean not only reversing the current trends in poverty alleviation, but a vast increase in the numbers of the poor who would otherwise be pulled out of poverty. India should have nothing to do with Copenhagen. If this means there is no climate change treaty, it might also save the West from its current path to committing economic hara-kiri.
Source: Business Standard
Friday, August 21, 2009
CEO ROUND TABLE AT 3rd RE India EXPO 2009
CEO roundtable on the theme “Financing renewable energy projects, current experience, challenges and roadmap for the future” was organized as part of the 3rd Renewable Energy India Expo 2009. The roundtable saw participation from senior leaders from the industry and was moderated by Mr Kuljeet Singh, Partner, Ernst & Young.
Mr. Singh set the tone of the discussion by highlighting the key drivers and challenges faced by different segments of the renewable energy space viz wind, solar, etc. As per him, the key drivers for solar industry are favorable geographical location of India and government initiatives taken in the recent years. But the industry faces certain challenges such as high capital costs, slow commercialization of technology, high dependence on imported raw material and requirement of large tracts of land.
The first point of discussion, as is the question always with the industry, was the limited usage of solar energy. Though the use of renewable energy in India has increased significantly in the past, grid connected power has been dominated by wind. Solar energy has not been used there. As an answer to this Mr Arun Seth, ACME said, “We need certainty for this to happen – certainty in the revenue stream.” As per him him there is access to people and technology, but financing is not available. Solar sector needs to be provided priority sector lending and that too for long term so that it would bring certainty in the revenue stream, which investors are looking for. Mr. K. Subramanya, CEO, TataBP Solar added, “16% return is guaranteed to the convention energy power producers, so why cant it be done for solar as well.” As per Mr. Rabindra Satpathy, President, Reliance Industries, something on lines of infrastructure bonds for this sector could be a good option to get low cost long term finance.
Thus lack of appropriate financing structure was felt as the main issue in attracting investment in the sector. As per Mr Craig O’Connor, Director Exim Bank, though state schemes for generation based incentives are bankable, depending on the state, it is better to have long term PPAs. This will allow the project to get lower interest rate. A time frame of 20-25 years for the PPA is what he sees is required.
The other often asked question for this sector is the time to achieve grid parity. To this Mr. Singh also added that participants should also mention the technology that they think will help in this.
As per Dr. Rajeewa Arya, CEO, Moserbaer PV, “Solar is application based and each technology is suitable as per conditions. So the premise of one winner is wrong.” As regards grid parity, he sees the costs reducing throughout the value chain by about 2020. As per Mr. Hari Surapaneni, President and CEO, Solar Semiconductor, grid parity has already been achieved at peak power rate and a price of 10-12 cents may be seen by 2011. The same view is reiterated by Mr. Seth, as per whom, we would achieve parity within 2-3 years if subsidy from conventional energy is removed at various points.
The participants in the roundtable were:
Anchor: Mr Kuljeet Singh, Partner, Ernst & Young.
Particpants:
• Mr K. Subramnaya, CEO, Tata BP Solar Idnia Ltd.
• Mr. Rabindra Satpathy, President, Reliance Industries
• Dr. Rajeewa Arya, CEO, Moserbaer PV Limited.
• Mr. Arun Seth, ACME TelePower Ltd.
• Mr. Mark Ginsberg, Sr Executive Board Member, US Department of Energy USA – Energy Efficiency
• Mr Craig O’Connor, Director, Exim Bank
• Mr. Hari Surapaneni, Presidnet and CEO, Solar Semiconductor
• Mr. Sarvesh Kumar, Deputy Managing Dircetor, RRB
• Mr. Harish Mehta, Director, Suzlon Energy Ltd
• Mr. Rajindra Valsalan, Managing Director, WinWinD Power Energy P Ltd
• Mr. Pranav Nahar, Managing Director, Evolutions Markets India.
Mr. Singh set the tone of the discussion by highlighting the key drivers and challenges faced by different segments of the renewable energy space viz wind, solar, etc. As per him, the key drivers for solar industry are favorable geographical location of India and government initiatives taken in the recent years. But the industry faces certain challenges such as high capital costs, slow commercialization of technology, high dependence on imported raw material and requirement of large tracts of land.
The first point of discussion, as is the question always with the industry, was the limited usage of solar energy. Though the use of renewable energy in India has increased significantly in the past, grid connected power has been dominated by wind. Solar energy has not been used there. As an answer to this Mr Arun Seth, ACME said, “We need certainty for this to happen – certainty in the revenue stream.” As per him him there is access to people and technology, but financing is not available. Solar sector needs to be provided priority sector lending and that too for long term so that it would bring certainty in the revenue stream, which investors are looking for. Mr. K. Subramanya, CEO, TataBP Solar added, “16% return is guaranteed to the convention energy power producers, so why cant it be done for solar as well.” As per Mr. Rabindra Satpathy, President, Reliance Industries, something on lines of infrastructure bonds for this sector could be a good option to get low cost long term finance.
Thus lack of appropriate financing structure was felt as the main issue in attracting investment in the sector. As per Mr Craig O’Connor, Director Exim Bank, though state schemes for generation based incentives are bankable, depending on the state, it is better to have long term PPAs. This will allow the project to get lower interest rate. A time frame of 20-25 years for the PPA is what he sees is required.
The other often asked question for this sector is the time to achieve grid parity. To this Mr. Singh also added that participants should also mention the technology that they think will help in this.
As per Dr. Rajeewa Arya, CEO, Moserbaer PV, “Solar is application based and each technology is suitable as per conditions. So the premise of one winner is wrong.” As regards grid parity, he sees the costs reducing throughout the value chain by about 2020. As per Mr. Hari Surapaneni, President and CEO, Solar Semiconductor, grid parity has already been achieved at peak power rate and a price of 10-12 cents may be seen by 2011. The same view is reiterated by Mr. Seth, as per whom, we would achieve parity within 2-3 years if subsidy from conventional energy is removed at various points.
The participants in the roundtable were:
Anchor: Mr Kuljeet Singh, Partner, Ernst & Young.
Particpants:
• Mr K. Subramnaya, CEO, Tata BP Solar Idnia Ltd.
• Mr. Rabindra Satpathy, President, Reliance Industries
• Dr. Rajeewa Arya, CEO, Moserbaer PV Limited.
• Mr. Arun Seth, ACME TelePower Ltd.
• Mr. Mark Ginsberg, Sr Executive Board Member, US Department of Energy USA – Energy Efficiency
• Mr Craig O’Connor, Director, Exim Bank
• Mr. Hari Surapaneni, Presidnet and CEO, Solar Semiconductor
• Mr. Sarvesh Kumar, Deputy Managing Dircetor, RRB
• Mr. Harish Mehta, Director, Suzlon Energy Ltd
• Mr. Rajindra Valsalan, Managing Director, WinWinD Power Energy P Ltd
• Mr. Pranav Nahar, Managing Director, Evolutions Markets India.
Conergy, Solarworld Seek Protection From Chinese Price Dumping
German solar companies Conergy AG and Solarworld AG want their government and the European Union to discourage renewable energy investors from buying Chinese panels and cells they say receive improper support.
Chinese prices “border on dumping” and those levels are impossible to maintain without state aid, Dieter Ammer, chief executive officer of Conergy, was cited as saying in Handelsblatt today. Alexander Leinhos, a company spokesman, confirmed the comments. The EU should implement import tariffs to protect its solar industry, Ammer added.
Prices and demand for solar products have dropped this year as recession-struck photovoltaic power plant builders struggle to fund projects and a colder European winter caused residential clients to shy away from installing panels on their roofs. Solar module and cell makers will have to boost output in low-cost regions to be competitive in the future, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts wrote this week in a note.
“They’re playing with fire, it could have big consequences for the industry,” said Karsten von Blumenthal, an analyst with SES Research GmbH in Hamburg. “The Chinese are helping to make solar power competitive by making equipment cheaper.”
Germany’s BGA exporters group said in June that rules obliging Chinese and U.S. manufacturers to give preference to local products and services are “poison” for the recovery of the world economy.
‘Raise Concern’
China’s solar industry subsidies “raise concern,” given the scarcity of foreign companies selected as suppliers for projects, von Blumenthal said. The measures Ammer and Solarworld CEO Frank Asbeck suggest may help non-Chinese companies profit from that program, he said by phone today.
The Chinese Ministry of Finance said last month that it will “in principle” provide subsidies amounting to 50 percent of the total investment in solar power projects. That contrasts with Germany, where the government pays generators fixed sums for the electricity they feed into the nation’s grid.
Solarworld’s CEO says his Chinese rivals could hold out selling at a loss for another two to three years, thanks to interest free credit from the country’s government and lenders.
Asbeck is in favor of Germany only subsidizing power from panels where more than 50 percent of the manufacturing process took place in the EU. That would mean solar cells could be made in Asian countries and assembled in Europe, he said by phone from Bonn.
Falling Sales
Solarworld’s sales fell 6 percent to 401.6 million euros ($575 million) in the first half, while the industry’s prices slumped about 25 percent, the company said in July.
Germany, as the world’s biggest exporter, has suffered as the global financial crisis damped demand for German goods, forcing manufacturers to curb production and cut jobs. Q-Cells SE, the country’s largest solar company, said Aug. 13 that it will shut down production lines in its hometown of Thalheim, resulting in the loss of about 500 jobs.
Von Blumenthal at SES Research recommends investors sell Q- Cells and Conergy stock and buy shares in Solarworld, the third- largest German solar company.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Chinese prices “border on dumping” and those levels are impossible to maintain without state aid, Dieter Ammer, chief executive officer of Conergy, was cited as saying in Handelsblatt today. Alexander Leinhos, a company spokesman, confirmed the comments. The EU should implement import tariffs to protect its solar industry, Ammer added.
Prices and demand for solar products have dropped this year as recession-struck photovoltaic power plant builders struggle to fund projects and a colder European winter caused residential clients to shy away from installing panels on their roofs. Solar module and cell makers will have to boost output in low-cost regions to be competitive in the future, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts wrote this week in a note.
“They’re playing with fire, it could have big consequences for the industry,” said Karsten von Blumenthal, an analyst with SES Research GmbH in Hamburg. “The Chinese are helping to make solar power competitive by making equipment cheaper.”
Germany’s BGA exporters group said in June that rules obliging Chinese and U.S. manufacturers to give preference to local products and services are “poison” for the recovery of the world economy.
‘Raise Concern’
China’s solar industry subsidies “raise concern,” given the scarcity of foreign companies selected as suppliers for projects, von Blumenthal said. The measures Ammer and Solarworld CEO Frank Asbeck suggest may help non-Chinese companies profit from that program, he said by phone today.
The Chinese Ministry of Finance said last month that it will “in principle” provide subsidies amounting to 50 percent of the total investment in solar power projects. That contrasts with Germany, where the government pays generators fixed sums for the electricity they feed into the nation’s grid.
Solarworld’s CEO says his Chinese rivals could hold out selling at a loss for another two to three years, thanks to interest free credit from the country’s government and lenders.
Asbeck is in favor of Germany only subsidizing power from panels where more than 50 percent of the manufacturing process took place in the EU. That would mean solar cells could be made in Asian countries and assembled in Europe, he said by phone from Bonn.
Falling Sales
Solarworld’s sales fell 6 percent to 401.6 million euros ($575 million) in the first half, while the industry’s prices slumped about 25 percent, the company said in July.
Germany, as the world’s biggest exporter, has suffered as the global financial crisis damped demand for German goods, forcing manufacturers to curb production and cut jobs. Q-Cells SE, the country’s largest solar company, said Aug. 13 that it will shut down production lines in its hometown of Thalheim, resulting in the loss of about 500 jobs.
Von Blumenthal at SES Research recommends investors sell Q- Cells and Conergy stock and buy shares in Solarworld, the third- largest German solar company.
Source: Bloomberg.com
Trina Solar: First Solar Won’t Be Low-Cost Leader for Long
For Trina Solar (TSL), it won't be long before its solar panel manufacturing costs will fall enough to become comparable to the industry low-cost leader, First Solar (FSLR).
"Next year, our cost reduction roadmap will allow us to compete with First Solar in the balance of system level, so that module wise we will compete with them some time next year," said Terry Wang, Trina's chief financial officer, in a conference call to discuss the company's earnings late Monday.
Wang's comment came as the company returned to profit in the second quarter. Trina posted a net income of $18.9 million, or 71 cents per American depositary share, on $150 million in revenue. The Chinese company posted a loss of $10.6 million, or 42 cents per share, on a revenue of $132.1 million for the first quarter; and a net income of $17.1 million, or 68 cents per share, on a revenue of $204.2 million for the second quarter of 2008.
Trina posted much better quarterly financial figures than other Chinese solar companies over the past week. JA Solar (JASO) and ReneSola (SOL) delivered mixed results while LDK Solar (LDK) performed poorly.
Trina makes solar panels using its own silicon cells. Silicon solar panels dominate the market today. Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar makes cadmium-telluride panels and has grown quickly to become one of the top 10 (and only non-silicon) panel makers in the world.
First Solar has long prided itself on being able to keep its manufacturing costs low. The company lowered its production costs to $0.87 per watt in the second quarter from $0.93 per watt in the first quarter of this year. It expects to reach $0.65 to $0.70 per watt by 2012.
Its silicon competitors, in general, aren't able to compete on the pricing alone. Silicon panels are able to convert more of the sunlight that strikes them into electricity than cadmium-telluride panels. As a result, silicon panels are more suitable for rooftop installations, where space is a constraint.
First Solar has enjoyed a cost advantage partly because the price of silicon has historically been high. But silicon pricing has dropped significantly, as much as 50 percent for long-term contracts, over the past year.The financial market crisis has made it difficult for developers to line up financing for solar power projects. Spain, which added a few gigawatts of solar in 2008 alone, now has a 500-megawatt cap for 2009. All these forces have led to an oversupply of silicon panels.
To fend off the silicon competitors, particularly those from China, First Solar plans to give out rebates to customers who do business in Germany, its largest market. The customers would get the rebates after an installation is complete.
Source:Seekingalpha.com
"Next year, our cost reduction roadmap will allow us to compete with First Solar in the balance of system level, so that module wise we will compete with them some time next year," said Terry Wang, Trina's chief financial officer, in a conference call to discuss the company's earnings late Monday.
Wang's comment came as the company returned to profit in the second quarter. Trina posted a net income of $18.9 million, or 71 cents per American depositary share, on $150 million in revenue. The Chinese company posted a loss of $10.6 million, or 42 cents per share, on a revenue of $132.1 million for the first quarter; and a net income of $17.1 million, or 68 cents per share, on a revenue of $204.2 million for the second quarter of 2008.
Trina posted much better quarterly financial figures than other Chinese solar companies over the past week. JA Solar (JASO) and ReneSola (SOL) delivered mixed results while LDK Solar (LDK) performed poorly.
Trina makes solar panels using its own silicon cells. Silicon solar panels dominate the market today. Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar makes cadmium-telluride panels and has grown quickly to become one of the top 10 (and only non-silicon) panel makers in the world.
First Solar has long prided itself on being able to keep its manufacturing costs low. The company lowered its production costs to $0.87 per watt in the second quarter from $0.93 per watt in the first quarter of this year. It expects to reach $0.65 to $0.70 per watt by 2012.
Its silicon competitors, in general, aren't able to compete on the pricing alone. Silicon panels are able to convert more of the sunlight that strikes them into electricity than cadmium-telluride panels. As a result, silicon panels are more suitable for rooftop installations, where space is a constraint.
First Solar has enjoyed a cost advantage partly because the price of silicon has historically been high. But silicon pricing has dropped significantly, as much as 50 percent for long-term contracts, over the past year.The financial market crisis has made it difficult for developers to line up financing for solar power projects. Spain, which added a few gigawatts of solar in 2008 alone, now has a 500-megawatt cap for 2009. All these forces have led to an oversupply of silicon panels.
To fend off the silicon competitors, particularly those from China, First Solar plans to give out rebates to customers who do business in Germany, its largest market. The customers would get the rebates after an installation is complete.
Source:Seekingalpha.com
Solar panel prices to slide into next year
A steep fall in the price of solar panels has chipped away at manufacturers' profits this year, and relief is unlikely to come soon, as many in the industry believe pressure will intensify and push prices even lower into 2010 and perhaps even 2011.
Global demand for solar power soared last year until a pullback in solar incentives in Spain and a credit crisis that stifled financing for new projects led to a falloff in demand for solar panels and a global supply glut.
In turn, solar companies worldwide -- including heavyweights like China's Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd, U.S.-based First Solar Inc and Germany's Q-Cells AG -- have been forced to cut the price of their panels, hampering and in some cases erasing profits.
"I suspect it's not the bottom," said Jenny Chase of London-based industry research firm New Energy Finance. Chase said panel prices are still falling because it takes time for the decline to work its way through the supply chain, and costs of the industry's primary raw material, silicon, are still high despite having dropped sharply since last year.
Fears of a prolonged decline in panel prices have weighed heavily on solar stocks this month, and Jefferies & Co cited the continued slide on Friday when it cut its ratings on First Solar, SunPower Corp Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd and Energy Conversion Devices Inc. [nBNG540560]
After peaking at $4.20 a watt in 2008, prices for solar panels have dived as much as 50 percent to about $2.40 a watt for European and U.S. companies that make silicon-based panels and $2.00 a watt for Chinese suppliers, Chase said. Prices on lower-cost thin film panels are between $1.00 and $2.00 a watt.
The bottom-out price "could be as low as $1.50 for crystalline silicon, which would be a shockingly low price," Chase said.
Lower prices are good news for solar customers as the cost of the renewable energy source reaches toward that of power created from dirtier sources such as natural gas and coal. Still, the drastic pace of the tumble has sent many companies scrambling.
"It does you no good to get the prices down there and close to grid parity if you're losing money on every one," said Kevin Landis, chief investment officer of Silicon Valley-based Firsthand Funds and manager of the $5.4 million Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund.
The better reason for a decline in the price of solar power is when companies can cut manufacturing costs, Landis said, adding that as an investor, he favors those with a technological advantage. He pointed specifically to SunPower, whose solar cells are the most efficient in the industry at converting sunlight into electricity.
SHARE VS PROFITS
But with the market for solar panels still in a massive state of oversupply, Barclays Capital analyst Vishal Shah expects prices to fall to $1.40 a watt by the end of 2010 and $1.00 per watt in 2011. That would require companies to drive large volumes to make up for very low margins.
"There will be a trade off between market share and profitability," said Shah, who last week downgraded the sector to "neutral" from "positive."
Driving that move are two companies: U.S.-based First Solar, which makes its panels from cheaper cadmium telluride instead of more costly silicon, and China's Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd, which has cut prices aggressively.
Yingli Chief Executive Miao Liansheng earlier this week credited the company's pricing strategy as a "driving force" behind a rise in shipments and net revenue. At the same time, the company cut its profit margin forecast and predicted panel prices would fall further this year.
In addition, First Solar said last month that it would offer a rebate program in Germany to preserve its position in that market, a move that sent its shares into a tailspin.
That strategy -- expanding market share but weakening profit margins -- forces rivals to accept lower prices as well.
"This is a commodity product and a commodity industry," Shah said, adding: "The third company doesn't have a choice but to fight the market share battle."
Eventually the tumble in prices will moderate, depending on what happens with the industry's supply and demand and how governments' solar subsidy plans shake out, Shah said.
One way to put on the brakes would be for commercial financing to return to normal and reinvigorate demand, said J.P. Morgan analyst Christopher Blansett.
"If we have a painful commercial lending market all through next year, then we're probably going to see some pretty poor pricing trends all through next year," Blansett said.
Bankruptcies, which would take some supply out of the market, would be another way to stop the fall in prices, said New Energy Finance's Chase.
Yet as companies across the industry -- including China's Trina Solar Ltd, Norway's Renewable Energy Corp, U.S.-based SunPower and others -- have raised money through stock offerings to keep their businesses growing, the end of the glut of solar panels and the trough in prices get pushed back, she said.
Source: Reuters
Global demand for solar power soared last year until a pullback in solar incentives in Spain and a credit crisis that stifled financing for new projects led to a falloff in demand for solar panels and a global supply glut.
In turn, solar companies worldwide -- including heavyweights like China's Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd, U.S.-based First Solar Inc and Germany's Q-Cells AG -- have been forced to cut the price of their panels, hampering and in some cases erasing profits.
"I suspect it's not the bottom," said Jenny Chase of London-based industry research firm New Energy Finance. Chase said panel prices are still falling because it takes time for the decline to work its way through the supply chain, and costs of the industry's primary raw material, silicon, are still high despite having dropped sharply since last year.
Fears of a prolonged decline in panel prices have weighed heavily on solar stocks this month, and Jefferies & Co cited the continued slide on Friday when it cut its ratings on First Solar, SunPower Corp Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd and Energy Conversion Devices Inc. [nBNG540560]
After peaking at $4.20 a watt in 2008, prices for solar panels have dived as much as 50 percent to about $2.40 a watt for European and U.S. companies that make silicon-based panels and $2.00 a watt for Chinese suppliers, Chase said. Prices on lower-cost thin film panels are between $1.00 and $2.00 a watt.
The bottom-out price "could be as low as $1.50 for crystalline silicon, which would be a shockingly low price," Chase said.
Lower prices are good news for solar customers as the cost of the renewable energy source reaches toward that of power created from dirtier sources such as natural gas and coal. Still, the drastic pace of the tumble has sent many companies scrambling.
"It does you no good to get the prices down there and close to grid parity if you're losing money on every one," said Kevin Landis, chief investment officer of Silicon Valley-based Firsthand Funds and manager of the $5.4 million Firsthand Alternative Energy Fund.
The better reason for a decline in the price of solar power is when companies can cut manufacturing costs, Landis said, adding that as an investor, he favors those with a technological advantage. He pointed specifically to SunPower, whose solar cells are the most efficient in the industry at converting sunlight into electricity.
SHARE VS PROFITS
But with the market for solar panels still in a massive state of oversupply, Barclays Capital analyst Vishal Shah expects prices to fall to $1.40 a watt by the end of 2010 and $1.00 per watt in 2011. That would require companies to drive large volumes to make up for very low margins.
"There will be a trade off between market share and profitability," said Shah, who last week downgraded the sector to "neutral" from "positive."
Driving that move are two companies: U.S.-based First Solar, which makes its panels from cheaper cadmium telluride instead of more costly silicon, and China's Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd, which has cut prices aggressively.
Yingli Chief Executive Miao Liansheng earlier this week credited the company's pricing strategy as a "driving force" behind a rise in shipments and net revenue. At the same time, the company cut its profit margin forecast and predicted panel prices would fall further this year.
In addition, First Solar said last month that it would offer a rebate program in Germany to preserve its position in that market, a move that sent its shares into a tailspin.
That strategy -- expanding market share but weakening profit margins -- forces rivals to accept lower prices as well.
"This is a commodity product and a commodity industry," Shah said, adding: "The third company doesn't have a choice but to fight the market share battle."
Eventually the tumble in prices will moderate, depending on what happens with the industry's supply and demand and how governments' solar subsidy plans shake out, Shah said.
One way to put on the brakes would be for commercial financing to return to normal and reinvigorate demand, said J.P. Morgan analyst Christopher Blansett.
"If we have a painful commercial lending market all through next year, then we're probably going to see some pretty poor pricing trends all through next year," Blansett said.
Bankruptcies, which would take some supply out of the market, would be another way to stop the fall in prices, said New Energy Finance's Chase.
Yet as companies across the industry -- including China's Trina Solar Ltd, Norway's Renewable Energy Corp, U.S.-based SunPower and others -- have raised money through stock offerings to keep their businesses growing, the end of the glut of solar panels and the trough in prices get pushed back, she said.
Source: Reuters
Thursday, August 20, 2009
ET Solar Group Supplies 1MW Solar Modules to a Large Ground Mounted Solar Plant in India
ET Solar Group Corp. ("ET Solar"), a Nanjing-based integrated manufacturer of photovoltaic (“PV”) products (ingot, wafer, modules and tracking systems) and system integrator announced a 1MW high efficiency module supply transaction to a large system integrator for an Indian project.
The project, developed by a commercial and utility solar project developer in India, is so far one of the largest on-grid solar farms in the Indian subcontinent. Shipment was completed in July and more sizeable volumes are being planned for.
According to Indian government’s 11th five-year plan, the nation is targeting at a 20% of electricity generation from renewable energies by 2020 where at least 10GW will be achieved through solar power generation, including PV and solar thermal sources. Punjab is the first state in India that was allocated with megawatt scale projects.
Commenting on the news, Dennis She, Vice President and Global Sales Officer of ET Solar, said: “India has a very ambitious plan for the development of renewable energy, especially solar energy. We see a great growth potential in this burgeoning market thanks to the government’s strong resolution to be a world leader to fight global warming and the very attractive radiation conditions in the geography. We are very pleased to play a very contributive role on the country’s way to becoming one of the largest clean energy users in the world.”
ET Solar Group is a vertically integrated solar energy equipment manufacturer and turnkey solutions provider. Its manufacturing chain includes crystalline silicon ingot and wafer. It provides production and design of High Quality of Photovoltaic Modules and world class solar tracking systems with smart turnkey solutions.
ET Solar has also announced 4.2MW high efficiency Module supply to large Italian Commercial Projects earlier in this month.
Source: ET Solar
The project, developed by a commercial and utility solar project developer in India, is so far one of the largest on-grid solar farms in the Indian subcontinent. Shipment was completed in July and more sizeable volumes are being planned for.
According to Indian government’s 11th five-year plan, the nation is targeting at a 20% of electricity generation from renewable energies by 2020 where at least 10GW will be achieved through solar power generation, including PV and solar thermal sources. Punjab is the first state in India that was allocated with megawatt scale projects.
Commenting on the news, Dennis She, Vice President and Global Sales Officer of ET Solar, said: “India has a very ambitious plan for the development of renewable energy, especially solar energy. We see a great growth potential in this burgeoning market thanks to the government’s strong resolution to be a world leader to fight global warming and the very attractive radiation conditions in the geography. We are very pleased to play a very contributive role on the country’s way to becoming one of the largest clean energy users in the world.”
ET Solar Group is a vertically integrated solar energy equipment manufacturer and turnkey solutions provider. Its manufacturing chain includes crystalline silicon ingot and wafer. It provides production and design of High Quality of Photovoltaic Modules and world class solar tracking systems with smart turnkey solutions.
ET Solar has also announced 4.2MW high efficiency Module supply to large Italian Commercial Projects earlier in this month.
Source: ET Solar
Monday, August 17, 2009
Oerlikon Solar and Rusnano/Renova Joint Venture open up Russian market for leading thin film solar PV technology
Oerlikon Solar today announced that Nano Solar Technology Ltd. (NST), a newly formed Russian high-tech firm, has ordered a 120 MW end-to-end Micromorph® line for production of thin film solar modules. NST is a Joint Venture between Renova Group and the Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies (Rusnano). With the envisaged production capacity of one million solar modules annually, this is the largest equipment order in the worldwide thin film silicon photovoltaic (PV) market in 2009 to-date.
The order includes Oerlikon Solar's Micromorph® technology which raises module efficiency by up to 50 percent over prior generation technologies. The equipment will be delivered in 2010 to the new site currently under construction in Novocheboksarsk (Chuvash Republic). The start of production is scheduled for 2011. The order also encompasses a comprehensive multi-year service agreement, provided by Oerlikon Solar's global customer support team.
Establishing production of thin film solar modules in the Chuvash Republic is part of Rusnano's strategy to develop the high tech economy in Russia by co-investing in nanotechnology industry projects. Through acting as a catalyst for private co-investments, Rusnano aims at creating conditions favourable to developing cutting edge nanotechnology in Russia, the joint venture with Renova being a good example. "Oerlikon Solar emerged from a thorough evaluation process to identify the best technology partner for our project, because of its leading technology" said Yaroslav Kuznetsov, CEO of NST. "This is a win-win situation for all parties involved. Oerlikon Solar can establish a strong presence in the Russian market and the Russian economy has made another step as a state-of-the-art production site", continued Yaroslav Kuznetsov. In addition to the planned production line from Oerlikon, Rusnano plans to set up a major research center that will focus on increasing the effectiveness of the solar modules in cooperation with the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The Joint Venture of Rusnano and Renova will be the latest Micromorph® end-to-end line customer for Oerlikon Solar to take advantage of the company's proven high-performance low cost PV module production solution. It will deliver Micromorph® PV modules to serve the growing market for solar PV applications. The company will address PV markets such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Germany.
Oerlikon Solar's leading edge production solutions are having a major impact on the market as more and more companies launch their production. "Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States offer great market potential for Oerlikon in the medium and long-term", said Oerlikon CEO Dr. Uwe Krueger. Already today, the Oerlikon Segments Coating, Vacuum, Textile and Drive Systems are conducting business in Russia. With the substantial order from NST, Oerlikon Solar established itself in this important economic zone as well. "The contract confirms our leading edge technology and our unique ability to quickly implement and scale up commercially successful mass production of thin film solar modules. The 120 MW Micromorph® end-to-end production line will position NST as a key player among thin film PV manufacturers", continued Dr. Uwe Krueger, CEO of OC Oerlikon. Oerlikon Solar is committed to the highest quality of customer support and is taking great measures to ensure that resources and delivery capabilities grow to meet the needs of future expansion in the solar industry.
Oerlikon Solar's technology gaining momentum
In addition to expansion into new markets, several existing Oerlikon Solar customers have recently announced new off-take agreements to deliver PV panels manufactured on Oerlikon Solar's end-to-end lines. HelioSphera (Greece) announced the signing of a long term supply agreement with Techno Spot, a major Italian distributor of photovoltaic modules and components. Under this agreement, HelioSphera will supply a minimum of 9 MW of Micromorph® thin film modules between 2009 and 2010. German based Sinosol AG has announced agreements with two Taiwanese Oerlikon Solar customers for a total of 68 MW.
"We clearly see improving market conditions for the solar PV industry at mid-year showing a mid- to long-term growth trend in demand for overall renewable energy and especially for solar PV applications", stated Oerlikon CEO Uwe Krueger.
According to a recently published study by New Energy Finance, new investments in clean energy worldwide rallied in the second quarter of 2009, reaching USD 24.3bn, almost double the amount invested worldwide during Q1 2009. According to New Energy Finance, this improving trend in Q2 was led by investments in asset finance for large solar and wind energy projects.
Source:Oerlikon Solar
The order includes Oerlikon Solar's Micromorph® technology which raises module efficiency by up to 50 percent over prior generation technologies. The equipment will be delivered in 2010 to the new site currently under construction in Novocheboksarsk (Chuvash Republic). The start of production is scheduled for 2011. The order also encompasses a comprehensive multi-year service agreement, provided by Oerlikon Solar's global customer support team.
Establishing production of thin film solar modules in the Chuvash Republic is part of Rusnano's strategy to develop the high tech economy in Russia by co-investing in nanotechnology industry projects. Through acting as a catalyst for private co-investments, Rusnano aims at creating conditions favourable to developing cutting edge nanotechnology in Russia, the joint venture with Renova being a good example. "Oerlikon Solar emerged from a thorough evaluation process to identify the best technology partner for our project, because of its leading technology" said Yaroslav Kuznetsov, CEO of NST. "This is a win-win situation for all parties involved. Oerlikon Solar can establish a strong presence in the Russian market and the Russian economy has made another step as a state-of-the-art production site", continued Yaroslav Kuznetsov. In addition to the planned production line from Oerlikon, Rusnano plans to set up a major research center that will focus on increasing the effectiveness of the solar modules in cooperation with the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The Joint Venture of Rusnano and Renova will be the latest Micromorph® end-to-end line customer for Oerlikon Solar to take advantage of the company's proven high-performance low cost PV module production solution. It will deliver Micromorph® PV modules to serve the growing market for solar PV applications. The company will address PV markets such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Germany.
Oerlikon Solar's leading edge production solutions are having a major impact on the market as more and more companies launch their production. "Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States offer great market potential for Oerlikon in the medium and long-term", said Oerlikon CEO Dr. Uwe Krueger. Already today, the Oerlikon Segments Coating, Vacuum, Textile and Drive Systems are conducting business in Russia. With the substantial order from NST, Oerlikon Solar established itself in this important economic zone as well. "The contract confirms our leading edge technology and our unique ability to quickly implement and scale up commercially successful mass production of thin film solar modules. The 120 MW Micromorph® end-to-end production line will position NST as a key player among thin film PV manufacturers", continued Dr. Uwe Krueger, CEO of OC Oerlikon. Oerlikon Solar is committed to the highest quality of customer support and is taking great measures to ensure that resources and delivery capabilities grow to meet the needs of future expansion in the solar industry.
Oerlikon Solar's technology gaining momentum
In addition to expansion into new markets, several existing Oerlikon Solar customers have recently announced new off-take agreements to deliver PV panels manufactured on Oerlikon Solar's end-to-end lines. HelioSphera (Greece) announced the signing of a long term supply agreement with Techno Spot, a major Italian distributor of photovoltaic modules and components. Under this agreement, HelioSphera will supply a minimum of 9 MW of Micromorph® thin film modules between 2009 and 2010. German based Sinosol AG has announced agreements with two Taiwanese Oerlikon Solar customers for a total of 68 MW.
"We clearly see improving market conditions for the solar PV industry at mid-year showing a mid- to long-term growth trend in demand for overall renewable energy and especially for solar PV applications", stated Oerlikon CEO Uwe Krueger.
According to a recently published study by New Energy Finance, new investments in clean energy worldwide rallied in the second quarter of 2009, reaching USD 24.3bn, almost double the amount invested worldwide during Q1 2009. According to New Energy Finance, this improving trend in Q2 was led by investments in asset finance for large solar and wind energy projects.
Source:Oerlikon Solar
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tiny battery traps solar power to run a house for 24 hrs
A small disc could be the solution for the efficient and cheap storage of the sun’s
energy.
A Utah-based company has found a new way to store solar energy – in a small ceramic disk which can store more power for less. Researchers at Ceramatec have created the disk, which can hold up to 20-kilowatt hours, enough to power an entire house for a large portion of the day.
The new battery runs on sodium-sulfur — a composition that typically operates at greater than 600°F. “Sodium-sulfur is more energetic than lead-acid, so if you can somehow get it to a lower temperature, it would be valuable for residential use”, Ralph Brodd, an independent energy conversion consultant, says.
Ceramatec’s new battery runs at less than 200°F. The secret is a thin ceramic membrane that is sandwiched between the sodium and sulfur. Only positive sodium ions can pass through, leaving electrons to create a useful electrical current.
Ceramatec says that batteries will be ready for market testing in 2011, and will sell for about $2000. The disk has not yet been manufactured for residential use, but the creators have spoken optimistically about the possibility.
The convergence of two key technologies — solar power and deep-storage batteries — has profound implications for oil-strapped the US.
“These batteries switch the whole dialogue to renewables,” said Daniel Nocera, professor of energy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who sits on Ceramatec’s advisory board. “They will turn us away from dumb technology, circa 1900 — a 110-year-old approach — and turn us forward.”
Source: Times Of India
energy.
A Utah-based company has found a new way to store solar energy – in a small ceramic disk which can store more power for less. Researchers at Ceramatec have created the disk, which can hold up to 20-kilowatt hours, enough to power an entire house for a large portion of the day.
The new battery runs on sodium-sulfur — a composition that typically operates at greater than 600°F. “Sodium-sulfur is more energetic than lead-acid, so if you can somehow get it to a lower temperature, it would be valuable for residential use”, Ralph Brodd, an independent energy conversion consultant, says.
Ceramatec’s new battery runs at less than 200°F. The secret is a thin ceramic membrane that is sandwiched between the sodium and sulfur. Only positive sodium ions can pass through, leaving electrons to create a useful electrical current.
Ceramatec says that batteries will be ready for market testing in 2011, and will sell for about $2000. The disk has not yet been manufactured for residential use, but the creators have spoken optimistically about the possibility.
The convergence of two key technologies — solar power and deep-storage batteries — has profound implications for oil-strapped the US.
“These batteries switch the whole dialogue to renewables,” said Daniel Nocera, professor of energy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who sits on Ceramatec’s advisory board. “They will turn us away from dumb technology, circa 1900 — a 110-year-old approach — and turn us forward.”
Source: Times Of India
Monday, August 3, 2009
Global Photovoltaic market to reach US$48b in 2014, says IntertechPira
The global photovoltaic (PV) market, after experiencing a slow period this year, is expected to double within the next five years, reaching US$48 billion. Wafer-based silicon will continue as the dominant technology, but amorphous thin-film and cadmium telluride (CdTe) technologies will gain ground, and are expected to account for a combined 22% of the market by 2014, according to a major new study by IntertechPira.
The Future of Global Photovoltaics Markets provides detailed five-year forecasts of the PV market by technology, application and geographic region. It also addresses financial incentives, such as subsidies, feed-in tariffs and purchase power agreements and their effect on the development of the PV industry.
This new study provides volume and value forecasts to 2014 for major PV technologies, such as crystalline silicon, amorphous thin-film, CdTe, and CIS/CIGS (copper indium diselenide/copper indium gallium diselenide). It also provides forecasts for PV in on-grid and off-grid (such as building-integrated) applications and identifies regional growth opportunities.
A key focus of the study is the market outlook for pivotal PV-adopting regions such as Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, and the US and how the investment and regulatory climate in these regions is likely to affect overall industry growth and widespread acceptance of PV.
"The mid to long-term, prospects for the solar industry are positive," explains Publisher Adam Page "the subsidy models, which started in Japan and then Germany, have spread to increasing numbers of countries, and in many cases are starting to have significant impact on domestic market
take-up of PV."
The Future of Global Photovoltaics Markets is based on interviews with executives in a cross-section of companies that supply raw materials, cells and modules as well as those that provide system integration services. It is also based on extensive analyses of published literature and in-house
data built up from years of gathering information developed from conducting market research and technology studies as well as executive-level conferences for the PV industry.
The study provides in-depth quantitative data and analyses of the PV industry, including growth forecasts to 2014 broken down by technology, end-use application and region. This report is comprehensive in that it addresses silicon-based PV cells as well as emerging PV technologies and details the most significant market and technology drivers along the PV supply chain. The study is designed to help those in the photovoltaics business meet today's challenges and target key sectors.
The Future of Global Photovoltaics Markets is available from July 2009. For further information, please visit http://www.intertechpira.com.
Source: the research company’s site and Global Solar technology
The Future of Global Photovoltaics Markets provides detailed five-year forecasts of the PV market by technology, application and geographic region. It also addresses financial incentives, such as subsidies, feed-in tariffs and purchase power agreements and their effect on the development of the PV industry.
This new study provides volume and value forecasts to 2014 for major PV technologies, such as crystalline silicon, amorphous thin-film, CdTe, and CIS/CIGS (copper indium diselenide/copper indium gallium diselenide). It also provides forecasts for PV in on-grid and off-grid (such as building-integrated) applications and identifies regional growth opportunities.
A key focus of the study is the market outlook for pivotal PV-adopting regions such as Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, and the US and how the investment and regulatory climate in these regions is likely to affect overall industry growth and widespread acceptance of PV.
"The mid to long-term, prospects for the solar industry are positive," explains Publisher Adam Page "the subsidy models, which started in Japan and then Germany, have spread to increasing numbers of countries, and in many cases are starting to have significant impact on domestic market
take-up of PV."
The Future of Global Photovoltaics Markets is based on interviews with executives in a cross-section of companies that supply raw materials, cells and modules as well as those that provide system integration services. It is also based on extensive analyses of published literature and in-house
data built up from years of gathering information developed from conducting market research and technology studies as well as executive-level conferences for the PV industry.
The study provides in-depth quantitative data and analyses of the PV industry, including growth forecasts to 2014 broken down by technology, end-use application and region. This report is comprehensive in that it addresses silicon-based PV cells as well as emerging PV technologies and details the most significant market and technology drivers along the PV supply chain. The study is designed to help those in the photovoltaics business meet today's challenges and target key sectors.
The Future of Global Photovoltaics Markets is available from July 2009. For further information, please visit http://www.intertechpira.com.
Source: the research company’s site and Global Solar technology
Friday, July 31, 2009
SolarCity introduces solar lease to customers of nation's largest municipal
SolarCity® today announced the availability of its award-winning solar leasing option (SolarLeaseT) to customers of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the nation's largest municipal utility. SolarCity's lease combines with LADWP's generous solar rebates, among the
highest of any U.S. utility, to make solar power as affordable for Los Angeles homeowners as anywhere in the nation. A SolarCity solar lease of a 4-kilowatt solar system, appropriate for a typical 3-bedroom home in Los Angeles, would start at $55 per month, with no money down, on approved
credit.
LADWP provides more than 1.4 million customers in the Los Angeles area with electricity. Erik Solter, a homeowner in Canoga Park in the San Fernando Valley, is among the first group of LADWP customers to sign up for SolarLease. "I've always wanted to be greener but I've been waiting for an
option that makes financial sense," says Solter. "With SolarCity's SolarLease I can adopt solar power for less than I used to pay for electricity and help LADWP conserve energy."
SolarCity's solar leasing option for LADWP customers is a 20-year lease with fixed monthly payments for the life of the lease, so savings increase over time if electricity rates rise. The first month's payment is due when the system is turned on. SolarCity's lease option includes financing,
design, installation, a performance guarantee, the company's Web-based SolarGuardT monitoring service, and repair service.
"LADWP and Mayor Villaraigosa are continually working to increase the use of solar power in Los Angeles," said Lyndon Rive, CEO of SolarCity. "More than 1,000 LADWP customers have already inquired about our solar lease option, and we're hiring 25 new installers in the Los Angeles area to help meet the demand."
LADWP customers interested in SolarCity's new lease option can estimate their solar lease payment and potential electricity savings online by using SolarCity's solar calculator, available at www.solarcity.com. The solar calculator incorporates information about LADWP rates, incentives, local weather and solar production to create a customized estimate for each customer.
Source: Global Solar Technology
highest of any U.S. utility, to make solar power as affordable for Los Angeles homeowners as anywhere in the nation. A SolarCity solar lease of a 4-kilowatt solar system, appropriate for a typical 3-bedroom home in Los Angeles, would start at $55 per month, with no money down, on approved
credit.
LADWP provides more than 1.4 million customers in the Los Angeles area with electricity. Erik Solter, a homeowner in Canoga Park in the San Fernando Valley, is among the first group of LADWP customers to sign up for SolarLease. "I've always wanted to be greener but I've been waiting for an
option that makes financial sense," says Solter. "With SolarCity's SolarLease I can adopt solar power for less than I used to pay for electricity and help LADWP conserve energy."
SolarCity's solar leasing option for LADWP customers is a 20-year lease with fixed monthly payments for the life of the lease, so savings increase over time if electricity rates rise. The first month's payment is due when the system is turned on. SolarCity's lease option includes financing,
design, installation, a performance guarantee, the company's Web-based SolarGuardT monitoring service, and repair service.
"LADWP and Mayor Villaraigosa are continually working to increase the use of solar power in Los Angeles," said Lyndon Rive, CEO of SolarCity. "More than 1,000 LADWP customers have already inquired about our solar lease option, and we're hiring 25 new installers in the Los Angeles area to help meet the demand."
LADWP customers interested in SolarCity's new lease option can estimate their solar lease payment and potential electricity savings online by using SolarCity's solar calculator, available at www.solarcity.com. The solar calculator incorporates information about LADWP rates, incentives, local weather and solar production to create a customized estimate for each customer.
Source: Global Solar Technology
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Switzerland’s Largest Solar Module Production Started
• Oerlikon Solar’s Micromorph® end-to-end production line enabled rapid path to production
• Pramac Group facility could nearly double Switzerland’s solar photovoltaic capacity in just one year
• 150 high-tech jobs created in the region
Riazzino/Trubbach, 23 July 2009 – The Pramac Group and Oerlikon Solar announced today that production has begun at Switzerland’s largest solar module manufacturing facility. Oerlikon Solar’s leading Micromorph® endto- end manufacturing solution enabled Pramac to reach production just seven months after completing their facility. The plant, near Locarno, Switzerland, will produce 30 MWp (megawatt peak) of thin-film solar panels each year and create 150 high-tech jobs in the region.
“We are pleased to begin production so soon after building our factory, because it allows us to address the fast-growing solar market and gain a return on our investment more quickly,” said Paolo Campinotti, CEO of Pramac Group. “Pramac is benefitting from Oerlikon Solar’s renown technology, ramp-up experience and reputation to deliver in the solar world.”
In the capital-intensive solar module manufacturing business, it is important to minimize the amount of time between the start of construction and the start of commercial production and revenues. Implementing an end-to-end solution can reduce the delay and uncertainty of construction time, production ramp-up and module certification.
“We look forward to supporting Pramac as they further expand their production of
thin-film solar modules,” said Jeannine Sargent, CEO of Oerlikon Solar. “Working with our partners, we are committed to making solar power affordable and competitive with other forms of electricity generation. We are especially pleased to participate in launching Switzerland’s first thin-film silicon module volume production line based upon our Micromorph® technology, which was invented here in Switzerland, in Neuchâtel.”
A quarter of a million modules per year
This phase of the Pramac facility will produce approximately 250,000 solar modules each year. One year’s worth of output from the facility would be able to cover the approximate area of all of the currently installed photovoltaic installations in Switzerland.
With Oerlikon Solar’s innovative thin-film photovoltaic manufacturing technology, solar modules can be produced for 30 percent less than conventional siliconwafer- based technology. Based on predicted market growth, Pramac plans to expand the plant’s capacity over the coming years. The factory will employ nearly 150 people, and is Pramac’s first solar production location.
Oerlikon Solar Customer Momentum
Worldwide, 10 companies have contracted with Oerlikon Solar to build thin-film manufacturing lines since 2006. Oerlikon Solar’s customers will represent more than 600 megawatts of current thin-film solar production around the globe.
Several of them have signed long-term supply agreements to distribute the modules produced by Oerlikon Solar’s equipment, demonstrating strong market demand for thin-film silicon solar modules.
“Just one more milestone in Oerlikon Solar’s mission to make solar power economically viable “
A comprehensive press kit including further information, pictures of the Pramac facility and presentations is available in the media section at www.oerlikon.com
About Oerlikon Solar
Oerlikon Solar offers field proven equipment and end-to-end manufacturing lines for the mass production of thin film silicon solar modules. Engineered to reduce device cost and maximize productivity, its end-to-end solutions are fully automated, high yield, high uptime, and low maintenance.
The production lines are complete systems, yet modular and upgradeable in both throughput and process technology. As a global leader in thin film PV technology, the company provides its customers with extensive experience in both amorphous and high-efficiency Micromorph® tandem technology.
Oerlikon Solar is ranked “global number one solar turnkey line supplier” by VLSI and has been named winner of the 2009 CELL AWARD for the ”best technicalproduct for thin film module manufacturing”.
Oerlikon Solar is headquartered in Switzerland, has over 750 employees in 13 locations world wide and maintains sales and service centres in the USA, Europe and China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Japan.
About Pramac
Pramac is a leading company in the sector of the production and distribution of electrical generation systems and is also active in the sector of handling equipment. The Group is active globally with four production facilities, of which one in Italy (in Casole d’Elsa, Siena) and three abroad (Spain, France and China). It operates a distribution network comprised of 17 commercial branches and employs about 750 people at the Group level. It has recently signed a joint venture agreement with the Prosolia Group for the distribution and installation of photovoltaic panels.
Source: Oerlikon Solar
• Pramac Group facility could nearly double Switzerland’s solar photovoltaic capacity in just one year
• 150 high-tech jobs created in the region
Riazzino/Trubbach, 23 July 2009 – The Pramac Group and Oerlikon Solar announced today that production has begun at Switzerland’s largest solar module manufacturing facility. Oerlikon Solar’s leading Micromorph® endto- end manufacturing solution enabled Pramac to reach production just seven months after completing their facility. The plant, near Locarno, Switzerland, will produce 30 MWp (megawatt peak) of thin-film solar panels each year and create 150 high-tech jobs in the region.
“We are pleased to begin production so soon after building our factory, because it allows us to address the fast-growing solar market and gain a return on our investment more quickly,” said Paolo Campinotti, CEO of Pramac Group. “Pramac is benefitting from Oerlikon Solar’s renown technology, ramp-up experience and reputation to deliver in the solar world.”
In the capital-intensive solar module manufacturing business, it is important to minimize the amount of time between the start of construction and the start of commercial production and revenues. Implementing an end-to-end solution can reduce the delay and uncertainty of construction time, production ramp-up and module certification.
“We look forward to supporting Pramac as they further expand their production of
thin-film solar modules,” said Jeannine Sargent, CEO of Oerlikon Solar. “Working with our partners, we are committed to making solar power affordable and competitive with other forms of electricity generation. We are especially pleased to participate in launching Switzerland’s first thin-film silicon module volume production line based upon our Micromorph® technology, which was invented here in Switzerland, in Neuchâtel.”
A quarter of a million modules per year
This phase of the Pramac facility will produce approximately 250,000 solar modules each year. One year’s worth of output from the facility would be able to cover the approximate area of all of the currently installed photovoltaic installations in Switzerland.
With Oerlikon Solar’s innovative thin-film photovoltaic manufacturing technology, solar modules can be produced for 30 percent less than conventional siliconwafer- based technology. Based on predicted market growth, Pramac plans to expand the plant’s capacity over the coming years. The factory will employ nearly 150 people, and is Pramac’s first solar production location.
Oerlikon Solar Customer Momentum
Worldwide, 10 companies have contracted with Oerlikon Solar to build thin-film manufacturing lines since 2006. Oerlikon Solar’s customers will represent more than 600 megawatts of current thin-film solar production around the globe.
Several of them have signed long-term supply agreements to distribute the modules produced by Oerlikon Solar’s equipment, demonstrating strong market demand for thin-film silicon solar modules.
“Just one more milestone in Oerlikon Solar’s mission to make solar power economically viable “
A comprehensive press kit including further information, pictures of the Pramac facility and presentations is available in the media section at www.oerlikon.com
About Oerlikon Solar
Oerlikon Solar offers field proven equipment and end-to-end manufacturing lines for the mass production of thin film silicon solar modules. Engineered to reduce device cost and maximize productivity, its end-to-end solutions are fully automated, high yield, high uptime, and low maintenance.
The production lines are complete systems, yet modular and upgradeable in both throughput and process technology. As a global leader in thin film PV technology, the company provides its customers with extensive experience in both amorphous and high-efficiency Micromorph® tandem technology.
Oerlikon Solar is ranked “global number one solar turnkey line supplier” by VLSI and has been named winner of the 2009 CELL AWARD for the ”best technicalproduct for thin film module manufacturing”.
Oerlikon Solar is headquartered in Switzerland, has over 750 employees in 13 locations world wide and maintains sales and service centres in the USA, Europe and China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Japan.
About Pramac
Pramac is a leading company in the sector of the production and distribution of electrical generation systems and is also active in the sector of handling equipment. The Group is active globally with four production facilities, of which one in Italy (in Casole d’Elsa, Siena) and three abroad (Spain, France and China). It operates a distribution network comprised of 17 commercial branches and employs about 750 people at the Group level. It has recently signed a joint venture agreement with the Prosolia Group for the distribution and installation of photovoltaic panels.
Source: Oerlikon Solar
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tuvalu Sets Goal of 100 Percent Clean Energy by 2020
The nation hopes its solar project will inspire climate talks.
by Ghita Benessahraoui & Terry Collins
Tuvalu [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]
Amid worsening climate change-related problems for small island states, Tuvalu has established a national goal of being powered entirely by renewable energy sources by 2020.
Government officials and the donors of Tuvalu's first large-scale solar energy system alike hope the moves help inspire much larger nations later this year in negotiations of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol agreement on climate change.
The solar system installed on the roof of Tuvalu's largest football stadium now supplies 5 percent of the electricity needed by that nation's capital, Funafuti.
In its first 14 months, the operation has reduced Tuvalu's consumption of generator fuel, shipped from New Zealand, by about 17,000 litres and reduced Tuvalu's carbon footprint by about 50 tonnes.
In the process, it has also reduced the risk of diesel spills around the archipelago of four low-lying coral islands and five atolls.
Based on the project's success, the country now aims to be powered entirely by renewable energy sources by 2020, a goal requiring an investment estimated at just over $20 million, according to government estimates.
At their summit earlier this month in Italy, the richer G8 countries committed to help finance efforts by poorer nations to battle climate change.
Tuvalu's first grid-connected, 40-kilowatt solar energy system was implemented under the leadership of Japan's Kansai Electric Power Co with the support of the Tokyo Electric Power Company, both members of the e8, an international non-profit organization of 10 leading power utilities from G8 countries.
"There may be other, larger solar power installations in the world but none could be more meaningful to customers than this one," says Takao Shiraishi, General Manager of the Kansai Electric Power Co.
"The plight of Tuvalu versus the rising tide vividly represents the worst early consequence of climate change," he adds. "For Tuvalu, after 3,000 years of history, the success of UN climate talks in Copenhagen this December may well be a matter of national survival."
The Tuvalu government is working to expand the initial US $410,000 e8 project from 40 to 60 kilowatts, and will extend solar power to outer islands, starting later this year with the commission of a US $800,000, 46-kilowatt solar power system for the Motufoua Secondary School in Vaitupu, being implemented with the support of the Italian government.
With a population of 12,000, Tuvalu is halfway between Hawaii and Australia, 26 square km in size, with a maximum elevation of just 4.5 meters and most of its land less than a meter above sea level.
Tuvalu is already experiencing flooding amid predictions of a large sea level rise this century.
Says Kausea Natano, Minister for Public Utilities and Industries: "We thank those who are helping Tuvalu reduce its carbon footprint as it will strengthen our voice in upcoming international negotiations. And we look forward to the day when our nation offers an example to all – powered entirely by natural resources such as the sun and the wind."
The e8's Tuvalu project was initiated after a series of regional renewable energy feasibility workshops, jointly organized by the Pacific Power Association (PPA) and the e8.
e8 members agreed to donate and install the first facility, and are monitoring its success and building local expertise to ensure the project's sustainability.
Run by the state-owned Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC), the system in Funafuti today powers households, healthcare facilities, small-and medium-sized enterprises and other facilities.
Johane Meagher, Executive Director of the e8, expressed thanks for the support of the Pacific Power Association, with whom the e8 has established a long term collaboration to support development of small scale projects in the Pacific Islands and strengthen the capacity of the engineers and technicians of the islands' utilities to enhance renewable energy power in the Pacific region.
Meagher said, "We are proud of the role the e8 has played in creating this clean energy project, which was intended to generate far more than just electricity in Tuvalu. It is a message to the world about the urgent need to promote sustainable energy development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a massive scale."
Ghita Benessahraoui is Communications Coordinator of the e8 General Secretariat, Montreal and Mr. Terry Collins heads a Toronto-based firm specializing in international science communications.
Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com
by Ghita Benessahraoui & Terry Collins
Tuvalu [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]
Amid worsening climate change-related problems for small island states, Tuvalu has established a national goal of being powered entirely by renewable energy sources by 2020.
Government officials and the donors of Tuvalu's first large-scale solar energy system alike hope the moves help inspire much larger nations later this year in negotiations of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol agreement on climate change.
The solar system installed on the roof of Tuvalu's largest football stadium now supplies 5 percent of the electricity needed by that nation's capital, Funafuti.
In its first 14 months, the operation has reduced Tuvalu's consumption of generator fuel, shipped from New Zealand, by about 17,000 litres and reduced Tuvalu's carbon footprint by about 50 tonnes.
In the process, it has also reduced the risk of diesel spills around the archipelago of four low-lying coral islands and five atolls.
Based on the project's success, the country now aims to be powered entirely by renewable energy sources by 2020, a goal requiring an investment estimated at just over $20 million, according to government estimates.
At their summit earlier this month in Italy, the richer G8 countries committed to help finance efforts by poorer nations to battle climate change.
Tuvalu's first grid-connected, 40-kilowatt solar energy system was implemented under the leadership of Japan's Kansai Electric Power Co with the support of the Tokyo Electric Power Company, both members of the e8, an international non-profit organization of 10 leading power utilities from G8 countries.
"There may be other, larger solar power installations in the world but none could be more meaningful to customers than this one," says Takao Shiraishi, General Manager of the Kansai Electric Power Co.
"The plight of Tuvalu versus the rising tide vividly represents the worst early consequence of climate change," he adds. "For Tuvalu, after 3,000 years of history, the success of UN climate talks in Copenhagen this December may well be a matter of national survival."
The Tuvalu government is working to expand the initial US $410,000 e8 project from 40 to 60 kilowatts, and will extend solar power to outer islands, starting later this year with the commission of a US $800,000, 46-kilowatt solar power system for the Motufoua Secondary School in Vaitupu, being implemented with the support of the Italian government.
With a population of 12,000, Tuvalu is halfway between Hawaii and Australia, 26 square km in size, with a maximum elevation of just 4.5 meters and most of its land less than a meter above sea level.
Tuvalu is already experiencing flooding amid predictions of a large sea level rise this century.
Says Kausea Natano, Minister for Public Utilities and Industries: "We thank those who are helping Tuvalu reduce its carbon footprint as it will strengthen our voice in upcoming international negotiations. And we look forward to the day when our nation offers an example to all – powered entirely by natural resources such as the sun and the wind."
The e8's Tuvalu project was initiated after a series of regional renewable energy feasibility workshops, jointly organized by the Pacific Power Association (PPA) and the e8.
e8 members agreed to donate and install the first facility, and are monitoring its success and building local expertise to ensure the project's sustainability.
Run by the state-owned Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC), the system in Funafuti today powers households, healthcare facilities, small-and medium-sized enterprises and other facilities.
Johane Meagher, Executive Director of the e8, expressed thanks for the support of the Pacific Power Association, with whom the e8 has established a long term collaboration to support development of small scale projects in the Pacific Islands and strengthen the capacity of the engineers and technicians of the islands' utilities to enhance renewable energy power in the Pacific region.
Meagher said, "We are proud of the role the e8 has played in creating this clean energy project, which was intended to generate far more than just electricity in Tuvalu. It is a message to the world about the urgent need to promote sustainable energy development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a massive scale."
Ghita Benessahraoui is Communications Coordinator of the e8 General Secretariat, Montreal and Mr. Terry Collins heads a Toronto-based firm specializing in international science communications.
Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com
Thursday, July 23, 2009
CERC to take up renewable energy tariff, clean tech sharing today
Sanjay Jog
Mumbai: The Central Electricity regulatory Commission (CERC) will hold hearing on Wednesday on the renewable energy tariff and CDM sharing. CERC’s move is crucial as it has prepared regulations for the tariff determination from renewable energy sources to be transported to more than one state and they were circulated for seeking objections and suggestions. At present, about 14,000 mw of renewable energy is installed in the country comprising 10,000 mw of wind power mostly confined to Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. About 4,000 capacity of micro hydel, cogeneration, solar and biomass are situated in various parts of the country.
According to CERC sources, the tariff for renewable energy technologies would be single part tariff consisting of fixed cost components that include return on equity; interest on loan capital; depreciation; interest on working capital and operation and maintenance expenses. The normative capital cost for the non-fossil fuel based cogeneration projects would be Rs 4.45 crore per mega watt for the first year of control period (FY 2009-10). The normative capital cost for setting up solar thermal power project would be Rs 13 crore per mega watt for FY 2009-10.
CERC’s draft says the proceeds of carbon credit from approved CDM project will be shared between generating company and concerned off-taker in the following manner, namely: 100% of the gross proceeds on account of CDM benefit to be retained by the project developer in the first year after the date of commercial operation of the generating station. Further, in the second year, the share of the beneficiaries shall be 10% which shall be progressively increased by 10% every year till it reaches 50%, where after the proceeds shall be shared in equal proportion, by the generating company and the beneficiaries. CERC has laid down draft notification for determining tariff for renewable energy which would be transported to more than one state.
However, industry sources admitted that CDM sharing is one of vital issue. DR Energy director D Radhakrishna told FE, “This is first United Nation project which is inviting direct private party participation for environmental benefits. States or for that matter discoms have no role to play in getting technological transfer or financial transfer as beneficiaries are directly negotiating CDM benefits. Also, CDM benefit is not only confined to electricity sector but also with agriculture sector and forest sector besides stand alone generator who are using it for self. Thus additionality of business need to be given to beneficiary. The Centre is already getting IT for this additional revenue. Thus, it will be wrong precedence to set up such example for other sectors.”
Moreover, industry sources said renewable energy obligations as laid down by CERC are state specific and is quite difficult for renewable energy promoters to function. “For instance, if biomass of 50 km area are falling between two states then same biomass is used but rates differ state to state. Take for example, biomass production at Gondia which is in Maharastra—if some one wants to generate power then for him the best choice will be Madhya Pradesh as they give better tariff than surrounding states of Chattisgarh and Maharastra. Similarly at Karnataka border where open access for sugar mills are allowed and sugar plant owners located at adjoining states of Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh get lower rates for Baggase by respective regulatory commissions,” he said.
Source: The Financial Express
Mumbai: The Central Electricity regulatory Commission (CERC) will hold hearing on Wednesday on the renewable energy tariff and CDM sharing. CERC’s move is crucial as it has prepared regulations for the tariff determination from renewable energy sources to be transported to more than one state and they were circulated for seeking objections and suggestions. At present, about 14,000 mw of renewable energy is installed in the country comprising 10,000 mw of wind power mostly confined to Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. About 4,000 capacity of micro hydel, cogeneration, solar and biomass are situated in various parts of the country.
According to CERC sources, the tariff for renewable energy technologies would be single part tariff consisting of fixed cost components that include return on equity; interest on loan capital; depreciation; interest on working capital and operation and maintenance expenses. The normative capital cost for the non-fossil fuel based cogeneration projects would be Rs 4.45 crore per mega watt for the first year of control period (FY 2009-10). The normative capital cost for setting up solar thermal power project would be Rs 13 crore per mega watt for FY 2009-10.
CERC’s draft says the proceeds of carbon credit from approved CDM project will be shared between generating company and concerned off-taker in the following manner, namely: 100% of the gross proceeds on account of CDM benefit to be retained by the project developer in the first year after the date of commercial operation of the generating station. Further, in the second year, the share of the beneficiaries shall be 10% which shall be progressively increased by 10% every year till it reaches 50%, where after the proceeds shall be shared in equal proportion, by the generating company and the beneficiaries. CERC has laid down draft notification for determining tariff for renewable energy which would be transported to more than one state.
However, industry sources admitted that CDM sharing is one of vital issue. DR Energy director D Radhakrishna told FE, “This is first United Nation project which is inviting direct private party participation for environmental benefits. States or for that matter discoms have no role to play in getting technological transfer or financial transfer as beneficiaries are directly negotiating CDM benefits. Also, CDM benefit is not only confined to electricity sector but also with agriculture sector and forest sector besides stand alone generator who are using it for self. Thus additionality of business need to be given to beneficiary. The Centre is already getting IT for this additional revenue. Thus, it will be wrong precedence to set up such example for other sectors.”
Moreover, industry sources said renewable energy obligations as laid down by CERC are state specific and is quite difficult for renewable energy promoters to function. “For instance, if biomass of 50 km area are falling between two states then same biomass is used but rates differ state to state. Take for example, biomass production at Gondia which is in Maharastra—if some one wants to generate power then for him the best choice will be Madhya Pradesh as they give better tariff than surrounding states of Chattisgarh and Maharastra. Similarly at Karnataka border where open access for sugar mills are allowed and sugar plant owners located at adjoining states of Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh get lower rates for Baggase by respective regulatory commissions,” he said.
Source: The Financial Express
SOLAR ENERGY FAIR 2009
SolarIndiaOnline.com plans to take an initiative in public awareness on Solar Products available in market and their uses. SolarIndiaOnline.com is providing a good platform to eminent players in solar sector to exhibit their solar products in a shopping mall, which would be displayed for the common man in SOLAR ENERGY FAIR 2009. This would be beneficial for both, distributors and the consumers.
SolarIndiaOnline.com plans to take an initiative in public awareness on Solar Products available in market and their uses. SolarIndiaOnline.com is providing a good platform to eminent players in solar sector to exhibit their solar products in a shopping mall, which would be displayed for the common man in SOLAR ENERGY FAIR 2009. This would be beneficial for both, distributors and the consumers.
Venue
METRO WALK - ADVENTURE ISLAND - ROHINI
METRO WALK is an 2-lac sq.ft of retail environment that hosts lot of brands and offers a perfect mix of Shopping, Dining and Entertainment Experience. Only Mall in Delhi with an amusement park. About 55,000 footfalls on weekends. Last year Mall witnessed footfall of about 85,000 on Independence day (15th August) and the mall is expected to have 1,00,000 visitors this year.
Activities
• Spreading Awareness on Solar Energy products
• Display of Products by Manufacturers.
• One to one interaction with more than 1,00,000 visitors.
• Media Coverage
Also Music Performances, Comedy Shows, Quiz Competition on 15th August 2009 and Live Rock Show on 16th of August 2009
Start Date : 15th August 2009
End Date : 16th August 2009
Venue : Rohini Metro Walk, New Delhi
SolarIndiaOnline.com plans to take an initiative in public awareness on Solar Products available in market and their uses. SolarIndiaOnline.com is providing a good platform to eminent players in solar sector to exhibit their solar products in a shopping mall, which would be displayed for the common man in SOLAR ENERGY FAIR 2009. This would be beneficial for both, distributors and the consumers.
Venue
METRO WALK - ADVENTURE ISLAND - ROHINI
METRO WALK is an 2-lac sq.ft of retail environment that hosts lot of brands and offers a perfect mix of Shopping, Dining and Entertainment Experience. Only Mall in Delhi with an amusement park. About 55,000 footfalls on weekends. Last year Mall witnessed footfall of about 85,000 on Independence day (15th August) and the mall is expected to have 1,00,000 visitors this year.
Activities
• Spreading Awareness on Solar Energy products
• Display of Products by Manufacturers.
• One to one interaction with more than 1,00,000 visitors.
• Media Coverage
Also Music Performances, Comedy Shows, Quiz Competition on 15th August 2009 and Live Rock Show on 16th of August 2009
Start Date : 15th August 2009
End Date : 16th August 2009
Venue : Rohini Metro Walk, New Delhi
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Q-Cells SE: Weak market development burdens Q2 result
- Business development falls short of expectations in second quarter: preliminary revenue of around 142 EURm, expected EBIT of approx. -62 EURm
- Reliable whole-year forecast not possible due to uncertainty of current market situation
- Management Board announces comprehensive package of measures
Bitterfeld-Wolfen, 14 July 2009 – The prolonged weak development of the global photovoltaics markets has continued to negatively impact the business development of Q-Cells SE (QCE; ISIN DE0005558662) in the second quarter. The seasonal market upturn which the industry had been anticipating to start in the second quarter has broadly not materialised for Q-Cells as yet. Lower sales volumes, the postponement of a large scale project to the third quarter and the continued downward trend in solar cell prices has led, according to preliminary calculations, to a reduced revenue of around 142 EURm (previous quarter: 225 EURm) and to a considerable decline in operating income (EBIT), to approx. -62 EURm (previous quarter: 15 EURm). Due to existing agreements with suppliers, it has thus far not been possible to fully adjust wafer prices in the immediate term to the lower price level of solar cells. Furthermore, the drop in cell and wafer prices has led to non-cash relevant devaluations of current assets. Despite this negative business development, Q-Cells maintains a considerable financial reserve (cash and short-term available credit lines) of approx. 520 EURm as of 30 June 2009.
In spite of an expected recovery in market volume in the second half of the year due to seasonal upturn a generally tough market environment is still being expected. Furthermore, the company expects the project business still to be largely dependent on the development of the financial markets. From a current standpoint, it will not be possible to attain the revenue and production levels which had been anticipated for the current business year. In light of this, the Management Board is not making new revenue and production forecasts for the current business year at this time.
In dealing with the negative impacts of the current business environment, the Management Board is developing a comprehensive programme of measures, made up essentially of the following five components:
- Further capacity alignments,
- Further optimisation and reduction of capital investment programme,
- Intensified cash flow and working capital management,
- Intensifying and accelerating the existing cost-cutting programme and
- Pushing ahead with the project business by cooperating more closely with selected financing partners.
After agreement has been reached with the Supervisory Board, details of this programme will be presented along with the publication of the half-year results on 13 August. Further information will be provided by the Executive Board of Q-Cells SE at a conference call for analysts and investors at 12.30 p.m. (CET). This conference call will also be available as a webcast from the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website (www.q-cells.com).
Source: Q-Cells
- Reliable whole-year forecast not possible due to uncertainty of current market situation
- Management Board announces comprehensive package of measures
Bitterfeld-Wolfen, 14 July 2009 – The prolonged weak development of the global photovoltaics markets has continued to negatively impact the business development of Q-Cells SE (QCE; ISIN DE0005558662) in the second quarter. The seasonal market upturn which the industry had been anticipating to start in the second quarter has broadly not materialised for Q-Cells as yet. Lower sales volumes, the postponement of a large scale project to the third quarter and the continued downward trend in solar cell prices has led, according to preliminary calculations, to a reduced revenue of around 142 EURm (previous quarter: 225 EURm) and to a considerable decline in operating income (EBIT), to approx. -62 EURm (previous quarter: 15 EURm). Due to existing agreements with suppliers, it has thus far not been possible to fully adjust wafer prices in the immediate term to the lower price level of solar cells. Furthermore, the drop in cell and wafer prices has led to non-cash relevant devaluations of current assets. Despite this negative business development, Q-Cells maintains a considerable financial reserve (cash and short-term available credit lines) of approx. 520 EURm as of 30 June 2009.
In spite of an expected recovery in market volume in the second half of the year due to seasonal upturn a generally tough market environment is still being expected. Furthermore, the company expects the project business still to be largely dependent on the development of the financial markets. From a current standpoint, it will not be possible to attain the revenue and production levels which had been anticipated for the current business year. In light of this, the Management Board is not making new revenue and production forecasts for the current business year at this time.
In dealing with the negative impacts of the current business environment, the Management Board is developing a comprehensive programme of measures, made up essentially of the following five components:
- Further capacity alignments,
- Further optimisation and reduction of capital investment programme,
- Intensified cash flow and working capital management,
- Intensifying and accelerating the existing cost-cutting programme and
- Pushing ahead with the project business by cooperating more closely with selected financing partners.
After agreement has been reached with the Supervisory Board, details of this programme will be presented along with the publication of the half-year results on 13 August. Further information will be provided by the Executive Board of Q-Cells SE at a conference call for analysts and investors at 12.30 p.m. (CET). This conference call will also be available as a webcast from the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website (www.q-cells.com).
Source: Q-Cells
Budget 2009-2010 – forgets the much talked about solar industry.
Wait on for National Solar Mission
The first budget for the second term of the UPA government, presented by the finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, clearly missed out to cheer anyone from the solar industry. Customs duty on biodiesel and for wind turbine manufacturers has been reduced but there was no mention of any investment in the much talked about solar industry in the latest budget.
The budget lowers customs duty from 7.5% to 5% on equipments for wind energy and reduction from 7.5% to 2.5% on bio diesel. Uncertainly, India's plan to invest huge amount in solar energy over the next 20 years was not mentioned in the budget.
On one hand where the newly elected US President Obama announced huge investments in solar energy as part of the $150bn clean tech investment just within few days of taking control, the Indian government again lacks behind. People were actually waiting to hear something about the National Solar Mission in the budget, which was one of the leading missions in the National Action Plan on Climate Change announced by Prime Minister on 30th June last year.
Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh announced last year that a National Action Plan on Climate Change would be undertaken. National Solar Mission is the one of the 8 missions of the plan which aims to promote use of solar energy in the country. Its ultimate objective is to make solar competitive with fossil-based energy options. It aims to increase the production of photovoltaics to 1000 MW/year; and at least 1000 MW of solar thermal power generation.
Looking at people interest and awareness spread last year, this budget could have taken the opportunity to attract green investments, but has not done that. However, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee assured green groups that initiatives under the National Action Plan on Climate Change will be covered under the budget, he admitted that an exact figure would not be decided until the end of the year.
The Budget has also mentioned nothing about the other critical initiatives that are in the pipeline to promote energy efficiency in power generation, renewable energy technology programmes, and creating appropriate capacity at different levels of government.
Source: SolarIndiaOnline.com
The first budget for the second term of the UPA government, presented by the finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, clearly missed out to cheer anyone from the solar industry. Customs duty on biodiesel and for wind turbine manufacturers has been reduced but there was no mention of any investment in the much talked about solar industry in the latest budget.
The budget lowers customs duty from 7.5% to 5% on equipments for wind energy and reduction from 7.5% to 2.5% on bio diesel. Uncertainly, India's plan to invest huge amount in solar energy over the next 20 years was not mentioned in the budget.
On one hand where the newly elected US President Obama announced huge investments in solar energy as part of the $150bn clean tech investment just within few days of taking control, the Indian government again lacks behind. People were actually waiting to hear something about the National Solar Mission in the budget, which was one of the leading missions in the National Action Plan on Climate Change announced by Prime Minister on 30th June last year.
Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh announced last year that a National Action Plan on Climate Change would be undertaken. National Solar Mission is the one of the 8 missions of the plan which aims to promote use of solar energy in the country. Its ultimate objective is to make solar competitive with fossil-based energy options. It aims to increase the production of photovoltaics to 1000 MW/year; and at least 1000 MW of solar thermal power generation.
Looking at people interest and awareness spread last year, this budget could have taken the opportunity to attract green investments, but has not done that. However, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee assured green groups that initiatives under the National Action Plan on Climate Change will be covered under the budget, he admitted that an exact figure would not be decided until the end of the year.
The Budget has also mentioned nothing about the other critical initiatives that are in the pipeline to promote energy efficiency in power generation, renewable energy technology programmes, and creating appropriate capacity at different levels of government.
Source: SolarIndiaOnline.com
Germany's Bauhaus University designs solar-powered cinema
The innovative 'Screenhaus.SOLAR', a modern movie theatre powered by solar technologies, will open in early July 2009 at Germany's Bauhaus-Universität in Weimar. The theatre seeks to demonstrate how architecture and civil engineering can interact with renewable energies and offer functioning, resource-saving solutions worldwide.
The team led by Professors Jürgen Ruth and Rainer Gumpp at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar wanted to create a climate-neutral, easy-to-set-up, yet sophisticated design consisting of renewable materials for the temporary building, Screenhaus.SOLAR. The resulting design is adaptable and easy to use worldwide.
The hull of the 13-metre long structure is both flexible and stable as a hyperboloid structure in three dimensions, two together at the tips of the converging cone. In order to achieve this form, wooden struts were selected and connected to create a strong honeycomb-like structure.
The real highlight of the Screenhaus.SOLAR is, however, the flexible photovoltaic modules, that are affixed to the honeycomb structure. Unlike rigid photovoltaic elements, these solar cells fit the elements of the latest generation of solar cells that envelope the building almost like an item of clothing.
This so-called solar-envelope, the roof system, delivers the electricity required throughout a night of cinema. During the day, the modules convert the sunlight into electrical current and feed it into the general network. The energy produced is then used to power the operation of the cinema during the evening hours.
“The goal is to provide the climate neutral screening of films exclusively from the captured sunlight,” explains Roth. “In the construction phase itself, the positive energy balance played a role for us. So it was necessary during the building work to also use solar energy.”
A structure well-suited for emergencies
The issue of resource conservation impacted the entire project. The wooden struts for the construction came from a wind power plant that was built in the past year on the campus of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Moreover, the draft of the screen house is easily transferable to other countries and continents. The structure can be completely dismantled and then easily transported in standard containers for use anywhere in the world.
The structure is created from simple, linear elements, allowing it to be built anywhere in a short time by non-professionals. This is particularly important in areas with weaker infrastructure or following a destructive event. In such situations, the Screenhaus can be used as emergency shelter or as a temporary hospital. The insulation can, if necessary, be easily retrofitted.
"The idea to build a climate-neutral integrated work of art came to us when contemporary construction projects were being sought for the Bauhaus-Jubilee 2009,” says Ruth. “Since we have already received a positive response from all sides with our wind power project, we wanted to further develop this concept.” Professors Ruth and Grumpp used the 5,000 euros in prize money they received for their wind project in 2008 in the framework of the Dr. Tyczka Energy Prize for development of the Screenhaus project.
The Screenhaus.SOLAR will open on 9th July with a screening of a student short film about solar power.
Source: www.german-info.com
The team led by Professors Jürgen Ruth and Rainer Gumpp at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar wanted to create a climate-neutral, easy-to-set-up, yet sophisticated design consisting of renewable materials for the temporary building, Screenhaus.SOLAR. The resulting design is adaptable and easy to use worldwide.
The hull of the 13-metre long structure is both flexible and stable as a hyperboloid structure in three dimensions, two together at the tips of the converging cone. In order to achieve this form, wooden struts were selected and connected to create a strong honeycomb-like structure.
The real highlight of the Screenhaus.SOLAR is, however, the flexible photovoltaic modules, that are affixed to the honeycomb structure. Unlike rigid photovoltaic elements, these solar cells fit the elements of the latest generation of solar cells that envelope the building almost like an item of clothing.
This so-called solar-envelope, the roof system, delivers the electricity required throughout a night of cinema. During the day, the modules convert the sunlight into electrical current and feed it into the general network. The energy produced is then used to power the operation of the cinema during the evening hours.
“The goal is to provide the climate neutral screening of films exclusively from the captured sunlight,” explains Roth. “In the construction phase itself, the positive energy balance played a role for us. So it was necessary during the building work to also use solar energy.”
A structure well-suited for emergencies
The issue of resource conservation impacted the entire project. The wooden struts for the construction came from a wind power plant that was built in the past year on the campus of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Moreover, the draft of the screen house is easily transferable to other countries and continents. The structure can be completely dismantled and then easily transported in standard containers for use anywhere in the world.
The structure is created from simple, linear elements, allowing it to be built anywhere in a short time by non-professionals. This is particularly important in areas with weaker infrastructure or following a destructive event. In such situations, the Screenhaus can be used as emergency shelter or as a temporary hospital. The insulation can, if necessary, be easily retrofitted.
"The idea to build a climate-neutral integrated work of art came to us when contemporary construction projects were being sought for the Bauhaus-Jubilee 2009,” says Ruth. “Since we have already received a positive response from all sides with our wind power project, we wanted to further develop this concept.” Professors Ruth and Grumpp used the 5,000 euros in prize money they received for their wind project in 2008 in the framework of the Dr. Tyczka Energy Prize for development of the Screenhaus project.
The Screenhaus.SOLAR will open on 9th July with a screening of a student short film about solar power.
Source: www.german-info.com
Venture Capital Investment In Green Technologies Rebounds
Greentech Media released the most recent quarterly data showing that venture capital investment in green technologies totaled $1.2 billion in 85 deals in the second quarter of 2009. This is up from $836 million in 59 deals in the first quarter of 2009.
"The recent quarter's balanced distribution of sectors that attracted capital underscores cleantech's breadth and diversity of opportunity, one of the key drivers behind why cleantech remains an enduring area," said Ira Ehrenpreis, General Partner at cleantech VC, Technology Partners.
Solar power was once again the leading investment segment at more than $330 million. Unlike previous quarters - the second quarter saw a much more balanced distribution across the various sectors with a marked increase in automotive (more than $202 million) and energy storage (more than $180 million).
One of the drivers for steady second quarter venture investment was the promise of stimulus monies offering startup investors a non-dilutive funding source. Meanwhile, early-stage and late-stage investments dominated, while mid-stage funding was harder to come by, and the average round sizes were slightly smaller.
There were no giant $100 million+ solar or biofuel rounds as in 2008.
"Despite the economic slump, VC investors remain optimistic about the greentech sector and eventual exits in this space," said Eric Wesoff, senior analyst at GTM Research and author of the Greentech Innovations Report, a monthly guide to investments and technology trends in greentech.
John Rockwell, founder and Managing Director of Element Partners adds, "The growing belief that credit markets and the economy are on the road to recovery has investors back in the market. Greentech markets are massive and diverse and investors are starting to pour additional money into the next wave of greentech opportunities."
"2009 will be a year of consolidation and development while 2010 and 2011 will be the year greentech breaks. Expect to see IPOs and acquisitions of VC funded firms in solar, smart grid, green buildings and biofuels," Wesoff added.
Source: Solar Daily
Friday, July 10, 2009
World's largest and CO2-neutral inverter factory inaugurated by SMA Solar Technology AG
July, 01, 2009
Today, SMA Solar Technology AG inaugurated its new solar inverter factory. With the inverter factory, SMA is extending its production capacities to four gigawatt and is continuously expanding its successful strategy of flexibility. In the opening speech Chief Executive Officer Günther Cramer pointed out that the new facilities were setting a new trend in terms of CO2 neutral fabrication sites.
About 500 guests attended the inauguration ceremony. Silke Lautenschläger, the Hessian Minister for Environment, Energy, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, gave the official speech.
SMA's new inverter factory which has already been producing since March of this year, is setting new standards in every respect: an annual production capacity of up to four gigawatt on 18,000 square meters make it the world's largest solar inverter factory.
The new factory has the lowest possible energy requirements together with the highest efficiency of consumed energy. Among other standards the building thus complies with the low-energy building concept. In addition, a reduced energy consumption of the production and testing facilities is achieved through efficiency measures in the production process. An optimal use of daylight, intelligent ventilation as well as the use of storage units for heating and cooling complement the energy and building concept.
The electricity and heat demand is covered by renewable energy sources: an integrated PV system with a power of around 1.1 megawatt and a combined heat and power plant fueled with bio-gas generates CO2-neutral electricity. "Green electricity" is additionally purchased in order to cover the total energy consumption of the production facilities. In the long run the CO2 balance will be zero by installing additional photovoltaic systems nearby.
The required heat is produced with the biogas-powered combined heat and power plant. At the same time, the waste heat coming from the compressor for the air powered tools and the lifting gear is utilized for the heating system. The additionally required heat demand is covered by using district heating from a nearby waste incineration plant.
Sufficient cooling is provided as well: an absorption refrigeration machine uses the heat of the combined heat and power plant for air conditioning.
In the new factory the process steps in the production have been completely re-designed in terms of efficiency. Entire production lines can be extended or reconfigured for other device types within shortest notice. This provides maximum flexibility in addition to the "just-in-time" production without warehouse.
"The inverters being the heart of every photovoltaic system already significantly contribute to an emission-free energy supply", Günther Cramer, Chief Executive Officer of SMA Solar Technology AG, explains. "With our CO2-neutral inverter production we even go one step further. Today we can show that an advanced production on industrial level can be done with a minimal environmental footprint. As the worldwide leading producer of solar inverters we now intend to initiate a trend towards CO2-neutral factories".
About SMA Solar Technology AG
With a turnover of more than 680 million euros in 2008, SMA is the global market leader for solar inverters, a central component of every solar power system. The SMA group is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents in ten countries. The group employs more than 3,000 people (including temporary employees). SMA produces a broad range of inverter types which offers suitable inverters for every photovoltaic module type used and for photovoltaic systems in all power ranges. The product portfolio includes inverters both for grid-connected photovoltaic systems and for stand-alone systems. Since June 27, 2008, the company has been listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92), and since September 22, 2008, the company's shares have been listed in the TecDAX. In the past recent years, SMA was recognized several times with awards for its outstanding performance as an employer.
Source: SMA Solar Technology
Today, SMA Solar Technology AG inaugurated its new solar inverter factory. With the inverter factory, SMA is extending its production capacities to four gigawatt and is continuously expanding its successful strategy of flexibility. In the opening speech Chief Executive Officer Günther Cramer pointed out that the new facilities were setting a new trend in terms of CO2 neutral fabrication sites.
About 500 guests attended the inauguration ceremony. Silke Lautenschläger, the Hessian Minister for Environment, Energy, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, gave the official speech.
SMA's new inverter factory which has already been producing since March of this year, is setting new standards in every respect: an annual production capacity of up to four gigawatt on 18,000 square meters make it the world's largest solar inverter factory.
The new factory has the lowest possible energy requirements together with the highest efficiency of consumed energy. Among other standards the building thus complies with the low-energy building concept. In addition, a reduced energy consumption of the production and testing facilities is achieved through efficiency measures in the production process. An optimal use of daylight, intelligent ventilation as well as the use of storage units for heating and cooling complement the energy and building concept.
The electricity and heat demand is covered by renewable energy sources: an integrated PV system with a power of around 1.1 megawatt and a combined heat and power plant fueled with bio-gas generates CO2-neutral electricity. "Green electricity" is additionally purchased in order to cover the total energy consumption of the production facilities. In the long run the CO2 balance will be zero by installing additional photovoltaic systems nearby.
The required heat is produced with the biogas-powered combined heat and power plant. At the same time, the waste heat coming from the compressor for the air powered tools and the lifting gear is utilized for the heating system. The additionally required heat demand is covered by using district heating from a nearby waste incineration plant.
Sufficient cooling is provided as well: an absorption refrigeration machine uses the heat of the combined heat and power plant for air conditioning.
In the new factory the process steps in the production have been completely re-designed in terms of efficiency. Entire production lines can be extended or reconfigured for other device types within shortest notice. This provides maximum flexibility in addition to the "just-in-time" production without warehouse.
"The inverters being the heart of every photovoltaic system already significantly contribute to an emission-free energy supply", Günther Cramer, Chief Executive Officer of SMA Solar Technology AG, explains. "With our CO2-neutral inverter production we even go one step further. Today we can show that an advanced production on industrial level can be done with a minimal environmental footprint. As the worldwide leading producer of solar inverters we now intend to initiate a trend towards CO2-neutral factories".
About SMA Solar Technology AG
With a turnover of more than 680 million euros in 2008, SMA is the global market leader for solar inverters, a central component of every solar power system. The SMA group is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented on four continents in ten countries. The group employs more than 3,000 people (including temporary employees). SMA produces a broad range of inverter types which offers suitable inverters for every photovoltaic module type used and for photovoltaic systems in all power ranges. The product portfolio includes inverters both for grid-connected photovoltaic systems and for stand-alone systems. Since June 27, 2008, the company has been listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92), and since September 22, 2008, the company's shares have been listed in the TecDAX. In the past recent years, SMA was recognized several times with awards for its outstanding performance as an employer.
Source: SMA Solar Technology
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