Light Shining on US Solar Energy Industry
Here is an excerpt, with comments interspered, of the major article Jeff Johnson at Chemistry & Engineering News recently wrote.
How is the extension of the renewable energy tax credits going to affect the solar manufacturing and installation industry? It will certainly accelerate the growth even with the recent drop in the price of oil. Of course, it is starting from a very low base, so one has to be careful with the percentage growth figures one sees thrown about. First, the tax credits are extended for 8 years. That allows corporations to make long range plans and commitments. Utilities can now get direct tax breaks as do corporations and residential installations in an amount of 30%. The residential credit was previously capped at $2,500, so the credit was more like 10% on a whole house system that might cost $20,000 to $30,000. Hopefully, these new incentives & credits will help close the gap with Europe. 46% of the world’s solar power is in Germany and 23% in Spain. Thus, 69% of the world’s solar electricity is consumed in just those 2 countries. The USA and Japan each consume about 8% of the world’s solar electricity. Thus, 84% of the world’s solar electricity is consumed in just 4 countries. One hears talk of goals of having 20% of US electricity being produced by green energy by 2012 or 2015 or 2020. Well, where are we with just solar power? 0.00125%. That is one-eighth of one percent!! And that total is equal to 920 MW. Contrast that with one coal power plant produces about 500 MW 24 hours a day compared to solar power that usually is only running 25 to 30% of the day & that is on sunny days. As we are heading towards winter and shorter days even in Florida it is even less. And coal produces about 50% of the US power & 35% of the US CO2. Existing coal power plants will not be disappearing soon. One can hope that the increased installation of solar powered systems can prevent the need for some of the traditional power plants that will needed in the future. Remember the US is expected to add another 100 million residents in the next few decades. The solar industry expects to add 28 GW of power by 2016 [the current limit of the tax credits] & that would be the equivalent of 56 coal powered plants of 500 MW capacity.
A residential rooftop solar installation can reduce electricity used from the grid by 30%. Also, residential solar power has zero ongoing fuel costs, low maintenance and the highest output during the middle of the day. Although Florida doesn’t have time of day electrical rates, some locations do and it might expand to additional locations as a means of lessening the demand for new power plants. Here in the Sunshine State [Florida] the only negative for solar rooftop panels is that the installation can be blown off in a strong hurricane & then one will have multiple holes in the roof with ongoing torrential rain and hurricane strength winds. Otherwise, I would already have installed panels to provide electricity and heat the pool water.
It is interesting that both Germany and Spain, which have the highest percentage of solar power, both allow producers that use solar energy to sell their electric output to the utilities at a price that is several times that of the normal retail price. Paul D. Maycock, President of Photovoltaic Energy Systems, says, “The world solar market is 80% driven by subsidies.” The recent US 8-year extension of the tax credits should certainly drive installation of new systems in the US.
Thin film technology is growing in the USA [now about 30% of new installations.] See posts about XsunX, Inc. (OTC BB: XSNX.OB) Other players in the thin film market are First Solar [NYSE: FSLR], Applied Materials [Nasdaq: AMAT] and Oerlikon [Other OTC: OERLF.PK]. Although it is less efficient [~8%] than polysilicon wafers [~14%], the technology uses less silicon and other materials, is cheaper to manufacture and the manufacturing is more automated.
Maycock is predicting that solar electricity will achieve grid parity with comparable electricity prices by 2012 or 2013.
Please comment with your price and date projections.
Photos courtesy & © XsunX & SCHOTT Solar
[...] The Map Magazine wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt Here is an excerpt, with comments interspered, of the major article Jeff Johnson at Chemistry & Engineering News recently wrote. How is the extension of the renewable energy tax credits going to affect the solar manufacturing and installation industry? It will certainly accelerate the growth even with the recent drop in the price of oil. Of course, it is starting from a very low base, so one has to be careful with the percentage growth figures one sees thrown about. First, the tax credi [...]
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When will we be able to run our houses free from the utility companies using solar power ? So that the clients can start saving money and contribute better to green living. Will the greedy utility companies allow this?
Expert in solar energy
UK Solar panel installations sadly now no longer qualify for the (LCBP) Low Carbon Buildings Programme grants; never the less there is an alternative which works just as well and it’s called the feed-in-tariff. The feed-in-tariff scheme which replaced solar panel grants was designed to reward homeowners for the technology of renewable energy.
UK Solar panel installations sadly now not qualify for the (LCBP) Low Carbon Buildings Programme grants; nevertheless there is an alternative which works just as well and it’s called the feed-in-tariff. The feed-in-tariff scheme which replaced solar panel grants was designed to reward homeowners for the technology of renewable energy.
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