Solar a solution in sub-Saharan Africa, says UK minister

Solar a solution in sub-Saharan Africa, says UK minister

Grant Shapps, the International Development Minister for the U.K. government, has told a delegation of African leaders at the UN General Assembly that solar PV’s capacity to transform the energy landscape of sub-Saharan Africa will be supported at every step by the U.K.

With solar panel costs falling, efficiencies increasing, and a thirst for reliable and affordable energy growing ever larger across many parts of Africa, Shapps said that the U.K. will take action to ensure a solar-powered transformation of household energy will remain a crucial issue on the global agenda.

"Governments, investors and aid agencies have the power to tear down regulatory barriers, attract new finance and ignite a solar revolution across Africa," Shapps said. "Britain will play a leading role in making this a reality. This is not only the right thing to do, it is also firmly in the U.K.’s own national interest as we create a more prosperous and safer world for us all."

The minister added that a lack of clean and reliable power has served to hold back social and economic development in many parts of Africa, but is of the opinion that solar power holds the key to unlocking the continent’s potential.

"The decreasing cost of solar panels, better and more efficient technology and the spread of simple mobile payment schemes give us a clear opportunity to solve this," Shapps told the attendant African leaders, investors and business executives at the General Assembly in New York. "I have seen for myself how solar energy can transform lives. People can continue their jobs or school work after the sun goes down, businesses can expand and families do not have to rely on kerosene or charcoal cookers, which fill houses with poisonous fumes."

The meeting took place in the wake of the Sustainable Development Summit, which included the adoption of the new Global Goals initiative, which outlines a strategy to ensure universal energy access to all by 2030.

Shapps’ message will accompany the minister at the first G20 Conference on Energy Access in sub-Saharan Africa in Istanbul on October 1. This pro-solar stance from the U.K. government is at odds with its posturing domestically, where the Conservatives have recently announced drastic cuts to the subsidy schemes – namely the FIT and the Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) – that served to propel the U.K. solar industry to unprecedented heights last year, and so far in 2015.

Access to more about Landpower Solar Panel Mounting: Solar Mounting Systems, Solar Racking, Solar Hardware, PV Mounting, Ground mounting Systems, Solar Mounting System Manufacturers,Solar Mounting,ballasted solar mounting,solar mounting japan, Solar mounting china, solar ground mounting,solar ballasted mounting,solar mounting structure,太陽光発電架台,地面設置用架台

US: Utility-scale solar averaging five cents/kWh, study finds

US: Utility-scale solar averaging five cents/kWh, study finds
A new study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has found that a cost-effective cocktail in the utility-scale PV segment has driven average solar costs down to an all-time low of just $0.05/kWh.

Lower installation costs, improved project performance and a rush to build large-scale solar farms ahead of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) phase-down at the end of 2016 have contributed to this sharp decline in solar costs, the report adds.

Average wholesale electricity prices across the U.S. range from $0.03 - $0-06/kWh depending on the region. The cost of solar would be higher if the 30% ITC incentive was removed, the Berkeley Lab study found. The Southwest regions of the U.S. see the deepest correlation between sizable solar resources and declining PPA prices, but even markets in Arkansas and Alabama have enjoyed solar PPAs of between $0.05 - $0.06/kWh.

Drawing upon empirical data gleaned from analyzing U.S. solar projects larger than 5 MW, the “Utility-Scale Solar” report also found that installed project costs have fallen by more than 50% since 2009, with median upfront costs dropping from $6.3/W in 2009 to $3.1/W for projects completed last year, with some falling as low as $2/W.

The report also looked at the efficacy of newer solar projects and found that those completed in 2013 performed at an average capacity factor (AC) of 29.4% last year. In comparison, solar farms connected in 2011 and 2012 performed at factors of 24.5% and 26.3% respectively. A combination of several trends have created these higher efficiencies, including better siting for newer plants, better and/or more tracking technology, and an accurate oversizing of the solar collector field.

Furthermore, a solid solar pipeline of projects under construction is serving to boost confidence and competitiveness throughout the PV industry, which in turn is helping to deliver lower costs, the report adds. At the end of 2014 approximately 45 GW of solar capacity was making its way through various interconnection queues, with a notable increase in activity in markets beyond the solar stronghold in California and the Southwest, notably in Texas and the Southeast.

 Access to more about Landpower Solar Panel Mounting: Solar Mounting Systems, Solar Racking, Solar Hardware, PV Mounting, Ground mounting Systems, Solar Mounting System Manufacturers,Solar Mounting,ballasted solar mounting,solar mounting japan, Solar mounting china, solar ground mounting,solar ballasted mounting,solar mounting structure,太陽光発電架台,地面設置用架台

Global PV module sales to reach record levels in 2016

Global PV module sales to reach record levels in 2016

Citing stable pricing and increased shipments, IHS said on Monday that global 2016 PV module revenue would hit $41.9 billion, exceeding the previous record set in 2010 by 4%.
The research firm added that growth would continue into next year, when module shipments will exceed 2015 shipments by 10%. IHS expects PV module shipments in the fourth quarter of this year to rise 29% year-over-year, reaching 18.7 GW in the period.
"Compared to prior years, this period of strong growth in solar installation demand, coupled with tight supply, will support relatively robust pricing," said Edurne Zoco, senior principal analyst for IHS Technology. "In fact, average annual prices are forecast to decline significantly less than in previous years."

IHS reckons the United States PV market will see significant decline in 2017, following the reduction of the federal investment tax credit (ITC). The tax credit reduction will contribute to a fall in global demand for PV modules, it said, adding that PV module prices would decline by 9%.
“This year and next year will mark a climax in the recovery of the solar PV sector after a period of intense price reductions and margin compression, when average gross margins fell into the mid single digits or lower,” Zoco said. "Even so, the predicted slowdown in global demand in 2017 -- on the back of a decline in the United States -- is likely to challenge these suppliers once again, since manufacturing capacity additions are set to dangerously outpace industry demand."
Zoco added that competition would intensify, which would lead to accelerating declines in prices and gross margins for the first time since 2012.



Access to more about Landpower Solar Panel Mounting: Solar Mounting Systems, Solar Racking, Solar Hardware, PV Mounting, Ground mounting Systems, Solar Mounting System Manufacturers,Solar Mounting,ballasted solar mounting,solar mounting japan, Solar mounting china

African Renewable Energy Fund raises $200 million

African Renewable Energy Fund raises $200 million

The African Renewable Energy Fund (AREF) has raised $200 million of committed capital to support small to medium scale projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

The fund aims to invest between $10 million and $30 million in 10 MW to 50 MW power projects and expects to build a total of 200 MW to 250 MW of capacity in sub-Saharan Africa (not including South Africa), where two-thirds of the population remain without access to electricity.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AREF held its first close of $100 million in March 2014 and since that time has been investing capital in grid-connected development stage renewable energy projects, including solar, small hydro, wind, geothermal and biomass.

The African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF) are among AREF’s main investors. As the Fund’s lead sponsor, the AfDB contributed $55 million in an equity investment package as well as climate finance instruments such as Sustainable Energy for Africa (SEFA) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to leverage commercial and institutional investment. SEFA has additionally committed a $10 million Project Support Facility (PSF), which will provide resources to be deployed at an early stage to structure bankable deals.

“AfDB is pleased to see that AREF is now fully capitalised to deliver on its pan-African mandate,” said Alex Rugamba, director of AfDB’s Energy and Climate Change Department. “We are also equally excited that SEFA and GEF participation have been catalytic in mobilizing significant amounts of commercial capital into AREF over a short time-frame; this is key for accelerating deployment of modern, clean and affordable energy in the continent.”

AREF, the first dedicated sub-Saharan African renewable energy fund, is managed by Berkeley Energy, a fund manager focused on developing and investing in renewable energy projects in emerging markets. Berkeley Energy, which has offices in London, Singapore, Mauritius, Delhi and Nairobi, also manages dedicated renewable energy funds in Asia.

Other investors that have backed AREF include the West African Development Bank (BOAD), Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), FMO, Calvert Investments, CDC Group, BIO, OeEB - the Development Bank of Austria, Wallace Global Fund, Sonen Capital, Berkeley Energy and ABREC in addition to a number of other private investors.

Pim van Ballekom, European Investment Bank vice president, added that as “one of the world's largest investors in renewable energy, the European Investment Bank is committed to ensuring that new projects can be implemented around the world. This engagement is demonstrated through our support for the Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund, GEEREF. Our combined backing for the African Renewable Energy Fund will provide both financial support and share technical experience essential for smaller renewable schemes being implemented for the first time.”

Access to more about Landpower Solar Panel Mounting: Solar Mounting Systems, Solar Racking, Solar Hardware, PV Mounting, Ground mounting Systems, Solar Mounting System Manufacturers,Solar Mounting,ballasted solar mounting,solar mounting japan, Solar mounting china

Mercom Capital maintains its 2015 global solar forecast of 57.4 GW

Mercom Capital maintains its 2015 global solar forecast of 57.4 GW


It's been a rough year so far in for China. First came news that the nation was devaluing its currency, followed by a stock market crash. Throughout the first half of the year growth has been slow, even by official figures. 

And while such economic turbulence will doubtless impact many industries, China is still on track to install a record 17 GW of solar PV in 2015 according to Mercom Capital's latest forecast.

 

This would be a 50% greater volume than any nation has ever installed, and more than double German installations during their peak. Chinese authorities have reported that the nation has already installed 7.3 GW in the first half of the year. Mercom estimates that 2.5-3 GW of these projects were carried over from 2014.

 

“Demand in the spot markets is robust and installations of 10 GW during the second half of the year look achievable,” notes Mercom in its Solar Quarterly Market Update, released today. The company says that while macro-economic factors have not yet had an impact on the market, that there are still concerns about curtailment due to grid congestion in some areas, as well as delayed payments.

 

Conditions are less optimistic in Japan. Mercom expects flat growth in Japan's market, due to feed-in tariff cuts totaling 16% in 2015. The company notes that Japanese PV installations fell 41% sequentially in the most recent quarter, and that the nation has restarted its first nuclear reactor.

 

Meanwhile, the United States continues its path of double-digit growth as developers rush to get projects online in advance of the drop-down of the federal investment tax credit at the end of 2016. Mercom estimates that the nation will install 8.5 GW, which is slightly higher than GTM Research's latest forecast of 7.7 GW.

 

These three markets together are expected to account for 3/5 of the anticipated 2015 global market demand of 57.4 GW, a figure that Mercom has left unchanged since its last forecast. This is only marginally more than IHS' forecast of 57 GW, made in March, and will represent a 28% increase over 2014 levels, as the strongest growth in the last four years.

 

And while the position of the top three markets remains unchanged, in 2015 the UK and India will both increase their positions. Mercom expects the UK solar market to peak this year at 3 GW, making it the world's fourth-largest market. However, drastic cuts to the nation's feed-in tariff ensure that growth in the UK market will end abruptly.

 

India is a different story. Mercom predicts that the nation will enter the top five for the first time in 2015, with 2.5 GW installed. India has already installed 1.4 GW in the first half of the year, and Mercom says that this is only the beginning.

Access to more about Landpower Solar Panel Mounting: Solar Mounting Systems, Solar Racking, Solar Hardware, PV Mounting, Ground mounting Systems, Solar Mounting System Manufacturers,Solar Mounting,ballasted solar mounting,solar mounting japan, Solar mounting china

Spain: Solar generates 6.8% of summer energy mix, 'sun tax' fears remain

According to the latest statistics published by Spain’s electricity grid operator, Red Eléctrica de España (REE), solar PV electricity generation in June, July and August provided 3.87% of the Spanish peninsula's power generation mix.

If you add the 2.9% contributed to the energy mix by the solar thermal installations, mainland Spain covered 6.77% of its power needs in the summer from the sun. This is down 1.46% on last year’s summer statistics when the solar technologies had jointly generated 8.23% of the peninsula’s electrical energy.

A bit more positive is the fact that in the first eight months of the year, gross demand in Spain reached 167,837 GWh, a figure 3.3% higher than in the same period in 2014. “After having factored in the influence of the seasonal and working patterns, electrical energy demand was 1.3% higher than that registered in the same period last year,” REE added.

Excess capacity together with depressed demand ranks at the top of Spain's energy sector troubles, including the solar PV sector.

Meanwhile, Spain's electricity generation from January to August consisted of 21.6% nuclear power, 19.6% wind power, 19.1% coal, 12.3% hydro, 10.1% co-generation technologies, 9.7% combined cycle gas, 3.3% solar PV, 2.5% solar thermal and 1.8% other thermal renewable technologies.

The "sun tax"

The Spanish PV sector's top summer concern, however, remains the proposed "sun tax" relating to the regulation of the self-consumption systems. The government has published a draft self-consumption law according to which solar PV system owners will be taxed for the power they produce, even if it is solely for their own use and not fed into the grid. Spain’s PV sector calls it the "sun tax.”

The Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF) told pv magazine that the draft self-consumption law is currently under consideration by the Spanish Council of State and that Spain’s opposition parties have signed a declaration saying that if the government publishes the law with the sun tax provision, they will repeal it if and when it is their turn to govern. All of Spain’s main photovoltaic associations, trade unions and non-governmental organizations have also signed this document, said UNEF. 

According to the draft law, UNEF added, some small sized domestic PV projects under 10 kW for specific areas (e.g. the Balearic Islands) will be exempted but only for a temporary period.

You can’t stop the future

“It is clear the energy policy of the conservative party currently ruling the country does not want to encourage distributed generation, net metering or self-consumption schemes," José Donoso, UNEF’s general director, told pv magazine. "Instead, it clearly supports the energy model of the last century where few, very powerful utilities dominate the electricity market. The Spanish government does not want more actors participating in the electricity market.”

Spain’s domestic PV sector is now waiting for the results of the general election to be held in December and most vitally for the energy policy of the new government. Nevertheless, Donoso said, “all efforts to stop the future will eventually fail.”

Technology changes rapidly and the change it brings comes from the bottom-up, Donoso added. What UNEF is worried about is “Spain loosing the opportunity to embrace the distributed energy revolution we see unfolding in other European countries, and therefore the domestic PV sector also missing the opportunity to develop the skills and the know-how to manage the new energy systems.”

The abolition of Spain’s feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme in 2013 and a new way to calculate the income for solar PV projects introduced last year has frozen the installation activity in Spain and, as a result, the idle Spanish solar PV sector had invested a lot of hope in the self-consumption regulations.

Access to more about Landpower Solar Panel Mounting: Solar Mounting Systems, Solar Racking, Solar Hardware, PV Mounting, Ground mounting Systems, Solar Mounting System Manufacturers,Solar Mounting,ballasted solar mounting,solar mounting japan, Solar mounting china

Vice President Joe Biden wows crowd at SPI

Vice President Joe Biden praised the U.S. solar industry in a powerful speech at last week’s Solar Power International trade show in Anaheim, California.
Speaking to a crowd of several thousand at the Anaheim Convention Center on Sept. 16, Biden said since he and President Barack Obama took office and put the solar investment tax credit (ITC) in place from 2008 through 2016, solar power had increased 20-fold, grown jobs 86% to 174,000 and expected to reach 210,000 jobs by the end of 2015.

Click to see Vice President's speech at SPI 2015
The vice president also announced a $120 million competitive grant program to further support solar energy development and use.
“Just imagine how much more we can do. How many jobs, imagine how many fewer cases of premature death, heart attack, childhood asthma, imagine the net savings to consumers and taxpayers,” Biden exclaimed. “Folks, because of you, we are on the cusp of something huge here.”
The new grant program is aimed at scaling up clean energy in 24 states across the country, targeting greater access to solar energy in rural and low-income neighborhoods and supporting efforts to reduce solar costs.
The United States solar industry continues to grow dramatically, surpassing 20 GW of total operational solar PV capacity during the second quarter of this year. According to GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Q2 2015 U.S. Solar Market Insight Report, the U.S. installed 1,393 MW of PV last quarter, signaling both annual and quarterly growth.
Last year, the solar industry added jobs 10 times faster than the rest of the economy and solar represented 40% of all new electric generating capacity brought online in the first half of 2015. Since the beginning of 2010, the average cost of a solar electric system has dropped by 50%, according to the White House.
“It's within reach,” said Biden, adding that the successful growth of solar energy in the U.S. is a tribute to the marketplace. “This isn’t a government mandate. This is the market working.”
The vice president added, “If we stay at it, we can make it faster and more affordable for Americans to choose cleaner and more affordable energy.”
Biden reiterated his support for the ITC extension and argued against the current $5 billion annual tax credit to the oil industry.
“Anybody having a problem getting oil out of the ground today? They don’t need that tax credit.”
Biden pointed out that half the amount of the oil tax credit would cover the solar tax credit extension.
Biden's attendance at SPI marked the the first time a sitting vice president delivered remarks at a solar power conference in North America.
"Vice President Biden addressing Solar Power International shows just how far we've grown as an industry,” said SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch.
Following his speech at SPI, Biden attended the U.S.-China Climate Leaders Summit in Los Angeles.


Access to more about Landpower Solar Panel Mounting: Solar Mounting Systems, Solar Racking, Solar Hardware, PV Mounting, Ground mounting Systems, Solar Mounting System Manufacturers,Solar Mounting,ballasted solar mounting,solar mounting japan, Solar mounting china