Solar Energy-Solar Mounting Systems

2015年10月2日星期五

China and the United States announce climate and energy deal

The most significant legacy of U.S. President Obama's Clean Power Plan may not be in what the program accomplishes in the United States, given delayed timelines for implementation which undermine the plan's ambition. Instead, it may be the influence that the Clean Power Plan has on China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, as well as on global climate talks.

The Clean Power Plan was referenced significantly in a joint statement by U.S. President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, during which China committed to a number of significant actions regarding greenhouse gases and energy, with notable actions in both the transportation and electricity sectors.

Chiefly, the statement indicates that China will give grid priority to low-carbon energy sources through a “green dispatch” system. The statement mentions renewable energy, but does not state whether or not nuclear power will also be included.

China also plans to implement a national carbon trading system in 2017, covering electricity, steel, cement and “other key industrial sectors”. This builds on the nation's seven existing regional carbon trading systems, and in the statement the use of carbon emissions standards for U.S. states as a default in the Clean Power Plan was also referenced.

A number of other measures not specific to the power sector were announced, including heavy vehicle efficiency standards for China to match U.S. standards. Both nations have pledged methane and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) reduction plans, as well as enhanced building efficiency mandates.

Additionally, there is language which seem to address concerns that what is planned is actually implemented, which is particularly timely given the recent scandal over Volkswagen's cheating on emissions reporting. The announcement references an “enhanced transparency system”.

The two presidents say that they are building on a joint announcement from last November, and are working towards the “low-carbon transformation of the global economy”. But more than the past, they appear to be influenced by the near future, with a prominent reference for a “common vision for a new global climate agreement” to be concluded in Paris.

However, in the United States it is not the federal government which is leading the transformation of the electricity sector, but California and other forward-thinking states, many of which are well ahead of Clean Power Plan goals. Earlier this year Hawaii pledged to get 100% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2045, and a few weeks ago California's legislature approved a mandate for the state to get 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.

Additionally, California Governor Jerry Brown is moving buildings in the state capitol to 100% renewable energy.

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Australia: groundbreaking solar array for offgrid mine commences operation

In what is hoped to be a crucial demonstration process for the mining industry, a ground mounted solar array has begun feeding electricity into a mini-grid at a remote mine site. The 1.7 MW Weipa array will supply a bauxite mine operated by global mining giant Rio Tinto, displacing around 600,000 liters of diesel fuel annually.

The solar array was developed by First Solar and employs 18,000 modules in combination with First Solar’s FuelSmart micro-grid integration technology. The PV system is expected to generate 2800 MWh of electricity annually, which is up to 20% of the remote townships electricity needs. Weipa is located on the Western Cape York Peninsula, in the far northeast of Australia.

The electricity generated by the Weipa offgrid solar array will be purchased by Rio Tinto under a 20 year PPA.

“This power purchase arrangement is an opportunity to trial the introduction of an alternative power source such as a solar plant into a remote electrical network like the one here in Weipa,” said Rio Tinto Weipa Operations general manager Gareth Manderson.

“It is already widely acknowledged that solar electricity is typically cheaper than diesel-powered electricity, particularly in remote locations,” added Jack Curtis, First Solar’s Regional Manager for Asia Pacific. “The significance of the Weipa Solar Plant is that it provides the opportunity to demonstrate that PV-diesel hybrid projects can also be as reliable as stand-alone diesel-powered generation.”

While the economics of a solar array stack up very favorably when compared to trucked diesel at remote locations such as Weipa, there are a number of challenges in realizing such projects including the short lifetime, at least on paper, of many mining operations. The PPA under which Weipa has been developed is a potential solution to this problem. Mining operators also tend to be relatively risk averse, pointing to the importance of the Weipa project as a proof-of-concept.

“At the Weipa Solar Plant, First Solar is seeking to deliver a reliable electricity supply without diverting capital costs away from Rio Tinto’s critical mine operations. Proving this commercial model has the potential to be a watershed moment for the diesel hybrid application globally,” said Mr Curtis.

First Solar’s Curtis indicated also that reliable electricity supply through the solar-diesel hybrid is another challenge to offgrid solar mining projects.

The Weipa project has been supported by an AU$3.5 million grant made available by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). ARENA has indicated that it is willing provide up to AU$7.8 million for the second phase of the Weipa project that could include extending the solar array to 6.7 MW, and integrating electricity storage. The expanded project could save some 2.3 million liters of diesel annually.

“This is the first time a remote Australian mining operation has been supplied with power from solar PV on such a scale. The success of phase one is set to create a precedent for industry by demonstrating that solar PV is a viable option for powering off-grid locations, like mine sites, in Australia,” said ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht.

The All Energy Australia trade show kicks off next week in Melbourne, bringing together solar professionals from around the country and region.

Japan: Thai utility eyes 100 MW plant, Mitsubishi UFJ to invest in Fukushima project

Japan: Thai utility eyes 100 MW plant, Mitsubishi UFJ to invest in Fukushima project

Two large-scale solar PV projects have entered the planning phase in Japan this week following investment announcements from Thai, Taiwanese and Japanese backers.

Ratchaburi Electricity, which is the largest power producer in Thailand, is to invest in a 100 MW solar PV project in Japan via a joint venture (JV) with Taiwan’s Huang Ming, reports Reuters.

Meanwhile, four leading lending institutions are partnering to back a 15.8 billion yen ($132 million), 53 MW solar PV project in the country’s Fukushima prefecture in what will become the largest single solar installation in region to date.

Ratchaburi chief executive Pongdith Potchana confirmed that the JV with Haung Ming is the first step in moves to augment further collaboration with Thailand’s PTT Pcl and Japan’s Chubu Electric Power Group to boost investment in overseas power projects.

The utility first announced its intention to enter the Japanese solar market in 2014, but this is the first concrete detail to emerge regarding its construction and development plans.

In Fukushima, the proposed 53 MW solar farm will be backed by four banks, including Mitsubishi UFJ, Sendai-based 77 Bank - which will provide the most funding for the project, at $57 million – and two other lenders.

The Renatosu Soma Solar Park will become the largest of its kind in Fukushima Prefecture, which has turned its attentions to solar power following the devastating aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Japan NTT Facilities, which is a subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp, also announced this week that it is to create a 32.6 MW solar PV plant in Kunitomi city, Miyazaki prefecture.

The project will be constructed on a former golf course using solar panels supplied by Suntech Power Japan corp. Commercial operation is scheduled for January, 2017.

Australia leads world in residential solar penetration

The Energy Supply Association of Australia has published a report that shows that with a national average of 15% penetration, the country leads the way in terms of residential rooftop solar. Belgium has the second highest rate, according to the report, with 7%.

“We're clearly leading the world in rooftop solar,” said Energy Supply Association CEO Matthew Warren, in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “Most other countries are in low single digits, so we're kind of pioneering the experiment of rooftop solar and the world is watching,” Warren told ABC Radio National.

While Belgium may be in second place with regards to penetration, the market size is far smaller than Australia’s. Bloomberg New Energy Finance forecasts Belgium to install some 65 MW of PV in 2015, while Australia should push over 1 GW.

Belgium does trump Australia in terms of installed PV capacity per capita, according to the report. Rather predictably Germany leads the way with 0.47kW per capita (PC), followed by Italy (31kW/PC), and Belgium (0.28kW/PC). Australia (0.19kW/PC) comes in sixth place.

Where Australia falls behind in the global solar rankings is in the large scale sector. Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) figures anticipate that Australia’s large scale capacity will total less than 300 MW by year’s end, a most meager sum given the state of California alone has some 7.3 GW of utility scale solar alone.

“It's one of those peculiarities,” Warren told the ABC. “We've seen almost no utility scale in Australia, whereas countries like Germany and the U.S. have predominantly utility scale solar, and that's been because of the way our renewable energy target has been designed. So it's tended to bias us towards lowest-cost renewable generation like wind at the expense of slightly higher-cost utility scale like solar.”

The CEFC and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) are targeting an additional 300 MW of large scale solar in two new funding programs. ARENA is making AU$100 million (US$70 million) available for projects larger than 5 MW with the CEFC rolling out a complimentary program of loans, worth AU$250 million.

The ARENA program alone targets 200 MW of capacity, with the body having previously supported some of the around 211 MW that is operational or under construction at the Broken Hill (53 MW), Nyngan (102 MW) and Moree (56 MW) farm sites. Smaller projects include the Royalla Solar Farm (24 MW) and Greenough River Project (10 MW).

Both the CEFC and ARENA say that the goal of their latest programs is to reduce the cost of large scale solar in Australia. If prices of AU$70 - $90 million/MWh can be achieved, then large scale solar can compete with wind projects in the country. ARENA targets projects with a cost of around $130/MWh under its latest funding round.

“Within Australia to get to that point of $130/MWh is a significant milestone,” the CEFC’s chief investment officer Theodore Dow told pv magazine. “It wasn’t that long ago that prices like $170/MWh were the norm.”

Oversight of both ARENA and CEFC has been transferred to the federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, since Malcolm Turnbull was installed as Prime Minister by his party earlier this month.

The forthcoming October edition of pv magazine includes a feature article on the utility scale outlook in Australia. The All Energy trade show in Melbourne kicks off next week, bringing together solar professionals from around the country and region.

Indian power giant proposes 4 GW solar goal

Indian public sector power company Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) has commissioned its inaugural solar power project in India – a 10 MW PV plant that will form the first step towards a final installation goal of 4 GW, NLC chairman and MD B Surender Mohan has confirmed.

NLC currently sources most of its power from lignite and coal, but will invest in solar to help meet India’s wider renewable energy targets. Tamil Nadu generation and distribution corporation (Tangedco), has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with NLC for the solar energy to be produced at this maiden plant.

NLC is targeting further solar development opportunities in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana and Rajasthan, working with the state governments to identify suitable sites and investment partners.

"The projects will be implemented based on land availability and techno-economic viability," said Mohan. Following the delivery of the 10 MW solar farm – completed at a cost of $11.3 million – NLC will commission a 130 MW solar farm in the Neyveli township in Tamil Nadu, and has also identified a further 25 MW PV project at Barsingsar, Rajasthan.

The power developer has also commissioned a 51 MW wind power plant in the district of Tirunelveli.

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.

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.

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