May 19, 2010 11:19 AM PDT
by Candace Lombardi
Rooftop solar installation from SunPower, one of the solar manufacturers that has survived the market shift
(Credit: SunPower)
Solar has found its cost-per-watt sweet spot, according to Pike Research.
The research analyst found that in 2008 a lack of readily available credit and the expensive cost-per-watt of solar compared to other energy sources created a glut of solar panels on the market. This glut, along with lowered polysilicon costs which enabled crystalline silicon solar cells to be made for less money, resulted in overall lower prices for solar cells.
The consequence of all this is exactly what one might expect. There are right now approximately 190 solar cell and module manufacturers in existence, according to the Pike Research report "The New Solar Market" released Wednesday. The research analyst predicts lower prices and increased competition will force manufacturers to consolidate with other companies or even go out of business altogether. Pike was not so bold, however, to make a prediction as to exactly how many companies might be left in 2011.
On the consumer end, credit availability coming back and the price decrease for solar installations spurred by the glut led to a market shift that increased demand toward the end of 2008 and in 2009. This trend will continue and lead to an increased interest and worldwide demand of about 43 percent growth for 2010 compared to 2009. It's about the equivalent of 10.1 gigawatts (GW) worth of solar equipment, according to Pike Research.
Pike also said the appeal of "one-stop shopping" will contribute to the growth.
As Green Tech has been reporting, there's a trend of solar manufacturers, developers, and installation companies joining forces to offer turnkey solar solutions for utilities, municipalities, and even private companies looking to self-supply. The idea of turn-key solar seems to have originated in thermal solar, but manufacturers of solar and concentrated solar systems have also formed partnerships to take care of the complicated headaches of planning, permitting, and developing medium- to large-scale solar farms.
But this growth will no longer be driven by the usual leader. Spain has been at the forefront of solar installation, for the obvious sunny reason one would expect, for quite some time. It's about to be built-out, according to Pike Research.
The Spanish market is almost completely saturated in terms of new growth, and others will be picking up the solar charge. China, Germany, Italy, and the United States are going to be the next leaders in solar and will drive the worldwide market to a demand of about 19 gigawatts worth of solar installations for 2013, Pike Research predicts.
Showing posts with label solar farms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solar farms. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Duke Energy and China-Based ENN Group to Build Solar Power Projects in U.S.
Duke Energy and China-Based ENN Group to Build Solar Power Projects in U.S.
October 23, 2009 7:00 AM ET
LANGFANG, China, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- China-based ENN Group and Duke Energy DUK will jointly develop commercial solar power projects in the U.S.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040414/DUKEENERGYLOGO )
Under an agreement signed today, ENN and Duke Energy will concentrate on two types of solar photovoltaic designs: large "utility-scale" solar farms and commercial distributed generation solar projects. Distributed generation systems produce electricity close to where the energy is used, rather than at large, central power plants.
This joint development agreement builds upon a memorandum of understanding announced Sept. 23 at the Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting at which time the companies pledged to work together to accelerate the development of low-carbon and clean energy technologies.
"China is investing heavily in clean energy and we can make greater progress in the U.S. by joining forces and working together," said Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers. "Duke Energy and ENN seek to not only accelerate the development of solar power in the U.S., but help achieve economies of scale and drive down the cost of renewable energy."
"ENN and Duke Energy have very complementary strengths," said ENN Chairman Wang Yusuo. "We are both dedicated to the development and use of low-carbon, clean energy sources to combat the climate change crisis facing all humanity."
Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS), a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, will team with ENN to develop, own and operate the solar projects.
The joint development agreement will expand DEGS' existing investments in renewable energy - including wind and biopower - and commercial transmission. DEGS owns and operates more than 630 megawatts (MW) of wind power projects in the U.S. and plans to add another 350 MW by the end of 2010. In the biopower market, DEGS is developing wood-waste-to-electricity power plants in the U.S. through ADAGE, the company it formed in 2008 with French-based AREVA.
Keith Trent, president and group executive of Duke Energy's Commercial Businesses, and Wouter van Kempen, president of DEGS, joined ENN Chairman Wang Yusuo and Vice Chairman and Chief Scientist Gan Zhongxue in Langfang for the signing of the agreement.
About ENN:
ENN is committed to clean energy for China and the world. Since its founding 20 years ago, ENN has grown into an integrated group of companies that delivers clean energy to tens of millions of customers and provides overall clean energy solutions to city governments and heavy industry. ENN has more than 100 subsidiaries in over 80cities across China and around the world, and employs more than 24,000 people.
ENN Solar Energy is an international company that produces world-leading silicon thin
film solar modules. It has also created an innovative system of integrated solar power stations.
Additional information about ENN is available on the Internet at: http://www.enn.cn/en/index/index.html.
About Duke Energy Generation Services:
Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS), part of Duke Energy's Commercial Businesses, is a leader in developing innovative renewable energy solutions, including wind, solar and biopower projects. DEGS builds, owns and operates electric generation for large energy consumers, municipalities, utilities and industrial facilities. DEGS is also working to build commercial transmission capacity to help the U.S. meet its energy needs of the future.
Comment
It is the distributed power systems that interests me the most because the power is generated close to the ones who need it. A significant portion of all power generated is lost in the transmission process. I believe this distributed process puts solar on rooftops of large stores, warehouses, buildings, etc. in towns. The stores allow the solar panels to be placed there and agree to buy X amount of energy that is produced by the panels. the business doesnt have to pay the high costs to install the panels and gets energy at very favorable rates. The utility gets clean solar power at locations that dont require much transmission.
October 23, 2009 7:00 AM ET
LANGFANG, China, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- China-based ENN Group and Duke Energy DUK will jointly develop commercial solar power projects in the U.S.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040414/DUKEENERGYLOGO )
Under an agreement signed today, ENN and Duke Energy will concentrate on two types of solar photovoltaic designs: large "utility-scale" solar farms and commercial distributed generation solar projects. Distributed generation systems produce electricity close to where the energy is used, rather than at large, central power plants.
This joint development agreement builds upon a memorandum of understanding announced Sept. 23 at the Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting at which time the companies pledged to work together to accelerate the development of low-carbon and clean energy technologies.
"China is investing heavily in clean energy and we can make greater progress in the U.S. by joining forces and working together," said Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers. "Duke Energy and ENN seek to not only accelerate the development of solar power in the U.S., but help achieve economies of scale and drive down the cost of renewable energy."
"ENN and Duke Energy have very complementary strengths," said ENN Chairman Wang Yusuo. "We are both dedicated to the development and use of low-carbon, clean energy sources to combat the climate change crisis facing all humanity."
Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS), a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, will team with ENN to develop, own and operate the solar projects.
The joint development agreement will expand DEGS' existing investments in renewable energy - including wind and biopower - and commercial transmission. DEGS owns and operates more than 630 megawatts (MW) of wind power projects in the U.S. and plans to add another 350 MW by the end of 2010. In the biopower market, DEGS is developing wood-waste-to-electricity power plants in the U.S. through ADAGE, the company it formed in 2008 with French-based AREVA.
Keith Trent, president and group executive of Duke Energy's Commercial Businesses, and Wouter van Kempen, president of DEGS, joined ENN Chairman Wang Yusuo and Vice Chairman and Chief Scientist Gan Zhongxue in Langfang for the signing of the agreement.
About ENN:
ENN is committed to clean energy for China and the world. Since its founding 20 years ago, ENN has grown into an integrated group of companies that delivers clean energy to tens of millions of customers and provides overall clean energy solutions to city governments and heavy industry. ENN has more than 100 subsidiaries in over 80cities across China and around the world, and employs more than 24,000 people.
ENN Solar Energy is an international company that produces world-leading silicon thin
film solar modules. It has also created an innovative system of integrated solar power stations.
Additional information about ENN is available on the Internet at: http://www.enn.cn/en/index/index.html.
About Duke Energy Generation Services:
Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS), part of Duke Energy's Commercial Businesses, is a leader in developing innovative renewable energy solutions, including wind, solar and biopower projects. DEGS builds, owns and operates electric generation for large energy consumers, municipalities, utilities and industrial facilities. DEGS is also working to build commercial transmission capacity to help the U.S. meet its energy needs of the future.
Comment
It is the distributed power systems that interests me the most because the power is generated close to the ones who need it. A significant portion of all power generated is lost in the transmission process. I believe this distributed process puts solar on rooftops of large stores, warehouses, buildings, etc. in towns. The stores allow the solar panels to be placed there and agree to buy X amount of energy that is produced by the panels. the business doesnt have to pay the high costs to install the panels and gets energy at very favorable rates. The utility gets clean solar power at locations that dont require much transmission.
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