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The Use of Residential Solar Panels

You may think of people living "off the grid", perhaps in the deep woods when you think of residential solar panels. This was something which was more or less true at one time, but the use of residential solar panels is rapidly entering the mainstream.

Residential solar panels are increasingly being seen in suburbs; this is a clean source of energy, causing no pollutions and is very cost effective. Given the rising cost of fuel, residential solar panels have proliferated in the last few years and the systems are cheaper than they have ever been.

The demand for alternative sources of energy is being answered with solar power. There are options for homeowners other than fossil fuels - residential solar panels can be linked into the local utility company's power grid or used as a standalone system powering a single home. When tied into the power grid, residential solar panels can provide backup power and profit for the homeowner, who can sell excess electricity to the local utility.

Residential solar panel systems generally have four parts - the solar array (the panels themselves), the mounting structure, the DC disconnects and an inverter. The panel need to be mounted and connected to the inverter; after this, the only further requirement is an AC disconnect and the consumer can sell power back to their utility company.

The system is simple, yet until recently the cost of these systems prevented many who would otherwise be interested in their use from purchasing and using residential solar panels. The federal government now provides a tax credit for up to 30% of the cost of residential solar panels - up to a cap of $2,000 in an effort to get the public to adopt them. There are also incentives offered by individual states for consumers who use residential solar panels.

In the last ten years, there have been many developments in the solar power field, such as solar shingles, which allow your roof to be used as a solar panel.

Any consumer who is interested in solar energy should investigate the options available to them on terms of residential solar panels, as well as the federal and state tax incentives which are offered for their use. After installing such a system, the homeowner will benefit from energy which is essentially free- something well worth investigating.

Solar PV market trends expected to change

This was the outcome of the discussions of a group of top-level international experts on the solar PV industry worldwide, as part of Solar Plaza's Global Demand Conference, held under the umbrella of Valencia's 23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference.

29/9/2008

Most participants agreed that trends are going to change in the industry. The most important finding is the fact that panel shortages seem to belong to the past, which will probably mean that solar panels are going to start a continuous drop leading to grid parity in numerous markets. The experts also pointed out that while European countries compete for the most attractive subsidy scheme, China, India and the US are trying to keep costs as low as possible. 

 

The conclusions regarding each national market are as follow:

 

Italy:

Some administrative barriers are still a barrier to faster growth in the solar PV market. 2008 will probably see 150 MW, with installed capacity roughly doubling for each of the next two years. Most of the solar PV facilities in the country are still smaller than 20 kW.

 

Greece:

The market development will strongly depend on the complexity of the new law, which is currently being discussed. Analysts expect the market to be at least ten times bigger in a couple of years (from a modest 10 MW expected for 2008).

 

France:

The French market is moving from the islands to the mainland. Currently the government and the industry are negotiating an increase in the rooftop tariff. The current goal is 1.1 GW by 2012 and 4.9 GW for 2020, even though the market last year was only 45 MW.

 

Spain:

Although at the time the conference was celebrated it was not known what the outcome of the new legislation was, everybody guessed that the government would introduce some last-minute change. They were right. Last Friday the new law was passed with better-than-expected feed-in-tariff and cap, which means that the country will from now on grow at moderate levels, reaching 10 GW by 2020, according to the government's goals.

 

Germany:

The government has just decided to lower the feed-in tariff. The market size for 2008 is estimated at 1,375 MW, up from 1,100 MW last year. The Germans have been able to keep on growing despite lower subsidies thanks to great drops in the price of systems.

 

United States:

Barak or McCain? The upcoming elections will naturally have a great influence on the market, which reached 305 MW in 2007 and is expected to hit 400 MW this year. Last week new tax breaks were approved, which means that the market will probably grow rapidly next year, once the uncertainty has been eliminated.

 

And outside the SolarPlaza event, it is worth mentioning the following markets:

 

Portugal:

According to the government, the yearly growth will be around 20% after having passed the latest legislation, one of the most favorable of the world. This year, the country will see a huge 42 MW plant being connected, representing most of the solar power connected this year in the country.

 

Austria:
The country launched its solar PV support program just this year. However, only 4 MW have been accepted, and analysts are expecting a new law soon.

 

United Kingdom:

Rumors point out that the British government might launch a feed-in tariff similar to the ones in Germany and Spain. The market is still tiny, with 2.7 MW connected in 2007 and around 10 MW in the current year.

 

Switzlerland:

The new, highly limiting legislation will only allow 4 MW per year, from the 6.5 MW installed last year. It will be applicable from 2010, reason why 2009 might still see a reasonable capacity installed.

Belgium:
Solar PV is popular in the country, with a capacity of 14 MW in 2007, and an estimated 20 - 25 MW expected for 2008. Several different programs are in place supporting solar energy in the country.

 

Canada:

The Canadian market is one of the most promising ones in the world. It only had 13.3 MW in 2007, but it is expected to have 20 MW this year and between 100 - 300 MW by 2010. They definitely have land for those amounts and more!

Australia:

They had 20 MW in 2007, and analysts expect the market to double this year. Together with Canada, it is one of the countries with the largest potential in the mid term.

If Congress Extends ITC, 440,000 Solar Jobs Will Be Created, Study Says

17 September 2008

by Jennifer Runyon, Managing Editor

Washington, DC, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

Navigant Consulting released the results of its new economic study this week indicating that more than 1.2 million employment opportunities and US $232 billion in investment would be supported by the U.S. solar energy sector alone through 2016 if Congress extends the solar investment tax credit (ITC) for 8 years.

"An 8-year extension of the ITC would allow the market to maintain or possibly exceed its current growth rate."
-- Jay Paidipati, Managing Consultant, Navigant Consulting

For the study, Navigant Consulting estimated the impact that extending the tax credits would have on solar industry domestic employment and domestic investment using data from the three major forms of solar energy technology: Photovoltaic (PV), Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) and Solar Water Heating (SWH).

"By extending the solar investment tax credits, Congress can provide an immediate boost to the floundering U.S. economy by creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and injecting billions of dollars of new investment capital into the economy, while at the same time driving down energy costs for consumers," said Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), based in Washington, D.C.

"The solar energy industry creates jobs that are the foundation of our economy — jobs for manufacturers, construction workers, engineers, roofers, electricians and plumbers. These jobs are needed now and Congress is in a position to extend the ITC and ensure that these jobs are created here in the U.S."

According to the study, by 2016, the solar energy industry would create 440,000 permanent U.S. jobs with much of the direct growth occurring in domestic manufacturing, construction and the trades. This figure reveals the strength of the solar job creation engine when compared to the current 79,000 direct employees of the coal mining industry and the 136,000 direct employees in oil and gas extraction.

"There is the potential to create significant U.S. employment and investment opportunities," said Jay Paidipati, Managing Consultant at Navigant Consulting. "An 8-year extension of the ITC would allow the market to maintain or possibly exceed its current growth rate."

Since many solar energy components are manufactured near the markets the industry serves, extending the ITC would create manufacturing and installation jobs in all 50 states, with California, Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Washington as the states most likely to see the largest economic boost. In some states, the number of jobs could grow as much as 300% or more.

Similarly, the economies of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and the rest of the Great Lakes region would grow significantly from solar energy if Congress passes the ITC extension, according to a press release issued by SEIA. With the recent decline in automotive and traditional manufacturing jobs that has hit these areas, an economic boost would be a welcome change.

"We strongly urge Congress to seize this opportunity to extend the solar investment tax credit for 8 years now before leaving for the campaign trail," said Resch.

The Navigant study also pointed out that the solar industry creates high quality domestic jobs. The greatest growth will occur in new manufacturing, construction, and engineering jobs, and in the roofing, electrical, and plumbing trades.

Beside jobs, its is estimated in the report that should Congress pass an 8-year extension of the 30% ITC, solar energy could produce 28 gigawatts (GW) of power by 2016, which is 19 GW more than is expected to be installed should the ITC not pass, according to the study.

Navigant also pointed out that 84,000 U.S. jobs were lost in just in August 2008, with 39,000 of those in the auto-making industry alone. The additional 440,000 jobs that would be created in the solar industry if an 8-year extension of the ITC passes would go a long way toward rebuilding a struggling American economy.

Click here to access the 79-slide presentation of the full Navigant Consulting report, "Economic Impacts of Extending Federal Solar Tax Credits."

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that includes ITC extensions, however the Senate is not expected to enter into debate on this version of the bill and is instead working on crafting its own bill that may include its own version of ITC extenders.  (See accompanying news story.)

Mitsubishi Corporation Announces Large-scale Photovoltaic (PV) Demonstration Project in Brunei Darussalam

Tokyo, Aug 14, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - A Memorandum of Understanding
has been signed between the Energy Division, Prime Minister's Office
(EDPMO) and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) to jointly carry out a
large-scale PV demonstration project in Brunei Darussalam.

In this demonstration project, a PV system with nominal capacity of
1.2 MW, currently the largest in South-East Asia, will be installed at
Seria Power Station in Belait District. With the utilization of this
PV system, EDPMO, the Department of Electrical Services and MC will
jointly carry out verification tests and evaluations over a period of
three (3) years after commissioning. This will be the first
installment of a large-scale PV system in Brunei Darussalam.

Brunei Darussalam is aiming to diversify energy supply sources by
introducing renewable energy, of which PV is regarded as one of the
most promising sources.

This demonstration project is one of MC's CSR activities in Brunei
Darussalam and the company will provide capital, knowledge, and
support for human resources development in the field of PV for the
implementation of the project, with a view to helping the facilitation
of PV in Brunei Darussalam. Data and know-how gained through the
project will contribute to the future diffusion and practical use of
PV in Brunei Darussalam.

Overview of Tenaga Suria Brunei (Brunei Solar Power in English)

PV system specifications:

a) Nominal output capacity: 1.2MW
b) Types of solar modules: several different types of PV modules to be
installed, such as crystalline silicon and thin-films
c) Location: Seria Power Station in Seria, Brunei Darussalam
d) Associated facilities: PR & education facilities regarding PV

Scope of the demonstration project:
a) Design and installment of a large-scale PV system with nominal
output capacity
of 1.2 MW
b) Verification tests and evaluations with the utilization of the PV system
- To evaluate characteristics of several types of PV modules under the
meteorological conditions in Brunei Darussalam
- To demonstrate the grid-connection of a large-scale PV system
c) Technical assistance in the operation and maintenance of the PV system
d) Human resources development in the field of PV
e) Seminar on PV and other renewable energy

Anticipated timeline:
- August 2008 Commencement of detailed design
- From 2010 Operation, verification tests and evaluations of the PV
system (for a period of three years)

Mitsubishi Corporation

Mitsubishi Corporation (TSE: 8058; ADR: MSBHY) is Japan's largest
general trading company (sogo shosha) with over 200 bases of
operations in approximately 80 countries worldwide. Together with its
over 500 group companies, Mitsubishi Corporation employs a
multinational workforce approximately 55,000 people. The Group has
long been engaged in business with customers around the world in
virtually every industry, including energy, metals, machinery,
chemicals, food and general merchandise. Mitsubishi Corporation's
commitment to social responsibility is embodied in its corporate
philosophy and demonstrated through its extensive programme of
cultural, environmental and educational projects worldwide. For more
information, please visit www.mitsubishicorp.com .