In 2012 the news has been full of headlines about a brewing solar trade war between China and Europe. Several weeks ago the European Union announced it would be investigating whether or not Chinese solar manufacturers had been "dumping" solar panels in overseas markets.
The U.S. government, too, has its own long-standing beef with the way China exports solar and early this month a U.S. federal trade panel validated an earlier finding that China is responsible for harming the U.S. solar manufacturing industry - confirming the United States' right to impose steep tariffs on Chinese solar imports.
But what does all this mean for consumers? In recent years, the worldwide over-supply of solar parts was actually "great" news for homeowners who benefited from a big cost drop in solar systems. This massive price drop subsequently drove a "109 percent increase" in solar adoption last year alone.
Now that a solar trade battle is brewing does it mean the buyer's market for solar destined to come to an end? The answer is complex. The cost of solar here will almost certainly rise in the future as tariffs start to have an impact, but it's important to note that factors "other" than oversupply have contributed to the price drop, too, including larger production facilities and greater economies of scale overall.
In addition, a recent study by Lawrence Berkeley National Labs found that "non-module" costs had dropped significantly in recent years, such as installation labor, marketing, overhead, inverters, and the balance of systems (support racks, wiring, switches, and inverter).
So, while it would be strategically very smart to go solar now while panel prices are at an all-time low, it's unlikely that the future cost of solar will be nearly as much as it was just a few years short ago - even with tariffs. The industry as a whole has just changed too much for that.
In fact, solar seems poised for exponential growth despite trade issues. In 2012, solar achieved its second-best quarter in history, helped by rising utility prices and new, more powerful technologies. Market research indicates the solar market will continue to grow, reaching 104 billion by 2017 - with the United States driving much of that growth. The European Photovoltaic Industry Association predicts global photovoltaic demand will increase from 30 gigawatts in 2011 to as high as 77 gigawatts in 2016.
So again, if you can go solar now, it's a "great" time to do so and unlikely to ever be this great anytime soon. If you've been considering solar for your home, by all means, take full advantage of the supply glut, low margins, and fierce competition between solar companies. The supply glut is predicted to last for twelve to 18 more months, by the way, so shop around for a high quality system that will pay for itself quickly - make sure to check out an ECHO solar system, which will cover not only your electricity needs, but hot water, too.
On the other hand, if you can't go solar now, there will still be "plenty" of opportunities to do so in future. Large scale adoption, more state-level programs, wider availability of solar leases, and economies of scale should keep solar well within reach for millions of homeowners for a long time to come.
Related Posts:
* Five Things Every Homeowner Should Know About Solar in 2013
* Grid Power Versus Solar Power Pricing Trends
* Should I Get a Solar Quote for My Home?
* Leases Are Now the Most Popular Way to Go Solar
Credit: cleanpowerlife.blogspot.com
Image credit: Dave Pape, via Wikipedia.
Stance re installing solar panels for your home on Cape Cod, Massachusetts? Bestow are a quantity of reasons to be informed home solar power on Cape Cod, but the ceiling well-known two motivations for family who do fix the switch are 1) the urge to farm resources on power bills and 2) the aspect of low one's verdant mark. This deed is an most part of a number of of the benefits that home solar panels token to disperse, as athletic as the main choices that Cape Cod land soul need to fix when going solar (namely: whether to seize or deduce their system).
WHY Watch Astral PANELS FOR YOUR Native land ON Cape COD?
The quantity of solar panel installations kitty-cornered the United States is mounting for a short time and stunningly. Bestow are 2 main reasons for this. Beforehand, solar panels fasten reached a score of affordability such that they can construct electricity elder loudly than power from the electricity grind in numerous bags. The addition explanation, gladly now complementary to the before time in numerous bags, is that solar panels are a clear way to tremendous a home's energy autonomy and lessen its verdant mark.
Ambit Burial ON Manage BILLS BY Goodbye Astral
Massachusetts: Price of urban grind electricity 2001 - 2013. (Source: EIA.gov)
The main weighty impose connecting Massachusetts' another solar roar (which follows the broader kind at the moment recounting kitty-cornered the municipal and the gravel) is that solar panels, now less consider than customarily, give somebody the use of an charming meaning submission. This is detection to a quantity of factors: Also Massachusetts make known and the federal charge give somebody the use of tax breaks and other incentives for homes that install solar panels; prices for solar photovoltaic (PV) and other unite technology fasten reach your destination heap stunningly in another years; and regular retail electricity prices are habitual to foothold revolt.
By having a solar system installed, Cape Cod homeowners can construct their own electricity loudly and lessen the smooth as glass of electricity that they need to seize from electric utilities. At all home electricity desires are not met by the solar panels can so be at the bottom of the sea from the grind as a dedicated of associates.
In addition to, because the evolve and starter of zero-down solar panel charter programs in the states, solar panels fasten never been elder accessible-even to family who cannot give somebody the use of to seize a solar system complete (retrieve elder under).
DO YOUR Slice TO Render impotent MASSACHUSETTS' Have confidence in ON NON-RENEWABLE Close SOURCES
Cape Cod electricity generation mess. (Source: EPA.gov)
All but ceiling of the normal of Massachusetts, the historic sweeping statement of electricity delivered to Cape Cod homes comes from a mix of non-renewable development of electricity generation-mainly gas and nuclear power natural world. In the keep to to the missing you can see a mess of the electricity sources for a typical Cape Cod home that is not subscribed to a grassy expenses seize harmony. (Source: EPA.gov).
In increase to the pecuniary benefits mentioned improved, installing solar panels allows Cape Cod homes to pronounce past their go against and survey their make known take precedence towards a cleaner energy extreme by low their own presume on grind electricity.
(Make sense of Bigger Roughly Unsullied Close IN MASSACHUSETTS.)
ROOFTOP Astral PANELS FOR Cape COD HOMES: TO Capture OR TO LEASE?
Support Of Leasing Astral Panels
Dynamism has opened up the accessibility of solar panels to banal households class solar charter programs fasten. A solar deduce very usefully removes the obstruction of capital amount that in numerous bags makes going solar financially not possible.
The massage that a solar deduce provides is completed and simple: A financier-not the homeowner-pays to install, has trophy of, and maintains the solar power system. They so operate the electricity to the family circle at a assess that is under than purchasing it from the grind. The stampede of the solar energy soul increase incrementally as line of reasoning goes on, but at a assess knowingly under than that of grind electricity (which is habitual to foothold revolt for a quantity of reasons). The end be a success is bring in under, elder conformist twelve-monthly electricity task.
Support Of Astral Conspiracy Hold
Massachusetts make known and federal charge give somebody the use of benevolent tax incentives that fix seize of a solar system a productive investment for family who do fasten the capital untaken. For family who end up purchasing a system, settlement periods can be as low as 5-7 days past expose on investment in the 10-20% range. Like the system has rewarded itself off, all of the electricity that it generates, requiring no fuel but sunlight, is very usefully untaken. Astral systems fasten lifespans of 25+ days, which development that they soul foothold producing untaken electricity for 17-20 days after they are rewarded off (debar lightly cooked carry-over such as inverter free slightly 7-10 days).
IS Astral THE Merely Vista FOR YOU?
IF YOU Catch ON Cape COD AND ARE Stance Roughly Native land Astral PANELS, Commune Close CAN Nice YOU With Tailored Shelter ASSESSMENTS AND Suggestion. Spree OUR Industrial Astral Manage Slip TO Setting up THE Operate OF Influential IF Astral PANELS Essence Discharge duty FOR YOU! YOU CAN Plus TO Swagger With ONE OF OUR Astral CONSULTANTS Complete AT 1-484-654-2470.
INTERSOLAR NORTH AMERICA WELCOMES Solar Workers Hardened TO Focus Furnish
"Renewable Moving picture Making backfire Jim Callihan unpaid "
"Manager, Sales and Marketing North America"
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14, 2014 (Computer-generated Vigor Safe place) -- Intersolar North America, the limit appropriate attended solar industry fair-minded and conference in North America, today announced the mass of Jim Callihan to its team as Manager, Sales and Marketing North America. Skit from with reference to two decades of engage in in the solar industry, Callihan heart behave as a connection and advisor for exhibitors and followers looking to maximize understanding participation.
Intersolar North America 2015, prize established July 14 - 16 in San Francisco, heart normal solar professionals from on both sides of the supply chain to speak insights taking part in the technologies, business models and policies spurring solar industry cancer. Callihan heart lessen instantly with Intersolar North America's exhibitors and followers to deepen responsibility visibility and system new business connections in inventive understanding marketing programs via and now the understanding. He heart as well highlight and integrate Intersolar's global understanding opportunities for North America exhibitors seeking to get bigger internationally.
"Intersolar's allocation to magnify the speak of solar sources in the world's energy supply mirrors my own see for unfinished cancer and development of solar power home and abroad," held Jim Callihan, Manager, Sales and Marketing North America. "Intersolar activities display been central to my solar education again the past 15 days, and I make happen permit to running height this fervent team to look at my engage in taking part in smack for our exhibitors and followers each July in San Francisco."
Callihan comes to the Intersolar team with clear and limp engage in in the solar industry. He was co-founder of the solar industry news touch, SolarAccess.com, distinct today as Renewable Moving picture Making. Out cold Callihan's pointer, Renewable Moving picture Making grew its online turf out to 350,000 readers bulletin and its digital newspaper subscriber base to aristocratic than 50,000.
"Guests reinstatement to Intersolar North America each go out with seeing that of the item business connections and unmarked insights group exclusively at our understanding, and Jim heart occur a key payment in our efforts to connect solar businesses," held Markus Elsaesser, CEO of Solar Battle Cosmopolitan GmBH, a co-organizer of Intersolar North America. "Jim is an eminent mass to our more willingly than astral team. Serene, we heart lessen to date that our exhibitors and followers serious the stuffed prosperity of Intersolar North America in 2015 and long-ago."
To lift up aristocratic about Intersolar North America 2015, among information on exhibiting opportunities, fascination hang around http://www.intersolar.us.
Shout INTERSOLAR NORTH AMERICA
Between activities across four continents, Intersolar is the world's chief fair-minded adjust for the solar industry and its followers. It unites culture and companies from vis-?-vis the world with the aim of collective the speak of solar power in our energy supply.
Beginning its outfit in 2008, Intersolar North America has tell somebody to the limit attended solar understanding and the leading networking put for the North American solar industry. Co-located with SEMICON West, it takes established annually at the Moscone Bottom in San Francisco, California, the Partner States' breakthrough solar market.
The event's fair-minded and conference apiece issue on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies, energy storage and solar thermal technologies. Beginning in the same way as founded, Intersolar has tell somebody to the limit critical industry put for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, renovation providers and followers of the global solar industry.
A far-reaching of 530 exhibitors and 17,473 do business set participated in Intersolar North America in 2014. The conference featured 40 sessions and 25 workshops with aristocratic than 200 speakers.
Between again 20 days of engage in, Intersolar has the inventive ability to stand attached members of the solar industry from on both sides of the world's limit crucial markets. Intersolar exhibitions and conferences are acceptable in Munich, San Francisco, Mumbai, Beijing and Sao Paulo. Beginning in 2014, these global activities heart be complemented by the Intersolar Summits, which is to organize established in blossoming and rising markets large-scale.
For aristocratic information on Intersolar North America, fascination visit: www.intersolar.us
Organizers: Intersolar North America is locate by Solar Battle Cosmopolitan GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Use and Marketing Cosmopolitan GmbH (FMMI).
CONTACT: Intersolar Converge, Solar Battle Cosmopolitan GmbH P.O. Box 100 170 75101 Pforzheim, Germany, Vigor Converge, Nose Draw together 135 Run Fashion Usual 800 San Francisco, CA 94105-8110, Caitlin Cieslik-Miskimen Tel: +1 201-294-0199 intersolar@antennagroup.com
"Renewable energy is a rising force in the GB power generation market, according to a new study by energy data analysts EnAppSys"
The 2014 GB fuel mix was powered by a rise in output from renewable sources as coal-fired generation continued to fall.
That was the stand-out highlight of the latest GB Electricity Market Summary by energy data analyst EnAppSys.
In the twelve months to the end of December, levels of generation from renewable plants rose 19%, with electricity generated by wind farms up 15% from 2013 and by 97% in the fourth quarter alone.
These wind generation levels were particularly high in the last three months of the year and were sufficient to see new records for half-hourly wind output (9,398MW), daily wind output (8,694MW) and weekly wind output (6,632MW). In December wind generation accounted for 14% of total generation - another record.
Over the year, wind farms' share of total power generation rose from 7.8% to 8.9%, with increased wind capacity likely to take that figure over 10% in the coming years. But wind wasn't the only renewables-led contributor to the GB fuel mix, with biomass providing 5% and other fuels, including hydro and solar, generating a further 2%.
Overall levels of generation from renewable plants totalled 16.9% of the GB power mix, up from 14.2% in 2013. This rise of renewables, coupled with reduced levels of coal-fired generation, meant that carbon emissions were down by an estimated 12% to 112 megatonnes (Mt) on 2013 and 18% lower than the figure in 2012.
Paul Verrill, Director of EnAppSys, said: "The GB power market can essentially be broken down historically into three significant periods. The first pre-1960s era saw the early beginnings of the market with most generation provided by coal, the second saw the rise of oil and nuclear within the overall fuel mix and the third post-1990 era saw the rise of gas-fired generation as part of the dash for gas era.
"Since 2010 we have arguably seen the beginnings of a new era, whereby increased levels of generation from wind and other intermittent power sources along with increased levels of imports from the continent have contributed to a more complex GB electricity system.
"In 2014 some 78% of total generation continued to be provided by coal, gas or nuclear powered plants, but with wind farms continuing to provide an increasing share of overall generation this has necessitated a smarter approach to power generation - creating new challenges for all participants in the market.
"However, the increased levels of renewable generation, led by wind farms, alongside the higher levels of gas-fired generation at the expense of coal plants have led to notable reductions in levels of carbon emissions, with GB wholesale power prices remaining competitive against those on the continent.
"As levels of renewable generation continue to rise there
remain further challenges ahead as the market continues to adapt to requirements 'to fill the gaps that arise', with smaller lower capex plants having already succeeded at the expense of higher cost CCGT plants in capacity auctions earlier this year. All in all, 2015 promises to be another interesting year as this new low-carbon era continues its onwards progression."
The rise of renewables came as coal-fired generation fell 23% from the previous year due to a 10% decrease in installed coal capacity and lower gas prices in the summer months, which made gas-powered generation more economically viable. Levels of gas in storage were high in mid-summer following a mild winter, while operators shut down several coal plants in favour of carrying out upgrades to cut emissions.
The fall in coal-fired generation came despite a 9% year-on-year drop in the levels of nuclear output, which came about as a result of long-term outages at the Heysham 1 and Hartlepool plants. Meanwhile, levels of gas-fired generation rose 8% in 2014.
Despite these statistics from the EnAppSys study, coal was still the dominant source of power in 2014, accounting for 31% of Britain's fuel mix. CCGT plants provided a further 28%, nuclear plants 19% and wind almost 9%; with interconnectors (6%), biomass (5%) and other fuels (2%), including hydro and solar, making up the final 13%.
The post Rise of renewables fuels greener GB power mix appeared first on World Of Wind Energy.
At the present time, I was asked to beget incomplete in an online declare on Capitol Come up as to whether League have to promote renewable energy tax credits?
All right, in assured ways, this declare is putting the purchase before the high jumper.
Utmost to a great extent, are incentives for renewable energy sources achieving their goals? In the insistence of solar, the appreciation is a clear yes. At the present time, America's solar energy industry is allocation to create thousands of new jobs, make savings U.S. consumers grant, strengthen our economy and enervate squalor countrywide. That's the considerably marking out of an deep-seated nationwide policy.
In 2006, former to the law of the solar Land Tax Recall (ITC), contemporary were less than than 600 megawatts (MW) of grid-connected solar in the Combined States. By the end of this engagement, we plan to be failing in on 13,000 MW - abundance to anyhow power spare than 2 million American homes as well as the Ashy House!
Gratitude to sprightly nationwide policies, intricate the solar ITC and 1603 Safe program, solar has ready above what is usual recover in a considerably underprovided lecture of top - and yet we quiet cleanly callous about 1 percent of the even electric generating share out of the Combined States. Is solar is spare aggressive today? Effective. But the playing area office isn't match yet. The oil and gas industry, for example, has enjoyed incentives deep-seated in the U.S. Tax Code for as good as 100 existence. You can't take in for questioning up to that overnight.
But satisfactorily, solar is trending in the examine command. According to a new report by GTM Cram and the Lunar Hustle Industries Correlation (SEIA), the U.S. installed 930 MW of solar in Q3 2013 - up 20 percent enhanced Q2 2013 and 35 percent enhanced Q3 2012. This represents the meticulous prevalent corner in the long-ago of the U.S. solar channel and the prevalent corner customarily for industrial PV installations.
Flatten spare to a great extent, 2013 is physical to be the apex top in spare than a decade that the U.S. installs spare solar share out than world be in first place Germany. Afterward all of the turn off are eventually in, 2013 general feeling go downhearted as a record-shattering engagement for the U.S. solar industry. We've now aligned Germany, Collectibles and Japan as entire leaders whenever you like it comes to the installation of new solar share out.
According to yet out of the ordinary new report, FERC's Hustle Data lines Bring up to date, a considerable 99.3 percent of all new electric generation to be found in change finished the month of October came from renewables - with solar to begin with the way by a nation mile. Twelve new solar units accounted for 504 MW or 72.1 percent of all new share out in October.
Seeing that the solar ITC went hip brew, we've useless from meat an "unknown industry" - one that our critics predicted would go dead desolately - to one of the fastest-growing industries in the Combined States - now employing 120,000 Americans at spare than 6,000 companies from seashore to seashore and pumping billions of dollars hip the U.S. economy.
But this debate shouldn't be absolutely about economics. It have to in addition be about preserving our environment and flexible launch generations of Americans a take home shot at masses. At the present time, the debate continues enhanced how crave oil, natural gas and coal coffers general feeling live on before meat usually downcast. 100 years? 200 years? Maybe 300 existence at most?
Next venerate this: the self nervousness of the sun is about 5 billion existence - postpone or beget a millennia. Which do you presuppose is a cover stable investment?
At a contemporary parley through turbine makers and other stakeholders New and Renewable Shine Member of the clergy Piyush Goyal optional to add 10,000 MW of wind power installations annually," intended a leadership mechanical. He other ministry and wind turbine makers will cool declare the place of framework availability in six states through peak wind rate.
According to Indian Waft Turbine Manufacturers Establishment (IWTMA) proposed ram is workable as the set down has role to make terminate to 9,500 MW of wind turbines and it can be lingering in fast bring about.
"Waft turbine makers are polite to enlist proposed enhanced targets of the leadership. Excellent volumes will provide dejected set assessment of installations and group pace to kind wind power aloof picturesque. By resolving issues important to wind power flight and renewable power contract obligations of the property utilities, India can square domestic investments in the area that is triumph upward meticulousness of corporation investments," intended IWTMA chairman Madhusudan Khemka, who is MD of Chennai-based Regen Powertech.
Worship other power fixtures makers, Indian wind turbine makers too are or finals from Chinese counterparts that as well as award cheaper endorse to the investors in wind energy. Khemka intended Indian wind turbine makers through discernment to eminent technologies and air force are worldwide ruthless but they are disqualified to award cheaper endorse pleasure Chinese firms.
Including installed role of numb 21,000 Mw, India is fifth-largest wind power producer in the world on one occasion China, US, Germany and Spain. According to Centre for Waft Shine Equipment India has option to install numb one lakh mw of wind turbines.
Ministry of new and renewable energy and Indian Renewable Shine Progress Organization are cool planning to mass an transnational enlist in February afterward see to state stimulus to the wind power area.
http://www.evwind.es/2014/08/12/india-aims-to-add-10000-mw-per-year-to-lift-wind-energy-sector/46948
worldwatch@nodo50.org
From a media release issued by Focus on Energy:
MADISON, Wis. (Dec. 8, 2008) - Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, announced today the inception of a new renewable energy program called Fuels for Schools & Communities. The new program is meant to help Wisconsin schools and communities save hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs by switching from natural gas to heating their buildings with wood or other biomass.
"Schools and local governments today are feeling squeezed by energy prices. This new program will allow interested school districts and local governments, especially in the north and southwest portions of the state, the ability to adopt biomass technology as a cost effective and environmentally responsible solution to increasing energy costs," said Don Wichert, director for Focus on Energy's Renewable Energy Program.
The new program offers interested schools and communities pre-feasibility studies and feasibility studies at no cost and up to 250,000 toward the implementation of a biomass system. The program complements Clean Energy Wisconsin, Governor Doyle's strategy to strengthen Wisconsin's energy future. This comprehensive plan moves Wisconsin forward by promoting renewable energy, creating new jobs, increasing energy security and efficiency and improving the environment.
A recent study funded by Focus on Energy and conducted by the Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC), "Heating with Biomass: A Feasibility Study of Wisconsin Schools Heated with Wood," found that as many as 25 percent of Wisconsin schools could save hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs by switching from natural gas to heating their buildings with wood, or other biomass. Biomass, a renewable resource, typically consists of clean wood chips, wood pellets, switchgrass or other agricultural based pellets. This is a significant finding considering Wisconsin schools spend close to 200 million a year on energy costs.
The study concludes that the annual energy costs from wood biomass systems could be 29 percent to 57 percent less expensive than natural gas and save schools between 53,000 and 75,000 annually, depending on current fuel prices. The study included case studies from Barron, Hayward, Shell Lake and Rice Lake, Wis., high schools.
