Home: Renewable Energy News: Monday 22 December, 2008

Renewable Energy News

MONDAY 22 DECEMBER, 2008 |

2008 World Solar Power Status Report

Solar cell production report

A recent report from the European Union's Joint Research Center Institute for Energy shows continued massive increases in the annual growth rate of global solar cell production.

Growth in production averaged 40% over five years ; peaking at 60% in 2007 when solar cell production reached 4 GWp. The solar panel sector has become an AUD $28.5 billion a year business and is expect to grow to AUD $85.5 billion in 2010, while still seeing price drops on solar panels for end consumers.

Sharp Corporation is now the number one solar cell manufacturer followed by Q-cells and Suntech. The market share of the ten largest solar cell manufacturers has eroded from 80% in 2004 to 57% in 2007 due to an increasing number of companies entering the solar cell production market, predominantly in China and Taiwan.

Since 2003, the thin film solar panel production segment grew in average by over 80% and reached 400 MW or 10% of total solar cell production in 2007. The agency believes that a thin film market share of 25 to 30% in 2010 is possible.

According to the report, current global electricity generation from solar power systems is around 10 billion kilowatt hours, with half of that capacity coming from the European Union. While solar power derived electricity still only accounts for a tiny 0.2% of total electricity consumption in Europe, at current levels it still represents 4 million fewer tonnes of carbon dioxide being released each year compared to equivalent coal fired power generation.

Germany remains the largest single solar market with 1,100 megawatts, followed by Spain with 341 megawatts, Japan with 210 megawatts and the US with 205 megawatts.

Based on current trends, the JRC projects that over 15 terawatt hours (15 billion kilowatt hours) of electricity will be generated by solar power systems around the world in 2010, a 50% increase from 2007. The EU JRC also predicts that by 2012 China will achieve 27% of worldwide solar cell production capacity (nearly 43 gigawatts), followed by Europe with 23%, Japan with 17% and Taiwan with 14%.

The full 142 page JRC 2008 PV Status Report can be downloaded here (PDF)

Australia - A Future Saudi Arabia of Coal?

Australia and coal's future

Imagine a peak oil world - which isn't too far off according to the International Energy Agency. Perhaps we'll all be driving electric cars by then, recharged via our rooftop solar systems. Or perhaps they'll be powered by liquid coal fuels.

While abundant, coal generates 25 to 50 percent more carbon dioxide per energy unit than petroleum according to the IEA. Everything to do with coal is
essentially an environmental nightmare, from the mining through to combustion.

A "low emissions" or otherwise coal powered world has Ken Caldeira, a climate scientist with the Carnegie Institution in Stanford, California very concerned; fearing that coal is likely to be the cheapest alternative and therefore a very tempting prospect.

With that in mind, let's turn to Australia's coal industry, which has the 5th largest proven reserves globally, is the 4th largest coal producer in the world and the world's largest exporter of coal.

Even given that status, the coal industry in this country was in big trouble prior to last week, with "New Generation Coal" failing to convince many of the public that a low emissions version of the black/ brown stuff could ever be climate and generally environmentally friendly, nor should it be considered a long term solution to our energy needs. Even low emissions coal can take up to 20 - 25% more coal to provide the energy needed in the scrubbing/gasification/sequestering process. Additionally, the possible bankruptcy of Victoria's Latrobe Valley power stations may have eventuated in the wake of a looming massive fall in the value of coal fired power generators.

Given the short term threats and the role that coal may play in liquid fuels of the future, it may then be not so surprising then that Australia's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is providing a great deal of support to the coal industry. The government sees it as a viable long term activity; leaving clean and green renewable energy and the prosperity it can bring to this country looking by comparison somewhat like a poor cousin, even taking into account the upcoming new solar credits program.

Some are hypothesising the Australian government is lavishing support on the coal industry and establishing low carbon reduction targets with a bigger picture than the short term woes of the sector in mind - the potentially massive riches and power for Australia in the years ahead that could be gained through a huge global demand for liquid coal fuels.

Regardless of the good that the renewables sector will do both environmentally and economically for Australia; if liquid coal fuels were to take off, Australia could potentially become a coal driven Saudi Arabia of sorts.

But at what cost?

Whatever the intentions, the Rudd government's unconditional 5% carbon reduction target and support of the coal industry has drawn all sorts of criticism in recent days, including from the government's own climate adviser, Ross Garnaut.

Professor Garnaut lashed out at the low target and the compensation deal for heavy polluters; making a play on Winston Churchill's famous words with the statement, "never in the history of Australian public finance has so much been given without public policy purpose, by so many, to so few".

Solar Panel Council Exemption For South Australia

Solar panel council exemption in South Australia

South Australia's Minister for Urban Development and Planning Paul Holloway announced today that many local households and small businesses won't need to seek local council approval to fit solar panels soon.

From January 1 2009, South Australians installing solar arrays under 100 kilograms will no longer be required to apply to a local council for planning or building approval.

100 kilograms of solar panels is the equivalent to, for example:

- 6 x Sanyo HIT 205w modules = 90 kg = 1.23 kilowatt system
- 6 x 170w Solarfun solar panels = 90 kg = 1.02 kilowat system
- 6 x 180 watt Sharp solar panels = 96 kg = 1.08 kilowatt system
- 6 x Suntech 175 watt solar panels = 93kg = 1.05 kilowatt system

According to the Minister, arrays weighing over and above 100kg, will initially still require building approval before installation due to safety concerns.

South Australia already has about 40 per cent of the nation's grid-connected solar power systems, and five times the number of household installations of the next highest state. The new exemptions will remove what can be a frustrating and costly approval process for many, further encouraging uptake of solar power.

Besides the current $8,000 solar power rebate and upcoming solar credits program which both federally funded schemes, South Australian grid connected solar power system owners have the additional incentive of a feed in tariff. This is a payment of 44 cents for every unit of electricity, or kilowatt hour, fed back into the mains grid over and above usage of the premises. According to Mr Holloway, this equates to a potential bonus of nearly $400 each year for the average household in South Australia.