Solar happenings

[doug]

"German Grid Aching Under (Too Much) Solar Power":

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/10/21-0

(Too much of a good thing too quickly?)

Sounds like they need more EVs with V2G to help with load leveling.

 

[TEG]

Sounds like they need more EVs with V2G to help with load leveling.

Yep, pull the subsidies from Solar and give em to the EV companies.

But, speaking of V2G, where are we with that? Not expected for Leaf, Volt, Model S, ... anything? When will we see our first production vehicle with V2G as a real feature?

 

[doug]

But, speaking of V2G, where are we with that? Not expected for Leaf, Volt, Model S, ... anything? When will we see our first production vehicle with V2G as a real feature?

Off topic, but most of the V2G work seems to be happening on the EVSE/charging network and utility (smart-grid) side of things. Also (for the time being) V2G is becoming less about the actual Vehicle supplying to the Grid (consuming valuable cycle life of currently expensive batteries) and more about throttling the charge rate in response to demand, which provides the lion's share of benefit for load leveling.

 

[doug]

Looks like the CIGS folks are still having trouble.

Is Solar Thin Film Profitable? Not So Much - earth2tech

Thin film solar startups have made good progress lining up money and expanding their factories in order to compete with much larger rivals. But as Paula Mints, director of energy at Navigant Consulting, pointed out during a webinar Wednesday, many of these companies aren’t making good profits, if they are making any profits at all.

 

[user497]

"New Reactor Paves the Way for Efficiently Producing Fuel from Sunlight"

The folk at Caltech have created a new reactor that can create fuel from carbon dioxide and water. Near the bottom they mention that this "could be used in a "zero CO2 emissions" cycle: H2O and CO2 would be converted to methane, would fuel electricity-producing power plants that generate more CO2 and H2O, to keep the process going."

http://media.caltech.edu/press_releases/13398

 

[TEG]

http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/solar-energy-news-recap-012411/

...In other solar contest news, the Renewable Energy Initiative launched its Renewable Energy Future TV commercial contest for film and journalism students. Students will produce 30-second commercials related to clean energy investment options. The winner will receive $2,500 and will test drive Tesla Motors’ all-electric Roadster sportscar...

 

[dpeilow]

BBC News - Solar subsidy 'to be protected'

 

[doug]

Mid-Sized Solar: The Goldilocks Solution - Quest|KQED

Solar power is booming in California. Last year, state officials approved an unprecedented amount of new solar energy. But both large solar farms and small home rooftop installations have run into challenges. That's why a new sector of solar is emerging -- one that benefits from being in the middle.

 

[vfx]

Solar exceed expectations in 2010

http://imsresearch.com/news-events/press-template.php?pr_id=1857

A new report from IMS Research estimates that new PV installations grew by a massive 130% to reach 17.5 GW* in 2010, confirming the firm’s earlier prediction back in Q3’10 that newly added global capacity would hit 17 GW. Furthermore, the new report predicts that installations will see double-digit growth in 2011, to reach 20.5 GW and take the total installed capacity to 58 GW by the end of the year.

 

[Brian H]

Too much of a stupid thing too quickly. At Germany's latitude, with its cloud cover time %; this is inane.

 

[dpeilow]

High latitude and cloud cover, yet they are producing too much power. Surely that proves solar does work there (the issue is their creaking grid)?

 

[dpeilow]

Solar3D Explores Path to Better Light-Trapping Cell | Renewable Energy News Article

 

[zack]

The solution to Germany's new dilemma is cheap home storage of electrical energy. They should not be trying to pump all that excess current back into the grid. The best solution to that is long-life new battery technology that's cheap. The short-term solution may be the new electrolysis catalyst, some form of metal hydride hydrogen storage, and long-life high-efficiency fuel cells. Also, there's this, but it's not exactly cheap: http://www.beaconpower.com/products/smart-energy-25.asp

 

[dpeilow]

Can Batteries Reduce the Cost of Solar? : Greentech Media

 

[Norbert]

New Materials Make Photovoltaics Better - Technology Review

Craig Stauffer, cofounder of Solar Junction, based in San Jose, California, says his company's new cells could bring the price of solar power to below 10 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to 16.5 cents per kilowatt hour or more for typical solar panels. Solar Junction's cells require fewer layers than many other ultra-efficient solar cells and are better matched to the solar spectrum.

Silicon Solar Cells Ditch the Wafers - Technology Review

Because the process doesn't waste much silicon, Crystal Solar expects to produce cells for half or even a third of the cost of conventional cells.

 

[dpeilow]

Tesla Forges Ahead on Road to Future Filled With Electric Cars

 

[dsm363]

Tesla Forges Ahead on Road to Future Filled With Electric Cars

Good to see it in writing. I assume Tesla will officially announce J1772 at some point

The next generation of cars from Tesla, like the Model S, will conform to this standard and use the same plug as the Volt, Leaf and other EVs being released.

 

[zack]

Tesla Forges Ahead on Road to Future Filled With Electric Cars

That's one very accurate, in-depth article. I love it.

 

[Norbert]

Grid Parity Underway for Solar Power - Ahmar Zaman - Piper Jaffray & Co.: Wall Street Transcript Interview Excerpt

Piper Jaffray expects grid parity (unsubsidized) by 2015. Also interesting:

In 2007 the solar system at the residential level was around $8 to $10 a watt. Now in 2011, solar systems at the residential level can be installed for $4 to $5 a watt because the price of solar came down significantly.

 

[JRP3]

I keep reading about the price drop in solar but the 5 watt solar panel I bought 15 years ago from Northern for $50 is still $50 today.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200422047_200422047
And that's the sale price!