Good article on base load
CleanTechnica: We Don’t Need Base Load Power. We Don’t Need Base Load Power
CleanTechnica: We Don’t Need Base Load Power. We Don’t Need Base Load Power
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Solar PV News
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Can Dual-Use Solar Panels Provide Power and Share Space With Crops?
In a study by AgriSolar Clearhouse, a new collaboration to connect farmers and other landowners with agrivoltaic technology, the installations were also shown to foster growth by shielding crops from increasing temperatures and aiding with water conservation. While the technology remains in its infancy in the United States compared with countries in Europe, where the technology has been used for over a decade, federal regulators as well as academics and developers are working to remedy that disparity.
Early results are promising, said Garrett Nilsen, the acting director of the Solar Energies Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. “There’s a project in Arizona where they’ve seen a threefold increase in crop yields when they are underneath this kind of system and up to a 50 percent reduction in irrigation requirements” because the panels provide shade, he said. Additionally, the plants under the panels release water into the air, which cools the modules, creating what Mr. Nelson described as a “symbiotic relationship between the plants and the panels.”
In a study by AgriSolar Clearhouse, a new collaboration to connect farmers and other landowners with agrivoltaic technology, the installations were also shown to foster growth by shielding crops from increasing temperatures and aiding with water conservation. While the technology remains in its infancy in the United States compared with countries in Europe, where the technology has been used for over a decade, federal regulators as well as academics and developers are working to remedy that disparity.
Early results are promising, said Garrett Nilsen, the acting director of the Solar Energies Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. “There’s a project in Arizona where they’ve seen a threefold increase in crop yields when they are underneath this kind of system and up to a 50 percent reduction in irrigation requirements” because the panels provide shade, he said. Additionally, the plants under the panels release water into the air, which cools the modules, creating what Mr. Nelson described as a “symbiotic relationship between the plants and the panels.”
FlatSix911
Porsche 918 Hybrid
I've used bi-facial PV panels (not dual-use) in commercial properties for shade and increased production with good results.
On June 30th, California grid scale battery storage briefly provided peak power greater than the Diablo Canyon nuke plant. (2360 MW vs 2266 MW at 20:25.) First time I've seen this happen.
Thin film solar may have carbon intensity advantage over silicon
Thin-film cadmium telluride panels may have a $0.02 to $0.04 per watt carbon cost advantage over traditional polysilicon, said the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in an analysis of embodied carbon, embodied energy, and energy payback.
pv-magazine-usa.com
One of the big strengths of PV is that it has this positive feedback loop,” said Nancy Haegel, center director of NREL’s Materials Science Center. “As we clean up the grid—in part by adding more PV to the grid—PV manufacturing will become cleaner, in turn making PV an even better product.”
Powering EV charging stations with agrivoltaics
Oregon researchers find that placing agrivoltaic installations along highways to power EV charging stations can reduce both carbon emissions and range anxiety.
pv-magazine-usa.com
One-third of global PV manufacturing capacity is at medium or high risk of bankruptcy, IEA says
A new report from the International Energy Agency stresses the importance of geographically diversifying the global PV supply chain. This would prevent supply chain vulnerability to bankruptcies and underinvestment.
www.pv-magazine.com
The paper also describes thoroughly the main vulnerabilities of the global PV supply chain while highlighting the need for a wide geographical diversification of the industry. “China has been instrumental in bringing down costs worldwide for solar PV, with multiple benefits for clean energy transitions,” the IEA analysts emphasize. “At the same time, the level of geographical concentration in global supply chains also creates potential challenges that governments need to address.”
One-third of global PV manufacturing capacity is at medium or high risk of bankruptcy, IEA says
A new report from the International Energy Agency stresses the importance of geographically diversifying the global PV supply chain. This would prevent supply chain vulnerability to bankruptcies and underinvestment.
The paper also describes thoroughly the main vulnerabilities of the global PV supply chain while highlighting the need for a wide geographical diversification of the industry. “China has been instrumental in bringing down costs worldwide for solar PV, with multiple benefits for clean energy transitions,” the IEA analysts emphasize. “At the same time, the level of geographical concentration in global supply chains also creates potential challenges that governments need to address.”
I think a key point is that as with other resources, COVID dampened the required expansion in polysilicon manufacturing, and the crunch was only expected to ease completely by 2023.
It's limiting PV at the moment.
The forecast of global production of 1 TW/year from 2030 is mind-boggling in the expected impact.
I think another point of the article is that PV production has been subsidized by China and they now represent most of the market. China may be reducing their subsidies and this could impact financial viability of companies. The article argues for geographic diversification (and there may be higher prices without subsidies).
Solar Power Is Bailing Texas Out This Summer
Enjoying that AC? Thank the mighty power of the sun and the renewable energy source keeping the grid afloat.
We’ve got twice the solar we had last summer, and something like three times what we had eighteen months ago,” energy consultant Doug Lewin told me on Monday. “We actually set another solar record today, and we set one yesterday. Renewables throughout most of May and June, as we’ve been experiencing extreme heat, really were the difference between [having] a whole lot of conservation calls and potential rolling outages and not having them.”
White House takes executive action to spur US solar manufacturing
Concurrent with the two-year halt of solar tariffs on major Southeast Asian panels suppliers, the Biden Administration invoked the Defense Production Act and is using the full power of federal procurement capabilities to boost US-made solar.
pv-magazine-usa.com
Last month, the Biden administration began taking strides to support clean energy buildout and combat climate change. Executive action was taken to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA), which has wide implications in its applicability. It will specifically be used to boost domestic production of solar panel parts including modules and module components, insulation for buildings, efficient electric heat pumps for heating and cooling, equipment for making electricity-generated fuels, including electrolyzes, fuel cells, and related platinum group metals, and critical power grid infrastructure like transformers.
The White House said these actions combined will pave the way for 10 GW of solar procurement over the next decade by the United States government alone. In cooperation with local and state governments and municipal utilities, the administration said the actions will make a potential market impact of as much as 100 GW over the next decade.
Made-in-USA solar for stable supply chains, lower emissions, fair labor
Toledo Solar founder Aaron Bates joined <b>pv magazine usa</b> to explain the benefits of US made solar and cadmium telluride technology.
pv-magazine-usa.com
Bates said that 90% of US utility-scale projects last year were CdTe, and the utility-scale sector makes up about 55% of all solar capacity added. About 20 years ago, it represented less than 1% of solar installations. So why all the growth, and why did Bates enter the market? There are quite a few reasons to support CdTe and US-made solar, said Bates, including technological advantages, bankability, recyclability, supply chain stability, improved labor practices, and more.
Industrial process for ‘mobile’ solar module recycling
German company Flaxres has developed an industrial process to recycle PV modules, and has begun operating a pilot facility at its new site where 10 tons of solar modules can be recycled daily. Flaxres plans to make equipment based on this facility available to international customers.
www.pv-magazine.com
The basis for the breakthrough was a successfully completed mass test with the recycling of 7.5 tons of solar modules in the “Flaxthor” production plant, it added. According to Flaxres, more than 200 kg of silicon and 4 kg of silver were recovered, as well as 4.9 tons of glass of the highest quality. The site in Dresden has a potential recycling capacity of more than 1,000 tons per year.
California rulemaking to pursue demand flexibility through dynamic pricing
Less curtailment of renewables and lower customer bills are some of the benefits expected from demand flexibility. The rulemaking follows a white paper last month proposing opt-in dynamic pricing in California.
pv-magazine-usa.com
The California Public Utilities Commission has voted 4-0 to institute a rulemaking to advance demand flexibility through electric rates. Demand flexibility would allow consumers to reduce or shift their electricity use at times of peak demand in response to a price signal or other incentive, the Commission (CPUC) said in a news release. Enabling the use of price signals in this way is known as dynamic pricing, or “sending prices to devices.”
California moves a step closer to opt-in dynamic pricing to help balance renewables
Opt-in dynamic pricing of electricity, which could help balance renewable generation while lowering electric bills for participants and non-participants alike, is now on deck for a California decision.
pv-magazine-usa.com
Leaked: US power companies secretly spending millions to protect profits and fight clean energy
The CEO of the biggest power company in the US had a problem. A Democratic state senator was proposing a law that could cut into Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) profits. Landlords would be able to sell cheap rooftop solar power directly to their tenants – bypassing FPL and their monopoly on electricity.
The CEO of the biggest power company in the US had a problem. A Democratic state senator was proposing a law that could cut into Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) profits. Landlords would be able to sell cheap rooftop solar power directly to their tenants – bypassing FPL and their monopoly on electricity.
As Texans are asked to cut energy use amidst a heat wave, solar and batteries step up
The Texas grid is having energy supply issues as heat waves cause energy demand to spike. Rooftop solar and energy storage offer relief for homeowners and the grid at large.
pv-magazine-usa.com
Rather than limiting comfort or relying on an ever-dwindling reserve supply, homeowners are increasingly turning to solar and energy storage as a solution to the Texas-sized problem. Solar and storage can step up in numerous ways that help both the homeowner and the grid at large.
“We’ve got twice the solar we had last summer, and something like three times what we had eighteen months ago,” energy consultant Doug Lewin told Texas Monthly. “We actually set another solar record today, and we set one yesterday. Renewables throughout most of May and June, as we’ve been experiencing extreme heat, really were the difference between [having] a whole lot of conservation calls and potential rolling outages and not having them.” Texas has the largest projection for solar buildout with 28 GW of solar on the way, or 50% more than California in a three-year horizon. This buildout will need to continue if ERCOT is to meet growing demand, which is ballooning due to increasing population, increasing temperatures, a boost in electrification of appliances, heating and cooling, and the electric vehicle transition. Plus, renewables will be needed to make up for the retirement of fossil fuel generators. Between 2014 and 2020, 6.2 GW of coal generation was retired, said Real Clear Energy
The benefits of solar and batteries are not just for wealthy homeowners. Data from the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory shows that over time, homeowners in lower income thresholds are increasingly adopting the technology. In 2013, 33.6% of solar adopters had a household income of $100k or less. As of 2020, that number increased to 62.9%.
As Texans are asked to cut energy use amidst a heat wave, solar and batteries step up
The Texas grid is having energy supply issues as heat waves cause energy demand to spike. Rooftop solar and energy storage offer relief for homeowners and the grid at large.
Rather than limiting comfort or relying on an ever-dwindling reserve supply, homeowners are increasingly turning to solar and energy storage as a solution to the Texas-sized problem. Solar and storage can step up in numerous ways that help both the homeowner and the grid at large.
“We’ve got twice the solar we had last summer, and something like three times what we had eighteen months ago,” energy consultant Doug Lewin told Texas Monthly. “We actually set another solar record today, and we set one yesterday. Renewables throughout most of May and June, as we’ve been experiencing extreme heat, really were the difference between [having] a whole lot of conservation calls and potential rolling outages and not having them.” Texas has the largest projection for solar buildout with 28 GW of solar on the way, or 50% more than California in a three-year horizon. This buildout will need to continue if ERCOT is to meet growing demand, which is ballooning due to increasing population, increasing temperatures, a boost in electrification of appliances, heating and cooling, and the electric vehicle transition. Plus, renewables will be needed to make up for the retirement of fossil fuel generators. Between 2014 and 2020, 6.2 GW of coal generation was retired, said Real Clear Energy
The benefits of solar and batteries are not just for wealthy homeowners. Data from the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory shows that over time, homeowners in lower income thresholds are increasingly adopting the technology. In 2013, 33.6% of solar adopters had a household income of $100k or less. As of 2020, that number increased to 62.9%.
Net planned capacity change for Texas, (2022 from June) from EIA:
| TX | All Other | Batteries | Conventional Hydroelectric | Conventional Steam Coal | Geothermal | Landfill Gas | Municipal Solid Waste | Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | Natural Gas Internal Combustion Engine | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | Natural Gas with Compressed Air Storage | Nuclear | Offshore Wind Turbine | Onshore Wind Turbine | Other Gases | Other Natural Gas | Other Waste Biomass | Petroleum Coke | Petroleum Liquids | Solar Photovoltaic | Solar Thermal without Energy Storage | Wood/Wood Waste Biomass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 1942.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 232 | 394.5 | 2.4 | -328 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3205.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4790.1 | 0 | 0 | 10239 |
| 2023 | 23.4 | 1354.9 | 0 | -650 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 495.4 | 0 | -317.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1730 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 5408 | 0 | 0 | 8042.1 |
| 2024 | 0 | 355 | 0 | -840 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 344 | 0 | -1011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 288 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 3322 | 0 | 0 | 2466 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1406.6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 317 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1728.6 |
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -227 | 0 | 0 | -2540.9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2767.9 |
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -655 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -190 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -845 |
| 2028 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -410 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1410 |
| 2029 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1689 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -73.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1762.5 |
| 2030 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -63 | 0 | -244 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 222.8 | 0 | 0 | -84.2 |
It's pretty obvious where the growth is.
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WIRED: After Going Solar, I Felt the Bliss of Sudden Abundance. After Going Solar, I Felt the Bliss of Sudden Abundance
Global solar capacity to grow 30% this year, said analyst
Bloomberg senior clean energy analyst Rob Barnett forecasts a 30% increase in global PV deployment this year, and double-digit growth through 2025.
pv-magazine-usa.com
It seems that they don't think the significant expansion to about 1TW/year of polysilicon manufacturing is going to happen.Global solar capacity to grow 30% this year, said analyst
Bloomberg senior clean energy analyst Rob Barnett forecasts a 30% increase in global PV deployment this year, and double-digit growth through 2025.
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