Solar PV News

[mspohr]

Agrivoltaics market valued at $9.3 billion

The global agrivoltaics market is pegged at a 10.1% annual growth rate, according to a research note by Allied Analytics.

www.pv-magazine.com

Agrivoltaics, the combination of farming practices with energy produced by solar photovoltaics (PV), is forecast to become a $9.3 billion marketplace by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1% in that timeframe from $3.6 billion a year ago, according to a research note by India-based market research company Allied Analytics.

 

[mspohr]

Eight things the world must do to avoid the worst of climate change

Renewable energy in the form of wind and solar power is now cheaper than fossil fuels across most of the world and the IPCC found that solar power, wind power and reducing the conversion of land to agriculture were the three measures with the strongest potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions globally.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

February 2023 numbers added to UK Solar photovoltaics deployment

All in systems <= 50kw, 84% <= 10kW. Growth continues in all 3 "small" categories, with total being highest since January 2016 (except for one category at the March 2019 deadline).

In the past 12 months 703.8MW installed, 626.8MW <= 50kW, 506.7MW domestic. 12mo was below 500MW through September 2022.
Trending towards 1GW/year. Given the growth trend in battery-backed solar (good up-to-date estimates are hard to come back, it seems) and given the sizable wind generation capacity, this trend is significant for the UK, which currently has a very heavy natural gas dependency.

MW/Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2021	12.6	12.8	101.1	17	24	17.6	17.6	18.1	21.6	19.9	25.9	17.9
2022	22.4	27.6	37.4	36	43	42.6	43.9	48.8	57.3	80.6	65.4	50.2
2023	68.6	74.8

 

[mspohr]

Invoke eminent domain, Marshall Plan for renewable energy, said JP Morgan CEO

Jamie Dimon placed the energy transition in the crosshairs in a letter to shareholders.

pv-magazine-usa.com

Dimon said in addition to reforming permitting, siting and interconnection issues for power generation and transmission, the U.S. may need to invoke eminent domain to site local clean energy rapidly. Eminent domain involves the seizure of, and compensation for, private lands for public purposes. Siting is a key issue to address for renewables, as distributing energy generation in places closer to the end-use point comes with efficiency and materials use benefits, particularly for transmission infrastructure.

 

[mspohr]

Lazard LCOE report sees “zero cost” solar and wind due to IRA

The analyst group’s annual levelized cost of energy comparison shows increasing prices due in part to increased interest rates - with utility-scale solar power’s midpoint pricing up by 66%.

pv-magazine-usa.com

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) made its way into Lazard’s analysis and showed a potential for some wind and solar power projects to have an effective $0/MWh LCOE price. In the chart, the analysis compares renewable energy versus the marginal cost – essentially the cost of fuel and O&M – of running certain generation technologies. In this comparison it could be that some new utility-scale wind and solar is cheaper than running all other generation source for instantaneously used generation
Essentially, with the Production Tax Credit paying investors, and taking into account the Domestic Content 10% tax credit adder, a developer could price their power purchase agreement at $0 and still make all investors and themselves financially happy at standard market rates

 

[mspohr]

Since IRA, $150 billion investment, 46 factories, 18,000 jobs in renewable energy

Since passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in August, utility-scale clean power sector announced $150 billion in funding, 46 new manufacturing facilities, and nearly 20,000 new jobs, said the American Clean Power Association.

pv-magazine-usa.com

Over the last eight months, following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, over $150 billion in domestic utility-scale clean power investments have been announced, according to the American Clean Power Association (ACP). This unprecedented level of investment exceeds the total investment in utility-scale clean power projects brought online in the five previous years combined, spanning 2017 to 2021. Over 96 GW of utility-scale projects have been announced over the eight month stretch, said ACP. Solar is set to play a central role in decarbonizing and onshoring U.S. energy. By 2030, it is estimated the IRA will drive the installation of 950 million solar panels, 120,000 wind turbines, and 2,300 grid-scale battery facilities.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

March 2023 numbers added to UK Solar photovoltaics deployment

82.9MW, all in systems <= 50kw, 82.5% <= 10kW. Growth continues in all 3 "small" categories, with the small-system totals being highest since January 2016 (except for one category at the March 2019 deadline).

In the past 12 months 749.2MW installed, 672.2MW <= 50kW, 551.6MW domestic. 12mo was below 500MW through September 2022.
Still trending towards 1GW/year. 12 x 82.9MW = 994.4MW.

MW/Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2021	12.6	12.8	101.1	17	24	17.6	17.6	18.1	21.6	19.9	25.9	17.9
2022	22.4	27.6	37.4	36	43	42.6	43.9	48.8	57.3	80.6	65.4	50.2
2023	68.6	74.8	82.9

 

[mspohr]

MidAmerican can move ahead with its proposed $3.9 billion WindPrime request. But will it?

Iowa Utilities Board adds a couple of strings to order allowing MidAmerican to invest $3.9 billion in wind, solar. MidAmerican has 20 days to decide.

www.desmoinesregister.com

State regulators approved MidAmerican Energy's proposal to spend $3.9 billion to build more capacity to generate wind and solar energy, as well as explore emerging technology around battery storage, carbon capture and small modular nuclear reactors. But they added conditions that environmentalists say better protect consumers and require more analysis on the utility's clean-energy transition.

Even with a healthy financial return, the company anticipates customers would bear no costs with the project, given federal tax credits provided through the Inflation Reduction Act and clean energy sales, said Michael Schmidt, an Iowa Environmental Council attorney. In fact, MidAmerican would share potential profits with customers, under the order. MidAmerican also would be required within 24 months to assess its plan to reach zero carbon emissions, under a resource evaluation study.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Stealing @petit_bateau's link about growth in PV manufacturing capacity because this is a big one:

PV manufacturing capacity hit 600 GW in 2022

The new edition of the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV), published this week, finds that 295 GW of PV modules was shipped in 2022, and that prices for silicon PV modules fell by 7% over the year. The report finds that price premiums for n-type modules are now marginal...

www.pv-magazine.com

The article says 295GW shipped in 2022, but 600GW capacity in 2023?
How so?

Because ...

Global polysilicon capacities may nearly double by end of 2023 to 536 GW

Clean Energy Associates expects manufacturing capacity to exceed installations next year.

pv-magazine-usa.com

... the underlying supply chain is going to increase significantly this year.

And if you were wondering if you can really believe (as previously reported by @petit_bateau) ...

India's pledge to stop new coal power plants to hit key states

India's plans to stop building new coal-fired power plants beyond those already under construction mark a significant victory for climate campaigners keen to cap pollution from the second-largest coal user after China.

www.reuters.com

... it might be because ...

India could become world’s second-largest solar manufacturer by 2026

India’s solar module manufacturing capacity could reach 110 GW by 2026. It will also have a notable presence in all upstream components of PV manufacturing, such as cells (59 GW), ingots/wafers (56 GW), and polysilicon (38 GW).

www.pv-magazine-india.com

... the Indian government,, which has been trying for years to shape policy to grow domestic solar manufacturing, is more confident that it's going to happen.

Also worth noting in the article I linked in this first post, isn't just the rapid total capacity increase, with the expansion in polysilicon supply, and ever-larger new solar panel manufacturing plants, but the new capacity is seeing growth in more efficient technologies. That offers the potential of a two-dimensional expansion both in installed capacity but also in capacity factors.

It's shaping up for rapid change in the next 5 years, somewhat like the LCD display shift.

 

[petit_bateau]

Stealing @petit_bateau's link about growth in PV manufacturing capacity because this is a big one:

PV manufacturing capacity hit 600 GW in 2022

The new edition of the International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV), published this week, finds that 295 GW of PV modules was shipped in 2022, and that prices for silicon PV modules fell by 7% over the year. The report finds that price premiums for n-type modules are now marginal...

www.pv-magazine.com

The article says 295GW shipped in 2022, but 600GW capacity in 2023?
How so?

Because ...

Global polysilicon capacities may nearly double by end of 2023 to 536 GW

Clean Energy Associates expects manufacturing capacity to exceed installations next year.

pv-magazine-usa.com

... the underlying supply chain is going to increase significantly this year.

And if you were wondering if you can really believe (as previously reported by @petit_bateau) ...

India's pledge to stop new coal power plants to hit key states

India's plans to stop building new coal-fired power plants beyond those already under construction mark a significant victory for climate campaigners keen to cap pollution from the second-largest coal user after China.

www.reuters.com

... it might be because ...

India could become world’s second-largest solar manufacturer by 2026

India’s solar module manufacturing capacity could reach 110 GW by 2026. It will also have a notable presence in all upstream components of PV manufacturing, such as cells (59 GW), ingots/wafers (56 GW), and polysilicon (38 GW).

www.pv-magazine-india.com

... the Indian government,, which has been trying for years to shape policy to grow domestic solar manufacturing, is more confident that it's going to happen.

Also worth noting in the article I linked in this first post, isn't just the rapid total capacity increase, with the expansion in polysilicon supply, and ever-larger new solar panel manufacturing plants, but the new capacity is seeing growth in more efficient technologies. That offers the potential of a two-dimensional expansion both in installed capacity but also in capacity factors.

It's shaping up for rapid change in the next 5 years, somewhat like the LCD display shift.

When I modelled global deployment trends I observed that solar is likely to overtake wind in the coming years, in energy production terms (it already does in capacity terms, but has a lower generation capacity factor). That is simply based on the existing rates and accelerations in the data, but also stands to reason because of a) industrial dynamics; b) deployment obstacles for wind; and c) increasing renewables uptakes in typical poorer and typically more equatorial countries.

I personally suspect that my trend analysis is on the low side in the projections. Industries like this don't like running at below 50% manufactrung production capacity so that machinery will be put to use making cells that will find a way to market. We are sooooo close to peak fossil.

 

[mspohr]

Puerto Rico cannot afford to repay any of utility PREPA’s debt, says analyst

To rebuild its grid with renewables, Puerto Rico cannot afford to repay the legacy debt of bankrupt utility PREPA through proposed higher electric rates, an analyst said.

pv-magazine-usa.com

A “rapid transition” to renewable generation is “instrumental” for PREPA to achieve fiscal balance and stability by reducing fuel costs, Sanzillo testified, as 97% of PREPA’s electricity is generated from imported fossil fuels, and fuel costs “recently have risen to more than 60% of operating costs

Irizarry-Rivera reported results of his analysis showing that electricity from the grid, which costs 28.4 cents per kWh prior to the FOMB’s proposed rate increase, “is already more expensive than grid defection” for a customer using distributed solar-plus-storage. His analysis also considered projections for lower future costs for distributed solar and storage that were developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Distributed solar systems have been deployed by 80,000 customers across Puerto Rico, totaling more than 500 MW, according to data from transmission and distribution system operator LUMA Energy, which Irizarry-Rivera cited in his testimony.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

April 2023 numbers added to UK Solar photovoltaics deployment

56.0MW, all in systems <= 50kw, 81.0% <= 10kW. Still higher than April 2022, but month on month growth in installations has stopped. Maybe signs of electricity prices falling has calmed things down?

In the past 12 months 767.7MW installed, 695.0MW <= 50kW, 567.7MW domestic. 12mo was below 500MW through September 2022.
No longer trending towards 1GW/year.

MW/Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2021	12.6	12.8	101.1	17	24	17.6	17.6	18.1	21.6	19.9	25.9	17.9
2022	22.4	27.6	37.4	36	43	42.6	43.9	48.8	57.3	80.6	65.4	50.2
2023	68.6	74.8	82.9	56.0

]

 

[mspohr]

April 2023 numbers added to UK Solar photovoltaics deployment

56.0MW, all in systems <= 50kw, 81.0% <= 10kW. Still higher than April 2022, but month on month growth in installations has stopped. Maybe signs of electricity prices falling has calmed things down?

In the past 12 months 767.7MW installed, 695.0MW <= 50kW, 567.7MW domestic. 12mo was below 500MW through September 2022.
No longer trending towards 1GW/year.

MW/Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2021	12.6	12.8	101.1	17	24	17.6	17.6	18.1	21.6	19.9	25.9	17.9
2022	22.4	27.6	37.4	36	43	42.6	43.9	48.8	57.3	80.6	65.4	50.2
2023	68.6	74.8	82.9	56.0

]

There's a fair amount of month to month variation but strong increase for the year

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

There's a fair amount of month to month variation but strong increase for the year

A note is that October 2022 had one or more solar farms open so it's an outlier amongst what was just smaller installations.
The small-scale trend only had a drop in December, so the large drop in April installs seems significant. We'll see what happens next month.
April 6th starts the tax year (it's a historical thing) and _maybe_ there was some impact there.

 

[mspohr]

Top Solar Firm Warns Excess Capacity Risks Wave of Failures - Caixin Global

Top Solar Firm Warns Excess Capacity Risks Wave of Failures - Unprepared companies could suffer the most as the expansion in China’s manufacturing capacity has outpaced demand, with industry leaders anticipating a collapse in prices and potential bankruptcies

www.caixinglobal.com

More than half of China's solar manufacturers could be forced out in the next two to three years because of excess capacity, Li Zhenguo, president of Longi Green Energy Technology, said during an interview Wednesday on the sidelines of the SNEC PV Power Expo in Shanghai. "Those that will be hurt first will be those that are not prepared sufficiently," he said. Companies with weaker finances and less-advanced technology are most at risk, according to Li.

The global solar market is growing rapidly, with installations expected to rise 36% this year to 344 gigawatts, according to BloombergNEF. But factories are expanding even faster. One step in the supply chain alone -- producing the polysilicon that goes into the panels -- will see capacity rise enough to produce 600 gigawatts this year, BloombergNEF analyst Jenny Chase said in a presentation at SNEC earlier this week. "There will be a price crash, it will hurt, and there will probably be bankruptcies across the industry," she said. Others pushed back against overcapacity concerns. Companies that are expanding are doing so because their customers need it, said Li Junfeng, executive council member of the China Energy Research Society.

 

[mspohr]

Ukraine Sees New Virtue in Wind Power: It’s Harder to Destroy

Bombarding the power grid has been an essential part of Russia’s invasion, but officials say it would take many more missile strikes to badly damage a wind farm than a power plant.

www.nytimes.com

Ukraine Sees New Virtue in Wind Power: It’s Harder to Destroy Ukraine Sees New Virtue in Wind Power: It’s Harder to Destroy

Bombarding the power grid has been an essential part of Russia’s invasion, but officials say it would take many more missile strikes to badly damage a wind farm than a power plant.

It is our response to Russians,” said Maksym Timchenko, the chief executive of DTEK Group, the company that built the turbines, in the southern Mykolaiv region, the first phase of what is planned as Eastern Europe’s largest wind farm. “It is the most profitable and, as we know now, most secure form of energy.”

 

[mspohr]

A Breakthrough Model For Solar: Meet The Startup Democratizing The Energy Revolution

In the last decade, it’s become 10x cheaper and it’s one of the fastest growing energy classes today with solar panel installed capacity set to surpass all other produ...

www.forbes.com

“The biggest challenge for this kind of energy is that the grid is based on a model that is 100 years old and is based on the mindset that this is centralised energy,” says Tinia Co-founder Radu Puchiu, “the big change is that we can produce energy in local grids, so there’s a huge transformation the grid needs. There’s a study that says that up to 80% of the potential of renewable energy is going to be wasted in the coming years due to the grid

But there’s a big problem with solar that isn’t often talked about. We’re creating new energy within an old-energy infrastructure, thus carrying the problems of yesterday into the future. Today, a huge chunk of solar energy potential is wasted due to grid inefficiency, lack of predictability, or difficulty in trading solar energy. Solving these problems would truly unleash the potential of solar, making it not only cheaper, but also a decentralised source of greater wealth equality – enabling anyone with solar panels to trade their excess energy.

Tinia’s solution is easy to implement: it works within existing infrastructure, using the grid but solving the issue of energy transaction and inefficiencies at the microgrid level by creating an extra data layer and an operating system for distributed energy.

 

[mspohr]

 

[mspohr]

Solar helps Texas carry energy load as heatwave puts power grid to test

State has managed to avoid rolling blackouts amid three-digit temperatures thanks to its supply of solar power, experts say

www.theguardian.com

As a deadly, record-breaking heatwave puts Texas’s grid to the test, renewable power sources are helping the state maintain energy reliability, contrary to some of the state’s lawmakers claims that clean energy is less reliable.

An atypically large number of the state’s ageing, run-down coal and gas-fired power plants have failed amid the spikes. That’s especially troubling because as the only state in the continental US with its own grid – a decision made to avoid federal regulation – Texas can access very little power from other states.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Solar helps Texas carry energy load as heatwave puts power grid to test

State has managed to avoid rolling blackouts amid three-digit temperatures thanks to its supply of solar power, experts say

www.theguardian.com

As a deadly, record-breaking heatwave puts Texas’s grid to the test, renewable power sources are helping the state maintain energy reliability, contrary to some of the state’s lawmakers claims that clean energy is less reliable.

An atypically large number of the state’s ageing, run-down coal and gas-fired power plants have failed amid the spikes. That’s especially troubling because as the only state in the continental US with its own grid – a decision made to avoid federal regulation – Texas can access very little power from other states.

Interesting point in the article that they have a lot of the PV in the West Texas, with power transmitted east to the Triangle, so its PV is producing later in the Triangle day.