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Solar PV News
- Thread starter mspohr
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Nobel Prize-winning auction geniuses want to apply their findings to renewables
Stanford professors Paul R. Milgrom and Robert B. Wilson were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in economics for developing a new auction theory and new auction formats for goods and services. Their findings were already successfully used in the electricity energy sector and may now meet the challenge on how to better shape clean energy procurements
Stanford professors Paul R. Milgrom and Robert B. Wilson were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in economics for developing a new auction theory and new auction formats for goods and services. Their findings were already successfully used in the electricity energy sector and may now meet the challenge on how to better shape clean energy procurements
Australian outback cattle station to house world's largest solar farm, powering Singapore
Exporting solar energy has been flagged as a way Australia can expand its energy production while significantly reducing global emissions. Australia is responsible for about 1.4% of greenhouse gas emissions, which increases by 5% if fossil fuel exports are counted.
Exporting solar energy has been flagged as a way Australia can expand its energy production while significantly reducing global emissions. Australia is responsible for about 1.4% of greenhouse gas emissions, which increases by 5% if fossil fuel exports are counted.
two-thirds of the power would be exported to Singapore by high-voltage direct current undersea cables
Awesome. We're pretty far behind here. No need for undersea, let's just get a bunch of HVDC to connect our regional grids to start. Then Canada and Mexico...
SageBrush
REJECT Fascism
My guess about Aus clean energy exports is different.
From the POV of e.g Singapore, it is cheaper to produce energy in Aus and ship it than e.g to continue buying fossil fuel. Local production is hampered by local conditions (weather, pop density, terrain etc.)
Aus then gets to pay the marginal cost of adding on more generation for themselves. It is analogous to a homeowner getting a quote for a 10 kW installed system and then deciding on 11 kW. The new quote is likely to be less than 1.1x times higher and the extra cost can approach the cost of just the panels since the fixed costs are already paid, the infrastructure might be the same, and even most of the labor is already paid.
The developers may also be treating Aus as an energy sink to avoid curtailment.
https://www.suncable.sg/
the solar farm is probably trivial compared to that cable.
First thought, there is continental oceanic trench between Australia and Timor
2nd thought, Australia and Singapore don't always agree with Indonesia.
the solar farm is probably trivial compared to that cable.
First thought, there is continental oceanic trench between Australia and Timor
2nd thought, Australia and Singapore don't always agree with Indonesia.
EIA Electric Power Monthly - October 2020 (to November 2020)
Solar lags wind by a lot, but continues to grow.
600.2MW of new utility scale solar was added, taking the total to 40,709.8MW. Planned 12-month solar capacity additions increased by 80.3MW to 13,042.1MW.
Utilty-scale solar generation was 9.4TWh, up from 7.8TWh in 2019.
Including estimated small-scale generation, in August solar was was 13.6TWh, 3.37% of US generation compared to 2.83% a year ago. That brought the rolling share above 3% for the first time, at 3.04%, up from 2.45% a year ago.
12 month rolling estimated solar plus wind generation was 10.93% of generation.
Utility Solar:
Capacity (MW):
Generation (GWh):
Small Scale Solar:
Capacity (MW):
Generation (GWh):
Total Solar:
Capacity (MW):
Generation (GWh):
Solar lags wind by a lot, but continues to grow.
600.2MW of new utility scale solar was added, taking the total to 40,709.8MW. Planned 12-month solar capacity additions increased by 80.3MW to 13,042.1MW.
Utilty-scale solar generation was 9.4TWh, up from 7.8TWh in 2019.
Including estimated small-scale generation, in August solar was was 13.6TWh, 3.37% of US generation compared to 2.83% a year ago. That brought the rolling share above 3% for the first time, at 3.04%, up from 2.45% a year ago.
12 month rolling estimated solar plus wind generation was 10.93% of generation.
Utility Solar:
Capacity (MW):
| Period | Prior | Change | New | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | 41,867.7 | 600.2 | 42,467.9 | 1.43% |
| YTD | 37,468.3 | 4,999.6 | 42,467.9 | 13.34% |
| Rolling | 34,060.6 | 8,407.3 | 42,467.9 | 24.68% |
| Plan +12mo | 13,562.0 | 80.3 | 13,042.1 | 30.71% |
Generation (GWh):
| Year | Month | YTD | Rolling | Month % | YTD% | Rolling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 7,844 | 51,209 | 68,992 | 1.94% | 1.82% | 1.65% |
| 2020 | 9,370 | 63,902 | 84,630 | 2.32% | 2.33% | 2.07% |
| Difference | 1,526 | 12,693 | 15,638 | 0.38% | 0.51% | 0.42% |
Small Scale Solar:
Capacity (MW):
| Period | Prior | Change | New | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | 25,779.5 | 417.9 | 26,197.4 | 1.62% |
| YTD | 23,213.6 | 2,983.8 | 26,197.4 | 12.85% |
| Rolling | 21,724.6 | 4,472.8 | 26,197.4 | 20.59% |
Generation (GWh):
| Year | Month | YTD | Rolling | Month % | YTD% | Rolling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3,630 | 24,646 | 33,392 | 0.90% | 0.87% | 0.80% |
| 2020 | 4,240 | 29,452 | 39,763 | 1.05% | 1.07% | 0.97% |
| Difference | 610 | 4,806 | 6,371 | 0.15% | 0.20% | 0.17% |
Total Solar:
Capacity (MW):
| Period | Prior | Change | New | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | 67,647.2 | 1,018.1 | 68,665.3 | 1.51% |
| YTD | 60,681.9 | 7,983.4 | 68,665.3 | 13.16% |
| Rolling | 55,785.2 | 12,880.1 | 68,665.3 | 23.09% |
Generation (GWh):
| Year | Month | YTD | Rolling | Month % | YTD% | Rolling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 11,474 | 75,855 | 102,384 | 2.83% | 2.69% | 2.45% |
| 2020 | 13,610 | 93,354 | 124,394 | 3.37% | 3.40% | 3.04% |
| Difference | 2,136 | 17,499 | 22,010 | 0.54% | 0.71% | 0.59% |
pv magazine International: PV powered desalination is “the most competitive design”.
PV powered desalination is “the most competitive design”
PV powered desalination is “the most competitive design”
Good to see stuff like this. This is encouraging for places like future California.
In California's future of heat pump air/water heating, our seasonal demand for electricity will increase massively in the winter. That means we will need to end up with 2-3x+ excess solar production in the summer to help meet winter needs. Besides H2 electrolysis production to soak up this spring/summer excess, desalination would be a great use and just at the perfect seasonal time.
Our wet season here is the winter and summers are bone dry. Why not use all that excess solar PV then to desalinate and water central valley crops. That leaves our aquifers and hydroelectric resources in better positions.
From the scientific publication embedded:
Results reveal that the cost of desalinated water would range between 0.98 $/m3 (PV + Grid) and 1.14 $/m3 (PV + Storage + Grid) with the share of electricity cost in the total cost of water varying between 39% and 47% respectively.
Techno-economic assessment of solar energy coupling with large-scale desalination plant: The case of Morocco - ScienceDirect
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willow_hiller
Well-Known Member
Good summary of Biden's tax plan here: Joseph Biden Aims To Improve US EV Tax Credit, Restore It For Tesla & GM
The article is mainly focused on removing the cap on EV tax credits, but it also says Biden's plan is to "reinstate the solar investment tax credit." Which presumably means bumping it back up to 30%?
Renewable energy defies Covid-19 to hit record growth in 2020
Solar power capacity has increased by 18 times since 2010 and wind power by four times, according to IEA data. In October, Birol said: “I see solar becoming the new king of the world’s electricity markets.”
Solar power capacity has increased by 18 times since 2010 and wind power by four times, according to IEA data. In October, Birol said: “I see solar becoming the new king of the world’s electricity markets.”
Biden's plans are irrelevant with the Republicans in control of the Senate.
willow_hiller
Well-Known Member
Not really worth arguing over whether the Senate is a foregone conclusion (less than 60% of the votes in Alaska have been counted, and some polls in October showed Al Gross in the lead), but regardless, between the President's power to write the Federal budget and the House's power of the purse, I wouldn't say Biden's plans are "irrelevant."
SageBrush
REJECT Fascism
Of course they will.
But if Trump has taught us anything, it is that the executive branch wields immense power and the president can run the country and the economy through executive orders. I think the only question is how much Biden is willing to govern via fiat to reverse the Trump fiats, and then to take things further.
Regarding climate change, step #1 is to bring the social cost of carbon* up to an amount consistent with mainstream scientific estimates -- no less than $80 per ton. That will have an *enormous* effect on every PUC/PRC in the country mandated to guide utility decisions about energy sources. The tl;dr version is that no fossil source will be approved if the social cost of carbon is rational.
*It was set at $40 a ton during the Obama years, and then reduced to $4 a ton by Trump flunkies.
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Way to go, Texas.
NG can't compete in the free market.
Texas bill would tax wind, solar generation but not natural gas
NG can't compete in the free market.
Texas bill would tax wind, solar generation but not natural gas
I'm posting this news article because I've installed my last two solar arrays on logs from my lot. The building department is sceptical but it's good to have independent verification. (My installations are lower to the ground and seem a little less rickety.)
Solar park built on rough wooden structures in France
Solar park built on rough wooden structures in France
EIA Electric Power Monthly - November 2020 (to September 2020)
Solar lags wind by a lot, but continues to grow.
679.1MW of new utility scale solar was added, taking the total to 43,147.0MW. Planned 12-month solar capacity additions increased by 1,379.7MW to 13,742.7MW.
Utilty-scale solar generation was 7.76TWh, up from 6.73TWh in 2019.
Including estimated small-scale generation, in September solar was was 11.5TWh, 3.41% of US generation compared to 2.74% a year ago. That brought the rolling share to 3.10%, up from 2.48% a year ago.
12 month rolling estimated solar plus wind generation was 11.01% of generation, breaking 11% for the first time.
Utility Solar:
Capacity (MW):
Generation (GWh):
Small Scale Solar:
Capacity (MW):
Generation (GWh):
Total Solar:
Capacity (MW):
Generation (GWh):
Solar lags wind by a lot, but continues to grow.
679.1MW of new utility scale solar was added, taking the total to 43,147.0MW. Planned 12-month solar capacity additions increased by 1,379.7MW to 13,742.7MW.
Utilty-scale solar generation was 7.76TWh, up from 6.73TWh in 2019.
Including estimated small-scale generation, in September solar was was 11.5TWh, 3.41% of US generation compared to 2.74% a year ago. That brought the rolling share to 3.10%, up from 2.48% a year ago.
12 month rolling estimated solar plus wind generation was 11.01% of generation, breaking 11% for the first time.
Utility Solar:
Capacity (MW):
| Period | Prior | Change | New | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | 42,467.9 | 679.1 | 43,147.0 | 1.60% |
| YTD | 37,468.3 | 5,678.7 | 43,147.0 | 15.16% |
| Rolling | 34,314.2 | 8,832.8 | 43,147.0 | 25.74% |
| Plan +12mo | 13,042.1 | 1,379.7 | 13,742.7 | 31.85% |
Generation (GWh):
| Year | Month | YTD | Rolling | Month % | YTD% | Rolling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6,726 | 58,026 | 69,848 | 1.86% | 1.82% | 1.67% |
| 2020 | 7,757 | 71,660 | 85,570 | 2.30% | 2.33% | 2.11% |
| Difference | 1,031 | 13,634 | 15,722 | 0.44% | 0.50% | 0.43% |
Small Scale Solar:
Capacity (MW):
| Period | Prior | Change | New | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | 26,197.4 | 308.4 | 26,505.8 | 1.18% |
| YTD | 23,213.6 | 3,292.2 | 26,505.8 | 14.18% |
| Rolling | 22,031.1 | 4,474.7 | 26,505.8 | 20.31% |
Generation (GWh):
| Year | Month | YTD | Rolling | Month % | YTD% | Rolling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3,222 | 27,851 | 33,923 | 0.89% | 0.88% | 0.81% |
| 2020 | 3,756 | 33,208 | 40,315 | 1.11% | 1.08% | 0.99% |
| Difference | 534 | 5,357 | 6,392 | 0.22% | 0.20% | 0.18% |
Total Solar:
Capacity (MW):
| Period | Prior | Change | New | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | 68,665.3 | 987.5 | 69,652.8 | 1.44% |
| YTD | 60,681.9 | 8,970.9 | 69,652.8 | 14.78% |
| Rolling | 56,345.3 | 13,307.5 | 69,652.8 | 23.62% |
Generation (GWh):
| Year | Month | YTD | Rolling | Month % | YTD% | Rolling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 9,948 | 85,877 | 103,771 | 2.74% | 2.70% | 2.48% |
| 2020 | 11,514 | 104,868 | 125,885 | 3.41% | 3.40% | 3.10% |
| Difference | 1,566 | 18,991 | 22,114 | 0.66% | 0.70% | 0.61% |
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