Benefits of a Floating Solar Array

Article published on www.engineering.com, in December 12th, 2015

Manchester England will soon be the home of Europe’s largest floating solar array. United Utilities, provider of water and sewer services for nearly seven million people in northwest England, is installing a solar farm on rafts that will float atop Manchester’s Godley reservoir. The three megawatt photovoltaic array will generate one third of the electricity used by the water treatment facility - about 2.7 GWh per year. (That number assumes an average of 2.4 peak sun hours per day, which is pretty low but probably correct for northern England, with its 53o latitude.) Although United Utilities is privately owned, its prices are regulated by the UK, so customers will ultimately see lower rates as a result of this investment.

Economics aside, I’d like to focus on the technical benefits of solar panels floating on water. First and foremost, water is a great heat sink, and PV panels operate better when they’re kept cool. How much better?

[Pause for dramatic effect...]

Let’s do the math!

Increasing Power

A typical PV panel has nominal current and voltage ratings. Output current is a function of the amount of light reaching the panel, and output voltage is primarily dependent on the load. Power is the product of  current times voltage. Nominal values are based on standard test conditions, typically a light intensity of 1000 w/m2and an operating temperature of 25oC.

Each panel has temperature coefficients that tell how much the voltage and current will vary with temperature. For example, a panel’s voltage and current may vary by -80mV/oC and 5mA/oC, respectively. (Note that the voltage has a negative temperature coefficient, so lower temperature results in higher voltage.) Cooling a panel by 1oC will increase its voltage by 80mV and decrease its current by 5mA.

How does cooling the panel affect power production? 

Let's look at a commercial panel that provides 135W when its voltage is 17.7V and current is 7.63A. Suppose the panels are cooled by 5oC*. How does the voltage and current change?

Voltage will increase by 0.4V, giving 18.1V.

Current will decrease by 0.025A, giving 7.605A

The new power output is 18.1V x 7.605A = 137.7W, an increase of about 2%.

Two percent doesn’t seem like much, but with a 3 MW array, an extra 2% is 60kW. Over one year at that location, we’re looking at an additional 52 MWh of energy.

*Disclaimer: I don’t know exactly how much of a cooling effect the water will have on the panels. I know of a hybrid PV thermal panel that decreases cell temperature by 22oC, but that system pumps water under the panels for more efficient cooling. I suspect that floating on a reservoir will have a less dramatic impact, so I used 5oC in my calculations.

Reducing Evaporation

The floating array will cover more than 45,000 square meters of water, 75% of the reservoir’s surface. Godley is an open air reservoir, so it’s affected by evaporation. How much? Well, we’re getting out of my area of expertise, so I went to theEngineering Toolbox and found that under typical atmospheric conditions, a body of water with a 45,000 m2 surface area could lose more than 15,000 kg (almost 4000 gallons) of water every hour. If we assume that evaporation takes place primarily during the day in warmer months, we can cut that number by a factor of four, so the floating array could prevent the reservoir from losing about eight million gallons of water every year. (It won’t stop rainwater from getting in, though - the floats will have drainage.)

Decreasing Algae

Anyone who’s ever owned a swimming pool knows that algae loves sunlight. Curtailing the growth of algae in open air reservoirs is often accomplished through the use of herbicides and algaecides, and nobody wants to drink those. I’ll leave it to the biologists to run the calculations on how much this array will reduce algae growth, but with 75% of the surface covered, I think it’s safe to say that United Utilities will spend less money on chemical treatments for algae reduction.

United Utilities’ Barry Tayburn and Chris Stubbs talk about the project:

Image and video courtesy of United Utilities

Is your roof suitable for PV? Just google it.

Article Parished www.sunwindenergy.com on the 21st of august 2015

One of the engineers at Google has a PV system on his roof. A lot of his friends and acquaintances always told him that they certainly couldn’t install a PV system on their roof because their place was not sunny enough. If you are already working for Google, the idea presents itself to use its own services and start a new project which turns Google Maps into a big solar land registry.

Thus “Project Sunroof” was born. This webpage lets users enter their address and uses a combination of Google’s mapping data and solar irradiation data to calculate how sunny their roof actually is. More specific, Google wants to show how many sunshine hours per year a house gets and even provide an estimate as to how much money the homeowners could save by installing a PV system. 

Potentially, everything could be a business model

For these calculations, the orientation of the roof in question, shade by trees and nearby buildings and even the weather patterns of the location will be taken into consideration. Additionally, users can enter a mean value for their electricity bill to further personalise the calculation of potential savings.

Now, Google wouldn’t be Google if it did not think of including search results in this new service. People who own a sunny roof could get forwarded to an installation technician from their area. That companies might be willing to pay for being listed further up would probably be far from inconvenient for Google.

Today Fresno, tomorrow the world

So far, the project is still in its early phases and the “sunniness” of their own roof can only be analysed by citizens of Boston, the San Francisco Bay area and Fresno. Why those cities? This is also mentioned (in a likeable way) in the info video about the project: The Sunroof Project Team comes from Boston, Google has its headquarters in Mountain View in the SF Bay Area and in Fresno, well, apparently, one of the engineers’ mother is living there.

If the prediction of the announcement video turns out to be correct, the service might be available all over the U.S. rather soon. Maybe even worldwide, but that probably depends on the realisation and the success of the new project. The link to Project Sunroof unfortunately does not work from Germany (where Sun & Wind Energy is based) but if you are somewhere else, feel free to check it out: www.google.com/get/sunroof(link is external)

A nudge for the PV sector

It is unclear how exactly the search giant wants to factor in things such as a roof’s inclination, different amounts of shade at different times during the day or whether this is even planned at all. The accuracy/precision of Sunroof might leave room for improvements. The underlying idea is nevertheless a good one. Since, even if the project does not deliver the most exact data ever, at least the PV industry might profit from two big things: simplicity and awareness. Google is one of the best known brands worldwide. If such a company supports solar energy, this can only increase the amount of people asking themselves: “Why don’t I have a PV system on my roof?” And if they can answer this with a comfortable: “I’ll just sunroof this quickly!” and find out how well their roof is suited for a PV system: So much better!

Why not do the same with water ponds? Floating solar system are already viable and economical alternative to rooftops systems. Check Ciel et Terre Solution

Indonesia Plans Incentives To Boost Renewable Energy

Article parished in www.cleantechnica.com August 21st, 2015 by Smiti Mittal  

Indonesia is planning to introduce incentives aimed at attracting investment in its renewable energy sector.

The country’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources recently announced that the government is mulling several incentives to bring large investments into its renewable energy sector, one of which could reduce the import duty on equipment used in the development of renewable energy projects. The planned incentives would play a critical role in Indonesia’s endeavour to boost the share of renewable energy sources in the total energy mix to 19% by 2019 and to 25% by 2025, up from its current share of renewable energy sources of between 5% and 6%.

Renewable energy potential (PDF) in Indonesia remains largely untapped, and investment from national and international companies is critical to turning this situation around. According to Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), the government-owned electricity distribution company in Indonesia, the country has 75 GW of hydro power potential, 27.5 GW of geothermal energy potential, 50 GW of biomass energy potential, and 9 GW of wind energy potential.

However, over 90% of the potential in almost all renewable energy technologies remained untapped.

The government is nevertheless taking significant measures to make the renewable energy sector more attractive for investors, indicating that the budget for renewable energy development could be increased five-fold next year to around $800 million.

Policy guidance by the government is slowly reaping results. Construction of the country’s first large-scale wind energy project has already started, with the 50 MW project being constructed by a joint venture between an Indonesian and American company, and is expected to be commissioned in 2019. The government was also reported to be working to have 4 to 5 GW of geothermal capacity operational by the end of this year.

Ciel et Terre propose solution to preserve land while converting non profitables surfaces in renewable energy producing 

Tendering process for photovoltaics and wind power with 1 MW or more in Germany

Article published in http://www.sunwindenergy.com/, in August the 5th, 2015

On Friday, the German Federal Ministry of Economics published the key points(link is external) of a law to tender renewable energy projects, which will come into effect in 2017. According to the document, the tendering process, which was tested earlier this year, will be mandatory for ground-mounted solar parks.

Photovoltaic systems on buildings with an output of 1 MW or more, as well as those installed at sites such as landfills, have been newly included in the process. The tendering process will be mandatory for wind farms from 2017 onwards. The only exceptions are plants with less than 1 MW capacity, prototypes and test facilities. The maximum size of wind farm projects is not specified.

Tendering process also for on-roof photovoltaic systems starting at 1 MW

The majority of private and commercial photovoltaic systems will continue to be subsidised through a predetermined feed-in tariff under the German Renewable Energies Act (EEG). In these cases, quantity control will still be implemented via the so-called 'flexible ceiling', and systems installed through the tendering process will be included in the calculation.

In the specific implementations of the tendering systems, technologies will be differentiated using customised tender designs. According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, the draft document focuses on technologies "that will make the most significant contributions to achieving the development goals of the EEG in 2014, specifically onshore wind energy, offshore wind energy and solar energy."

Federal Minister Sigmar Gabriel is utilising the leeway provided by the EU's energy subsidy guidelines, which require funding for renewable energy to be transitioned to the tendering model but nevertheless allow exceptions. The German Solar Industry Association noted that it is still too early to say with certainty whether the tendering process will be more efficient than the existing feed-in tariff model for solar energy in achieving the goal of expanding photovoltaics, as policy-makers intend. In general, however, the association welcomed the fact that small and medium-sized systems were not included in the tendering process. Nevertheless, it criticised some of the details. In the association's view, for example, it is "unacceptable that the Federal Ministry of Economics wants to exclude large roof-mounted PV systems that allow own-consumption of solar power from participating in the tendering process."

Tenders for wind energy as well

The tendering process will be mandatory for wind farms from 2017 onwards. The only exceptions are plants with less than 1 MW capacity, prototypes and test facilities. The maximum size of wind farm projects is not specified.

In order to participate in the tendering process, a permit pursuant to the German Federal Emission Control Act (BImSchG) must be obtained. The purpose of this is to ensure that bids are based on projects that have a high probability of being carried out, that their location and performance are specified and that they can be clearly categorised. In addition to this material qualification requirement, financial collateral must be deposited along with the bid. The so-called 'bid bond' will be 30 euros per kW installed capacity of the bid amount. The collateral can be submitted in the form of a bank guarantee conditioned upon successful participation or a cash deposit into a blocked account.

Criticism from the conventional energy industry

By contrast, representatives of conventional energy immediately criticised the key points. They had repeatedly demanded that small and medium-sized photovoltaic systems should only receive funding through the tendering process.

Statements, in particular regarding the consultation questions formulated in the key points document, can be submitted at the following email address until 1 October 2015: Ausschreibung-eeg@bmwi.bund.de(link sends e-mail). After carrying out a consultation procedure, the German Federal Government will submit a bill this year, which will then be discussed in the first half of 2016 in the Bundestag.

Floating Solar System are a viable alternative to traditional structures presenting many benefits 

Phoenix Contact introduces new surge protection devices for 1,500 volts

article originally published in www.sunwindenergy.com, on June 26th, 2015

Large photovoltaic systems are increasingly using a higher operating voltage of 1,500 V, which makes transmitting the electricity to the inverter more cost-effective. Phoenix Contact has now introduced the new VAL-MB product range of type 1/2 lightning / surge arresters for this application area. The devices in this product range are suitable for the higher generator voltage.

The manufacturer emphasises that the devices are specifically designed to fulfil the requirements of DC applications and are certified by the Dutch KEMA (DNV GL). The protection devices feature longer cable insertion funnels and higher protective shafts for the screws to improve protection against arcing. The product range includes type 1/2 lightning/surge arresters as well as simple type 2 surge protection devices for generator voltages of 600, 1,000 and 1,500 V DC. Phoenix Contact supplies the devices with or without remote indication contact. The manufacturer specifies a short-circuit rating of 2000 A for this range of surge arresters, and they can be used at altitudes of up to 6,000 metres above sea level.

Surge protection for a generator voltage of up to 1,500 V DC (Photo: Phoenix Contact)

Ciel & Terre International exhibiting on Intersolar North America in July 2015.

For the 3^rd time, Ciel & Terre will be exhibiting at Intersolar North America in San Francisco from the 14^th to the 16^thof July 2015 under CALSEIA pavilion located at booth number 8811,8812.

Intersolar North America is the most-attended solar exhibition in the United States. It’s an event focus on the areas of photovoltaic, PV production technologies, energy storage systems and solar thermal technologies. The professionnal fair has been a massive success over the years, and Ciel et Terre will enjoy this occasion to showcase its patented technology Hydrelio© that has been succesfully installed in Japan, Korea, UK and Thailand.

Ciel & Terre has been developing large-scale solar power plants since its creation in 2006. Thus, CTI is able to manage all aspects of the development process from providing design, engineering, financing, legal, construction,  to the operation and maintenance services for rooftop, ground-mount or floating solar systems. Since 2011, Ciel & Terre developped an innovative floating solar solution, Hydrelio©. To expand on new market CTI develops strategic partnerships and export business of its Hydrelio© system and now provide its technology all over the world.

Nowadays, floating solar system is considered as a viable and suitable alternative to traditional solar structures. Ultimately tenders have been issued in many countries, Japan, Brazil, Singapore, Portugal or California with Sonoma County project the past march for example. Application for this innovative solution are plenty, irrigation reservoir, waterdrinking ponds, or hydroelectric dam.

In addition, REC has recently announced that they would extend their manufacturer warranty to floating mouting structures.

Copyright REC: A small floating pilot had been installed during exhibition in Munich in June 2015

Eva Pauly, the International Sales Director will be glad to welcome you during on the booth. If you are interested to set an appointment with us, please contact Madeleine Le Gall at mlegall@cieletterre.net, she will be happy to find a convenient time and place to exchange on any project you may have together.

REC Solar wins Intersolar Award with TwinPeak module

Article originally published on www.sunwindenergy.com in June 12th 2015

In our video, Marketing and Communications Manager Orod Amiri talks about the latest developments of REC Solar(link is external) and presents their TwinPeak module, which won the Intersolar Award 2015 in the category “Photovoltaics”.

The new solar panel has a capacity of up to 280 W and incorporates several technologies, such as passivated emitter rear cell (PERC) technology. It consists of 120 half-cut multicrystalline solar cells, four busbars and has a split junction box. Together this enables a higher performance and efficiency. The special TwinPeak construction makes it possible for the module to produce electricity even when one half of the module lies in the shade.

Can Solar Panels Help Solve California's Drought

Article originally parished in www.bloomberg.com, on april 17th 2015.

From a distance, they almost look like a massive mosaic swimming-pool cover. They are photovoltaic panels, half-millimeter thick silicon wafers that are erected over reservoirs. Their function: Generate power while also conserving water.

For years, the technology was just a niche product. Now, with drought concerns growing in many places across the planet, it’s showing signs of taking off.

In parched parts of California and Australia, as well as in Japan, where cramped living conditions put land at a premium, the panels can increasingly be seen dotting the water. According to Infratech Industries Inc., a Sydney-based developer of the technology, they can produce almost 60 percent more electricity than land-based solar farms and they reduce evaporation by 90 percent.

Invisible Solar Cells That Could Power Skyscrapers

While still representing less than 1 percent of the power generated by all solar installations today, up from about zero a few years ago, Infratech anticipates much more growth in demand for the floating panels -- on reservoirs and even above hydro dams -- as global temperatures rise.

“Water is a commodity that is only going to increase in value,” Felicia Whiting, an Infratech director, said in a telephone interview.

Higher Cost

For the technology to keep gaining market share, though, producers will have to overcome what could be their biggest obstacle: The higher cost of installing and maintaining the panels relative to conventional units, which could limit their spread to drought-stricken or crowded areas.

“Making the system float has to be more expensive than putting a solar panel on a roof, or in a field,” Paul Meredith, a materials physicist at The University of Queensland who is investigating the efficient production of solar energy, said by phone. “Operating and maintenance is difficult enough on land without having to get into a row boat.”

Kyocera Corp. and Century Tokyo Leasing Corp. have built three plants in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, with combined capacity of 5.2 megawatts, according to a May statement. One megawatt is enough to power 357 Japanese homes, Kyocera said.

The Japanese plants are being developed on water in regions that lack available land for utility-scale generation, Hina Morioka, a Kyoto-based spokeswoman for Kyocera, said May 28 in an e-mailed response to questions. There are projects planned on about 30 reservoirs in Japan to generate about 60 megawatts. There are at least 5 operating plants in Japan with a combined capacity of 7.4 megawatts, less than 1 percent of the country’s 23.3 gigawatts of installed solar.

Japan, Mexico

Kyocera’s 2.3 megawatt rectangular plant at Kasai City has more than 9,000 solar modules sitting on floating platforms, which are anchored to the bottom of the reservoir. It covers about 40 percent of the water.

Solar Power Inc., backed by China’s LDK Solar Co., is planning projects in the U.S. and Mexico. The company has teamed with San Diego-based Aqua Clean Energy and identified more than 50 megawatts of potential plants for places including California, according to a statement in March.

Floating panels help conserve water, a shortage of which is threatening the production of coffee, almonds and other commodities. A record drought in California left millions of acres of farmland fallow.

Electricity Source

The sun could become the largest source of electricity by 2050, provided solar costs can be lowered, the International Energy Agency said in September. Panel prices are about two-thirds lower since 2010 because of a global supply glut driven by production in China.

Photovoltaic installations this year may exceed a record 61 gigawatts, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Japan may add more than 12 gigawatts and China 17 gigawatts. Global installations may reach 70 gigawatts next year, BNEF says.

“Photovoltaic solar is growing exponentially,” Chris Fell, principal research scientist at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, said by phone. “It’s renewable, non-polluting, and granular, so you can put it where you need it.”

U.S. solar capacity rose 30 percent to more than 20 gigawatts in 2014 and will more than double by the end of 2016, the Solar Energy Industries Association in Washington says.

Infratech’s 4 megawatt plant at Jamestown in southern Australia opened in April, the first such installation in the country. The nation has 4,100 megawatts of installed solar capacity, according to the Australian Photovoltaic Institute.

“In countries or regions where land, rather than cost, is the limiting factor in a solar system, floating panels may find a friendlier market,” Jacqueline Lilinshtein, a New York-based analyst for BNEF, wrote in an e-mail June 3.

PV in Brazil: 382 projects accredited for auction on August 14th

article orginally published on www.solarserver.com, in June 4th, 2015

Solar PV rooftop system at a football stadium in Brazil

Brazil’s Energy Research Company (EPE), which is conducting the nation’s Reserve Energy Auctions, on June 1st, 2015 announced that the volume of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects accredited for the next tender adds up to an installed capacity of 12,528 megawatts (MW).

The 382 PV projects will now enter the qualification phase, in order to participate in the PV only tender scheduled for August 14th, 2015.

Brazil’s government sets a ceiling price for the energy tenders, and developers bid down the price at which they are willing to sell solar power from the projects. The lowest bids win long-term power purchase agreements. In the October 2014 auction PV developers agreed on an average solar power sales price of approx. USD 71.77 (MWh), amongst the cheapest in the world.

Brazil has set a goal of reaching 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar PV capacity by 2023, producing about 1.8 percent of the country’s electricity, up from less than 35 MW in 2014.

REC Solar Panels Now Certified for North American Floating Installations

Article originally published on www.cospp.com, in June 3rd 2015.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 3, 2015) - REC Group, a leading global provider of solar energy solutions, has successfully completed tests to confirm that REC solar panels can be deployed in floating solar installations to the same exacting standards of reliability, performance and quality as on rooftops or in ground-mounted installations. Since the company has extended its product and performance guarantees to include floating solar installations, investors and users can rely on REC panels' long-term reliability and optimized energy output for these innovative projects under way in several parts of the United States, Mexico, and other countries.

The costs of solar technology have dropped by more than 50% over the past six years and continue to shrink, with solar energy reaching grid parity in more and more regions around the world. Analysts predict that solar will be the world's most common energy source by 2050, with generation costs reaching ~2 cents per kilowatt-hour. The total installed capacity of solar photovoltaic is expected to increase to 4,600 gigawatts (GW) by 2050, up from ~150 GW today.

But in some regions, the greatest barrier to accelerated solar growth might be the amount of available acreage. No matter how much sunshine they enjoy, countries and regions where space is at a premium, such as the U.S. East Coast, Japan, U.K., and Hong Kong, are seeking alternative deployment strategies such as floating solar installations.

Putting solar on fresh water makes sense

With projects sized from a few kilowatts to several megawatts and more, floating solar installations have the potential to power thousands of households, and enable underused bodies of water to become solar-friendly real estate. A wide range of sites are suitable, including wastewater ponds at water treatment facilities and chemical plants, irrigation storage ponds at farms or vineyards, quarry lakes, and large storage reservoirs behind dams. A growing number of such installations have been built or are in various stages of development, including projects in California, Arizona, Texas, New Jersey, Mexico, Brazil, France, Japan, and Australia.

Heavy power users such as water treatment facilities, for example, could save hundreds of thousands of dollars per year by using electricity generated by a floating solar installation. Since lease payments for underutilized bodies of water are likely to be lower than land lease payments, a floating installation could be even more competitive compared to other energy sources. Owners of these "liquid assets" could benefit from modest revenue streams by leasing their water surface.

The benefits of floating solar installations go beyond the obvious economic advantages of distributed onsite power generation. In drought-impacted, energy-hungry areas such as California, the sun-blocking shade provided by such systems can significantly reduce water evaporation. The shading effect also hinders photosynthesis in the water and therefore results in less algae growth on the ponds themselves.

Arndt Lutz, senior vice president of REC Group and managing director of its North American business, is confident that REC's high-performance solar panels will help pioneer this new direction. "For many investors, solar installations on water surfaces are uncharted territory, and there are very few projects worldwide to serve as benchmarks. We are delighted to extend REC's product and performance guarantees to floating applications in North America. This gives U.S. and other regional investors and users greater investment security, while also delivering substantial ecological benefits."

REC assured quality for floating installations

Floating PV systems experience different dynamic stresses compared to those encountered by standard ground-mounted installations. REC has performed rigorous component and panel evaluations in real and simulated floating conditions, including component salt spray, panel vibration, immersion and UV exposure tests.

The installation is relatively easy to implement, since the floatation structure can be assembled without heavy equipment. As an initial example, REC solar panels have been proven to be safe for installations on specially designed Hydrelio floating pontoons manufactured by the French company Ciel et Terre, with a water salinity not exceeding 25 mS/cm at 25°C (15 PSU).

About REC:

REC is a leading global provider of solar energy solutions. With more than 15 years of experience, we offer sustainable, high performing products, services and investments for the solar industry. Together with our partners, we create value by providing solutions that better meet the world's growing energy needs. Our 1,800 employees worldwide generated revenues of USD 803 million in fiscal year 2014. As of May 13, 2015, REC belongs to Bluestar Elkem Investment Co. Ltd.
Agnieszka Schulze
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REC
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Phone: +49 89 54 04 67 225
Email: Email Contact
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Email: Email Contact

Find out more about REC at www.recgroup.com

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12.5GW of Brazilian PV projects to go head-to-head in August auction

article originally published on www.solarplaza.com, in June 3rd, 2015

PVT - More than 12.5GW of solar PV projects have been given the green light to participate in Brazil's latest round of reserve energy auctions.

The country's Energy Research Company (EPE), announced at the end of last week that 382 PV projects have been accredited, making up 12,528MW of capacity in total, ahead of the tender process taking place on 14 August.

According to an EPE statement, the total capacity of prospective bidders exceeds the total capacity of a vast 11GW hydro power plant, Belo Monte, being built in the country.

Affordable solar power pricing creates huge opportunity in UAE

Article originally published on solar builder magazine, in June 1st, 2015

Solar energy pricing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now reached parity with fossil fuel models, according to a report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). This ‘REmap 2030’  report, researched in conjunction with Masdar Institute and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Directorate of Energy and Climate Change, says that solar is economically attractive and commercially viable for the first time ever in the nation’s history.

Solar is the critical resource and focus for the UAE, with different forms of solar energy accounting for more than 90% of renewable energy use in the IRENA ‘REmap 2030’ report. PV module prices, as perhaps the best example of renewables’ new affordability, have fallen by close to 75% since 2008.

International demand is growing beyond just the UAE, says this report on developing nations

But the IRENA report said that the most important enabling factor for renewable energy in the UAE will be the empowerment of government agencies to take holistic, comparative views of energy costs and act on them.

Solar power, together with other renewable energy sources, could save the country billions of dirhams annually while introducing innumerable health and environmental benefits, while also acting to preserve precious existing fossil fuel resources.

“We believe that, for the UAE and wider Arabian Gulf, solar power is perhaps the most promising of all renewable energy sources – creating jobs while preserving existing energy reserves – and that is why we have created a dedicated exhibition zone in which this ever-popular renewable energy technology can be showcased. The event has always attracted the world’s biggest names in the solar sector, and, now, we are clustering them together in one area,” said Naji El Haddad, group event director of the annual World Future Energy Summit hosted by Masdar and part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

In 2015, there were 154 exhibiting companies from the solar sector occupying a gross space of 7,200 square meters, with more than 6,500 solar industry professionals in attendance, many of them from across the region where the uptake of solar energy is on the rise. Egypt, as one example, recently announced that the country plans to generate 18,000 MW of solar power over the next five years.

In fact, the 2016 running of the event will see the launch of ‘WFES Solar Expo’, a dedicated area on the show floor for showcasing solar technology and innovation, and bringing together experts, innovators, suppliers, and buyers. More than 150 exhibitors have already confirmed their participation, with such global names as First Solar and Hanergy committed to take part in the exhibition and discussion proceedings.

“The potential of solar power to quickly transform the energy sector in a lasting way should not be underestimated. And the related technologies and solutions from around the world are progressing so quickly that the industry is calling out for a single place at which to meet and advance solar power issues. Naturally, that place is Abu Dhabi,” added El Haddad.

The World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2016 will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre 18-21 January 2016, and will form the centerpiece of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2016, with 650 exhibiting companies from more than 40 countries, and more than 32,000 attendees from 170 countries. In addition to Solar Expo, International Water Summit and EcoWASTE will also be co-located at the WFES event.

Biggest floating solar power plant built in Hyogo

Article originally published on www.jw.asahi.com, in May 26th, 2015

KASAI, Hyogo Prefecture--The world's largest floating solar power plant has been built on Sakasamaike Pond here.

A ceremony was held May 24 to mark the completion of the mega power plant, which can generate 2.3 megawatts and is capable of producing enough electricity to supply 820 households.

Nine thousand solar panels, each measuring about 1.7 meters by 1 meter, are spread on resin floats on the surface of the water.

The power plant will be operated by an affiliated company of Kyocera Corp. and the electricity generated will be sold to Kansai Electric Power Co.

A portion of the operator’s annual income of about 100 million yen ($821,000) will be paid to a local residents group in charge of maintenance of the pond as a rental fee for the site.

When solar power plants are constructed on water, power-generation capacity can be maintained at a high level as the cooling effect of the water prevents the panels from heating up, officials said.

Latin America’s Largest Rooftop PV Array Built at PepsiCo Facility in Honduras

Article originally published in www.solarplaza.com, May 7th 2015.


ET - The largest rooftop PV power plant in Latin America has been completed by Smartsolar, a developer of rooftop PV systems in Honduras. Smartersolar chose SMA inverters and JinkoSolar PV Modules for the 3MW system atop the PepsiCo bottling plant. The array is expected to generate approximately 4,250,000 kWh of solar power per year and offset 16% of the manufacturing facility’s energy consumption.

The rooftop PV system comprises 98 SMA Sunny Tripower 24000TL-US inverters and 11,702 JinkoSolar PV modules. (related post) It is owned and installed by Embotelladora de Sula, S.A. (EMSULA). The commercial project will reduce the bottling plant’s power costs and will better manage energy price fluctuations.

The Benefits of Solar and Water Plants

Article originally published in solarbuildermag.com, on APRIL 30, 2015

How Solar Power Can Help Lower Operating Costs at Water Facilities

The growth of the U.S. solar industry over the past five years has been impressive. Since 2009, the annual amount of solar installed on U.S. homes, businesses, municipal and government facilities and utility-scale power farms has soared from about 382 megawatts to an estimated 6.5 gigawatts in 2014 — a nearly 1,700 percent gain, according to a recent U.S. Solar Market Insight report issued by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association.

What was once a small, boutique-like sector has become a thriving multi-billion dollar industry employing 174,000 people in this country, while other parts of the world are also enjoying the solar boom.

Many government and municipal entities have embraced solar as a way to sustainably lower their operating costs. In addition to thousands of schools, universities and hospitals now benefiting from solar power, a growing number of utility-owned water and wastewater treatment facilities have seen solar projects developed and built on their properties.

The recent interest in solar can be attributed to five main factors:

• Prodigious and continuing reductions in module and system costs — amounting to more than 50 percent over the past four years – as well as decreasing labor, permitting and other soft costs.
• Significant improvements in construction speed, while still maintaining installation quality.
• A growing suite of financing options and acceptance of solar as an asset class.
  Increased awareness of the threat of climate change and the need to transition to clean energy sources.
• Varying levels of local, state and federal incentives and renewable energy initiatives.

As a result of these trends, solar is edging closer to — or has already achieved and even surpassed — price parity with conventional energy in many parts of the world.

Solar’s Value Proposition Today

The value proposition for the solar power and water plant combination comes down to energy costs. According to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide to solar for water utilities, wastewater treatment represents about 3 percent of the nation’s energy consumption, with more than $4 billion spent annually for the energy needed to run those utilities. As a controllable operating expenditure, energy use is a sweet spot for cost reduction.

Dozens of water utilities and districts across the United States have embraced the cost-saving benefits of solar power over the past few years. Commissioned installations include the 7.5 MW solar power plant at the Lake Pleasant water treatment plant in Phoenix; a pair of solar systems operating for the Rancho California Water District; the E.M. Johnson plant in Raleigh, N.C.; and a ground-mounted array at the Gresham, Ore., wastewater facility. In each case, the customer expects to offset a sizeable percentage of its annual power usage, enjoy millions of dollars in energy savings over the lifetime of the system and significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

No Upfront Cost Solar Financing Methods

The most popular financing approach used by water treatment plants adopting solar is the third-party solar power purchase agreement (solar PPA). Usually stipulated for a period of 15 to 25 years, a solar PPA represents a long-term agreement between a water utility customer and an energy developer to provide electricity generated by a solar power plant at guaranteed long-term rates. As part of the arrangement, the developer offers design, financing, maintenance and related support of the solar system.

One of the most attractive aspects of the solar PPA approach is that the water utility avoids any upfront capital costs, since the developer partner designs and installs the system at no charge and a solar asset specialist maintains ownership. For the lifetime of the agreement, the water utility pays the system owner for the solar power generated on the property, while the owner maintains and operates the system. The kilowatt-hour cost of energy is locked in at a rate lower than what the power utility company would charge — a rate that is likely to increase in the future — providing a predictable cost trajectory for the duration of the PPA. The owner also assumes any project risk if the system underperforms or any cost overruns occur.

When deciding on which solar developer and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm to work with, the water plant owner should discuss which components they plan to specify for the solar installation. Although solar products in general are of good to excellent quality, not all panels, inverters, racking/mounting and other balance-of-systems components are created equal.

As the core component of any solar photovoltaic system, the choice of panels should be evaluated on several levels. Although pricing should be competitive, a matter of a few cents per watt on module costs should not be a deal-breaker; quality and performance are even more important considerations. Any panel eligible for procurement will carry at least a 25-year warranty and have the requisite IEC and UL certifications, denoting that it has passed certain required testing protocols.

Top-tier solar panel suppliers like REC Group that offer additional transparency and proof of reliability — such as meticulous manufacturing quality control, advanced testing beyond certification requirements and extensive field performance data — find favor with many developers and contractors and are more likely to be viewed as “bankable” by financial institutions.

The combination of a well-structured solar PPA, an experienced EPC team and high-quality solar panels has helped the City of Madera, Calif., enjoy energy savings at its wastewater treatment facility since a 1.16 MW solar power plant was completed in November 2010. With a PPA rate set below the normal cost of utility power, the city received substantial cost savings on the purchase of energy within the first year of operation. It has already saved hundreds of thousands of dollars each year since the system was commissioned, which will add up to more than $3.6 million over the term of the 20-year agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric.

The system — designed and installed by REC Solar Commercial with Peak Energy panels supplied by REC Group — has performed above expectations, generating an average of 2,500 MW hours of electricity per year, according to the city’s public works department. Since its commissioning, the plant has produced a total of approximately 11,000 MW hours of electricity to date. The 5,267 solar panels, affixed on several dozen mechanical tracker systems that follow the sun over the course of the day, reliably generate enough power to account for 61 percent of the sewage plant’s electricity needs.

There’s an environmental benefit too, as tens of thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that would have been emitted from the use of conventional fuel sources have been avoided so far, thanks to the pollution-free solar power plant.

The value proposition of adding a commercial solar system to help offset the high energy cost of running a water or wastewater treatment plant has never been stronger. But now is an especially attractive time to capitalize on this opportunity, as certain local, state and federal incentives may be reduced or eliminated in the next few years.

One of the most important of these governmental programs, the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), could shrink from 30 percent to 10 percent at the end of 2016 if Congress does not amend or extend it. The ITC has been a financial linchpin that has helped fuel the current solar boom in the United States.

Although going solar will continue to be economically beneficial for an increasing number of homeowners and businesses, it makes sense to take advantage of the ITC and other incentives while they are available.

Christopher Masys is key accounts manager for REC Americas LLC, the domestic unit of REC Group, a leading global provider of solar energy solutions headquartered in Norway. He is a nine-year veteran of the U.S. solar electric industry, with experience in sales, sales management and business development, in both the downstream (EPC) and upstream (manufacturing) segments.

Christopher has a BS in industrial technology from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and has experience prior to the solar field as a manufacturing engineer specializing in automation. This combination of perspectives provides for a unique insight into the role of automated high-quality production of components, as it relates to reliable and consistent production of energy from an installed system. He can be reached at christopher.masys@recgroup.com.