Monday, September 24, 2012

FW: Statement From Ontario Minister Of Energy - September 24, 2012

Taxpayers take it in the shorts for forty million in losses and come out of pocket for the cost of the generators.

 

 

Statement From Ontario Minister Of Energy - September 24, 2012

September 24, 2012

Today, Chris Bentley, Minister of Energy, issued the following statement:

"I am pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached between the Ontario Power Authority and TransCanada Energy to relocate the proposed 900-megawatt natural gas plant originally planned for Oakville to lands at Ontario Power Generation's Lennox Generating Station site near Bath, in eastern Ontario's Lennox and Addington County.

I would like to thank the OPA, TransCanada and Ontario Power Generation for the work they have done over the past several months to reach this agreement.

The new site will take advantage of existing transmission lines and other infrastructure, as well as the expertise of local workers. The construction of the plant is expected to provide up to 600 construction jobs and approximately 25 permanent jobs.

The total costs that cannot be repurposed at the new site are approximately $40 million. This includes all payments made in relation to the original site, including the cost of engineering design and permits.

The gas turbines originally slated for use at the Oakville plant will be repurposed and used at the Lennox facility.  The OPA will purchase the turbines. TransCanada will receive less for the electricity the plant produces than originally agreed upon to offset the cost of the turbine purchase.

The decision not to move forward with the plant at the original Oakville site was made after hearing overwhelming concerns from local residents and local elected officials. We heard concerns from families and we responded.

This afternoon, in response to the Speaker's ruling, we will submit all relevant documents related to the Oakville gas plant, and the cancelled plant in Mississauga, to the Standing Committee on Estimates, and also to both opposition parties.

We said we would release the documents, and sought only to ensure they were not released prematurely, at a time when their release could jeopardize these negotiations at a cost to taxpayers.

Over the coming days and weeks you will read and hear lots of numbers related to the cost of the plant relocation. The only accurate cost to taxpayers for this relocation is $40 million. 

Today's relocation announcement helps support Ontario's plan to modernize the province's electricity infrastructure, clean up the air we breathe and end the use of coal by the end of 2014."

CONTACTS




Ministry of Energy
ontario.ca/energy

 

Module prices drop again

Module prices drop again

24.09.2012: The average prices for monocrystalline and multicrystalline modules on the German spot market have declined slightly over the past week. According to PHOTON’s module price index, the average price for multicrystalline modules on the German spot market fell by 1.7 percent last week and now stands at 58 euro cents (75¢) per watt. The average price for monocrystalline modules dropped by 1.6 percent to 63 euro cents (81¢) per watt. The entire module price index, as well as indexes for other regions, cell technologies and inverters, are published on a regular basis in PHOTON International. The Monday edition of the PHOTON newsletter includes only an excerpt from the various price indexes. Source: PHOTON

http://www.photon.info

The complete press release can be viewed in PHOTON's archive using the following link:
http://www.photon-international.com/newsletter/document/69980.pdf

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

646.402.5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

Chinese panel manufacturers facing reality?

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

UK: Solar a "deal sealer" for home buyers: pv-magazine

Trade war mess spreads

India considers antidumping case against US and Chinese solar producers

18.09.2012: Several Indian solar producers have filed a trade complaint with Indian authorities alleging that solar manufacturers from China, Taiwan, Malaysia and the US are dumping solar modules on the Indian market. According to China Daily, which cites Chinese newspaper Guangzhou Daily, the unnamed companies are asking Indian trade authorities to launch an antidumping investigation into solar module imports coming from these countries. The article does not clarify if the complaint also includes imports of solar cells and thin-film modules. Indian producers have long complained that solar imports – mainly those from the US – are negatively impacting India’s local photovoltaic industry. To combat this trend, India’s national solar program includes a domestic content requirement for crystalline silicon products. The requirement, however, has not been as successful as was planned – due in part to the fact that the requirement does not apply to thin-film installations. Last December, a rumored investigation into imports of US and Chinese thin-film modules never came to pass. However, complaints from the industry have not died down. In August, India-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) complained that Indian solar projects continue to use PV components produced in the US while 80 percent of Indian PV manufacturing capacity remains dormant. This, CSE claims, is due to the fact that low-interest construction loans provided by the Export-Import Bank of the US (Ex-Im) and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) force project developers to buy PV components from US producers. Due to India’s domestic content requirement, this stipulation primarily benefits US thin-film producers. CSE alleges that the Ex-Im and OPIC loans, due to their strings-attached nature, are akin to subsidies and give US thin-film developers an unfair advantage. … Source: China Daily; Summary: PHOTON

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-09/17/content_15763155.htm

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

646.402.5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

The big boys propose to get what they want in France

French government report calls for more solar and wind auctions, less FIT

18.09.2012: A new study published by the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy and the Ministry of Productive Recovery concludes that strengthening France’s national procurement program would better serve the country’s photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy sectors than continuing the country’s current feed-in-tariff (FIT) program. The ministry therefore recommends that the French government gradually phase out its FIT program and focus instead on issuing more calls for tender. The goal of the report – prepared for the French General Council for the Economy, Industry and Technology (CGIET) and the General Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development (CGEDD) – was to determine how best to support PV and wind in both the short- and long-term. In addition to recommending more solar and wind auctions, the report urges France and Germany to collaborate on solar research and development. Last week, Minister of Ecology Delphine Batho recommended that a domestic content requirement be incorporated into public calls for tender for renewable energy projects in France. … Source: French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy; Translation and summary: PHOTON

http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/spip.php?page=article&id_arti
cle=29518

http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/Eolien-Photovoltaique
_rapport-final.pdf

The complete press release can be viewed in PHOTON's archive using the following link:
http://www.photon-international.com/newsletter/document/69753.pdf

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

646.402.5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

Monday, September 17, 2012

If Polysilicon Suppliers Don't Reduce Capacity, PV Prices Will Continue Decline

IHS advises tier 1 polysilicon suppliers to reduce production capacity

17.09.2012: According to a new report published by US market research company IHS iSuppli, solar grade polysilicon prices fell at a faster rate last month than they did in July, continuing a downward decline that began in the fourth quarter of 2011. IHS’s Polysilicon Price Tracker Report found that the average contract price in August of 9N polysilicon and above grades stood at $27.80 per kg. Due to a rapid decline in spot prices, however, the same-grade polysilicon traded for just $21.90 per kg on the spot market. Average contract pricing for 6N to 8N polysilicon was $22.70 per kg in August – Meanwhile, those grades traded for $20.10 per kg on the spot market. IHS predicts that prices will continue to fall in the foreseeable future due to global oversupply of solar modules and the resulting lack of demand for polysilicon. IHS therefore recommends that tier 1 suppliers consider reducing production as soon as possible. … Source: IHS iSuppli; Summary: PHOTON

http://www.isuppli.com

The complete press release can be viewed in PHOTON's archive using the following link:
http://www.photon-international.com/newsletter/document/69743.pdf

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

646.402.5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Outbound to Latin America: Solar Market Showing Big Potential | Renewable Energy News Article

FW: U.S. Solar Industry Anticipates Utility Backlash Over Net Metering | Renewable Energy News Article

Another upcoming reason to like off-grid investments.

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/09/u-s-solar-indus
try-anticipates-utility-backlash-over-metering?cmpid=SolarNL-Saturday-Septem
ber15-2012


U.S. Solar Industry Anticipates Utility Backlash Over Metering By
Christopher Martin, Bloomberg September 13, 2012   |   13 Comments

Do you like this news?
Email
Share
  Bookmark   Print   Feed
 
Facebook
8



 
NEW YORK CITY -- The growing use of rooftop solar systems are spurring
concern that U.S. utilities may decline to purchase power generated by the
panels, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Utilities are required to buy power generated by solar panels installed on
consumers' homes under so-called net- metering policies, an arrangement that
may become less viable as solar systems become more common, said Rhone
Resch, chief executive officer of the Washington-based trade group.

California, the largest solar market, capped the amount of panels utilities
are mandated to connect to their grids and other states are considering
similar policies. Some utilities see the requirement to buy solar power from
every rooftop system as a threat to their profitability, Resch said.

"Net metering works for us now, but we're going to see a backlash from
utilities as solar penetration increases over the next few years," Resch
said yesterday in an interview at the Solar Power International conference
in Orlando, Florida.

California regulators capped the amount of rooftop solar that may be
connected to the grid at 5 percent of a a utility's power needs, and is
studying the long-term impact upon their profits. Other states may consider
similar actions, said Tony Clifford, chief executive officer of
Standard Solar Inc., a closely held developer based in Rockville, Maryland.

'Utility Pushback'

"I'm really concerned about a utility pushback on net- metering," Clifford
said in an interview. "What we need is an honest assessment of the true
costs and benefits of managing distributed generation and I don't think
we've seen that yet."

Utilities are considering ways to offset the cost of buying solar, including
Sempra Energy's San Diego Gas & Electric, which proposed a fee for
residential solarcustomers, said Aaron Hall, president of the San
Diego-based developer Borrego Solar Systems Inc. Regulars blocked the
proposal in January.

"That would have made almost every installation lose money and prevent new
projects from getting financing," Hall said.

Developers installed 98.2 megawatts of residential rooftop solar panels in
the second quarter, according to SEIA.

Copyright 2012 Bloomberg 
 
Lead image: Transmission via S
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Friday, September 14, 2012

Clinton promotes solar at SPI

14.09.2012: “You’re going to win this battle. The question is when and where and how?” former US President Bill Clinton told the solar industry at Solar Power International (SPI) 2012, which was held this week in Orlando, Florida. In his keynote address, Clinton provided attendees with a few ideas on how the solar industry could continue growing and how it could clean up its image following the Solyndra loan guarantee scandal. “You’ve got to get the basic positive facts out there,” Clinton said, arguing that a lack of awareness and knowledge about the benefits of solar power – including over 100,000 solar jobs in the US and a sector that has enjoyed robust growth even during the recession – among the population as a whole is an issue that needs to be addressed. “Americans don’t know that, but they need to know that,” he said. Clinton also painted a stark contrast between the support the industry could expect as a result of the presidential elections in November. He pointed out that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has been clear about his intent to scale back or eliminate tax credits for renewable energy and funding for research and development. “My advice is that you should assume they will do what they say,” Clinton said. By contrast, Clinton said that the industry could continue to rely on President Barack Obama for policy support during a second term. Source: PHOTON

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

646.402.5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

Thursday, September 13, 2012

site survey

Which site survey should I use as the poster-child and is it in Bob’s side of Dropbox?

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

646.402.5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

Monday, September 10, 2012

may be at or near bottom for a year or so on module prices

Module prices climb back from record lows

08.09.2012: Solar module prices on the German spot market recovered somewhat in the past week after hitting year lows. Multicrystalline modules saw the largest gains, with the average price of multicrystalline modules rising more than 10% from 59 euro cents (74¢) to 65 euro cents (82¢) per watt. Meanwhile, the average price of monocrystalline modules grew from 66 euro cents (83¢) to 71 euro cents (90¢) per watt. According to PHOTON’s module price index, the average price of modules produced in Asia climbed from 60 euro cents (76¢) to 62 euro cents (78¢) per watt. The entire module price index, as well as indexes for other regions, cell technologies and inverters, are published on a regular basis in PHOTON International. The Monday edition of the PHOTON newsletter includes only an excerpt from the various price indexes. Source: PHOTON

http://www.photon.info

The complete press release can be viewed in PHOTON's archive using the following link:
http://www.photon-international.com/newsletter/document/69478.pdf

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

646.402.5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

Solar doing what it does best in CA

California hits solar milestone

08.09.2012: The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) confirmed that during a heat wave in mid-August, California hit a new milestone: solar power systems were delivering more than 1 GW of electrical power into the state’s transmission grid for several hours at a time. More than 1 GW of solar power generation has been on the grid for a few hours on several occasions in recent weeks. The first such occurrence happened on August 20, when solar power generation was over 1 GW for about three hours. The US Solar Energy Industries Association reports that as of the first quarter of 2012, California, the US’s largest solar market, had approximately 2,025 MW of installed solar capacity. … Source: California Independent System Operator; Summary: PHOTON

http://www.caiso.com/Documents/CaliforniaISOMediaAdvisorySunnyCaliforn
ia-AmericasNumber1SolarProducer.pdf

http://content.caiso.com/green/renewrpt/20120820_DailyRenewablesWatch.pdf

The complete press release can be viewed in PHOTON's archive using the following link:
http://www.photon-international.com/newsletter/document/69512.pdf

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

646.402.5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

Friday, September 7, 2012

Clean Power Finance to reduce solar soft costs with National Solar Permitting Database

Allen: remember these guys from 2008?

 

Clean Power Finance to reduce solar soft costs with National Solar Permitting Database

07.09.2012: Clean Power Finance, whose online marketplace connects investors with US solar installers who cannot provide financing for their own customers, announced it will unveil its National Solar Permitting Database next week at Solar Power International 2012. The database will enable solar installers to quickly search for permitting requirements for any location in the US, saving them time and money. The database, which will be free to use, was made possible by a $3 million grant from the US Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative. … Source: Clean Power Finance; Summary: PHOTON

http://www.cleanpowerfinance.com

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120906005558/en/Clean-Power-Fi
nance-Announces-National-Solar-Permitting

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

646.402.5076

www.arcstarenergy.com

Ernst & Young says China is the most attractive market for renewable energy investment

Ernst & Young says China is the most attractive market for renewable energy investment

07.09.2012: According to the latest edition of Ernst & Young’s renewable energy attractiveness indices, China was by far the most attractive market for renewable energy investment in the second quarter of 2012. The professional services firm argues that green job creation schemes, the quadrupling of its solar target to 50 GW by 2020 and a policy-driven acceleration of domestic solar installations has made China the most attractive market for renewable energy investment worldwide. The US and Germany share second place – policy gridlock in the run-up to the November presidential elections has made the US less attractive, while an ambitious renewables agenda in Germany has helped that country remain attractive to investors. Spain and Italy, meanwhile, have fallen further down the ranks due to sovereign credit crises, while inconsistent policy in the UK has made potential investors there wary. Ernst & Young sees great potential in emerging markets such as South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Japan. … Source: Ernst & Young; Summary: PHOTON

http://www.ey.com

http://www.ey.com/GL/en/Industries/Cleantech/Renewable-energy-attracti
veness-indices---August-2012

 

 

Monty Bannerman

ArcStar Energy

646.402.5076

www.arcstarenergy.com