Solar Photovoltaic Becomes the Cheapest Source of Power in Chile

Solar photovoltaic and wind power are currently the cheapest source of electricity in Chile, according to an analysis of the results of Chile's recent power auction conducted by experts of Deutsche Bank. 

Renewable energy projects, in fact, won 100% of the tendered contracts for the supply of 1,200 GWh. According to Deutsche Bank, three solar photovoltaic parks offered to sell power between $65 and $68 per MWh, two wind farms bid a price of $79 per MWh, while the price offered for coal power projects was of $97 per MWh. 

The company, however, believes that Chile will install only 500 MW of photovoltaic power in 2016 and 400 MW in 2017. This would be a considerable decrease from this year, when over 1 GW of PV capacity is expected to be installed in the country. Deutsche Bank experts said that, although Chile has approved several gigawatts of PV projects over the past years, many of these projects are unlikely to get built until the transmission lines get fixed.

Solar Panels with Zero White Space to Be Manufactured Through SunEdison and Solaria Partnership

Solaria announced today that SunEdison, the largest global renewable energy development company, has agreed to license Solaria’s manufacturing technology to cost effectively mass produce its new line of ultra-high efficiency 400 watt solar panels.

“SunEdison’s solar materials team has completed the development of the new 400 watt SunEdison ZERO WHITE SPACE™ solar panel. This architecture squeezes more electricity out of the module by reducing the amount of unproductive white space surrounding each cell,” said Bang Nguyen, SunEdison’s vice president of solar materials operations. “By licensing Solaria’s state-of-the-art manufacturing technology, we’re able to get SunEdison ZERO WHITE SPACE™ modules to market much quicker. These new modules are our most efficient yet, and are ideally suited for home and business applications where space is limited.”

“SunEdison is a visionary company and we are excited to enter into this collaboration to pursue our combined goal of accelerating the ubiquity of solar technology,” said Suvi Sharma, CEO, Solaria Corporation. “Combining Solaria’s high-density power generation solutions with SunEdison’s market leadership will continue to accelerate the availability of affordable and efficient solar.”

Building on an IP portfolio of more than 100 patents and a highly automated manufacturing line, Solaria’s cost and efficiency improvements are unmatched for a variety of large applications. By leveraging its core technology to develop and deliver new applications, Solaria offers solar solutions optimized for rooftop and utility PV, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), and greenhouses. Through Solaria’s partnership-driven approach, Solaria enables market leaders across its three core segments to surpass competition via their own “powered by Solaria” branded products that leverage Solaria’s leading edge technology.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels to Be Deployed in Jordan Private PV Projects

Phoenix Solar AG and its partner Millennium Energy Industries have been jointly awarded an order to build a series of three photovoltaic power plants with a total capacity of 11MW polycrystalline solar panels in Jordan. The project aims at providing Arab International Hotels, plc, Al Dawliyah for Hotels & Malls, plc and Business Tourism Company with the capability to generate 100% of their electric power needs from solar energy. By adopting an innovative, full-scale approach to green energy, the hotels will reduce virtually to zero the environmental impact of their electric power needs with a saving of 10.7 million kilograms of CO2 emissions per year.

Phoenix Solar will carry out all engineering, procurement and project management tasks while Millennium Energy Industries will take on the actual construction works. Phoenix Solar will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance for the three power plants. The photovoltaic plants will consist of polycrystalline solar panels provided by Chinese solar panel and battery manufacturer and inverters from German producer. The solar power plants will be built in the Mwaqqar and Damikhi/Qatraneh areas, connecting respectively to the Jordan Electric Power Co, plc and Electric Distribution Company, plc, electrical networks using the Power Wheeling scheme. This innovative approach allows power generation in a location different from the consumption site, and is part of the Renewable Energy regulatory framework implemented in Jordan.

Bassam Maayeh, Managing Director, Arab International Hotels, plc, and spokesman for the consortium of hotels involved, stated: "This project is a milestone in pursuing our ambitious environmental targets for zero CO2 emissions. We are looking forward to successful cooperation with the team of Phoenix Solar and Millennium Energy Industries, who offer an ideal balance of a strong regional engineering knowledge and a world-wide experience in the design and execution of Solar Plants."

"Together with our partners at MEI we are proud to have been selected as the main contractor for this important photovoltaic endeavor", Tim P. Ryan, the CEO of Phoenix Solar AG, added. "The Kingdom of Jordan offers excellent conditions for companies to invest in renewable energy. This groundbreaking project is already generating a great deal of attention and excitement, and will serve as an example for similar photovoltaic power plants in Jordan and beyond. This gives us confidence that we will continue to expand our customer base and sales pipeline in the entire Middle East Region to further drive sustainable growth.

Renewable Energy and Its Benefits

Renewable Energy in Our Community

Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale such as sunlight (solar thermal or solar photovoltaic), wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. Renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas: electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, motor fuels and rural energy services.

Personally, it's more practical to use energy that comes from resources because it's infinite unlike other sources of energy that are finite and will someday be depleted. Renewable energy will not run out. Here in the Philippines we have wind turbines, to be specific in region 1 Ilocos Norte. Utility-scale wind turbines range from around 600 kW to 5 MW of rated power, although turbines with rated output of 1.5–3 MW have become the most common for commercial use; the power available from the wind is a function of the cube of the wind speed, so as wind speed increases, power output increases up to the maximum output for the particular turbine. Areas where winds are stronger and more constant, such as offshore and high altitude sites, are preferred locations for wind farms. Typical capacity factors are 20-40%, with values at the upper end of the range in particularly favorable sites.

Maria Christina Falls, In Iligan City, Philippines is an example of Hydro power where Misamis Occidental depend there electric power source. Hydroelectric energy is a term usually reserved for large-scale hydroelectric dams. We also have micro hydro systems are hydroelectric power installations that typically produce up to 100 kW of power. They are often used in water rich areas as a remote area power supply. The incentive to use 100% renewable energy, for electricity, transport, or even total primary energy supply globally, has been motivated by global warming and other ecological as well as economic concerns. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said that there are few fundamental technological limits to integrating a portfolio of renewable energy technologies to meet most of total global energy demand. Renewable energy use has grown much faster than even advocates anticipated. This energy cannot be exhausted and is constantly renewed that can help the planet last longer. Geothermal power and marine energy is useful. These technologies are not yet widely demonstrated or have limited commercialization. Many are on the horizon and may have potential comparable to other renewable energy technologies, but still depend on attracting sufficient attention and research, development and demonstration (RD&D) funding.

Ralph Ryan Sanchez, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines

The Benefits of Renewable Energy

The leaders of some of the largest economies have urged Prime Minister Tony Abbott to take a stance on reducing carbon emissions. However, Australia continues to display a lack of commitment towards tackling major environmental issues such as global climate change (Lewis 2014). Despite the reluctance to shift towards more sustainable ways of living, renewable energy presents a significant potential to benefit the community on both a local and global scale. As well as its value for the natural environment, renewable energy has been linked with improved public health. This is because air and water pollution is significantly reduced, and accordingly, there is a positive economic impact associated with the overall well-being of individuals within the community (Rizk 2013). Long-term economic benefits such as gradual cost reductions are also anticipated, along with greater opportunities to meet carbon cap and trade systems (Clean Energy Council 2012). Solar, wind, wave, and tidal energy are just some of Australia’s abundant sources of renewable energy (Effendi & Courvisanos 2012). It’s time to make use of such great potential in order to contribute to a clean environment, stable economy and better general health and well-being.

Farema Yazdi, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Solar Panels Global Shipments to Increase 10 Percent in 2016

Solar panels shipments globally are expected to increase 10% year on year in 2016, according to US market research company IHS. The main drivers of this growth will be a more stable pricing and an increasing demand from »established regional markets«. 

Global module shipments will reach $41.9 billion in 2016, up 4% from the previous record, which was set in 2010. Furthermore, IHS reports that global solar panels shipments will rise 29% year on year to reach 18.7 GW in the fourth quarter of this year. According to IHS, however, the global solar market will register a considerable drop in 2017 due to the expiration of the federal investment tax credit (ITC) in the US, which is expected to lead to a fall in global demand for PV modules. IHS believes that global demand could also drop by 9% in 2017. »Even so, the predicted slowdown in global demand in 2017 -- on the back of a decline in the United States -- is likely to challenge these suppliers once again, since manufacturing capacity additions are set to dangerously outpace industry demand. Competition will intensify, which will lead to accelerating declines in prices and gross margins, for the first time since 2012.« said Edurne Zoco, senior principal analyst for IHS Technology.

Solar Power Plant with 25,800 Photovoltaic Solar Panels to be Built in Thailand

Conergy has signed a new contract with B.Grimm Power Limited to construct a solar power plant with 8MW capacity in Sa Kaeo province in support of the government.

Once completed, a total of 25,800 photovoltaic monocrystalline solar panels will produce more than 12,000MGh of clean electricity annually, sufficient power to supply over 5,300 homes. Conergy's calculations show that the new solar power plant will provide the equivalent electricity that would have created 7,400 tons of CO2 emissions annually if produced using fossil fuels.

"With abundant year-round sunshine and also the availability of highly suitable sites for solar power plants, Thailand is leading the way in ASEAN in terms of increasing its capacity to produce energy from renewable sources," said Conergy's President for Asia & ME, Alexander Lenz.

"By partnering with visionary companies such as B.Grimm Power Limited, Conergy is able to integrate its global expertise and experience into Thailand's dynamic program to focus on renewable energy and reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels. The bold investment in renewable energy from solar sources is a long-term initiative that will continue to pay dividends for decades and help ensure a sustainable energy supply for future generations," said Lenz.

B.Grimm Power Limited's President, Mrs. Preeyanart Soontornwata, said the new partnership was a significant move for the company, one of Thailand's private power-generation pioneers.

"The provision of clean, reliable and affordable electricity for Thailand's national power grids and hundreds of large manufacturing enterprises is a long-term mission for B.Grimm and we are constantly seeking new partnerships with like-minded companies such as Conergy. Together we can help build a sustainable future for the country," said B.Grimm Power Limited's President.

Conergy will begin the engineering and component supply work shortly, after the contract was signed in Bangkok in June. The deadline for the mechanical completion of the project is December 2015. Conergy will be responsible for the planning, engineering, design as well as the component supply of the solar plant. They will be working with local partner, the Ensys Group for the on-ground construction.

"The Thai government wants to meet 20 percent of the country's energy requirements using renewable energy sources by the year 2036. This is providing a baseline of support to the development of a solar energy market in Thailand. The country currently still imports about half of the national energy needs at high costs. These new solar installations will bring Conergy's total contracted volume in this fast-growing Asian market to nearly 130MW and contribute to the gradual reduction of both dependence on energy imports and their costs for the government," said Lenz.

First Utility-scale Solar Power Plant to be Built in West Africa

An agreement to Build-Own-and Operate West Africa's first utility-scale solar power plant was signed here today by Scatec Solar and its partners, the Malian Ministry of Energy and Water and Electricité du Mali (EDM), the electricity utility of Mali. To be located near the ancient city of Segou in South-East Mali, 240 kms from Bamako, the 33MW solar project is being developed in partnership with IFC InfraVentures and the local developer Africa Power 1.

Annual production from the 33MW solar power plant is estimated to be 60,000MWh. The ground-mounted PV solar plant will deploy approximately 130,000 PV poly solar panels on a fixed tilt system and will connect to an existing transmission line. The power generated from the plant represents five percent of Mali's total electricity consumption, equal to the electricity consumption of 60,000 households. During the construction phase, the project will provide 200 local jobs.

Speaking on the occasion, the Malian Minister of Energy and Water, Mr. Mamadou Frankaly Keita said: "This landmark agreement signals the Government's commitment to meet the nation's growing energy demand and to provide clean, renewable and affordable energy to our people".

The Oslo-headquartered company's CEO Raymond Carlsen says: "This project is another great milestone for Scatec Solar. After several years of development efforts in the region, we can now move forward with the first utility-scale solar plant in West Africa. The Malian Authorities have demonstrated decisive will to tackle the nagging issue of power supply."

"One of the pillars of the World Bank's Country Assistance Strategy for Mali is to increase access to energy, a development fundamental. IFC InfraVentures' partnership with Scatec Solar and Africa Power 1 helps advance this strategy through Scatec Segou, part of a series of renewable energy projects we are developing in the country," said Alain Ebobisse, Global Head of IFC InfraVentures.

Dr. Ibrahim Togola, the chairman of Africa Power 1 SA and General Administrator of Scatec Solar West Africa SA says: "Today's event is historic because Mali now becomes the first country to install the largest solar grid-connected power plant in the region. This high-profile joint-venture in which Malian citizens participate will serve as a model to launch the solar era in West Africa." 

In an era of climate change concerns, the 33MW Segou solar power plant is an important initiative to reduce carbon emissions in the power sector in West Africa. When completed, the plant will reduce CO2 emissions by about 46 000 tons.