SHANGHAI, CHINA: Over 100 global thought leaders on sustainability convened in Shanghai to develop an action plan to drive China's greentech market forward.
Greentech: A Call to Action is based on market-defining analysis and unprecedented US-China collaborative programs. The conference provides a roadmap to move from agreements and discussions to actionable greentech solutions.
Organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai) and the Asia Society Northern California, Greentech: A Call to Action is a platform for executive and government decision makers to collaborate and drive US-China cooperation, which is essential to the development of a greentech market and a sustainable future.
The conference has attracted international executives including Mark Norbom, President & CEO of GE China, Dr. Shi Zhengrong, Chairman & CEO of Suntech, and David C. Wang, President of Boeing China and political leaders from China and the US including Fu Zhihuan, Chairman, Finance Committee, 10th National People's Congress and US Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chairwoman of the Senate Subcommittee on Energy.
"As two of the world's largest economies, as well as the world's largest importers of oil, consumers of coal and emitters of greenhouse gases, the US and China have the potential to become world leaders in developing and deploying green technologies," said Brenda Foster, president of AmCham Shanghai. "The private sector, working closely with government, will play a key role in defining this market."
A primary goal of Greentech: A Call to Action is to overcome impediments that have prevented the US and China from working together in a truly joint partnership.
Bruce Pickering, Executive Director of the Asia Society Northern California said: "As in so many other areas, the relationship between the United States and China will be crucial to tackling the problems of sustainability and climate change. If we deal with these issues in a positive and constructive fashion, we can begin to chip away at what will likely be the critical issue of the 21st century. We really don't want to contemplate any other outcome."
The conference highlights the power of collaboration and multi-lateral cooperation bringing together organizations committed to advancing sustainability and developing the greentech market. The US-China Clean Energy Forum, sponsor of 8 Initiatives designed to transform the energy systems of the US and China, provides the conference with established bi-lateral cooperative programs.
The China Greentech Initiative provides market-defining insights from the China Greentech Report, the Initiative's first deliverable to be launched on September 10 at the World Economic Forum meeting in Dalian, China. Both organizations are presenting partners at the conference, along with PricewaterhouseCoopers, which has provided the conference thought leadership and industry-focused expertise, and is also a founding partner of the Greentech Initiative.
Kicking off day one of the two-day conference, Chairman Fu Zhihuan and Senator Cantwell joined Han Wenke, Director General of the Energy Research Institute of the NDRC, and Stanley H. Barer, Co-Chairman of the US-China Clean Energy Forum, in a signing ceremony for the Clean Energy Forum's 8 Initiatives for US Clean Energy Cooperation.
"US-China collaboration is absolutely essential. This is not about adopting any particular form of technology, but rather creating an ongoing dialogue of leaders from the two countries focused on removing impediments and facilitating cooperation," stated Stanley Barer, "The 8 Initiatives provide a roadmap for the way forward."
United through the China Greentech Initiative, leaders from Beijing Shougang, BP, Cisco Systems, Corning, Climate Change Capital, GE, Owens Corning, Hitachi, IBM, Philips, Shui On Land, Suntech, Volkswagen and dozens more focused on What's Hot, What's Not and Why during greentech market sector roundtables. Topics covered in the roundtables were based on the Initiatives' nine-month open source collaboration project and designed around an analysis of seven market sectors.
"We examined 125 greentech solutions, both existing and emerging, across seven sectors providing a view of the solution's potential environmental impact as well as total commercialization opportunity," said Ellen G. Carberry, co-founder of the China Greentech Initiative.
"The report is the result of hundreds of industry experts through 21 in-depth working sessions. It is a tangible example of the power of collaboration to drive the greentech market forward," commented Randall S. Hancock, co-founder of the China Greentech Initiative.
On Tuesday, the Conference will host Catalyst Sessions with topics drawn from the US-China Clean Energy Forum's 8 Initiatives. Each session will be moderated by a partner from PricewaterhouseCoopers. Topics will include Solar Technologies, Electric Vehicles, Advanced Coal and Sustainable Biofuels. Results from the Catalyst Sessions will define focus areas for collaboration and 'catalyze' market action moving forward.
"Collaboration is a core value at PricewaterhouseCoopers. It is exciting to see the active adoption of this approach by the China Greentech Initiative, the US-China Clean Energy Forum and here at the Greentech: A Call to Action conference," commented Ruth Dobson, Advisory Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
"The Catalyst Sessions provide another excellent opportunity for key market leaders to work together to move towards tangible market-based plans for particular greentech markets both in China and the US."
Results of the Sector Roundtables and Catalyst Sessions will be documented and content will be made publicly available after the conference at http://www.amcham-shanghai.org/Greentech.
This content will form the basis for a series of action plans and a platform to develop strategies that will accelerate the greentech market and help advance the agenda at follow-up conferences starting later this year.
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The giant awakens to solar power while America aleeps -- Evolution Solar grows roots in China
PHOENIX, USA: While the US is still floundering with ad-hoc investments in clean energy, China has developed a straight-forward, no-nonsense approach to reaching 2GW solar capacity by 2011.
It is gaining strong leadership in the solar industry by investing heavily in manufacturing and incentivizing installation. Chinese companies like, Suntech Power Holdings, (NYSE: STP) have succeeded in driving solar panel price reductions over the last six months by selling panels on the US market below the marginal cost. Further, China is circumventing protectionist legislation by constructing assembly plants in the US.
Evolution Solar is setting down roots in China to take advantage of this shift in the center of gravity for the solar industry. In the last century, the United States was the home of most TV manufacturers. By the end of the century, there were none left in America. They were all in Asia!
The same is happening with solar energy and Evolution Solar Corp. (EVSO) has positioned itself to be a resource to the green energy revolution from its new base in China.
“China has made a commitment to solar and placed substantial funds behind that commitment,” stated Robert Kaapke, CEO of Evolution Solar. “Talking about change is very different form actually changing; we want to be part of real change and that is why we are setting down our roots where real change is taking place.”
Nearly all solar providers in America will source parts and components from China in the years ahead. EVSO expects to position itself to compete with producers, such as SunTech and Energy Conversion Devices for a part of this market.
It is gaining strong leadership in the solar industry by investing heavily in manufacturing and incentivizing installation. Chinese companies like, Suntech Power Holdings, (NYSE: STP) have succeeded in driving solar panel price reductions over the last six months by selling panels on the US market below the marginal cost. Further, China is circumventing protectionist legislation by constructing assembly plants in the US.
Evolution Solar is setting down roots in China to take advantage of this shift in the center of gravity for the solar industry. In the last century, the United States was the home of most TV manufacturers. By the end of the century, there were none left in America. They were all in Asia!
The same is happening with solar energy and Evolution Solar Corp. (EVSO) has positioned itself to be a resource to the green energy revolution from its new base in China.
“China has made a commitment to solar and placed substantial funds behind that commitment,” stated Robert Kaapke, CEO of Evolution Solar. “Talking about change is very different form actually changing; we want to be part of real change and that is why we are setting down our roots where real change is taking place.”
Nearly all solar providers in America will source parts and components from China in the years ahead. EVSO expects to position itself to compete with producers, such as SunTech and Energy Conversion Devices for a part of this market.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Worldwide photovoltaic market - 2013
NEW YORK, USA: Reportlinker.com announced that a new market research report is available in its catalog -- the Worldwide Photovoltaic Market - 2013.
In 2008, the global PV market reached 5.6GW and the cumulative PV power installed totaled almost 15GW compared to 9GW in 2007.
Spain represented almost half of the new installations in 2008 with about 2.5GW of new capacities, followed by Germany with 1.5GW of additional connected.
The US confirmed its trend with 342MW of newly-installed PV systems, followed by South Korea, which registered 274MW of PV installations over the year. Italy connected almost 260MW, while France, Portugal, Belgium and the Czech Republic made good scores confirming Europe’s worldwide leadership in the deployment of solar PV energy.
A diversification of the market is taking place with countries adopting appropriate support policies, this is very good news for the PV industry and the environment. Given the current crisis context, high uncertainties over the 2009 market exist.
Experts believe the market could reach up to 7GW in 2009, each individual country’s development influencing the final figure. The PV sector is hoping markets such as the US, Germany, France and Italy will pull the demand. Favourable policy frameworks are expected to further accelerate PV deployment in these countries.
In 2013, the worldwide PV market could reach 22GW if appropriate policies, such as feed-in tariffs (FiT), are in place.
In 2008, the global PV market reached 5.6GW and the cumulative PV power installed totaled almost 15GW compared to 9GW in 2007.
Spain represented almost half of the new installations in 2008 with about 2.5GW of new capacities, followed by Germany with 1.5GW of additional connected.
The US confirmed its trend with 342MW of newly-installed PV systems, followed by South Korea, which registered 274MW of PV installations over the year. Italy connected almost 260MW, while France, Portugal, Belgium and the Czech Republic made good scores confirming Europe’s worldwide leadership in the deployment of solar PV energy.
A diversification of the market is taking place with countries adopting appropriate support policies, this is very good news for the PV industry and the environment. Given the current crisis context, high uncertainties over the 2009 market exist.
Experts believe the market could reach up to 7GW in 2009, each individual country’s development influencing the final figure. The PV sector is hoping markets such as the US, Germany, France and Italy will pull the demand. Favourable policy frameworks are expected to further accelerate PV deployment in these countries.
In 2013, the worldwide PV market could reach 22GW if appropriate policies, such as feed-in tariffs (FiT), are in place.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Fotowatio's Renewable Ventures completes $200mn fund for solar projects
SAN FRANCISCO, USA: Renewable Ventures, a Fotowatio company, announced the completion of Solar Fund V to finance more than $200 million of new solar energy projects across the United States.
The fund's first project is a two-megawatt solar photovoltaic project located in Ft. Collins, Colorado that will sell energy to Colorado State University and renewable energy credits to one of the state's utilities, Xcel Energy.
Solar Fund V, the fifth fund organized by Renewable Ventures and the first as Fotowatio's US-based subsidiary, reinforces the company's growth strategy in the United States. The fund will focus on the development and acquisition of commercial, public sector, and utility-scale solar projects from one to 10 megawatts in size.
"With this new infusion of capital, we stand ready to work with businesses, utilities and others to immediately finance, develop, or acquire megawatts of large-scale solar projects in the U.S.," said Renewable Ventures CEO Matt Cheney.
Solar Fund V is structured to include both debt from John Hancock (a unit of Manulife Financial Corp., and equity from Renewable Ventures and Wells Fargo, and will enable the construction and permanent financing of around 35 megawatts in the next year.
The combination of debt and equity enables the fund to seek a broader range of federal government incentives, improving project economics for prospective customers such as municipalities, universities, electric utilities and companies.
"Wells Fargo's and John Hancock's continued commitment to investing in renewable energy will allow us to replicate the success of our previous relationships," added Cheney. "Solar Fund V has been designed to use capital and incentives available under the stimulus program in a way that can accelerate the development of more solar projects and quickly create jobs in the US renewable energy sector."
"We are pleased to continue building our relationship through setting up this fund with Renewable Ventures," said Barry Neal, director of Environmental Finance at Wells Fargo. "Wells Fargo's commitment to clean energy and Renewable Ventures' development and operating experience together will help our nation take advantage of clean, renewable energy."
"John Hancock is proud to be working once again with Renewable Ventures, extending our partnership by helping to finance, develop, and deliver clean, renewable energy projects making a difference globally and to the communities we serve," said Jerry Hanrahan, Managing Director, at John Hancock.
The fund's first project, to be located at Colorado State University, will generate enough solar power to provide more than 10% of the electricity needs on the university's Foothills Campus. The 15-acre solar power plant is expected to be one of the largest solar installations at a US university when it is completed in 2009.
The fund's first project is a two-megawatt solar photovoltaic project located in Ft. Collins, Colorado that will sell energy to Colorado State University and renewable energy credits to one of the state's utilities, Xcel Energy.
Solar Fund V, the fifth fund organized by Renewable Ventures and the first as Fotowatio's US-based subsidiary, reinforces the company's growth strategy in the United States. The fund will focus on the development and acquisition of commercial, public sector, and utility-scale solar projects from one to 10 megawatts in size.
"With this new infusion of capital, we stand ready to work with businesses, utilities and others to immediately finance, develop, or acquire megawatts of large-scale solar projects in the U.S.," said Renewable Ventures CEO Matt Cheney.
Solar Fund V is structured to include both debt from John Hancock (a unit of Manulife Financial Corp., and equity from Renewable Ventures and Wells Fargo, and will enable the construction and permanent financing of around 35 megawatts in the next year.
The combination of debt and equity enables the fund to seek a broader range of federal government incentives, improving project economics for prospective customers such as municipalities, universities, electric utilities and companies.
"Wells Fargo's and John Hancock's continued commitment to investing in renewable energy will allow us to replicate the success of our previous relationships," added Cheney. "Solar Fund V has been designed to use capital and incentives available under the stimulus program in a way that can accelerate the development of more solar projects and quickly create jobs in the US renewable energy sector."
"We are pleased to continue building our relationship through setting up this fund with Renewable Ventures," said Barry Neal, director of Environmental Finance at Wells Fargo. "Wells Fargo's commitment to clean energy and Renewable Ventures' development and operating experience together will help our nation take advantage of clean, renewable energy."
"John Hancock is proud to be working once again with Renewable Ventures, extending our partnership by helping to finance, develop, and deliver clean, renewable energy projects making a difference globally and to the communities we serve," said Jerry Hanrahan, Managing Director, at John Hancock.
The fund's first project, to be located at Colorado State University, will generate enough solar power to provide more than 10% of the electricity needs on the university's Foothills Campus. The 15-acre solar power plant is expected to be one of the largest solar installations at a US university when it is completed in 2009.
Friday, July 31, 2009
FedEx Ground plans largest rooftop solar power system in US
PITTSBURGH, USA: FedEx Ground, the small-package shipping unit of FedEx Corp., announced plans to install the nation’s largest rooftop solar-electric system at its distribution hub in Woodbridge, N.J.
The solar power project is the third between a FedEx operating company and BP Solar and the fifth solar power project for FedEx. The 2.42 megawatt solar power system will cover approximately 3.3 acres of rooftop space with approximately 12,400 solar panels.
When completed, the system will be capable of producing approximately 2.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year and could provide up to 30 percent of the hub’s annual energy needs.
“Our commitment to our customers and the communities in which we operate extends far beyond delivering packages on time and intact,” said David F. Rebholz, president and CEO of FedEx Ground. “While continuing to provide the stellar service expected from FedEx, we also want to identify and implement ways that we can reduce energy use and shrink our carbon footprint. This project is a giant step forward in those efforts.”
As part of the agreement, BP will install and operate the solar power system and FedEx will purchase the power generated.
“FedEx Ground is a valued customer of BP,” said Reyad Fezzani, president and CEO of BP Solar. “We are proud to have been selected for this project and look forward to providing the company with the highest lifetime value and the lowest lifetime cost of electricity for its solar-equipped operations.”
Installation is scheduled to begin in August and expected to be completed by November. When the system is fully operating, the combined environmental benefits based on a projected annual reduction of approximately 1,867 metric tons of CO2 emissions, are equivalent to one of the following:
* More than 340 passenger cars not driven for one year.
* 211,900 gallons of gasoline not burned.
* 4,300 barrels of oil not consumed.
* 259 households’ electricity use for one year.
* 47,872 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
* 13 acres of forest preserved from deforestation.
Data is derived from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator.
FedEx and BP also work together strategically to identify, develop and implement a range of solutions to increase FedEx’s security of energy supply while improving its environmental performance. This includes fuels supply agreements for its ground and air operations, for lubricants, and for solar power systems.
“We bring the scope and scale of BP’s refining, marketing and alternative energy infrastructure to FedEx, creating value for our customer while allowing them to focus on delivering outstanding service to their customers on a daily basis,” said Richard Bartlett, vice president of strategic cooperation for BP.
Last year, FedEx Freight installed two solar power systems. One in Whittier, Calif., is a 282-kilowatt system , while another in Fontana, Calif., is a 269-kilowatt system. In 2005, FedEx Express activated a 904-kilowatt system at its Oakland, Calif., hub facility, making it the first of its kind in the FedEx family. That system today meets up to 80 percent of that facility’s peak energy demand.
FedEx is currently constructing its Central and Eastern European gateway at the Cologne/Bonn, Germany, airport, which will include a 1.4-megawatt solar power system. The hub is slated for completion in 2010.
Opened in 2000, the Woodbridge hub sits on more than 80 acres of former brownfield once used to stockpile soils dredged from the nearby Raritan River. Soils and groundwater were contaminated with various polluting substances, primarily arsenic.
To build the facility, FedEx Ground worked with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on a remedial action for the site. Today, the hub houses a workforce of more than 1,000 employees and independent contractors.
The solar power project is the third between a FedEx operating company and BP Solar and the fifth solar power project for FedEx. The 2.42 megawatt solar power system will cover approximately 3.3 acres of rooftop space with approximately 12,400 solar panels.
When completed, the system will be capable of producing approximately 2.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year and could provide up to 30 percent of the hub’s annual energy needs.
“Our commitment to our customers and the communities in which we operate extends far beyond delivering packages on time and intact,” said David F. Rebholz, president and CEO of FedEx Ground. “While continuing to provide the stellar service expected from FedEx, we also want to identify and implement ways that we can reduce energy use and shrink our carbon footprint. This project is a giant step forward in those efforts.”
As part of the agreement, BP will install and operate the solar power system and FedEx will purchase the power generated.
“FedEx Ground is a valued customer of BP,” said Reyad Fezzani, president and CEO of BP Solar. “We are proud to have been selected for this project and look forward to providing the company with the highest lifetime value and the lowest lifetime cost of electricity for its solar-equipped operations.”
Installation is scheduled to begin in August and expected to be completed by November. When the system is fully operating, the combined environmental benefits based on a projected annual reduction of approximately 1,867 metric tons of CO2 emissions, are equivalent to one of the following:
* More than 340 passenger cars not driven for one year.
* 211,900 gallons of gasoline not burned.
* 4,300 barrels of oil not consumed.
* 259 households’ electricity use for one year.
* 47,872 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
* 13 acres of forest preserved from deforestation.
Data is derived from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator.
FedEx and BP also work together strategically to identify, develop and implement a range of solutions to increase FedEx’s security of energy supply while improving its environmental performance. This includes fuels supply agreements for its ground and air operations, for lubricants, and for solar power systems.
“We bring the scope and scale of BP’s refining, marketing and alternative energy infrastructure to FedEx, creating value for our customer while allowing them to focus on delivering outstanding service to their customers on a daily basis,” said Richard Bartlett, vice president of strategic cooperation for BP.
Last year, FedEx Freight installed two solar power systems. One in Whittier, Calif., is a 282-kilowatt system , while another in Fontana, Calif., is a 269-kilowatt system. In 2005, FedEx Express activated a 904-kilowatt system at its Oakland, Calif., hub facility, making it the first of its kind in the FedEx family. That system today meets up to 80 percent of that facility’s peak energy demand.
FedEx is currently constructing its Central and Eastern European gateway at the Cologne/Bonn, Germany, airport, which will include a 1.4-megawatt solar power system. The hub is slated for completion in 2010.
Opened in 2000, the Woodbridge hub sits on more than 80 acres of former brownfield once used to stockpile soils dredged from the nearby Raritan River. Soils and groundwater were contaminated with various polluting substances, primarily arsenic.
To build the facility, FedEx Ground worked with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on a remedial action for the site. Today, the hub houses a workforce of more than 1,000 employees and independent contractors.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
President Obama's remarks on renewable energy -- We come for the sun!
Here's the release on US President Barack Obama's remarks on alterative energy. It is also posted on the White House web site.
NEVADA, USA: Thank you so much. Everybody please have a seat. Thank you so much.
I've got some special acknowledgments that I have to make. First of all, we've got some members of the congressional delegation Nevada who are doing outstanding jobs not only for Nevada but also for the men and women in uniform. So please give a warm welcome to Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. Congresswoman Dina Titus. And we're in his district, he couldn't be here, but Congressman Dean Heller, please give him a big round of applause.
I also want to thank the State Controller, Kim Wallin, for her great work. The Nevada Secretary of State, Ross Miller. Nevada State Treasurer, Kate Marshall. I want to thank the Brigadier General, Stanley Kresge, for the wonderful, outstanding work that he does, as well as Colonel Dave Belote, who just gave me an outstanding tour of the solar panel facility out here.
But mainly I want to thank all of you, the men and women in uniform, for your service to our country. We're grateful to you. Thank you.
I just spoke to a handful of your commanders here. I know some are about to be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, many have just come back. The fact that you serve each and every day to keep us safe is something that every American is grateful for. And so if I don't do anything else as your Commander-in-Chief, I'm going to make sure that we're there for you just as you've been there for us. So thank you very much.
Finally, let me acknowledge Senator Reid, not just for the generous introduction, not only because he's been a great friend, not only because he's been an outstanding Majority Leader, but also because of everything that he's done for the people of Nevada and for the armed services. He is somebody who has never forgotten his roots. After all these years, he still brings the voices and values of Searchlight, Nevada to the nation's most important debates in Washington, D.C. -- and we are better off because he does. So please give Harry Reid a big round of applause.
You know, it's always a pleasure to get out of Washington a little bit. Washington is okay, but it's nice taking some time to talk to Americans of every walk of life outside of the nation's capital. And there's nothing like a quick trip to Vegas in the middle of the week. Like millions of other Americans, we come to this beautiful city for the sights and for the sounds -- and today, we come for the sun.
Because right now, we're standing near the largest solar electric plant of its kind in the entire Western Hemisphere -- the entire Western Hemisphere. More than 72,000 solar panels built on part of an old landfill provide 25 percent of the electricity for the 12,000 people who live and work here at Nellis. That's the equivalent of powering about 13,200 homes during the day.
It's a project that took about half a year to complete, created 200 jobs, and will save the United States Air Force, which is the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, nearly $1 million -- $1 million a year. It will also reduce harmful carbon pollution by 24,000 tons per year, which is the equivalent of removing 4,000 cars from our roads. Most importantly, this base serves as a shining example of what's possible when we harness the power of clean, renewable energy to build a new, firmer foundation for economic growth.
Now, that's the kind of foundation we're trying to build all across America. One hundred days ago, in the midst of the worst economic crisis in half a century, we passed the most sweeping economic recovery act in history -- a plan designed to save jobs, create new ones, and put money in people's pockets. It's a plan designed not only to revive the economy in the short term, but to rebuild the economy over the long term. It's a plan that we passed thanks to the tireless efforts of Harry Reid and Congresswoman Berkley and Congresswoman Titus and all the other outstanding public servants in Washington.
But if it hadn't been for Harry Reid -- because the Senate is tough -- moving this Recovery Act through Congress with the skill and tenacity and urgency of somebody who knows the struggles that millions of people are going through, we would have not gotten it done. So I am eternally grateful to him and the other members of the congressional delegation for helping to pass this plan.
And 100 days later, we're already seeing results. And today, we're releasing a report that details the progress that we've made in every region of the country.
In these last few months, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has saved or created nearly 150,000 jobs -- jobs building solar panels and wind turbines, making homes and buildings more energy efficient. They're the jobs of teachers and police officers and nurses who have not been laid off as a consequence of this Recovery Act. They're the jobs fixing roads and bridges, jobs at start-ups and small businesses, and jobs that will put thousands of young Americans to work this summer.
Also in the Recovery Act, by the way, is all sorts of construction taking place on bases just like Nellis to support military families, and I know that that is something that Michelle Obama has taken a lot of time looking into; that's something that I'm spending a lot of time thinking about. We want to make sure that our bases and our facilities are the best in the world for our best troops.
Ninety-five percent of all working families saw their take-home pay increase because of the tax cut that we provided in the Recovery Act. Fifty-four million seniors received $250 extra in their Social Security checks. Laid-off workers have received greater unemployment benefits and paid less for their health care.
For the thousands of families whose homes have been made more energy efficient, it's also saved them about $350 on their energy bills. Other Americans saved thousands by taking advantage of the tax credits the Recovery Act has provided for the purchase of a new home, or a new fuel-efficient car, or energy-efficient cooling and heating systems, windows, and insulation. And all of this has helped to fuel demand that is helping businesses put more Americans back to work.
But this is just the beginning. There are still too many Americans out of work, and too many who still worry that their job may be next. There are still too many families struggling to pay the bills, and too many businesses struggling to keep their doors open. And that's why we will continue to implement the Recovery Act as quickly and effectively as possible over the next two years.
We're just at the start of this Recovery Act. We are going to keep on going through this year and into next year, because we are going to make sure that not only are we putting people back to work, but we're laying the foundation for a better economy. And that's why my administration will continue an unrelenting, day-by-day effort to fight for economic recovery on all fronts.
Now, I just want to emphasize, even as we clear away some of the wreckage and debris of this extraordinary recession, I've also said that our next task is making sure that this doesn't happen again. We can't return to the same bubble-and-bust economy, borrow-and-spend economy based on maxed-out credit cards and overleveraged banks and financial profits that were only real on paper -- see, that young lady agrees with me. We have to lay a new foundation for prosperity -- a foundation constructed on the pillars that will grow our economy and help America compete in the 21st century.
And a renewable energy revolution is one of those pillars. We know the cost of our oil addiction all too well. It's the cost measured by the billions of dollars we send to nations with unstable or unfriendly regimes. We help to fund both sides of the war on terror because of our addiction to oil. It's the cost of our vulnerability to the volatility of the oil markets. It's the cost we feel in shifting weather patterns that are already causing unprecedented droughts and more intense storms. It's a cost we can't bear any longer.
Today, projects like the one at Nellis are still the exception to the rule, unfortunately. America produces less than 3 percent of our electricity through renewable sources of energy like wind and solar -- less than 3 percent. In contrast, Denmark produces 20 percent of their electricity through wind. We pioneered solar technology, but we've fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in generating it, even though they get less sun than we do. They certainly get less sun than Nevada.
So we've got a choice. We can remain the world's leading importer of oil, sending our money and our wealth away, or we can become the world's leading exporter of clean energy. We can hand over the jobs of the future to our competitors, or we can confront what they've already recognized as the great opportunity of our time: The nation that leads the world in creating new sources of clean energy will be the nation that leads the 21st-century global economy. And that's the nation I want America to be and I know that's the nation you want America to be.
Already, we've made more progress on this front in the last four months than we have in the last three decades. Last week, I brought auto executives, labor unions, environmental groups, Democrats, and Republicans together to set the toughest-ever national fuel-efficiency standard for our cars and trucks -- a standard that will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years.
In Congress, leaders like Harry Reid are also working to pass a historic energy plan that will help end our dependence on foreign oil while preventing the worst consequences of climate change. It's a system -- it's a plan that will create a system of clean energy incentives that will create good, American jobs and crack down on polluters who pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Finally, by the end of the next two years, the Recovery Act will have enabled a doubling of our nation's capacity to generate renewable energy by investing in projects just like the one on this Air Force base. And today, I'm announcing the availability of funding for two Recovery Act programs that will help us reach that goal.
The first is a solar energy technologies program that will help replicate the success of the Nellis project in cities and states across America -- because in this case, what happens in Vegas should not stay in Vegas. We want everybody to know what we're doing here in Vegas. We'll invest in the development and deployment of solar technology wherever it can thrive and we'll find the best ways to integrate solar power into our electric grid.
The second program I'm announcing will help develop the use of geothermal energy in America. As many of you in Nevada know, geothermal energy is literally defined as "heat from the earth." This heat can then be harnessed as a clean, affordable, and reliable source of energy.
And already, Nevada has 17 industrial scale geothermal plants, and your capacity to generate this type of power is expected to increase in the next few years. The program we're announcing will help accelerate this process -- here, and across America. So this is something that we expect will -- (applause.) -- this will create more jobs, it will create more businesses, and more affordable electricity for the American people.
Now, from where we stand today, the road to economic recovery is still long. We've got a lot of work to do. There are a lot of folks who are still hurting out there. And the road to a new, clean energy economy is even longer. We're not going to do it overnight. But after four months of this administration and 100 days of this Recovery Act, we have carved out a path toward progress. It's a path that begins in places just like this Air Force base, where ordinary citizens tap into their sense of innovation and ingenuity to reinvent the world around them.
This base has been known as "The Home of the Fighter Pilot." Now it's the home of the largest solar energy installation of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. And by the way, the two concepts are connected because it is good for our national security if we've got more control over our own energy use.
And that's the story that will be told all across America, in cities and towns, where a shuttered factory reopens to build wind turbines; where a hospital treats patients with new technology and pulls up their history with new electronic records; where a young entrepreneur with a nest egg and a good idea starts a business and creates more jobs.
That's how we move America forward. This is how we've always moved forward. It happens slowly, in fits and starts, but it always happens surely when we are dedicated to bringing about change. It happens not by chance or by luck, but because the American people keep pushing ahead -- persevering through hardship, growing through challenge, building something firmer and stronger in place of what was.
That's the work we've begun in these last few months, and with your help, this is the work we will continue to do in the days and months ahead.
For all of you who are serving in our armed forces, we want to make sure that our civilians are mobilizing and working on behalf of this country just as ably as you are. We salute you, we thank you. Thank you, everybody. God bless you, God bless the United States of America. Thank you.
NEVADA, USA: Thank you so much. Everybody please have a seat. Thank you so much.
I've got some special acknowledgments that I have to make. First of all, we've got some members of the congressional delegation Nevada who are doing outstanding jobs not only for Nevada but also for the men and women in uniform. So please give a warm welcome to Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. Congresswoman Dina Titus. And we're in his district, he couldn't be here, but Congressman Dean Heller, please give him a big round of applause.
I also want to thank the State Controller, Kim Wallin, for her great work. The Nevada Secretary of State, Ross Miller. Nevada State Treasurer, Kate Marshall. I want to thank the Brigadier General, Stanley Kresge, for the wonderful, outstanding work that he does, as well as Colonel Dave Belote, who just gave me an outstanding tour of the solar panel facility out here.
But mainly I want to thank all of you, the men and women in uniform, for your service to our country. We're grateful to you. Thank you.
I just spoke to a handful of your commanders here. I know some are about to be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, many have just come back. The fact that you serve each and every day to keep us safe is something that every American is grateful for. And so if I don't do anything else as your Commander-in-Chief, I'm going to make sure that we're there for you just as you've been there for us. So thank you very much.
Finally, let me acknowledge Senator Reid, not just for the generous introduction, not only because he's been a great friend, not only because he's been an outstanding Majority Leader, but also because of everything that he's done for the people of Nevada and for the armed services. He is somebody who has never forgotten his roots. After all these years, he still brings the voices and values of Searchlight, Nevada to the nation's most important debates in Washington, D.C. -- and we are better off because he does. So please give Harry Reid a big round of applause.
You know, it's always a pleasure to get out of Washington a little bit. Washington is okay, but it's nice taking some time to talk to Americans of every walk of life outside of the nation's capital. And there's nothing like a quick trip to Vegas in the middle of the week. Like millions of other Americans, we come to this beautiful city for the sights and for the sounds -- and today, we come for the sun.
Because right now, we're standing near the largest solar electric plant of its kind in the entire Western Hemisphere -- the entire Western Hemisphere. More than 72,000 solar panels built on part of an old landfill provide 25 percent of the electricity for the 12,000 people who live and work here at Nellis. That's the equivalent of powering about 13,200 homes during the day.
It's a project that took about half a year to complete, created 200 jobs, and will save the United States Air Force, which is the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, nearly $1 million -- $1 million a year. It will also reduce harmful carbon pollution by 24,000 tons per year, which is the equivalent of removing 4,000 cars from our roads. Most importantly, this base serves as a shining example of what's possible when we harness the power of clean, renewable energy to build a new, firmer foundation for economic growth.
Now, that's the kind of foundation we're trying to build all across America. One hundred days ago, in the midst of the worst economic crisis in half a century, we passed the most sweeping economic recovery act in history -- a plan designed to save jobs, create new ones, and put money in people's pockets. It's a plan designed not only to revive the economy in the short term, but to rebuild the economy over the long term. It's a plan that we passed thanks to the tireless efforts of Harry Reid and Congresswoman Berkley and Congresswoman Titus and all the other outstanding public servants in Washington.
But if it hadn't been for Harry Reid -- because the Senate is tough -- moving this Recovery Act through Congress with the skill and tenacity and urgency of somebody who knows the struggles that millions of people are going through, we would have not gotten it done. So I am eternally grateful to him and the other members of the congressional delegation for helping to pass this plan.
And 100 days later, we're already seeing results. And today, we're releasing a report that details the progress that we've made in every region of the country.
In these last few months, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has saved or created nearly 150,000 jobs -- jobs building solar panels and wind turbines, making homes and buildings more energy efficient. They're the jobs of teachers and police officers and nurses who have not been laid off as a consequence of this Recovery Act. They're the jobs fixing roads and bridges, jobs at start-ups and small businesses, and jobs that will put thousands of young Americans to work this summer.
Also in the Recovery Act, by the way, is all sorts of construction taking place on bases just like Nellis to support military families, and I know that that is something that Michelle Obama has taken a lot of time looking into; that's something that I'm spending a lot of time thinking about. We want to make sure that our bases and our facilities are the best in the world for our best troops.
Ninety-five percent of all working families saw their take-home pay increase because of the tax cut that we provided in the Recovery Act. Fifty-four million seniors received $250 extra in their Social Security checks. Laid-off workers have received greater unemployment benefits and paid less for their health care.
For the thousands of families whose homes have been made more energy efficient, it's also saved them about $350 on their energy bills. Other Americans saved thousands by taking advantage of the tax credits the Recovery Act has provided for the purchase of a new home, or a new fuel-efficient car, or energy-efficient cooling and heating systems, windows, and insulation. And all of this has helped to fuel demand that is helping businesses put more Americans back to work.
But this is just the beginning. There are still too many Americans out of work, and too many who still worry that their job may be next. There are still too many families struggling to pay the bills, and too many businesses struggling to keep their doors open. And that's why we will continue to implement the Recovery Act as quickly and effectively as possible over the next two years.
We're just at the start of this Recovery Act. We are going to keep on going through this year and into next year, because we are going to make sure that not only are we putting people back to work, but we're laying the foundation for a better economy. And that's why my administration will continue an unrelenting, day-by-day effort to fight for economic recovery on all fronts.
Now, I just want to emphasize, even as we clear away some of the wreckage and debris of this extraordinary recession, I've also said that our next task is making sure that this doesn't happen again. We can't return to the same bubble-and-bust economy, borrow-and-spend economy based on maxed-out credit cards and overleveraged banks and financial profits that were only real on paper -- see, that young lady agrees with me. We have to lay a new foundation for prosperity -- a foundation constructed on the pillars that will grow our economy and help America compete in the 21st century.
And a renewable energy revolution is one of those pillars. We know the cost of our oil addiction all too well. It's the cost measured by the billions of dollars we send to nations with unstable or unfriendly regimes. We help to fund both sides of the war on terror because of our addiction to oil. It's the cost of our vulnerability to the volatility of the oil markets. It's the cost we feel in shifting weather patterns that are already causing unprecedented droughts and more intense storms. It's a cost we can't bear any longer.
Today, projects like the one at Nellis are still the exception to the rule, unfortunately. America produces less than 3 percent of our electricity through renewable sources of energy like wind and solar -- less than 3 percent. In contrast, Denmark produces 20 percent of their electricity through wind. We pioneered solar technology, but we've fallen behind countries like Germany and Japan in generating it, even though they get less sun than we do. They certainly get less sun than Nevada.
So we've got a choice. We can remain the world's leading importer of oil, sending our money and our wealth away, or we can become the world's leading exporter of clean energy. We can hand over the jobs of the future to our competitors, or we can confront what they've already recognized as the great opportunity of our time: The nation that leads the world in creating new sources of clean energy will be the nation that leads the 21st-century global economy. And that's the nation I want America to be and I know that's the nation you want America to be.
Already, we've made more progress on this front in the last four months than we have in the last three decades. Last week, I brought auto executives, labor unions, environmental groups, Democrats, and Republicans together to set the toughest-ever national fuel-efficiency standard for our cars and trucks -- a standard that will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years.
In Congress, leaders like Harry Reid are also working to pass a historic energy plan that will help end our dependence on foreign oil while preventing the worst consequences of climate change. It's a system -- it's a plan that will create a system of clean energy incentives that will create good, American jobs and crack down on polluters who pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Finally, by the end of the next two years, the Recovery Act will have enabled a doubling of our nation's capacity to generate renewable energy by investing in projects just like the one on this Air Force base. And today, I'm announcing the availability of funding for two Recovery Act programs that will help us reach that goal.
The first is a solar energy technologies program that will help replicate the success of the Nellis project in cities and states across America -- because in this case, what happens in Vegas should not stay in Vegas. We want everybody to know what we're doing here in Vegas. We'll invest in the development and deployment of solar technology wherever it can thrive and we'll find the best ways to integrate solar power into our electric grid.
The second program I'm announcing will help develop the use of geothermal energy in America. As many of you in Nevada know, geothermal energy is literally defined as "heat from the earth." This heat can then be harnessed as a clean, affordable, and reliable source of energy.
And already, Nevada has 17 industrial scale geothermal plants, and your capacity to generate this type of power is expected to increase in the next few years. The program we're announcing will help accelerate this process -- here, and across America. So this is something that we expect will -- (applause.) -- this will create more jobs, it will create more businesses, and more affordable electricity for the American people.
Now, from where we stand today, the road to economic recovery is still long. We've got a lot of work to do. There are a lot of folks who are still hurting out there. And the road to a new, clean energy economy is even longer. We're not going to do it overnight. But after four months of this administration and 100 days of this Recovery Act, we have carved out a path toward progress. It's a path that begins in places just like this Air Force base, where ordinary citizens tap into their sense of innovation and ingenuity to reinvent the world around them.
This base has been known as "The Home of the Fighter Pilot." Now it's the home of the largest solar energy installation of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. And by the way, the two concepts are connected because it is good for our national security if we've got more control over our own energy use.
And that's the story that will be told all across America, in cities and towns, where a shuttered factory reopens to build wind turbines; where a hospital treats patients with new technology and pulls up their history with new electronic records; where a young entrepreneur with a nest egg and a good idea starts a business and creates more jobs.
That's how we move America forward. This is how we've always moved forward. It happens slowly, in fits and starts, but it always happens surely when we are dedicated to bringing about change. It happens not by chance or by luck, but because the American people keep pushing ahead -- persevering through hardship, growing through challenge, building something firmer and stronger in place of what was.
That's the work we've begun in these last few months, and with your help, this is the work we will continue to do in the days and months ahead.
For all of you who are serving in our armed forces, we want to make sure that our civilians are mobilizing and working on behalf of this country just as ably as you are. We salute you, we thank you. Thank you, everybody. God bless you, God bless the United States of America. Thank you.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Photovoltaics in the USA -– stop or go?
DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Photovoltaics in the USA" report to its offering.
First comprehensive study of the US photovoltaic market based on a broad quantitative data base released. New study by EuPD Research analyzes current developments in the US photovoltaic market. Market participants expect a moderate but steady growth. Stop-and-go political support one of the key hindrances for market growth.
Cautious optimism
There is good evidence that the US photovoltaic market will be one of the key future markets for photovoltaics. However, up to now, the market has had to struggle with erratic political support for renewable energies, as well as highly complex promotion structures and strong fragmentation due to the 50 separate state markets.
The results of the new survey of around 130 US photovoltaic companies and electric utilities show a clouded optimism after a prosperous year 2007. While the companies generally expect increased sales for the current year (plus 62.2 percent on average) and consequently also a market growth of 50 percent to 300 MWp in 2008, the sinking rebate levels in California as well as the failed extension of the tax credit are slowing down the positive development of the market.
Slowdown for the market
If not extended, the most important national promotion instrument - the investment tax credit (ITC) -- will go down from 30 to ten percent for commercial customers and to 0 percent for residential customers on December 31st, 2008. However, it has become very unlikely that this will happen under the current president.
While the sudden interruption of renewable energy promotion seems difficult to understand in view of the oil price shock and pressing climate change issues, events like these are not new to the market. "It continues the stop-and-go-policy that has characterized the market in the past", explains project manager Sarah Endres.
Special products for a special market
Availability is also an issue for the market players. In total, 62.8 percent of the respondents report problems when purchasing modules. Some market players stated that they pretty much sell what they can get.
Nevertheless, the survey results show some clear trends regarding which product characteristics are demanded in the market. "Design aspects seem to be a big issue in the residential segment", explains Endres.
First comprehensive study of the US photovoltaic market based on a broad quantitative data base released. New study by EuPD Research analyzes current developments in the US photovoltaic market. Market participants expect a moderate but steady growth. Stop-and-go political support one of the key hindrances for market growth.
Cautious optimism
There is good evidence that the US photovoltaic market will be one of the key future markets for photovoltaics. However, up to now, the market has had to struggle with erratic political support for renewable energies, as well as highly complex promotion structures and strong fragmentation due to the 50 separate state markets.
The results of the new survey of around 130 US photovoltaic companies and electric utilities show a clouded optimism after a prosperous year 2007. While the companies generally expect increased sales for the current year (plus 62.2 percent on average) and consequently also a market growth of 50 percent to 300 MWp in 2008, the sinking rebate levels in California as well as the failed extension of the tax credit are slowing down the positive development of the market.
Slowdown for the market
If not extended, the most important national promotion instrument - the investment tax credit (ITC) -- will go down from 30 to ten percent for commercial customers and to 0 percent for residential customers on December 31st, 2008. However, it has become very unlikely that this will happen under the current president.
While the sudden interruption of renewable energy promotion seems difficult to understand in view of the oil price shock and pressing climate change issues, events like these are not new to the market. "It continues the stop-and-go-policy that has characterized the market in the past", explains project manager Sarah Endres.
Special products for a special market
Availability is also an issue for the market players. In total, 62.8 percent of the respondents report problems when purchasing modules. Some market players stated that they pretty much sell what they can get.
Nevertheless, the survey results show some clear trends regarding which product characteristics are demanded in the market. "Design aspects seem to be a big issue in the residential segment", explains Endres.
Monday, April 27, 2009
BP Solar to supply PV power systems for Wal-Mart
SAN FRANCISCO, USA: BP Solar recently confirmed that it has been selected to provide photovoltaic solar power systems for Wal-Mart stores in California. This agreement builds on an established relationship between the major retailer and BP Solar.
Under a power purchase agreement (PPA) negotiated for the projects, BP will finance, install and maintain the systems and Wal-Mart will have immediate access to clean electricity with no up front capital cost to the retailer.
BP said it will initially focus on building 10 to 20 rooftop systems at Wal-Mart locations in California, and would work with the retailer to evaluate the potential for additional projects. BP expects to complete the first set of projects, totalling up to 10 megawatts of installed solar power, within about 18 months.
"BP is pleased to expand our energy supply relationship with Wal-Mart through this series of new projects,” said Reyad Fezzani, CEO of BP Solar. "BP’s solar power systems have been shown to reliably perform for more than 25 years and this reliability - when combined with no up front capital cost -- will help drive further development of large-scale solar projects in California and elsewhere."
In 2008, BP Solar completed construction on 4.1 megawatts of solar energy systems for seven Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs in California.
Under the PPA, Wal-Mart is purchasing all of the energy produced by the solar power systems and BP Solar will operate and maintain the systems. BP leverages its own capital and also works closely with external finance partners to provide optimal value for its customers.
"BP Solar has been a great partner, and we look forward to accelerating our efforts to utilize more affordable renewable energy in our operations" said Kim Saylors-Laster, vice president of energy at Wal-Mart. "As we partner on this larger scale, our goal is to show how using affordable solar power benefits the environment and makes good business sense"
“With our proven long-term reliability, electricity produced from our modules actually offers the lowest lifetime cost of power among major PV companies today" Fezzani said. “Combine this with BP’s staying power and you have a very reliable, secure and cost-effective platform for large customers making significant investments in renewable energy"
BP already guarantees its modules for 25 years and pioneered this offer within the solar industry in 1998.
BP Solar, part of BP Alternative Energy, is a global company with about 2000 employees. BP Solar designs, manufactures and markets products which use the sun’s energy to generate electricity for use in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With over 35 years of experience and installations in most countries, BP Solar is one of the world’s leading solar companies.
BP is one of the world’s largest energy companies, with interests in more than 100 countries and over 96,000 employees.
Under a power purchase agreement (PPA) negotiated for the projects, BP will finance, install and maintain the systems and Wal-Mart will have immediate access to clean electricity with no up front capital cost to the retailer.
BP said it will initially focus on building 10 to 20 rooftop systems at Wal-Mart locations in California, and would work with the retailer to evaluate the potential for additional projects. BP expects to complete the first set of projects, totalling up to 10 megawatts of installed solar power, within about 18 months.
"BP is pleased to expand our energy supply relationship with Wal-Mart through this series of new projects,” said Reyad Fezzani, CEO of BP Solar. "BP’s solar power systems have been shown to reliably perform for more than 25 years and this reliability - when combined with no up front capital cost -- will help drive further development of large-scale solar projects in California and elsewhere."
In 2008, BP Solar completed construction on 4.1 megawatts of solar energy systems for seven Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Clubs in California.
Under the PPA, Wal-Mart is purchasing all of the energy produced by the solar power systems and BP Solar will operate and maintain the systems. BP leverages its own capital and also works closely with external finance partners to provide optimal value for its customers.
"BP Solar has been a great partner, and we look forward to accelerating our efforts to utilize more affordable renewable energy in our operations" said Kim Saylors-Laster, vice president of energy at Wal-Mart. "As we partner on this larger scale, our goal is to show how using affordable solar power benefits the environment and makes good business sense"
“With our proven long-term reliability, electricity produced from our modules actually offers the lowest lifetime cost of power among major PV companies today" Fezzani said. “Combine this with BP’s staying power and you have a very reliable, secure and cost-effective platform for large customers making significant investments in renewable energy"
BP already guarantees its modules for 25 years and pioneered this offer within the solar industry in 1998.
BP Solar, part of BP Alternative Energy, is a global company with about 2000 employees. BP Solar designs, manufactures and markets products which use the sun’s energy to generate electricity for use in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With over 35 years of experience and installations in most countries, BP Solar is one of the world’s leading solar companies.
BP is one of the world’s largest energy companies, with interests in more than 100 countries and over 96,000 employees.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Will solar downturn lead to more mature PV industry?
The severe downturn in the global Photovoltaic (PV) market in 2009 actually could have a positive outcome for the worldwide solar industry, yielding a more mature and orderly supply chain when growth returns, according to iSuppli Corp.
Worldwide installations of PV systems will decline to 3.5 Gigawatts (GW) in 2009, down 32 percent from 5.2GW in 2008. With the average price per solar watt declining by 12 percent in 2009, global revenue generated by PV system installations will plunge by 40.2 percent to $18.2 billion, down from $30.5 billion in 2008.
The figures present iSuppli’s forecasts of global PV installations in terms of gigawatts and revenue.
Fig 1: Global Photovoltaic System Installation Forecast in Megawatts, 2008-2013
Source: iSuppli, April 2009
“For years, the PV industry enjoyed vigorous double-digit annual growth in the 40 percent range, spurring a wild-west mentality among market participants,” said Dr. Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for iSuppli. “An ever-rising flood of market participants attempted to capitalize on this growth, all hoping to claim a 10 percent share of market revenue by throwing more production capacity into the market. This overproduction situation, along with a decline in demand, will lead to the sharp, unprecedented fall in PV industry revenue in 2009.”
However, the 2009 PV downturn, like the PC shakeout of the mid 1980s, is likely to change the current market paradigm, cutting down on industry excesses and leading to a more mature market in 2010 and beyond.
Fig 2: Global Revenues Generated by Photovoltaic Installations 2008-2013 in Millions of US Dollars
Source: iSuppli, April 2009
“The number of new suppliers entering and competing in the PV supply chain will decelerate and the rate of new capacity additions will slow, bringing a better balance between supply and demand in the future,” Wicht said.
Blame it on Spain
The single event most responsible for the 2009 PV market slowdown was a sharp decline in expected PV installations in Spain. Spain accounted for 50 percent of worldwide installations in 2008. An artificial demand surge had been created in Spain as the time approached when the country’s feed-in-tariff rate was set to drop and a new cap of 500 Megawatts (MW) loomed for projects qualifying for the above-market tariff. This set a well-defined deadline for growth in the Spanish market in 2009 and 2010.
While the Spanish situation is spurring a surge in excess inventory and falling prices for solar cells and systems, this will not stimulate sufficient demand to compensate for the lost sales in 2009. Even new and upgraded incentives for solar installations from nations including the United States and Japan—and attractive investment conditions in France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Greece and other countries—cannot compensate for the Spanish whiplash in 2009.
The Spanish impact will continue into 2010, restraining global revenue growth to 29.2 percent for the year. Beyond Spain, the PV market is being adversely impacted by the credit crunch.
“Power production investors and commercial entities are at least partially dependent upon debt financing,” Wicht noted. “Starting in the first quarter of 2009, many large and medium solar-installation projects went on hold as they awaited a thaw in bank credit flows.”
After the fall
After 2010, the fundamental drivers of PV demand will reassert themselves, bringing a 57.8 percent increase in revenue in 2011 and similar growth rates in 2012 and 2013.
“PV remains attractive because it continues to demonstrate a favorable Return on Investment (RoI),” Wicht said. “Furthermore, government incentives in the form of above-market feed-in-tariffs and tax breaks will remain in place, making the RoI equations viable through 2012. Cost reductions will lead to attractive RoI and payback periods even without governmental help after 2012.”
Furthermore, lower system prices will open up new markets by lowering incentives and subvention costs. The lower the PV system prices are, the lower the incentives will have to be. Developing regions will be big the beneficiaries of these lower prices and thus will grow faster than the global average, Wicht said.
Source: iSuppli, USA
Worldwide installations of PV systems will decline to 3.5 Gigawatts (GW) in 2009, down 32 percent from 5.2GW in 2008. With the average price per solar watt declining by 12 percent in 2009, global revenue generated by PV system installations will plunge by 40.2 percent to $18.2 billion, down from $30.5 billion in 2008.
The figures present iSuppli’s forecasts of global PV installations in terms of gigawatts and revenue.
Fig 1: Global Photovoltaic System Installation Forecast in Megawatts, 2008-2013
Source: iSuppli, April 2009“For years, the PV industry enjoyed vigorous double-digit annual growth in the 40 percent range, spurring a wild-west mentality among market participants,” said Dr. Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for iSuppli. “An ever-rising flood of market participants attempted to capitalize on this growth, all hoping to claim a 10 percent share of market revenue by throwing more production capacity into the market. This overproduction situation, along with a decline in demand, will lead to the sharp, unprecedented fall in PV industry revenue in 2009.”
However, the 2009 PV downturn, like the PC shakeout of the mid 1980s, is likely to change the current market paradigm, cutting down on industry excesses and leading to a more mature market in 2010 and beyond.
Fig 2: Global Revenues Generated by Photovoltaic Installations 2008-2013 in Millions of US Dollars
Source: iSuppli, April 2009“The number of new suppliers entering and competing in the PV supply chain will decelerate and the rate of new capacity additions will slow, bringing a better balance between supply and demand in the future,” Wicht said.
Blame it on Spain
The single event most responsible for the 2009 PV market slowdown was a sharp decline in expected PV installations in Spain. Spain accounted for 50 percent of worldwide installations in 2008. An artificial demand surge had been created in Spain as the time approached when the country’s feed-in-tariff rate was set to drop and a new cap of 500 Megawatts (MW) loomed for projects qualifying for the above-market tariff. This set a well-defined deadline for growth in the Spanish market in 2009 and 2010.
While the Spanish situation is spurring a surge in excess inventory and falling prices for solar cells and systems, this will not stimulate sufficient demand to compensate for the lost sales in 2009. Even new and upgraded incentives for solar installations from nations including the United States and Japan—and attractive investment conditions in France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Greece and other countries—cannot compensate for the Spanish whiplash in 2009.
The Spanish impact will continue into 2010, restraining global revenue growth to 29.2 percent for the year. Beyond Spain, the PV market is being adversely impacted by the credit crunch.
“Power production investors and commercial entities are at least partially dependent upon debt financing,” Wicht noted. “Starting in the first quarter of 2009, many large and medium solar-installation projects went on hold as they awaited a thaw in bank credit flows.”
After the fall
After 2010, the fundamental drivers of PV demand will reassert themselves, bringing a 57.8 percent increase in revenue in 2011 and similar growth rates in 2012 and 2013.
“PV remains attractive because it continues to demonstrate a favorable Return on Investment (RoI),” Wicht said. “Furthermore, government incentives in the form of above-market feed-in-tariffs and tax breaks will remain in place, making the RoI equations viable through 2012. Cost reductions will lead to attractive RoI and payback periods even without governmental help after 2012.”
Furthermore, lower system prices will open up new markets by lowering incentives and subvention costs. The lower the PV system prices are, the lower the incentives will have to be. Developing regions will be big the beneficiaries of these lower prices and thus will grow faster than the global average, Wicht said.
Source: iSuppli, USA
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Obama strikes right chords for science and technology!
Finally, the USA has Barack Obama as its 44th president! There are bound to be lots of expectations from the new president of the United States.
Very interestingly, and aptly, Obama referred to science and technology in his inaugural speech. Surely, it is not a place for any US president to detail his policy, but from what everyone heard, the new President struck the right chords.
Savor some of these extracts from his inaugural speech:
"The state of the economy calls for action—bold and swift—and we will act, not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids, and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together."
"We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost."
"We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories."
Wonderful! The US President clearly hinted at the role science will play during his tenure. Also, his suggestion of 'harnessing the sun and the winds' points to the growing importance of renewable energy, hybrid cars, and of course, solar photovoltaics.
I've indicated in an earlier blog post that Obama's, New Energy for America Plan could have a significant impact on the US solar industry.
The plan's provisions include:
• A federal renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that requires 10 percent of electricity consumed in the US to come from renewable sources by 2012.
• A $150 billion investment over 10 years in research, technologydemonstration and commercial deployment of clean energy technology.
• Extension of production tax credits for five years to encourage renewable energy production.
• A cap-and-trade system of carbon credits to provide an incentive for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The focus on healthcare could see more attention on medical electronics -- just my guess -- and use it to provide affordable healthcare services.
I'd be very interested to see even more activity on hybrid cars. Closer to home we have had two great prototypes of hybrid/fuel-efficient cars last year -- the Chimera, said to be India's first plug-in hybrid car, and the Garuda.
As I am about to unwind for the day, I received a press release from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), USA, where the CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro congratulated Barack Obama on becoming the 44th President of the United States of America, saying: "On behalf of its 2,200 consumer technology member companies, CEA congratulates President Obama, our first digital president, on his inauguration."
Indeed, Obama is the USA's and the world's first digital president! I'd go on to add that he's the world's first Web 2.0 president! For instance, the amount of activity on Facebook has been overwhelming. Take a look for yourself!
Oh, in case you happen to visit the White House web site, it's brand new! The site says: "WhiteHouse.gov will be a central part of President Obama's pledge to make his the most transparent and accountable administration in American history."
Very interestingly, and aptly, Obama referred to science and technology in his inaugural speech. Surely, it is not a place for any US president to detail his policy, but from what everyone heard, the new President struck the right chords.
Savor some of these extracts from his inaugural speech:
"The state of the economy calls for action—bold and swift—and we will act, not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids, and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together."
"We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost."
"We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories."
Wonderful! The US President clearly hinted at the role science will play during his tenure. Also, his suggestion of 'harnessing the sun and the winds' points to the growing importance of renewable energy, hybrid cars, and of course, solar photovoltaics.
I've indicated in an earlier blog post that Obama's, New Energy for America Plan could have a significant impact on the US solar industry.
The plan's provisions include:
• A federal renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that requires 10 percent of electricity consumed in the US to come from renewable sources by 2012.
• A $150 billion investment over 10 years in research, technologydemonstration and commercial deployment of clean energy technology.
• Extension of production tax credits for five years to encourage renewable energy production.
• A cap-and-trade system of carbon credits to provide an incentive for businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The focus on healthcare could see more attention on medical electronics -- just my guess -- and use it to provide affordable healthcare services.
I'd be very interested to see even more activity on hybrid cars. Closer to home we have had two great prototypes of hybrid/fuel-efficient cars last year -- the Chimera, said to be India's first plug-in hybrid car, and the Garuda.
As I am about to unwind for the day, I received a press release from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), USA, where the CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro congratulated Barack Obama on becoming the 44th President of the United States of America, saying: "On behalf of its 2,200 consumer technology member companies, CEA congratulates President Obama, our first digital president, on his inauguration."
Indeed, Obama is the USA's and the world's first digital president! I'd go on to add that he's the world's first Web 2.0 president! For instance, the amount of activity on Facebook has been overwhelming. Take a look for yourself!
Oh, in case you happen to visit the White House web site, it's brand new! The site says: "WhiteHouse.gov will be a central part of President Obama's pledge to make his the most transparent and accountable administration in American history."
Monday, August 25, 2008
What India brings to the table for semicon world! And, for Japan
This semicon blog's title has been inspired by some queries, largely from friends in Japan, who are looking at the Indian semiconductor market. The topic of great global (and Japanese) interest is: What does India bring to the table for the semicon world to go to India!
Interesting! The world has been keenly following the Indian semiconductor and fab policy, and can gather a lot of information off my blog itself! For those who'd like to know it all again in specifics, here we go again!
Indian semicon and fab policy
Around September last year, the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communication and IT, Government of India, came up with the Special Incentive Package Scheme (SIPS) to encourage investments for setting up semicon fabs, and other micro and nanotechnology manufacturing industries in India!
The "ecosystem units" have been clearly defined as units, other than a fab unit, for manufacture of semiconductors, displays, including LCDs, OLEDs, PDPs, any other emerging displays; storage devices; solar cells; photovoltaics; other advanced micro and nanotechnology products; and assembly and test of all the above products.
What has happened since?
Lots! Initially, there were two major proposals from HSMC and SemIndia for setting up wafer IC fabs. While those haven't really taken off yet, more investments have since happened in India.
Quite recently, the Indian semiconductor and fab policy attracted 12 major proposals, worth a whopping Rs. 93,000 crores! The Department of Information Technology (DIT), Government of India, has set up a panel of technical experts to evaluate these proposals.
Ten (10) of these proposals are for solar/PV. One is for a semiconductor wafer -- from Reliance Industries worth Rs. 18,521 crores, and another for TFT LCD flat panels -- from Videocon Industries, worth Rs. 8,000 crores.
The 10 proposals for solar/PV are from: KSK Surya (Rs. 3,211 crores), Lanco Solar (Rs. 12,938 crores), PV Technologies India (Rs. 6,000 crores), Phoenix Solar India (Rs. 1,200 crores), Reliance Industries (Rs. 11,631 crores), Signet Solar Inc. (Rs. 9,672 crores), Solar Semiconductor (Rs. 11,821 crores), TF Solar Power (Rs. 2,348 crores), Tata BP Solar India (Rs. 1,692.80 crores), and Titan Energy System (Rs. 5,880.58 crores). This is as far the latest developments are concerned!
Solar fabs have also been announced earlier by leading firms such as Videocon, Reliance and Moser Baer, etc. (Two of them are figuring here again!) There are also talks about developing solar farms in India, which is good.
What are India's strengths?
The clear strengths of the Indian semiconductor industry are embedded and design services! We are NOT YET into product development, but one sincerely hopes that it gathers pace.
The market drivers in India are mobile phone services, IT services/BPO, automobiles and IT hardware. India is also very strong in design tools, system architecture and VLSI design, has quite strong IP protection laws, and is reasonably strong in concept/innovation in semiconductors.
Testing and packaging are in a nascent stage. India will certainly have more of ATMP facilities. Nearly every single semicon giant has an India presence! That should indicate the amount of interest the outside world has on India. In fact, I am told, some key decisions are now made out of the Bangalore based outfits!
Electronics manufacturing
In the electronics manufacturing domain, India's strength lies in hardware, embedded software and industrial design, OEMs, component distribution (includes semiconductor and box build), and end user/distribution channel, as well as more than moderate strength in product design and manufacturing (ODM, EMS).
India is likely to witness $363 billion of equipment consumption and $155 billion of domestic production by 2015. India's electronic equipment consumption in 2005 was 1.8 percent. It is likely to grow to 5.5 percent in 2010 and 11 percent in 2015, as per a joint study conducted by the ISA and Frost & Sullivan.
The Indian semiconductor TAM (total available market) revenue is likely to grow by 2.5 times while the TM (total market) is likely to double revenues in 2009. The TAM is likely to grow at a CAGR of 35.8 percent and the TM is likely to grow at a CAGR of 26.7 percent, respectively, during the period 2006-09.
Telecom, and IT and office automation are the leading segments in TM and TAM. Consumer segment occupies the third fastest growing area in the TM, and the industrial segment is the third fastest growing area in the TAM.
The major semiconductor categories of interest include microprocessors, analog, memory, discretes and ASICs, while the major end use products include mobile handsets, BTS, desktops, notebooks, set-top boxes and CRT TVs.
India, the embedded superstar!
India's embedded design industry has been going from strength to strength. An IDC-ISA report forecasts the revenues from India's VLSI, board design and embedded software industry to grow to $10.96bn by 2010 from the current $6.08bn in 2007.
India is also focusing on moving up the semiconductor value chain. It is emphasizing on end-to-end product development, investing in IP development, developing India specific products, and partnering with OEMs to understand the market needs. Also, be aware that several leading EMS firms are present in India as well.
What should investors do?
Certainly, invest in India! The Indian semicon policy clearly defines the "ecosystem units." Global manufacturers of displays, including LCDs, OLEDs, PDPs, any other emerging displays; storage devices; including SSDs, solar cells; photovoltaics; other advanced micro and nanotechnology products, should certainly look at investing in India, and consider manufacturing here!
Lots of solar fabs are likely to come up, so there will be a great demand for solar related equipment, chemicals, testing, etc. We hope that one wafer IC fab comes up as well, so there will be opportunity for semicon equipment manufacturers. However, do be prepared to wait as things may not move as fast as some may expect.
There is lot of opportunity for fabless companies and in ATMP as well. There are several Indian firms, small ones, who may be interested in partnering. Some trading companies may find India of interest, especially in the solar/PV and ATMP segments.
Keep an eye on the IT/semicon policies some states, especially, Karnataka have in store. A host of opportunities could become available, once Karnataka comes up with a policy. More states may follow suit!
Well, do contact me in case you need further assistance.
Interesting! The world has been keenly following the Indian semiconductor and fab policy, and can gather a lot of information off my blog itself! For those who'd like to know it all again in specifics, here we go again!
Indian semicon and fab policy
Around September last year, the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communication and IT, Government of India, came up with the Special Incentive Package Scheme (SIPS) to encourage investments for setting up semicon fabs, and other micro and nanotechnology manufacturing industries in India!
The "ecosystem units" have been clearly defined as units, other than a fab unit, for manufacture of semiconductors, displays, including LCDs, OLEDs, PDPs, any other emerging displays; storage devices; solar cells; photovoltaics; other advanced micro and nanotechnology products; and assembly and test of all the above products.
What has happened since?
Lots! Initially, there were two major proposals from HSMC and SemIndia for setting up wafer IC fabs. While those haven't really taken off yet, more investments have since happened in India.
Quite recently, the Indian semiconductor and fab policy attracted 12 major proposals, worth a whopping Rs. 93,000 crores! The Department of Information Technology (DIT), Government of India, has set up a panel of technical experts to evaluate these proposals.
Ten (10) of these proposals are for solar/PV. One is for a semiconductor wafer -- from Reliance Industries worth Rs. 18,521 crores, and another for TFT LCD flat panels -- from Videocon Industries, worth Rs. 8,000 crores.
The 10 proposals for solar/PV are from: KSK Surya (Rs. 3,211 crores), Lanco Solar (Rs. 12,938 crores), PV Technologies India (Rs. 6,000 crores), Phoenix Solar India (Rs. 1,200 crores), Reliance Industries (Rs. 11,631 crores), Signet Solar Inc. (Rs. 9,672 crores), Solar Semiconductor (Rs. 11,821 crores), TF Solar Power (Rs. 2,348 crores), Tata BP Solar India (Rs. 1,692.80 crores), and Titan Energy System (Rs. 5,880.58 crores). This is as far the latest developments are concerned!
Solar fabs have also been announced earlier by leading firms such as Videocon, Reliance and Moser Baer, etc. (Two of them are figuring here again!) There are also talks about developing solar farms in India, which is good.
What are India's strengths?
The clear strengths of the Indian semiconductor industry are embedded and design services! We are NOT YET into product development, but one sincerely hopes that it gathers pace.
The market drivers in India are mobile phone services, IT services/BPO, automobiles and IT hardware. India is also very strong in design tools, system architecture and VLSI design, has quite strong IP protection laws, and is reasonably strong in concept/innovation in semiconductors.
Testing and packaging are in a nascent stage. India will certainly have more of ATMP facilities. Nearly every single semicon giant has an India presence! That should indicate the amount of interest the outside world has on India. In fact, I am told, some key decisions are now made out of the Bangalore based outfits!
Electronics manufacturing
In the electronics manufacturing domain, India's strength lies in hardware, embedded software and industrial design, OEMs, component distribution (includes semiconductor and box build), and end user/distribution channel, as well as more than moderate strength in product design and manufacturing (ODM, EMS).
India is likely to witness $363 billion of equipment consumption and $155 billion of domestic production by 2015. India's electronic equipment consumption in 2005 was 1.8 percent. It is likely to grow to 5.5 percent in 2010 and 11 percent in 2015, as per a joint study conducted by the ISA and Frost & Sullivan.
The Indian semiconductor TAM (total available market) revenue is likely to grow by 2.5 times while the TM (total market) is likely to double revenues in 2009. The TAM is likely to grow at a CAGR of 35.8 percent and the TM is likely to grow at a CAGR of 26.7 percent, respectively, during the period 2006-09.
Telecom, and IT and office automation are the leading segments in TM and TAM. Consumer segment occupies the third fastest growing area in the TM, and the industrial segment is the third fastest growing area in the TAM.
The major semiconductor categories of interest include microprocessors, analog, memory, discretes and ASICs, while the major end use products include mobile handsets, BTS, desktops, notebooks, set-top boxes and CRT TVs.
India, the embedded superstar!
India's embedded design industry has been going from strength to strength. An IDC-ISA report forecasts the revenues from India's VLSI, board design and embedded software industry to grow to $10.96bn by 2010 from the current $6.08bn in 2007.
India is also focusing on moving up the semiconductor value chain. It is emphasizing on end-to-end product development, investing in IP development, developing India specific products, and partnering with OEMs to understand the market needs. Also, be aware that several leading EMS firms are present in India as well.
What should investors do?
Certainly, invest in India! The Indian semicon policy clearly defines the "ecosystem units." Global manufacturers of displays, including LCDs, OLEDs, PDPs, any other emerging displays; storage devices; including SSDs, solar cells; photovoltaics; other advanced micro and nanotechnology products, should certainly look at investing in India, and consider manufacturing here!
Lots of solar fabs are likely to come up, so there will be a great demand for solar related equipment, chemicals, testing, etc. We hope that one wafer IC fab comes up as well, so there will be opportunity for semicon equipment manufacturers. However, do be prepared to wait as things may not move as fast as some may expect.
There is lot of opportunity for fabless companies and in ATMP as well. There are several Indian firms, small ones, who may be interested in partnering. Some trading companies may find India of interest, especially in the solar/PV and ATMP segments.
Keep an eye on the IT/semicon policies some states, especially, Karnataka have in store. A host of opportunities could become available, once Karnataka comes up with a policy. More states may follow suit!
Well, do contact me in case you need further assistance.
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