WORLDNEWS First step for solar tower
ENVIROMISSION has filed a notice of intent with the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee for an application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility (“CEC”). A Certificate of Environmental Compatibility is a ‘critical and all-encompassing’ permit for power station development and primary first step in the plant siting process.
The Line Siting Committee considers all matters associated with the location of electric generation plants and transmission lines in the State of Arizona and makes recommendations to the Arizona Corporation Commission to grant, deny or modify CEC permit applications.
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EnviroMission plans to develop 400MW of Solar Tower capacity in Arizona that will generate more than 2,000,000 MWhs of power annually; enough electricity for 400,000 US households. Sale of electricity from the first of two 200MW Solar Tower power stations to the Southern California Public Power Authority (“SCPPA”) under the terms of a Power Purchase Agreement (“PPA”) approved by the SCPPA in October 2010.
Solar Tower technology provides strong economic viability to power purchasers through sustainable, reliable power that will be generated directly into the transmission grid at periods of greatest consumer demand.
“We are excited EnviroMission is moving forward with its Solar Tower projects in La Paz County, Arizona,” said the La Paz County Board of Supervisors. “Coming on the heels of a number of failed attempts of other projects it is great to see a commercially viable technology making strides toward ground breaking. The Solar Tower’s zero water, cutting edge technology should be embraced by all affected stakeholders.”
IMS research PV cell manufacturers US thin film producer First Solar
continued to lose ground in Q3’10 according to the latest analysis from IMS Research. Having been the largest producer of PV cells for 6 consecutive quarters, an increase of just 2% means that it will move to be the third largest in the third quarter. Chinese rivals Suntech and JA Solar, will both overtake First Solar, having increased their production capacities rapidly as demand has spiraled in 2010.
Despite losing share of the PV module market throughout 2010, largely due to limited increases in its production capacity, IMS Research predicts that weaker demand and increased pricing pressure in 2011 will leave First Solar positioned to regain some share as it brings new capacity online.
“IMS Research projects that after more than doubling in 2010, PV installations will grow by less than 10% in 2011,”
Australia and USA in solar agreement
THE AUSTRALIAN SOLAR INSTITUTE (ASI) welcomed the announcement today by Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton of a new US- Australia Solar Research Collaboration initiative to accelerate the reduction in costs for solar energy technologies. The ASI will manage the Australian Federal Government funding of up to AUD$50m.
The funding will support solar technology research and development in Australia and will focus on accelerating the reduction in the cost of solar power systems.
commented PV Research Analyst, Sam Wilkinson. “We forecast that PV module prices will decline by over 15 percent in the first half of 2011 as demand weakens in key European markets following reductions in feed-in tariffs,” continued Wilkinson, “First Solar’s industry leading margins and significant pipeline of utility-scale systems in North America will stand it in good stead as the market becomes more competitive in 2011.”
Although its position in the PV module market continues to decline for the moment, the world’s largest producer of thin film technology recently reported that revenues had increased 36% over the previous quarter to reach record levels upon the completion of its 80 MW PV plant, the world’s largest, in Ontario, Canada. The supplier’s gross margin also remained highly competitive, although declining by a small amount due to a fall in module prices and increased costs.
Collaboration between Australian and U.S. researchers and industry participants will include research scholarships, laboratory exchange programs, information exchange on research and development projects and demonstration programs as well as funding for joint research projects for new solar technologies.
ASI Executive Director Mark Twidell said, “The ASI welcomes the initiative, which will promote and strengthen collaboration between the world’s leading Australian and U.S. researchers on photovoltaic and CPV technologies. We look forward to working with our U.S. counterparts over coming months to design and implement a program that will accelerate efficiency and cost improvements in solar technologies.”
A limited number of foundation projects have been identified as initial areas of focus for research collaboration with details available.
www.solar-pv-management.com Issue IX 2010
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