WORLDNEWS
European call for regulatory framework
PHOTOVOLTAICS need a reliable regulatory framework to develop full potential. Yesterday, the European Commission released its energy strategy communication titled “Energy 2020”. The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) recalls the importance of preserving all necessary national support instruments in order to accompany the transition of renewables, in particular photovoltaics, to their full competitiveness in the short and medium term.
The Commission’s communication on Energy 2020 outlines the strategy to be adopted by European political decision- makers in order to reach the 2020 energy targets and to prepare the ground for the energy policy beyond 2020.
While recognizing the importance of a well-functioning internal market, the EPIA warns the Commission against the temptation to re-open the discussion on
trade in renewables initiated at the time of the approval of the Renewable Energy Directive. The objective of ensuring free movement of energy will be better achieved by concrete steps including, for instance, the development of network codes rather than by a new discussion on a Pan-European trade in renewable energies.
Referring to the European Commission’s idea of a harmonisation of national support schemes, Ingmar Wilhelm, President of the EPIA affirmed that “Harmonization in support schemes across Europe is poised to create new bureaucratic hurdles rather than any cost efficiency. We should concentrate on following the best natural resources in every European region and confirm reliable regulatory conditions among EU Member States. This will lead renewable energies, and in particular photovoltaics to become efficient and market based energy supply solutions for EU citizens.”
“The EPIA welcomes the reference contained in the communication to negative effects on investors’ confidence caused by retroactive adjustments to existing support schemes”, said Adel El Gammal, Secretary General of EPIA. “The Commission’s alarm came just the day after the Czech Parliament’s approval of a measure that will decrease the level of previously agreed Feed-in-Tariffs for approved photovoltaic projects, thus creating significant investment uncertainty and jeopardizing further photovoltaic projects in Czech Republic”, he added.
The association also supports the importance of the development of grid infrastructures and electricity storage capacities in order to facilitate the massive uptake of renewables assigned in this communication.
French oil company moves closer to solar
TOTAL has announced the construction of a photovoltaic panel production and assembly unit at Composite Park in France’s north-eastern region of Moselle. With a surface area of 2,800 square metres, the plant will house two production lines for a total capacity of 50 megawatt peak (MWp) representing about 220,000 photovoltaic panels per year.
Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2011 and the first line (25 MWp) is expected to come on stream towards the end of the year. In the long run, the new unit will create around 80 jobs in the region.
“This project adheres to Total’s strategy of
positioning itself within the entire photovoltaic solar chain. The production unit, situated near our French, German and Northern European customers, allows us to strengthen our market capabilities”, stated Philippe Boisseau, President of Total Gas & Power. “By launching this project, initially announced in 2009, Total also reaffirms its commitment to supporting socio-economic development in Moselle.”
Total has been active in solar energy since 1983 through its interests in two companies, Photovoltech and Tenesol. Photovoltech, in which Total holds a 50% interest alongside GDF SUEZ, produces photovoltaic cells based on a crystalline silicon technology. Tenesol, in which Total holds a 50% stake alongside EDF, specializes in designing, manufacturing, marketing and operating solar photovoltaic energy systems.
In December 2008, Total became the biggest shareholder in U.S. startup
Konarka, which develops products based on organic solar technologies. Total’s stake is now nearly 25%.
In June 2010, Total acquired a 25.4% interest in AE Polysilicon, a U.S. startup specialized in a new solar polysilicon production technology.
Also in June, Total was selected by the authorities in Abu Dhabi to build and operate the concentrated solar power plant Shams 1.
Total’s partner in this project is Abengoa Solar, a Spanish company with expertise in concentrated solar power technology. Construction, which already started, is expected to take approximately two years.
Total is also conducting significant R&D through partnerships with world-class laboratories in France, such as the Ecole Polytechnique ) and the Toulouse-based Laboratory for Analysis and Architecture of Systems (LAAS).
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www.solar-pv-management.com Issue IX 2010
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