INDUSTRYNEWS


Europe raises its solar profile


A UNIQUE campaign on the benefits of solar photovoltaic electricity Your Sun Your Energy has just been launched. Promoting the advantages of


photovoltaics and demonstrating what the virtually infinite power of the sun can offer, this wide-spanning campaign endeavours to illustrate how people can, through their daily activities, brighten their life thanks to photovoltaics.


Inspired by the massive growth photovoltaic energy has experienced across Europe in the last two decades, this campaign hopes to help both current and future generations maximise the potential of this clean, carbon-free energy source. With objective information on how photovoltaic technology can harness the


power of the sun, the aim is to actively promote the benefits of photovoltaics, educate those who are not familiar with its applications, as well as provide accurate and up-to-date materials on an on-going basis.


A central element of the campaign is a cutting edge website launched on 27th November 2010. The website www.yoursunyourenergy.com acts as a one-stop-shop and online platform where users can find extensive information on how photovoltaic solar electricity can improve everyone’s lives. A unique feature of the website is how its design automatically adapts according to the user’s geographical location. In addition, the user can learn how photovoltaics can


BSG expect bright renewable future


For skeptics, alternative energy has long been more hype than genuine promise. Yet several alternative-energy technologies are approaching inflection points in their development, and the day when they could have a profound impact on the global energy landscape could come far sooner than is commonly assumed, says a new report from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).


The report, titled What’s Next for Alternative Energy?, examines the state of seven of the most significant alternative- energy technologies-advanced biofuels, electric vehicles (EVs), concentrated solar power (CSP), solar photovoltaic (PV), onshore wind, offshore wind, and clean coal through carbon capture and sequestration (CCS)-and assesses each one’s prospects in terms of three issues:  Can it achieve cost competitiveness with conventional energy by 2020 and be economically viable without subsidies?  Can it overcome barriers to rapid adoption once cost competitive?  Can it reach penetration levels by 2025 that disrupt the status quo?


Among the report’s key findings:  Advanced biofuels, CSP, and solar PV will see accelerating adoption and growth


and are on track to change the global energy mix far earlier than is often assumed. Their costs are falling rapidly, and they are on the path to becoming cost competitive within the next five to ten years, if not sooner.  Onshore wind power will see steady adoption and continued growth. It is already cost competitive with conventional energy sources in some instances, and its costs will continue to fall. Without breakthrough declines in energy storage costs, however, the inherent challenges posed by the intermittent nature of onshore wind and solar PV will limit their ultimate penetration.  EVs will also see steady adoption, becoming economically attractive for lead segments by 2020. But broader adoption will require significant declines in battery costs. Major infrastructure and other hurdles will also have to be overcome.  In contrast to onshore wind, offshore wind will struggle to move beyond purely subsidy-driven growth. Offshore wind’s overall adoption will be slow except in a few countries willing to continue heavy subsidies.  Clean coal through CCS will have very slow adoption and won’t be viable for the next decade or two. The technology is


vital for cutting carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. But it will develop slowly for a number of reasons, including slow progress toward demonstrating large-scale viability.


“There is no question that conventional energy sources will constitute the bulk of the world’s energy for at least the next couple of decades,” said Balu Balagopal, a Houston-based senior partner at BCG and a coauthor of the report. “But a few of these green energy technologies will make their presence felt very likely within the next few years. Their costs are falling and pushing them closer to where they can compete on price-without subsidies- against fossil-fuel-based sources.”


As they become more cost-competitive, “their adoption will be constrained more by barriers such as the need for new supporting infrastructure. However, we believe these barriers will likely prove surmountable,” added Balagopal.


The report concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for oil and gas companies, utilities and power producers, emerging alternative-energy pure-play companies, industrial suppliers, and governments.


help to save money when added to homes, increase energy independence in business and be integrated everywhere in cities, all whilst helping the environment. In the near future, several exciting features will be developed with, amongst them, an online community where people can learn from each other by sharing information, photos and videos relating to photovoltaics.


Your Sun Your Energy wants to reach out and inspire everyone to join the solar revolution and show how the sun can contribute to our everyday lives.


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www.solar-pv-management.com Issue X 2010


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