COVERSTORY
incentives are necessary. These can and should, be reduced over time but this level of reduction should be against a transparent mechanism that business can model and plan against.
Q A
What is the outlook for the technology and further price reductions?
The largest cost in a PV installation remains the modules. In recent years though some alternative technologies have offered the promise of better value, silicon based cells (mono and poly) have continued to outpace these with ever-lower cost (per W) and ease of installation. This is a technology for the people enabling localised micro generation that an individual household can benefit from.
20
The price of the technology is driven to a large extent by the cost of the silicon used to make the cells. This is demonstrated quite well through a recent slight increase in silicon causing a marginal increase in module prices. However, the longer term trend appears still to be down but maybe we are now close to the bottom – a further 20% may occur this year but not much more can be expected. So the goal of grid parity and no requirement for subsidies may be fuelled as much by increases in energy prices as by reductions in installation costs.
Q
Solar has become a flashpoint in the USA China trade issues and the German based company behind the accusations is threatening to bring a similar case to Europe. In your opinion what has the impact of Chinese involvement on the global, with a UK slant, solar industry?
A
Like it or not China is seen more and more as the power house world-wide in best value proposition for renewable technology. I am personally saddened that the UK (and Europe) will increasingly be unable to compete in the manufacture of these ever maturing PV technologies but it is impossible to simply ignore this reality. If the goal is to maximise the amount of PV installed and from that minimise the amount of CO2 emissions then this supply route is justified.
Of note is that studies in Europe have modelled that for every job in China manufacturing PV modules some 5 are generated in install and service sectors. While it would clearly be great to have all these jobs including the manufacture, the install and service employment side is a great opportunity here in the UK. Some call now for import restrictions on solar products from China. However, if the goal is to combat climate change, maximise the accessibility of the technology to individual households and through that maximise PV roll out and create a buoyant sector with the potential to employ many hundreds of thousands of people then such action would be totally inappropriate.
Q A
How do you see the market in 2012 and what are your plans in this coming year?
Under the new, reduced, FiT there will certainly be less growth than that seen in 2011. This is clearly the aim of Government and can be seen simply as they adjust FiT levels against the rate of installs. How effective this method of regulation will prove only time will tell but the relatively frequent reviews planned will make long term strategic planning for businesses in this sector quite challenging and is perhaps not ideal for a sustained growth and secure job creation. The balance between FiT levels and ROCs is an interesting one and there is no doubt that there will be a move away from FiTs to ROCs for larger farm type installations. As far as SBC goes, we will continue to grow our technical support and expand this to offering enhanced system design software solutions complimented by in-house design services. We plan to offer a series of training seminars this year and industry updates – both regionally and at our main offices in Monmouthshire. Delivering the best value proposition with no compromise on quality or technical backup will be our mantra for 2012 and beyond.
© 2012 Angel Business Communications. Permission required.
www.solar-pv-uk.com Issue I 2012
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