Editorial
Editorial Offices
Heather Lackey
Europe Managing Editor, Global Solar Technology
Global Solar Technology
Trafalgar Publications Ltd
8 Talbot Hill Road
Bournemouth
Dorset BH9 2JT
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (1202) 388997
news@globalsolartechnology.com
www.globalsolartechnology.com
The solar energy
United States
Global Solar Technology
PO Box 7579
Naples, FL 34102 inducement
USA
Tel: (239) 567-9736
news@globalsolartechnology.com Feed-in tariffs (FiT) are driving rapid the cost of natural gas—true feed-in tariffs
renewable energy growth for electricity in are tied to actual costs of energy genera-
China
Europe—9% of Spain’s electricity sup- tion.
Global Solar Technology
ply now comes from solar, as does 5% of On a federal level, US Senator Jay
Electronics Second
Germany’s. In the United States, however, Inslee introduced the “Renewable Energy
Research Institute
solar energy provides a meager 0.1% of the Jobs and Securities Act” to Congress last
No.159, Hepin South Road
country’s generated electricity. What’s be- June. The legislation sought to guarantee
Taiyuan City, PO Box 115, Shanxi,
ing done to bring the USA up to par with interconnection to the grid; long-term,
Province 030024, China
European countries? With regard to feed-in fixed-rate contracts with electric utilities;
Tel: +86 (351) 652 3813
tariffs, so far not much. and a rate-recovery program through
Editor-in-Chief—Trevor Galbraith At present, the United States relies a regional cost-sharing commission to
Tel: +44 (0)20 8123 6704 (Europe) on an ineffective mish-mash of state and minimize the impact on consumers. So far
Tel: +1 239 567 9736 (US) federal incentives and mandates—rebates, nothing has come of this.
editor@globalsolartechnology.com net metering, tax credits, RECs, etc. Tax Resistance to such legislation, par-
credits in this economy are an especially ticularly on the state and federal levels,
Managing Editor—Heather Lackey
ineffective incentive—there must be profits comes largely from the conventional energy
hglackey@globalsolartechnology.com
to tax in the first place before a tax credit industry. Gainesville was able to put its
can be of any value. plan into effect in large part because it is
Editor—Debasish Choudhury
Despite studies, such as a 2005 report served by a municple, rather than investor-
Tel: +91 120 6453260
by the German Wind Energy Association, owned, utility.
dchoudhury@globalsolartechnology.com
that have shown that European FiT systems President Obama was elected on a plat-
Circulation and Subscriptions drive more renewable energy at a lower form of change, with a promise to create
Tel: +1 (239) 567 9736 price than incentive programs and renew- a new energy economy. When it comes to
subscriptions@globalsolartechnology.com able mandates, only a single municipality renewable energy growth and competitive-
Advertising
in the U.S.—Gainesville, Florida—has en- ness, FiTs may be the change we need—but
acted a feed-in-tariff program. The city was when, exactly, will we see it?
Print & Digital - Europe
immediately inundated with applications
Andy Kellard
for new projects. —Heather Lackey
Tel: +44 7765 277677
FiT legislation has been introduced in
akellard@globalsolartechnology.com
California, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Min-
Print - North America nesota and Rhode Island. Eight states are
Lino D’Andreti considering variations on FiT legislation.
Tel: +1 (603) 580-5549 The California Public Utilities Commis-
ldandreti@globalsolartechnology.com sion approved a limited feed-in tariff for
projects up to 1.5 MW at the market price
Digital - North America
referent (MPR), which is based largely on
Sandy Daneau
Tel: +1 (603)-686-3920
sdaneau@globalsolartechnology.com
Asia/Pacific
Print - Debasish Choudhury
Tel: +91 120 6453260
dchoudhury@globalsolartechnology.com
2 – Global Solar Technology – March/April 2009
www.globalsolartechnology.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44