WORLDNEWS
Solar opportunities in Britain
INDEPENDENT solar expert Michael Pitcher from BFC Solutions, has identified potential hot spots for PV investment as the UK gets ready to reap the rewards of feed-in tariffs (FITs). In April, the UK Government introduced FITs to stimulate growth in the UK renewable energy market. The scheme promises cash rewards to homeowners, businesses and communities who install technologies for renewable energy.
“Countries like Germany and Belgium have embraced PV and are already reaping the rewards, but solar panels perform very well in the British climate so there’s no reason why the UK shouldn’t also harness the benefits of solar energy,” says Michael Pitcher, Managing Director BFC Solutions. “We are already seeing figures from consultants like IMS Research, predicting that by 2011, the UK market will see new installations reach 250MW, compared to just 22MW in 2009.”
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“Whilst the benefits of solar PV are well- documented, the opportunity extends far beyond the market for household systems. Our experience tells us that PV entrepreneurs will take advantage of the
new FITs by focusing on establishing solar parks, satisfying the fast growing market for domestic installations, and selling or leasing roof space. ”
The FITs will see utility companies pay 29.3p for every unit of electricity produced between 100kWp to 5MW. Investors, entrepreneurs and landowners can earn guaranteed returns by creating solar parks that generate up to 5MW of electricity. The tariffs are state assured by law and the PV panels have a guaranteed operating life of 25 years, but in practice will last up to 40 years, possibly longer.
In the UK a typical retro-fit residential 2.5 kWp system installation will cost around £12.5k, generating £900 in the first year
Improved performance brings award
C3NANO INC, a team from Stanford University, was named the top winner of the MIT Clean Energy Prize for their revolutionary design that will increase the efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels. The national competition was founded by MIT, the U.S. Department of Energy and NSTAR to accelerate the pace of clean energy entrepreneurship. The team of PhD chemical engineering students has developed a carbon nano-based transparent electrode that will increase the efficiency of thin film photovoltaic solar panels by allowing up to 12 percent more sunlight to penetrate the panels. The electrode is also less expensive but lighter and more flexible than electrodes made out of conventional materials.
“Our innovation is a cross-cutting technology that not only has the potential to increase the efficiency of solar panels, it can be used in the manufacture of television, computer and cell phone touch
screens and electronic displays to increase performance and lower cost,” said Melburne C. LeMieux, C3Nano Founder and Chief Science Officer.
C3Nano was selected by prominent judges for their technology’s potential impact to enhance existing photovoltaic systems. With production doubling every two years, photovoltaics have become the world’s fastest growing energy technology. C3Nano’s transparent electrodes can also be used in the $4 billion electronic display and thin film market, offering higher transparency and flexibility at one-tenth the cost of current electrode materials.
“Solar energy technologies diversify energy supplies and offset greenhouse gas emissions, but their costs have so far been a barrier to widespread installation in New England,” said Tom May, Chairman, President and CEO of NSTAR
with an additional £140 in electricity savings. The FIT will be paid tax free for 25 years together with RPI increases.
According to the UK Photovoltaic Manufacturers Association, there are 4,000 sq km of available roofs and building facades in the UK. By installing solar cells onto these surfaces, we could generate 460 TWh of electricity - 116% of the UK’s current electricity consumption. .
With the introduction of FITs, the use of PV as part of a building’s fabric is set for substantial growth. Tightening building regulations and the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s ambition to have all new homes be carbon neutral by 2016 are creating a market pull for on-site energy generation. Under the RO, UK utility companies must source a proportion of their electricity from renewable sources. According to Ofgem, From April 2009, utility companies must present 0.097 ROCs (Renewable Obligation Certificates) per MWh of electricity supplied. By embracing FITs utility companies can fulfil their ROs whilst acquiring new customers and forming partnerships with PV installers.
and co-sponsor of the prize. “The technology developed by this team is potentially transformative in making solar energy a viable option to consumers throughout the region and has the added benefit of other significant applications.”
The MIT Clean Energy Prize provides capital resources and mentoring to help clean energy entrepreneurs from universities across the country to jump start businesses. Now in its third year, the competition has helped launch over a dozen businesses that have raised more than $65 million from private investors.
www.solar-pv-management.com Issue III 2010
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