MARKETNEWS Strong growth for BIPV
THE WORLDWIDE solar energy market has experienced dramatic change in the past few years, as the industry has shifted from a supply-driven business with unsustainably high module selling prices to demand-driven with cost per watt and module efficiency becoming the primary factors that are determining market winners.
A recent report from Pike Research anticipates a similar shift in terms of industry dynamics for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and building-applied photovoltaics (BAPV).
The cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that, driven mainly by lower costs, the global BIPV market will see strong growth in the coming years, with annual wholesale revenues rising from $744 million in 2010 to nearly $4 billion in 2016, under a base case scenario.
A more aggressive growth forecast contemplates that the BIPV market could reach $5.8 billion during the same period.
“The cost per watt for BIPV is declining quickly, and this trend will accelerate demand for building-integrated and building-applied solar products,” says senior analyst Peter Asmus. “We expect that the cost per watt for BIPV/BAPV will likely reach $2.50 per watt by 2016.
In addition, the aesthetics of BIPV/BAPV are improving, and there are now solar tiles and shingles that blend into rooftops and crystalline-silicon (c-Si) solar panels in various shapes, sizes, colors, transparencies, and patterns that appear to seamlessly blend into a building’s structure.”
Asmus adds that efficiency improvements in both c-Si and flexible thin-film panels and shingles (led by CIGS panels) have improved BIPV/BAPV project return and payback periods.
Moreover, the analyst believes that incremental efficiency improvements are likely to continue through 2016. These enhancements will inspire normal building materials suppliers, and eventually
NASA chooses solar power for Wallops
NASA has proposed the installation of up to 80 acres of solar panels on the Wallops Flight Facility Main Base through an environmental assessment of alternative energy at the facility.
The Alternative Energy Project at Wallops would generate renewable electricity to assist NASA as an agency in meeting or exceeding the requirements of the 2005 Federal Energy Policy Act and various Executive Orders.
The project would also be expected to stabilize Wallops’ growing utility costs and provide educational outreach regarding renewable energy technologies.
Under the Proposed Action/Preferred Alternative in the Final Environmental Assessment (EA), NASA would install up to an 80-acre system of solar panels at the Main Base that would be capable of generating 10 gigawatt-hours per year of electricity.
Additionally, two 2.4 kilowatt residential- scale wind turbines would be installed
near the NASA Visitor Center and the gate/security guard station at the entrance to Wallops Island, respectively.
At full build-out and operation, the electricity generated annually by this project would equate to approximately 850 average American homes. Given the large capital investment required for a project of this size, the proposal would not be implemented immediately in its entirety; rather it would be built in multiple smaller phases over time.
The Proposed Action differs from what was initially presented in the Draft EA.
Due to substantial concerns raised by agencies and organizations regarding potential impacts on birds and bats, the two utility-scale wind turbines on Wallops Island are no longer proposed.
NASA has also prepared a Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) concluding that an Environmental Impact Statement is not necessary for this project.
NASA will take no final action prior to 30 days following publication of the Draft FONSI Notice of Availability in local newspapers.
common residential market retailers, to market BIPV/BAPV solar products at an increasing scale.
Pike Research anticipates that the European Union (primarily Germany and France) will continue to lead the BIPV/BAPV market in terms of megawatts installed per year; however, this region will decrease in market share – from 55% in 2009 to 32% in 2016 – as demand surges in Asia Pacific and North America.
By 2016, the firm expects that demand in Asia will exceed that of Europe, topping 800 megawatts per year.
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www.solar-pv-management.com Issue IV 2011
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