INDUSTRYNEWS US solar begins to glow
THE solar photovoltaic (PV) project order backlog for the United States market has now soared past 12 gigawatts (GW), according to the latest edition of the Solarbuzz United States Deal Tracker report. While the PV industry is facing the effects of large cuts in feed-in tariffs across Europe, the order backlog in the US confirms that the country will be one of the most promising growth markets over the next 24 months. The US market doubled in size in 2010 and is forecast to do so again in 2011.
The April edition of the United States Deal Tracker logs over 375 non-residential projects in the US project pipeline being planned or going through a Request for Proposal process. It also includes an additional 775 projects that total 0.7 GW of PV systems either installed or being installed since January 1, 2010.
Non-residential PV systems in the US market range from just 50 kilowatts up to hundreds of megawatts. Even with the
Italian review
THE Italian government is set to finalise details of incentives for the solar industry in the region next week it has been reported. Following other European governments example the Italians have already decided to halt incentives for PV has been looking at new ways to assist the growing industry as it reaches towards sustainable pricing levels.
It appears the Italian government has followed the German updated solar support scheme announced last year. It is expected that the new system will be in place by 2012. So far the are positive signs that the industry is ready to support the direction the new plan is expected to outline.
growing utility presence in the market, the corporate and government sub-segments still have 76% of the completed projects since January 1, 2010.
Utility scale projects currently under development are found in 29 states, but four states account for 80% of this total, measured in terms of MW. This segment is increasingly being serviced by specialist project developers, but also directly by major cell and module manufacturers acting in that role.
The top 10 developers account for 57% of the utility pipeline in MW terms. “The non- residential segment has traditionally been driven by corporate and government customers,” Craig Stevens, president of Solarbuzz. “As Renewable Portfolio Standards take effect, utilities have become a key driver of medium term market growth.”
In terms of numbers of non-residential projects, the top 10 states are California,
AC panel connected
WESTINGHOUSE SOLAR, a designer and manufacturer of solar power systems, announced the release of their second- generation AC solar panel. This new panel will be available in the second quarter at a very attractive price point. Westinghouse Solar’s new AC panel has been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of residential rooftop installers. Improving on the original patented design, the racking, wiring, grounding and inverter are built into a larger-format 235-watt panel, thereby delivering higher performance and lower installed cost.
In 2007, Westinghouse Solar pioneered the concept of integrating the racking, wiring and grounding directly into the solar panel. This revolutionary solar panel, originally carrying the “Andalay” name, quickly won industry acclaim. In 2009, the company again broke new ground with the first AC solar panel, reducing the number of parts for a rooftop solar installation by 80 percent and reducing labor by 50 percent. This first AC panel — which won the 2009 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award — has
become the most widely installed AC solar panel. Continuing on their path of innovation, Westinghouse Solar’s second generation AC solar panel is based on a large format design, and includes a number of differentiating features that contribute to the panel’s reliability, performance and safety.
“Much like the Prius, innovations can take time to gain market acceptance before they become a standard among mainstream consumers,” said Barry Cinnamon, CEO of Westinghouse Solar. “Market data for AC solar panels clearly show rapid homeowner and installer acceptance. The performance, reliability and safety benefits of our AC solar panels are particularly appealing to the legions of new solar installers, especially electricians, HVAC contractors and home improvement companies.
As ordinary solar panels become a commodity, our focus on delivering a product that dramatically lowers installation costs — while backed by a brand that consumers know and trust — sets us apart from the rest of the industry.”
New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, Nevada, and Florida.
Over 260 different installation companies are servicing the identified 1150 non- residential projects that buy their modules either directly from manufacturers or through distributors. First Solar, Suntech Power, Sharp, Yingli Green Energy, and SolarWorld are the most represented module manufacturers in this segment. The installed system pricing data shows that the largest US projects are now being completed in the range of $3-4 per watt DC. The reduction in non-residential PV system prices is key to stimulating US market growth.
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www.solar-pv-management.com Issue IV 2011
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