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Over the last two decades, photovoltaic (PV) solar energy has experienced one of the most remarkable growth curves in the U.S. technology sector. Over this period the cost of solar generation has decreased dramatically, and the amount installed has increased exponentially. Many have tied this success to public incentives and subsides. In the U.S., Democrats have supported development and growth while Republicans have generally ignored or even opposed the entrée of PV. Some believe that once supporting policies end, the demise of the solar industry will follow. The observed trends do not support this belief. This whitepaper is focused o... More »
The EV industry is on the precipice of a significant growth spurt. New battery technologies coupled with innovations in the electric motor will drive this growth from inside the EV sector. Pressure from environmental groups, along with pricing, supply and demand of petroleum, will drive that growth from the traditional vehicle sector. The EV will prevail because it is already more efficient, cleaner and more durable than traditional transportation. Most importantly, within the next five years, the EV will likely reach a point where it is cheaper than the internal combustion engine. EVs operate for one-quarter the cost of gasoline cars, especi... More »
This paper examines the recent past and potential future of photovoltaic (PV) solar in terms of how it has compared with traditional generation and how, even without government subsidies, solar utility scale projects will reach a price per KWh that will be at - or less than - traditional generation, possibly as soon as 2014. Now is the time for traditional conservative thinking to re-examine the facts about solar energy and explore its potential for not only delivering more efficient and less costly power, but also for creating jobs and opportunities that jump-start economic growth. This jump-start would be possible because electricity drives... More »
The Principal Solar Institute (PSI) has launched the PSI PV Module Rating, the industry's first and only comprehensive, independent rating standard for comparing PV modules. The rating method is constructed without bias: PSI has no affiliation with any PV module manufacturer and no interest in promoting one over another. The ratings are designed to allow large-scale solar consumers to make informed, intelligent comparisons and decisions when selecting PV modules. The PSI PV Module Rating is a comparative number that can be used with pricing information to provide power plant designers, buyers and financiers with a consistent basis for choosin... More »
One hundred years ago, the automobile began showing up on the streets of our country. Many experts at the time opined that it was nothing more than a novelty. The horse, after all, had been the primary transportation source for thousands of years. Now, the car is mainstream and everything else is novelty - not to be taken seriously. The problem is that the internal combustion engine has not changed significantly since its introduction. It has been a great resource, yet it also has its weaknesses. The number one man-made contributor to dirty air is the automobile. Couple that with rising gas prices and national security issues associated with... More »
Feed-in tariffs (FIT) are a policy mechanism designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy technologies. Producers of renewable energy are paid a set rate for the electricity they produce, usually differentiated according to the technology used (wind, solar, biomass, et.al.) and the size of the installation. Over the past decade, the FIT is credited for the rapid deployment of wind and solar power among world renewable energy leaders Denmark, Germany and Spain. This paper will examine the FIT within the context of real-world experiences, and make a case that the U.S. needs a nationwide FIT to kick-start the renewable energy industry,... More »
Concentrated solar thermal and photovoltaic solar technologies have evolved independently for decades, and both are approaching "grid-parity" power prices in many applications today. This paper will explore the different situations where each technology succeeds or fails in today's electric power generation marketplace, specifically excluding non-electric applications such as solar hot water heating. As of 2012, PV has come to dominate all smaller-scale solar electricity applications, while retaining the majority market share even in commercial and utility-scale applications. CSP retains a strong niche at the utility-scale and in combined hea... More »
In the summer of 2011, Texas experienced extremely low reserve margin periods throughout the state…causing average wholesale electricity prices to skyrocket to more than twice their normal level. Given that Texas is expected to add another 14 million to its population between 2010 and 2030,1 these shortages raise alarms about the state’s ability to meet future energy demand. Success will depend upon finding the most effective way to incent the development of more capacity. Unlike many other states, Texas has had a competitive retail market for electricity since 2001, replacing the traditional cost of a service-based regulated ma... More »
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has a long-standing tradition of accelerating technological innovation, serving as early adopters and impacting the broader commercial market in such areas as aviation, computing and global positioning systems (GPS). For the past several years, the DoD has been playing this same role in the renewable energy space. In fact, The Pew Charitable Trusts reports that the DoD clean energy investments increased 300 percent between 2006 and 2009, from $400 million to $1.2 billion. Projections for 2030 are set to eclipse $10 billion annually,1 with an overall target of obtaining 25 percent of the DoD's energy from r... More »
Over the past few decades, the organic food industry has gained increasing attention among various sectors of the population. Consumers and suppliers, alike, have facilitated this growth by appealing to a health and wellness conscience that grew out of the 20th century. With the growth of the organic food industry is a parallel trend of social responsibility showing that consumers across all sectors are not only demanding great products at affordable prices, but also understanding that their products were produced with minimal harm to the environment. Examining the food industry, ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS presented to suppliers is how to b... More »
"Interfacing with the Electrical Grid" outlines a new generation of power plants that will become increasingly dependent upon solar energy systems as a heat source, and the role federal, regional and state regulatory agencies will play in ensuring that connection, transmission and performance remains stable. More »
Understanding the full breadth of legal, regulatory and environmental issues associated with determining when and where to develop solar projects is critical to reducing risks and avoiding costly delays. "Solar Power Installations: Navigating Environmental Regulatory Issues to Reduce Risk" suggests the research, planning and design warranted to develop both private and public lands that will lead to the timely approval and construction of a project. More »
Many of the poorest countries in the world have the highest exposure to the sun. "Shining Light on Renewable Energy in Developing Countries" explores the opportunities for unprecedented investment in clean, renewable alternative energy systems that have the potential to not only enrich newly industrialized countries, but positively alter the quality of life for populations around the world. More »
This paper - which the authors nicknamed "Solar 101" - teaches the fundamentals of Solar energy. It is packed with current information and virtually everything you need to know about industry basics -- simplifying the complex science of solar energy and providing an understanding of grid parity. Discover how energy efficiency investments can provide up to one-half of the needed greenhouses gas emissions reductions most scientists say are needed between now and the year 2050. Such a gain in energy efficiency would mean reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy bills for consumers and businesses alike. Readers will learn how power is pr... More »
The US Energy Information Agency forecasts a precipitous drop in additional solar capacity at the end of 2016, largely due to the end of Investment Tax Credit (ITC). If this forecast holds, there will be a tremendous impact on solar businesses in the USA. Since more than 95% of the annual solar capacity additions are residential, this sub-segment will likely suffer the greatest. The econonmy of scale afforded to large commercial, community, and utility-scale solar may offer them some protection. More »
Download a transcript of the Q&A discussion during Peter Lynch's webinar. Listen to the live webinar recorded on Wednesday, October 10, 2012. View Now » More »
This interesting graph shows the growth of utility-scale solar PV, as compared to natural gas. Download it now to see the details. You should also register for our free live/recoreded webinar: As Coal Dims, Will Solar Shine? Perspective on a Changing Electricity Industry Thursday, August 21, 2014 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT More »
This graph dramatically shows the extinction of coal generation in the US. Solar continues to climb. Hear more about this at a free live/recorded webinar: As Coal Dims, Will Solar Shine? Perspective on a Changing Electricity Industry Feel free to download our analysis and use it in your presentations and discussions. More »
There are surprising similarities in the way German and Texas think about their electricity markets. Both are fully deregulated and competitive. Both have large and growing amounts of wind and solar power. Both have economically-efficient “energy-only” markets, where power producers get paid for their energy, not for providing stand-by capacity. And both have questions about market structures and avoiding blackouts. Presented by The University of Texas Energy Institute, Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, Heinrich Böll Foundation, and CleanTX. Click the download button for more information and to register for this live ev... More »
Dan Bedell's Solar Power International 2014 presentation. More »
Existing plants are required to respond to the EIA-860 if: • The plant’s total generator nameplate capacity is 1 Megawatt (MW) or greater and • The plant’s generator(s), or the facility in which the generator(s) resides, are connected to the local or regional grid. More »
ANNUAL ELECTRIC GENERATOR REPORT NOTICE: This report is mandatory under the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-275). Failure to comply may result in criminal fines, civil penalties and other sanctions as provided by law. More »
Principal Solar Institute Online Conferences - Webinar Proposal Form The Principal Solar Institute (http://www.principalsolarinstitute.com) is a community for solar installation professionals and developers who make system component design recommendations and purchasing decisions in the commercial and utility markets (more than 25 kW total size). . Members must have selected or sourced more than $100,000 of solar system components within the past 12 months We organize and host monthly, 30-minute hosted webinars. We currently offer two series: . "Straight Talk" - a single vendor presents their product,... More »
