Seven Days of Solar 12-11-11 | Green Energy News

January 13, 2012 – Vol.16 No.43

SEVEN DAYS OF SOLAR 12-11-11.

In the US, the solar industry is doing fabulous.

Below are highlights from a Greentech Media (GTM) “US Solar Market Insight (tm)” focused on the third Quarter of 2011(Q3).

--- The U.S. solar industry installed a quarterly record for new solar electric capacity in Q3 with 449 MW.

--- More U.S. solar electric capacity came online in Q3 2011 than all of 2009 combined, and Q4 2011 is predicted to be even larger.

--- Grid-connected PV installations in Q3 2011 grew 39 percent over Q2 2011 and 140 percent over Q3 2010.

--- The utility PV market installed over 200 MW in Q3 2011, a greater than 400 percent increase in installations over Q2 2011.

--- The residential PV market grew 21 percent over Q2 2011 to reach nearly 75 MW.

--- California regained a substantial share of overall PV installation in Q3 2011 with 44 percent; the next six largest state markets combined comprised 45 percent of quarterly installations.

Greentech notes that the boom in solar is due to a combination of dropping system prices as well as the cash-up-front-in-lieu-of-tax-credits US Department of Treasury ”1603” program. But Greentech is concerned 1603 will expire causing a slowdown in solar installations in the near future. Perhaps Greentech has no need to worry. There is word lately that Congress might extend 1603 if President Obama signs off on the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline that will bring oil from the tar sands of Canada to refineries on the US Gulf Coast.

The full edition of the report ($1295 - 2495) includes analysis of PV, concentrating solar power (CSP) and concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) technologies, exposing the key metrics that will help solar decision-makers navigate the market's current and forecasted trajectory. (The Executive Summary is free. Thanks GTM)

The U.S. Solar Market Insight: 3rd Quarter 2011 Report
http://www.greentechmedia.com/research/solarinsight

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During the week beginning December 11, 2011, this publication received news announcements regarding more than 24 megawatts (MW) of solar energy projects completed and more than 344 MW in the development pipeline.

Completed.

--- Merced County, California officials have thrown the switch on its 1.4 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) array which will generate enough electricity to power the County's correctional facilities. The system, with 6272 solar panels developed and installed by Siemens Building Technologies Division began delivering power to the facility located in El Nido, California. October 21.

Siemens also delivered comprehensive lighting upgrades to the entire complex and used local businesses whenever possible for the installation. The county expects more than $300,000 in equivalent electricity savings every year and a net positive cash flow that over 25 years will reach, according to projections, nearly $9 million.

Siemens Building Technologies
http://www.usa.siemens.com/buildingtechnologies

--- SolarCity and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC) has celebrated the installation of a 463 kW system. With close to 2,000 panels, it is one of the largest to date on the Hawaiian island.

As part of the power purchase agreement, SolarCity installed the system at no cost to MACC, and MACC will pay for the solar power the panels produce at a rate lower than they currently pay for electricity. The project for MACC is one of the first major commercial projects completed by SolarCity in the state of Hawai’i. The construction of the project was completed in partnership with Honolulu Builders, LLC, and is being interconnected to the utility grid by Maui Electric Company Ltd.

SolarCity http://www.solarcity.com

--- The Oak Grove School District and Chevron Energy Solutions have completed a solar photovoltaic system to save the California district more than $13 million in energy costs over the life of the project.

Installed at four schools and the district office, the 1.8 MW solar photovoltaic system created more than 25 local union construction jobs and will generate up to 90 percent of the electricity demand at the five sites, enough energy to power more than 160 homes. By greatly reducing its utility costs, the district is able to invest the savings back into the classroom, improving student learning and augmenting critical education initiatives.

Oak Grove School District http://www.ogsd.k12.ca.us
Chevron Energy Solutions http://www.chevronenergy.com

--- The San Diego Cardiac Center recently installed a 252-panel, 60 kW commercial solar system that was designed and installed by Stellar Solar. Stellar Solar was selected based on their track record of installing large-scale commercial installations in San Diego, California including their recently completed 500 kW Salk Institute project.

Stellar Solar http://www.stellarsolar.net
San Diego Cardiac Center http://www.sdcardiac.com

--- New Jersey solar energy installer SolarGen and solar manufacturer Centrosolar America have completed a 102 kW rooftop solar power installation at the Salerno-Duane Infiniti car dealership in Denville, New Jersey.

SolarGen was able to reduce the on-site installation time required to one day from a typical three-week time frame by preassembling the 500 Centrosolar PV panel arrays with the racking systems at their warehouse in Annandale, New Jersey. Once completed, they hoisted the arrays with cranes onto the car dealership rooftop.

Centrosolar America http://www.centrosolaramerica.com
SolarGen http://www.solargenep.com
A video of this installation: http://solargenep.com/index-2a.html

--- Duke Energy Renewables has purchased the Ajo Solar Project and Bagdad Solar Project from Recurrent Energy in August. Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) will buy all of the output from both Arizona solar farms from Duke under the terms of two 25-year power purchase agreements. (APS originally signed these agreements with Recurrent Energy.)

The Ajo Solar Project, located in Pima County, Arizona (near the community of Ajo), uses nearly 21,000 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that can collectively generate almost 5 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The project achieved commercial operation in late September.

The Bagdad Solar Project, located in Yavapai County (near the town of Bagdad), will use about 72,000 solar panels that can collectively generate 15 MW of electricity. The project is expected to achieve commercial operation by the end of 2011.

Duke Energy Renewables http://www.duke-energy.com/renewables

In the development pipeline.

--- MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company will acquire a 49% interest in the Agua Caliente solar project from NRG Energy.

The 290 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Yuma County, Arizona will generate enough electricity to offset about 5.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over 25 years. The $1.8 billion project, which is being constructed by First Solar and expected to be complete by 2014, is supported by a $967 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy and a long-term power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric for all of the project’s generation.

NRG Energy http://www.nrgenergy.com
MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company http://www.midamerican.com

--- NRG and New Meadowlands Stadium Company have announced a new sponsorship agreement that will bring sustainable solar power to MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and New York Giants, two iconic National Football League franchises.

Under the agreement, NRG will design, install and operate a custom solar power generating system—the Solar Ring—that will add a striking visual element encircling the top of the stadium. The Solar Ring will have the ability to display team colors and an array of additional hues to meet the needs of visiting events, including concerts and college sporting contests. Construction will begin in the spring of 2012, with an expected completion date of August 2012, prior to the first pre-season football game.

The solar power system, consisting of approximately 1,500 individual panels manufactured by Atlantis Energy Systems of Poughkeepsie, New York, will be able to generate nearly 25 times the amount of electricity needed to power the integrated LED lighting and display system.

The panels will be assembled into 52 modules that will be raised to the top level of the stadium and bolted into a steel superstructure which will also provide shelter from rain and snow.

Atlantis Energy Systems http://www.atlantisenergy.com
NRG Energy http://www.nrgenergy.com

--- SunPower Corp. will supply NRG Solar with a total of 54 MW (DC) of SunPower solar power technology. Under a supply agreement, SunPower will deliver MW of high efficiency solar panels to NRG by year-end 2011. The balance of megawatts, as well as a portion of the 2011 panels, will support NRG's 26-megawatt (ac) Borrego Solar Project in San Diego County, California. The Borrego project has a 25-year power purchase agreement with SDG&E that has been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.

SunPower Corp http://www.sunpowercorp.com