- Email: [email protected]
Reluctant California utilities
NEWS
IN BRIEF Energy design guidelines & software
Mirrors, at a height of about four meters, intercept much of the solar radiation, giving conditions underneath which are ideal conditions for plant cultivation, especially if part of the steam generated were used for the desalination of water, allowing an irrigation system to be installed.
be used locally. However, a supply line, for example from North Africa to Central Europe, would not be a problem. Now that the development period of several years has been successfully completed, Solarmundo is looking for investors to help it build pilot plants or a commercial power station. Another possibility would be to link such a plant up to the turbine of an existing power station, in which part of the steam could be generated from solar energy. Solarmundo plants also offer an interesting option for radiation-intense areas, close to the sea. Since the mirrors are at a height of about four meters, and intercept much of the solar radiation, conditions underneath the field are ideal for plant cultivation. If part of the steam generated were to be used for the desalination of seawater or brackish water, an irrigation system could be installed. Then vegetables could be grown in a place where currently a blade of grass cannot survive. Solarmundo employees refer to such a greenhouse in the desert as ‘phytotronic.’ For more information contact:Solarmundo NV. Meir 44 A, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium. Email:info@ solar mundo.be
Kyoto gathers force The interesting development, both before, and during the Johannesburg World Summit has been a resurgence of Kyoto joiners and ratifiers. Thailand started the ball rolling by announcing its intention to ratify the agreement. This was rapidly followed by both the World Business Council on Sustainable Development and, startling partner, Greenpeace sinking differences to urge global action on climate change and ratification of the protocol. ‘This is a good example of where the need to save the planet is so important it transcends any other differences we may have,’ said Bjorn Stigson, a WBCSD vice president. ‘We will no doubt disagree about much else at this summit, but we are united in the belief that we must stop climate change before it is too late.’
October 2002
Japan then became the 73rd signatory to the UN Kyoto agreement. It’s cabinet approved documents to ratify the accord after its upper house of parliament voted by 229:0 in favour. By joining it raised support from countries responsible for up to 36% of gases. Kyoto, however, must be ratified by developed countries responsible for 55% of 1990 emissions, of which the US alone accounted for 36.1% or a third of the total. Then came announcements from both Russia and China. Russia’s PM, Mikhail Kasyanov, told the Earth Summit that Russia could ratify the protocol very soon, as the Russian parliament has approved the treaty. China is the second biggest greenhouse gas emitter, at an estimated 11% of global carbon emission. It has however ‘completed the domestic procedure for the approval of the Kyoto protocol,’ said premier Zhu Rongji. As a developing country it is not currently required to curb emissions, but would be eligible to earn credits by setting up emission reducing projects and other clean development mechanisms. Canada will vote on ratifying the Kyoto pact by year end, said PM Jean Chretien. If parliament approves the pact and if Russia also ratifies it, the treaty on cutting greenhouse gas emission will have enough backers to come into force legally. Even Australia seems to be shifting away from its stiff opposition to the treaty. ‘If we become convinced in the months ahead that it’s in Australia’s interest to sign the protocol, we’ll sign it, whether America has signed or not,’ said PM John Howard. All of this should go a long way to indicate to the US that developed and developing countries do see the simple logic behind setting goals and targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Reluctant California utilities California’s electricity industry looks to be blocking an increase in solar, wind and other renewable power. SB 532 is the Senator. Byron Sher bill which would require utilities to boost their use of renewable power sources by just
Anyone looking for integrated, 'whole building' design solutions; low-cost energy efficiency strategies; daylight and thermal performance analyses; project-specific illustrations of energy and cost savings can make use of US The Passive Solar Strategies handbook. This is a set of guidelines for incorporating passive solar design and energy efficiency strategies into institutional, small commercial, or residential building. Backing up the guidelines is Energy-10 software design tool. This analyses and illustrates the energy and cost savings that can be achieved through more than a dozen sustainable design strategies. Hourly energy simulations can help quantify, assess, and clearly depict the benefits of day lighting, passive solar heating, natural ventilation, well-insulated envelopes, better windows, lighting systems, mechanical equipment, and more. Energy-10 software calculates 'whole building performance,'best suited to buildings with one or two zones. The interface is simple, the analysis thorough, and the results accurate and quick. Simulate retail and office buildings, warehouses, schools, restaurants, residences, lodging facilities, and more. Key Energy-10 features include AutoBuild which creates a reference case building with only five inputs – location, building use category, size, HVAC, and utility rates. The Apply feature selects from a menu of energy-efficient strategies that enable the creation of your own low-energy case building. This is then used as the basis for comparison in the Rank feature which sequentially prioritises and applies energyefficiency strategies, evaluates the outcome, and indicates the optimum choices for your building. Version 1.5 Energy-10 recommends Windows 98, 2000, or XP system software and hardware a 350MHz Pentium III CPU or greater, 64MB of RAM or greater and 13+ MB hard disk. Energy-10 was developed by SBIC, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Berkeley Solar Group with support from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs. The software is updated on a regular basis. Registered users will receive upgrades via free website downloads or at a nominal charge when issued in CD format. For more information contact: Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC), 1331 H Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005, USA. Tel: +1 202 628 7400. Email: [email protected]
Photovoltaics Bulletin
3
NEWS 1% a year until 2015 so at least 20% of state electric power would come from these sources. But the bill appears to have been hijacked by utility opposition for over a year after passing Senate easily. The utilities committee is chaired by Assemblyman Roderick Wright (D-Los Angeles), reported as the same committee and chairman opposed to a solar-friendly Net Metering bill. A Rand Corp report says the state faces an unstable energy future because of its over reliance on natural gas. A recent federal report also verified that manipulation of the natural gas market was one cause of the 2000-’01 crisis.
SMUD at work to escape the mire Sacramento's internationally known solar power programme has fallen short of its goals, overshot budget, lost its long-term chief and left Sacramento Municipal Utility District directors hard at work to salvage their renewable energy commitment. 'SMUD has been looked on as a leader, one of the nation's premier renewable energy programmes,’ said Robert McConnell, solar energy expert at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Other programs could face a harsher climate if SMUD starts faltering, he added. Already, SMUD has pulled the plug on any new installations of solar panels at commercial sites for the rest of 2002. It will still accept residential requests this year. But for 2003, nothing is certain, neither the price of solar systems nor the pace of installation. SMUD planned to spend $3.2m in 2002 to help home owners, businesses, government and nonprofit groups install PV on rooftops or grounds. But that may need to be increased to $9.5m if SMUD cannot persuade the state to switch its stance on a solar subsidy. The utility will get only 60% of its 2002 goal of putting up another MW. It will install only around1.2MW. Slippage and setbacks expected next year, will put SMUD well below its 15MW solar by 2003. Directors have been disappointed by Don Osborn, who ran the programme from 1991, departing abruptly into early retirement. Osborn, now runs Spectrum Energy. He claims he had argued against some of the decisions that left the programme where it is now.
UK’s poor show UK government’s failure to give effective encouragement to the promotion of 4
Photovoltaics Bulletin
renewable energy sources is so ‘extraordinary’ that its share of the market declined last year, reports a committee of UK MPs Thanks to the ‘unsustainably low level’ of prices for fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas, the increase in renewables over the past decade rose by only 1% to 2.8% of the total British market and dropped to 2.6% in 2001, the worst record of any EU state, excepting Luxembourg and Belgium. In a withering report by a Commons environmental audit committee, the UK has been condemned for failing to analyse or promote the case for wind, wave and sun power ‘in one of the windiest countries in Europe,’ surrounded by water. In a series of recommendations to promote the Kyoto aims, the MPs urged ministers to back wind and wave technology, tackle the anomaly of cheap electricity and promote wind farms in England and Wales. The result of ministerial drift means that government will miss its long-standing target of making renewable energy 5% of the British market by 2003 - it will barely reach 3% by then. It will reach the 5% mark only by 2010 when it is supposed to be at 10%, the committee said.
Konarka gets license for dye-sensitised cells In what is claimed as a milestone to commercialisation of third generation PV, Konarka Technologies Inc, has been granted licensee rights to dye-sensitised solar cell technology from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL). As a result, Konarka with a dozen patents pending and exclusive worldwide rights to nanomaterials ‘cold sintering’ technology from the University of Massachusetts, will be able to leverage its own IP in conjunction with the EPFL license, to expedite commercialisation of its PV technology. The EPFL’s technology is the development of Dr. Michael Gräetzel ‘The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne is very pleased to welcome Konarka Technologies, Inc. as its first US licensee for EPFL’s photovoltaic dye solar cell technology,’ said Professor Jean-Jacques Paltenghi, director of industrial relations, EPFL. Konarka’s dye-sensitised PV technology will offer a cost-effective means of generating energy both indoors and outdoors. KTI modules will be more versatile and lightweight than traditional PV modules that typically rely on glass to protect rigid crystalline solar cells. Konarka president and CEO, Dr Bill Beckenbaugh said, ‘The EPFL license conveys both a
wealth of existing technology, as well as access to future advances by Dr. Gräetzel and his team.’ For more information contact:Konarka Technologies, 100 Foot of John Street, Boott Mill-South, Third Floor, Lowell, MA 01852, USA. Tel: +1-978-569-1400. Email:info@ konarkatech.com or Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Transfer, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zürich. Switzerland.Tel: 01 632 23 82. E-Mail: [email protected]
Babcock subsidiary bankrupts CdTe plant German CdTe module manufacturer Antec Solar has filed for bankruptcy. The insolvency results from financial problems on the part of Babcock subsidiary, Balcke-Dürr Technologie GmbH, an Antec shareholder. Balcke Dürr owns 20%, remaining shares held equally by CEOs Karl-Heinz Fischer and Michael Harr. Fischer has confirmed that his company filed for bankruptcy. The insolvency is claimed to result from financial problems on the part of Babcock subsidiary Balcke-Dürr Technologie GmbH. As the general contractor, it was responsible for the construction of Antec’s production line. However, an 18-month construction delay caused monetary and timing problems, and creation of a worldwide distribution network managed by Balcke-Dürr was made impossible. While Antec Solar GmbH has filed for bankruptcy, Antec Solar Finanzholding AG, founded to organise IPO, was unaffected, allowing for a hive-off vehicle with new investors. Antec is now in negotiations with strategic partners. Antec Solar, BP and First Solar are the world’s three largest manufacturers of CdTe thin-film modules. with Amtec managing to boost the module efficiencies to 7%. For more information contact: Antec Solar GmbH, D-99310 Arnstadter Strasse 22, D99334, Rudisleben/Thur. Tel+49 0368 56780. Email: [email protected] Web: www.antec-solar. de
PV over $3.7bn by 2006 A study from Business Communications Company Inc, ‘Photovoltaics: Markets and Technologies,’ forecasts total shipments of PV modules reaching 393.8MW in 2001. They are projected to grow by an average AAGR of 21% to reach 1,021.5MW by 2006. Silicon technology is expected to dominate the market throughout the period. Polycrystalline silicon will represent the volume PV technology shipments projected to grow at AAGR of 20.6% reaching 450.8MW by 2006.
October 2002
IN BRIEF Energy design guidelines & software
Mirrors, at a height of about four meters, intercept much of the solar radiation, giving conditions underneath which are ideal conditions for plant cultivation, especially if part of the steam generated were used for the desalination of water, allowing an irrigation system to be installed.
be used locally. However, a supply line, for example from North Africa to Central Europe, would not be a problem. Now that the development period of several years has been successfully completed, Solarmundo is looking for investors to help it build pilot plants or a commercial power station. Another possibility would be to link such a plant up to the turbine of an existing power station, in which part of the steam could be generated from solar energy. Solarmundo plants also offer an interesting option for radiation-intense areas, close to the sea. Since the mirrors are at a height of about four meters, and intercept much of the solar radiation, conditions underneath the field are ideal for plant cultivation. If part of the steam generated were to be used for the desalination of seawater or brackish water, an irrigation system could be installed. Then vegetables could be grown in a place where currently a blade of grass cannot survive. Solarmundo employees refer to such a greenhouse in the desert as ‘phytotronic.’ For more information contact:Solarmundo NV. Meir 44 A, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium. Email:info@ solar mundo.be
Kyoto gathers force The interesting development, both before, and during the Johannesburg World Summit has been a resurgence of Kyoto joiners and ratifiers. Thailand started the ball rolling by announcing its intention to ratify the agreement. This was rapidly followed by both the World Business Council on Sustainable Development and, startling partner, Greenpeace sinking differences to urge global action on climate change and ratification of the protocol. ‘This is a good example of where the need to save the planet is so important it transcends any other differences we may have,’ said Bjorn Stigson, a WBCSD vice president. ‘We will no doubt disagree about much else at this summit, but we are united in the belief that we must stop climate change before it is too late.’
October 2002
Japan then became the 73rd signatory to the UN Kyoto agreement. It’s cabinet approved documents to ratify the accord after its upper house of parliament voted by 229:0 in favour. By joining it raised support from countries responsible for up to 36% of gases. Kyoto, however, must be ratified by developed countries responsible for 55% of 1990 emissions, of which the US alone accounted for 36.1% or a third of the total. Then came announcements from both Russia and China. Russia’s PM, Mikhail Kasyanov, told the Earth Summit that Russia could ratify the protocol very soon, as the Russian parliament has approved the treaty. China is the second biggest greenhouse gas emitter, at an estimated 11% of global carbon emission. It has however ‘completed the domestic procedure for the approval of the Kyoto protocol,’ said premier Zhu Rongji. As a developing country it is not currently required to curb emissions, but would be eligible to earn credits by setting up emission reducing projects and other clean development mechanisms. Canada will vote on ratifying the Kyoto pact by year end, said PM Jean Chretien. If parliament approves the pact and if Russia also ratifies it, the treaty on cutting greenhouse gas emission will have enough backers to come into force legally. Even Australia seems to be shifting away from its stiff opposition to the treaty. ‘If we become convinced in the months ahead that it’s in Australia’s interest to sign the protocol, we’ll sign it, whether America has signed or not,’ said PM John Howard. All of this should go a long way to indicate to the US that developed and developing countries do see the simple logic behind setting goals and targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Reluctant California utilities California’s electricity industry looks to be blocking an increase in solar, wind and other renewable power. SB 532 is the Senator. Byron Sher bill which would require utilities to boost their use of renewable power sources by just
Anyone looking for integrated, 'whole building' design solutions; low-cost energy efficiency strategies; daylight and thermal performance analyses; project-specific illustrations of energy and cost savings can make use of US The Passive Solar Strategies handbook. This is a set of guidelines for incorporating passive solar design and energy efficiency strategies into institutional, small commercial, or residential building. Backing up the guidelines is Energy-10 software design tool. This analyses and illustrates the energy and cost savings that can be achieved through more than a dozen sustainable design strategies. Hourly energy simulations can help quantify, assess, and clearly depict the benefits of day lighting, passive solar heating, natural ventilation, well-insulated envelopes, better windows, lighting systems, mechanical equipment, and more. Energy-10 software calculates 'whole building performance,'best suited to buildings with one or two zones. The interface is simple, the analysis thorough, and the results accurate and quick. Simulate retail and office buildings, warehouses, schools, restaurants, residences, lodging facilities, and more. Key Energy-10 features include AutoBuild which creates a reference case building with only five inputs – location, building use category, size, HVAC, and utility rates. The Apply feature selects from a menu of energy-efficient strategies that enable the creation of your own low-energy case building. This is then used as the basis for comparison in the Rank feature which sequentially prioritises and applies energyefficiency strategies, evaluates the outcome, and indicates the optimum choices for your building. Version 1.5 Energy-10 recommends Windows 98, 2000, or XP system software and hardware a 350MHz Pentium III CPU or greater, 64MB of RAM or greater and 13+ MB hard disk. Energy-10 was developed by SBIC, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Berkeley Solar Group with support from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs. The software is updated on a regular basis. Registered users will receive upgrades via free website downloads or at a nominal charge when issued in CD format. For more information contact: Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC), 1331 H Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005, USA. Tel: +1 202 628 7400. Email: [email protected]
Photovoltaics Bulletin
3
NEWS 1% a year until 2015 so at least 20% of state electric power would come from these sources. But the bill appears to have been hijacked by utility opposition for over a year after passing Senate easily. The utilities committee is chaired by Assemblyman Roderick Wright (D-Los Angeles), reported as the same committee and chairman opposed to a solar-friendly Net Metering bill. A Rand Corp report says the state faces an unstable energy future because of its over reliance on natural gas. A recent federal report also verified that manipulation of the natural gas market was one cause of the 2000-’01 crisis.
SMUD at work to escape the mire Sacramento's internationally known solar power programme has fallen short of its goals, overshot budget, lost its long-term chief and left Sacramento Municipal Utility District directors hard at work to salvage their renewable energy commitment. 'SMUD has been looked on as a leader, one of the nation's premier renewable energy programmes,’ said Robert McConnell, solar energy expert at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Other programs could face a harsher climate if SMUD starts faltering, he added. Already, SMUD has pulled the plug on any new installations of solar panels at commercial sites for the rest of 2002. It will still accept residential requests this year. But for 2003, nothing is certain, neither the price of solar systems nor the pace of installation. SMUD planned to spend $3.2m in 2002 to help home owners, businesses, government and nonprofit groups install PV on rooftops or grounds. But that may need to be increased to $9.5m if SMUD cannot persuade the state to switch its stance on a solar subsidy. The utility will get only 60% of its 2002 goal of putting up another MW. It will install only around1.2MW. Slippage and setbacks expected next year, will put SMUD well below its 15MW solar by 2003. Directors have been disappointed by Don Osborn, who ran the programme from 1991, departing abruptly into early retirement. Osborn, now runs Spectrum Energy. He claims he had argued against some of the decisions that left the programme where it is now.
UK’s poor show UK government’s failure to give effective encouragement to the promotion of 4
Photovoltaics Bulletin
renewable energy sources is so ‘extraordinary’ that its share of the market declined last year, reports a committee of UK MPs Thanks to the ‘unsustainably low level’ of prices for fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas, the increase in renewables over the past decade rose by only 1% to 2.8% of the total British market and dropped to 2.6% in 2001, the worst record of any EU state, excepting Luxembourg and Belgium. In a withering report by a Commons environmental audit committee, the UK has been condemned for failing to analyse or promote the case for wind, wave and sun power ‘in one of the windiest countries in Europe,’ surrounded by water. In a series of recommendations to promote the Kyoto aims, the MPs urged ministers to back wind and wave technology, tackle the anomaly of cheap electricity and promote wind farms in England and Wales. The result of ministerial drift means that government will miss its long-standing target of making renewable energy 5% of the British market by 2003 - it will barely reach 3% by then. It will reach the 5% mark only by 2010 when it is supposed to be at 10%, the committee said.
Konarka gets license for dye-sensitised cells In what is claimed as a milestone to commercialisation of third generation PV, Konarka Technologies Inc, has been granted licensee rights to dye-sensitised solar cell technology from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL). As a result, Konarka with a dozen patents pending and exclusive worldwide rights to nanomaterials ‘cold sintering’ technology from the University of Massachusetts, will be able to leverage its own IP in conjunction with the EPFL license, to expedite commercialisation of its PV technology. The EPFL’s technology is the development of Dr. Michael Gräetzel ‘The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne is very pleased to welcome Konarka Technologies, Inc. as its first US licensee for EPFL’s photovoltaic dye solar cell technology,’ said Professor Jean-Jacques Paltenghi, director of industrial relations, EPFL. Konarka’s dye-sensitised PV technology will offer a cost-effective means of generating energy both indoors and outdoors. KTI modules will be more versatile and lightweight than traditional PV modules that typically rely on glass to protect rigid crystalline solar cells. Konarka president and CEO, Dr Bill Beckenbaugh said, ‘The EPFL license conveys both a
wealth of existing technology, as well as access to future advances by Dr. Gräetzel and his team.’ For more information contact:Konarka Technologies, 100 Foot of John Street, Boott Mill-South, Third Floor, Lowell, MA 01852, USA. Tel: +1-978-569-1400. Email:info@ konarkatech.com or Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Transfer, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zürich. Switzerland.Tel: 01 632 23 82. E-Mail: [email protected]
Babcock subsidiary bankrupts CdTe plant German CdTe module manufacturer Antec Solar has filed for bankruptcy. The insolvency results from financial problems on the part of Babcock subsidiary, Balcke-Dürr Technologie GmbH, an Antec shareholder. Balcke Dürr owns 20%, remaining shares held equally by CEOs Karl-Heinz Fischer and Michael Harr. Fischer has confirmed that his company filed for bankruptcy. The insolvency is claimed to result from financial problems on the part of Babcock subsidiary Balcke-Dürr Technologie GmbH. As the general contractor, it was responsible for the construction of Antec’s production line. However, an 18-month construction delay caused monetary and timing problems, and creation of a worldwide distribution network managed by Balcke-Dürr was made impossible. While Antec Solar GmbH has filed for bankruptcy, Antec Solar Finanzholding AG, founded to organise IPO, was unaffected, allowing for a hive-off vehicle with new investors. Antec is now in negotiations with strategic partners. Antec Solar, BP and First Solar are the world’s three largest manufacturers of CdTe thin-film modules. with Amtec managing to boost the module efficiencies to 7%. For more information contact: Antec Solar GmbH, D-99310 Arnstadter Strasse 22, D99334, Rudisleben/Thur. Tel+49 0368 56780. Email: [email protected] Web: www.antec-solar. de
PV over $3.7bn by 2006 A study from Business Communications Company Inc, ‘Photovoltaics: Markets and Technologies,’ forecasts total shipments of PV modules reaching 393.8MW in 2001. They are projected to grow by an average AAGR of 21% to reach 1,021.5MW by 2006. Silicon technology is expected to dominate the market throughout the period. Polycrystalline silicon will represent the volume PV technology shipments projected to grow at AAGR of 20.6% reaching 450.8MW by 2006.
October 2002