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Tag: China

SolarBuzz Jamaica > Blog Classic > China
Alternative Energy Electricity Energy Saving Government News Solar Energy

PV Production Grows Despite a Crisis-Driven Decline in Investment

September 30, 2013

Global production of photovoltaic (PV) cells grew by 10% in 2012 in comparison to 2011 despite a 9% decline in solar energy investments according to the annual “PV Status Report” released by the European Commission‘s Joint Research Centre. Europe remained a leader in newly installed capacities accounting for 51.7% (16.8 GW) of the 30 GW installed worldwide.

Abundant solar resources in combination with zero emissions from solar installations have attributed to PV energy systems a key role in the transition to a low carbon energy supply. This potential has driven development of more efficient PV modules and transformed the sector into one of the fastest growing industries. Production of PV cells and modules has gone from 46 MW in 1990 to 38.5 GW in 2012. Statistically documented cumulative installations worldwide accounted for almost 100 GW in 2012 placing the EU in the lead position with its share of over 69 GW.

Within the EU, Germany has kept its leading position in PV installation with an additional 7.6 GW in 2012, while Italy‘s newly installed 3.5 GW have allowed it to reach an electricity production covering 7.3% of the total electricity demand during the first seven months of 2013.

A steep, 80% drop of solar modules prices between 2008 and 2012, triggered by an overcapacity of production, created serious financial problems for manufacturers, but led to a consolidation of the industry and fuelled an extensive growth for the PV market in Asia: 60% in 2012 and a projected 100% in 2013. The rise in annual production has resulted in China and Taiwan to accounting for 70% of the global production.

Even with the on-going difficult economic conditions, the number of the new PV markets is increasing. This, along with rising energy prices and the pressure to stabilise the climate will maintain a high demand for solar power systems. Electricity production from PV modules has already proved that it can be cheaper than current conventional consumer electricity prices in many countries. In addition, renewable energies which are not fuel-dependent, are, in contrast to conventional energy sources, among the technologies to offer the prospect of a reduction in prices.

Science Daily;

Alternative Energy Electricity Energy Saving Government News Solar Energy

China Funding Street-Light Project In Dominica

September 19, 2013

Dominica is implementing a US$34-million solar street-light project with assistance from China, Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmore has said.

He said the 33-month project would involve installation of 4,851 solar street lights across the country, and that Beijing would be providing 2,500 of those lights.

“The prime minister has been able to use his good office to seek funding and assistance from The People’s Republic of China. We are in the process of launching a comprehensive national street lighting project that will seek to bring solar lights to all our main roads in Dominica, including urban areas,” he said.

Blackmore said the project would be executed in separate phases.

“What we intend to do is first of all address our main roads. During the first phase, we intend to install 2,500 solar street lights. That will significantly improve the security and safety of our roads for pedestrians and persons who use the road,” he added.

Jamaica Gleaner;

LNG News Oil

Peak oil review – August 12

August 12, 2013

1. Oil and the Global Economy

Oil prices rebounded last Friday on better-than-expected Chinese factory data after six days of decline. At the close NY oil futures were up $2.75 a barrel to close at $105.97 and London crude was up $1.45 to close at $108.22. The IEA reported last week that global refining increased by 3.1 million b/d in June as new refining capacity came online and maintenance shutdowns at several big refineries concluded. Although Beijing reported a 9.7 percent increase in factory production during July over last year, there has been growing skepticism of late about the accuracy of China

News Oil

Oil Falls To Near US$95 As Dollar Strengthens

May 14, 2013

The price of oil fell to near US$95 a barrel on Monday, as the dollar continued to strengthen against the yen and other major currencies.

Benchmark oil for June delivery fell 87 cents to finish at US$95.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The stronger dollar is pushing down oil prices, analysts said. The dollar has risen in recent days against the euro and last week passed the 100-yen mark for the first time in four years.

Since oil is traded in dollars, a stronger dollar makes crude and other commodities less appealing to investors with other currencies.

“This, like the stock market, ends up pulling a lot of money out of commodities and into more reliable risk,” said Carl Larry, president of Oil Outlooks and Opinions, a research analysis firm.

An increase in OPEC’s output, which grew by 280,000 barrels to 30.46 million barrels a day in April compared with March, also helped drag down prices by boosting concerns about excess supply.

And weak refining data from China further undercut crude. Government statistics showed China’s refining output in April was the lowest since last August.

drift higher

Brent crude, which is a benchmark for many international oil varieties, was down US$1.09 to end at US$102.82 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

United States drivers saw gasolene prices drift higher over the weekend, up two cents since Friday to a national average of US$3.58 a gallon.

In other energy futures trading on Nymex, wholesale gasolene fell four cents to finish at US$2.82 a gallon, heating oil lost two cents to end at US$2.89 a gallon and natural gas rose two cents to finish at US$3.93 per 1,000 cubic feet.

– AP

Read more:

News Oil

Oil Falls To Near US$95 As Dollar Strengthens

May 14, 2013

The price of oil fell to near US$95 a barrel on Monday, as the dollar continued to strengthen against the yen and other major currencies.

Benchmark oil for June delivery fell 87 cents to finish at US$95.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The stronger dollar is pushing down oil prices, analysts said. The dollar has risen in recent days against the euro and last week passed the 100-yen mark for the first time in four years.

Since oil is traded in dollars, a stronger dollar makes crude and other commodities less appealing to investors with other currencies.

“This, like the stock market, ends up pulling a lot of money out of commodities and into more reliable risk,” said Carl Larry, president of Oil Outlooks and Opinions, a research analysis firm.

An increase in OPEC’s output, which grew by 280,000 barrels to 30.46 million barrels a day in April compared with March, also helped drag down prices by boosting concerns about excess supply.

And weak refining data from China further undercut crude. Government statistics showed China’s refining output in April was the lowest since last August.

drift higher

Brent crude, which is a benchmark for many international oil varieties, was down US$1.09 to end at US$102.82 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

United States drivers saw gasolene prices drift higher over the weekend, up two cents since Friday to a national average of US$3.58 a gallon.

In other energy futures trading on Nymex, wholesale gasolene fell four cents to finish at US$2.82 a gallon, heating oil lost two cents to end at US$2.89 a gallon and natural gas rose two cents to finish at US$3.93 per 1,000 cubic feet.

– AP

Read more:

News Solar Energy

Solar Summit Slideshow: The PV Module Market

April 30, 2013

GTM Research Senior Analyst Shyam Mehta provides actionable intelligence for the solar module manufacturing industry.

ERIC WESOFF: APRIL 25, 2013

GTM Research Senior Analyst Shyam Mehta spoke at this week’s Solar Summit in Arizona on solar module manufacturing. Rather than preaching “big ideas [and] grand narratives [that] don’t always give you actionable intelligence,” Mehta tried to provide real-world data points and tried to “start from the ground.”

Here are a few of his points and the accompanying data.
The performance gap between p-type mono-crystalline silicon and multi-crystalline silicon is narrowing

Efficiency gains in conventional multi c-Si have accelerated and the gains have come “without significant increase in capex or material cost,” according to Mehta. Yet mono crystalline still commands a 4 cent to 8 cent per watt premium in sales price. Mehta suggests that the value proposition for p-type mono continues to deteriorate.

P-type might make sense in highly real estate-constrained Japan, but in the long term, Mehta sees n-type mono as a key to maintaining the efficiency advantage of mono. Panasonic, SunPower and Yingli are working on n-type cells.


Are 72-cell modules the future?

Mehta noted that 60-cell modules are the current standard but there are 72-cell, 96-cell, and 128-cell modules available. He said that 72-cell modules have gained significant market share because large modules can reduce balance-of-system costs by up to 7 cents per watt.

The 60-cell modules still have an advantage over larger modules in that they are more rigid, can be carried by one person, and more modules can be fit onto complicated rooftops.

Mehta suggests we will start to see increasing numbers of larger and different sized modules that are “highly segment-specific.”


Will module prices just keep dropping?

Spot pricing for polysilicon, as well as for cells and modules, has actually risen 5 percent to 15 percent this year. Is this an indication of a sustained price increase? Mehta points to some salient data from GTM research — 81 percent of ASP reduction over the last two years has come from margin evaporation and polysilicon. He notes that non-silicon materials such as glass and encapsulants have little cost-reduction potential remaining.

Long

Government JPS News

Think bigger, Minister Paulwell

February 7, 2013

Dear Editor,

While it is good that mining minister Philip Paulwell is pushing for Jamaica to start the process of developing its rare earth industry, I cannot help but wonder why is it that we seem forever stuck in this cycle of thinking inside the box.

PAULWELL … pushing for development of rare earth industry

Nothing is wrong with the attempt of the Government to extract rare earths from our red mud. Indeed, this effort of the government must be commended. However, if Jamaica is to truly develop, we have to start thinking outside of the box.

The primary focus of Minister Paulwell seems to be to get the project to a stage where we can export rare earths in commercial quantities. Again, nothing is wrong here. But why don’t we look at ways to develop our own industrial base with these rare earth minerals?

We are now hoping to export these minerals to Japan. What does Japan plan to do with these minerals? They plan to develop their own advanced electronic industries. Why can’t we also begin to think like this? Why must we always be willing to supply the minerals that others use to develop their own industries, while we suffer?

We did the same with bauxite, and now we are about to do the same with these rare earth minerals. When will we ever learn?

One of the reasons why there is such a global shortage of these rare earths is because China, the world’s largest exporter, is curtailing its exports. It is not just because they want to save what they have left for their own future generations

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