3/23/2013 - Cumulative PV Demand to Double Again by 2015
3/15/2013 - The Making of a Minnesota Solar Energy Standard
3/15/2013 - SEIA & GTM Host U.S. Solar Energy Year In Review
3/15/2013 - Solar Installations Skyrocketed 76% in the U.S. Last Year
http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2013/03/14/solar-installations-skyrocketed-76-in-us-last-year/
3/15/2013 - Another Banner Year for Solar Power: Industry Breaks Records in 2012
5/24/2012 - Is Net Metering a Cost to Utilities, or a Benefit?
Utilities often claim that allowing customers to run their meter backward (by generating electricity on-site, e.g. from rooftop solar) can affect their bottom
line because these customers don’t pay enough to cover the cost of maintaining the grid. In at least one case, however, a utility’s cost-benefit analysis
of net metering was turned on its head in an independent review.
The utilities typically give almost no value to net metering systems, a review found that the on-site generation helped the utility avoid energy costs,
line losses, capacity upgrades, and transmission costs worth as much as 15 cents per kWh. Even when balanced against the transmission and distribution
costs, and power generation costs to the utility of supporting net metering, the policy had a net benefit as high as 7.8 cents per kWh.
The lesson for advocates of distributed generation is clear: challenge utility valuation of net metering and of distributed renewable energy. You
can never be sure what they overlook.
line because these customers don’t pay enough to cover the cost of maintaining the grid. In at least one case, however, a utility’s cost-benefit analysis
of net metering was turned on its head in an independent review.
The utilities typically give almost no value to net metering systems, a review found that the on-site generation helped the utility avoid energy costs,
line losses, capacity upgrades, and transmission costs worth as much as 15 cents per kWh. Even when balanced against the transmission and distribution
costs, and power generation costs to the utility of supporting net metering, the policy had a net benefit as high as 7.8 cents per kWh.
The lesson for advocates of distributed generation is clear: challenge utility valuation of net metering and of distributed renewable energy. You
can never be sure what they overlook.
5/16/2012 - Confidential memo calls for climate change sceptics to turn American public against solar and wind power
A number of organizations, including Americans for Prosperity, the Heartland Institute, the John Locke Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, which are
funded by the oil billionaire Koch brothers, are attacking solar and wind power. The American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec), which also has financial links to the Kochs, has drafted bills to overturn state laws promoting wind energy.
Now a confidential strategy memo advises using "subversion" to build a national movement of protesters.
Documents show for the first time that NIMBY anti-wind groups are co-ordinating and working with national fossil-fuel funded advocacy groups to wreck the wind industry.
Their proposals call for a national PR campaign aimed at causing subversion...effectively making something sound so bad that no one wants to admit in public they are for it.
It suggests setting up "dummy businesses" to buy anti-wind billboards, and creating a "counter-intelligence branch" to track the wind energy industry. It also
calls for spending $750,000 to create an organization with paid staff and tax-exempt status dedicated to building public opposition to state and federal government policies encouraging the wind energy industry.
Campaign groups and spokespersons for the wind industry say there has been an increase in organized opposition since early 2009. "We do see evidence of
co-ordination," said Peter Kelley a spokesman for the America Wind Association. "The same rhetoric pops up all over the place. Things that are disproven, that are demonstrably untrue, continually get repeated."
Recent developments in the campaign against wind power include:
• A new $6m election ad buy by the ultra-conservative group Americans for Prosperity attacking wind and solar power.
• An email and telephone campaign by the American Legislative Exchange Council and Americans for Tax Reform to repeal or alter clean energy mandates
requiring electric companies to get a share of their power from renewables.
• Putting forward Alec-drafted bills overturning those measures in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Colorado, Montana and Washington state.
funded by the oil billionaire Koch brothers, are attacking solar and wind power. The American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec), which also has financial links to the Kochs, has drafted bills to overturn state laws promoting wind energy.
Now a confidential strategy memo advises using "subversion" to build a national movement of protesters.
Documents show for the first time that NIMBY anti-wind groups are co-ordinating and working with national fossil-fuel funded advocacy groups to wreck the wind industry.
Their proposals call for a national PR campaign aimed at causing subversion...effectively making something sound so bad that no one wants to admit in public they are for it.
It suggests setting up "dummy businesses" to buy anti-wind billboards, and creating a "counter-intelligence branch" to track the wind energy industry. It also
calls for spending $750,000 to create an organization with paid staff and tax-exempt status dedicated to building public opposition to state and federal government policies encouraging the wind energy industry.
Campaign groups and spokespersons for the wind industry say there has been an increase in organized opposition since early 2009. "We do see evidence of
co-ordination," said Peter Kelley a spokesman for the America Wind Association. "The same rhetoric pops up all over the place. Things that are disproven, that are demonstrably untrue, continually get repeated."
Recent developments in the campaign against wind power include:
• A new $6m election ad buy by the ultra-conservative group Americans for Prosperity attacking wind and solar power.
• An email and telephone campaign by the American Legislative Exchange Council and Americans for Tax Reform to repeal or alter clean energy mandates
requiring electric companies to get a share of their power from renewables.
• Putting forward Alec-drafted bills overturning those measures in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Colorado, Montana and Washington state.
5/15/2012 - Microinverters can improve performance under shaded conditions more than 12%
The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a new repeatable test protocol that simulates real shade conditions and can predict with much greater precision the effects of shade on a solar array. The new test demonstrated that under heavy shading conditions the use of microinverters instead of typical string inverters can help mitigate the impacts of shade by improving system performance by more than 12
percent. “Photovoltaic (PV) Shading Testbed for Module-level Power Electronics” was co-authored by NREL senior engineers Chris Deline and Jenya
Meydbray, as well as Jason Forrest and Matt Donovan of PV Evolution Labs of Davis, Calif. The research was paid for by DOE. Full article can be found here: http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2012/1841.html
percent. “Photovoltaic (PV) Shading Testbed for Module-level Power Electronics” was co-authored by NREL senior engineers Chris Deline and Jenya
Meydbray, as well as Jason Forrest and Matt Donovan of PV Evolution Labs of Davis, Calif. The research was paid for by DOE. Full article can be found here: http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2012/1841.html
5/15/2012 - Study Compares Energy Sources From 'Cradle-to-Grave'
No form of energy really emits zero emissions, and that's a point that's both missed by casual advocates and overstated by strident critics.
It takes a whole lot of energy — quite often of the coal burning variety — to test, build, transport, install and dismantle all those clean sources of renewable energy. But how do the carbon emissions produced over the lifetime of a clean source of energy compare with various forms of fossil fuels over that same
period?
This week, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory(NREL) released an analysis that lets users compare, contrast and
better understand what a lifespan of emissions means for project permitting, environmental impacts and future policy. And at worst, it’s a great way to kill
a rainy afternoon. See for yourself with the online database.
A quick look at one of the findings: Greenhouse gas emissions over the life of a solar project are about 5 percent of those of a coal plant.
2/21/2012 - Wisconsin Solar Energy Rebates from Focus On Energy
Focus on Energy has been tasked by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to assess renewable technologies according to specific criteria in order to determine renewable energy offerings for 2012. We anticipate that this process will be completed in late spring. Additional information will be provided as the task is completed. http://www.focusonenergy.com/
4/22/2011 - Minnesota Solar Air Heat and Solar Hot Water Programs extended
Department of Commerce has adopted a deadline of September 15, 2011 to make application, complete installation, and turn in paperwork for the Minnesota Solar Air Heat and Solar Hot Water Programs. All newly approved applicants to the programs will have an expiration date of September 15 to submit Rebate Claim Forms.
See Rebates & Credits for program applications and guidelines.
See Rebates & Credits for program applications and guidelines.
3/11/2011 - Siliken modules generate 6.2% more energy than competing modules
Thursday, 10 March 2011 00:48
According to testing of 47 solar modules by 36 manufacturers, Siliken modules were shown to generate 6.2% more energy than the average level of all other modules assessed. The study was conducted by Photon Laboratry from January through December 2010.
The lab, which has been conducting these studies since 2005, randomly selects three modules from each company and installs them at an open-air site in Germany, in a south-facing position, 2.5 meters from the ground and at a 28˚ angle. Testing analyzes the power of the modules under standard conditions, cell performance with low radiation, temperature co-efficients, power degredation over time, and other factors that influence the energy that the module can be expected to produce over its lifetime. Photon's technology measures and records the data for all modules automatically.
In addition to generating 6.2% more than the average level, the Siliken modules produced 13.1% more energy than the lowest performing modules in the study. www.siliken.com
According to testing of 47 solar modules by 36 manufacturers, Siliken modules were shown to generate 6.2% more energy than the average level of all other modules assessed. The study was conducted by Photon Laboratry from January through December 2010.
The lab, which has been conducting these studies since 2005, randomly selects three modules from each company and installs them at an open-air site in Germany, in a south-facing position, 2.5 meters from the ground and at a 28˚ angle. Testing analyzes the power of the modules under standard conditions, cell performance with low radiation, temperature co-efficients, power degredation over time, and other factors that influence the energy that the module can be expected to produce over its lifetime. Photon's technology measures and records the data for all modules automatically.
In addition to generating 6.2% more than the average level, the Siliken modules produced 13.1% more energy than the lowest performing modules in the study. www.siliken.com
2/18/2011 - Better Living Show
We will again be at the Better Living Show this March 5th (9am-6pm) and 6th (11am-4pm) at the Winona Senior High School. Please stop by and say hi.
11/04/2010 - Xcel Energy requests Minnesota electric rate increases
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Xcel Energy wants to increase its electric rates in Minnesota over the next two years. Northern States Power Co.-Minnesota, an Xcel company, asked the state Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday to approve a base electric rate increase for 2011 and 2012.
NSP-Minnesota President and CEO Judy Poferl (POH'-fur-uhl) says the company needs the increase, in part, for infrastructure improvements. The company is asking for an increase of about $150 million or 5.6% in base electric rates in 2011, with an additional $48 million or 1.8% in 2012. As part of its filing, Xcel wants to implement interim rates effective Jan. 2, 2011. The Minneapolis-based utility has about 1.2 million electric customers in Minnesota.
NSP-Minnesota President and CEO Judy Poferl (POH'-fur-uhl) says the company needs the increase, in part, for infrastructure improvements. The company is asking for an increase of about $150 million or 5.6% in base electric rates in 2011, with an additional $48 million or 1.8% in 2012. As part of its filing, Xcel wants to implement interim rates effective Jan. 2, 2011. The Minneapolis-based utility has about 1.2 million electric customers in Minnesota.
10/21/2010 - Solar electric systems achieve record numbers in Minnesota
Minnesota is on a pace to more than double its 2009 record for solar electric installations. As of mid-October, 139 installations had been completed in the state, already a significant increase over the 76 new installations reported in 2009. By year's end, there will be more than 150 new solar electric installations in the state, according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security (OES). With these new installations, Minnesota currently has 481 solar electric installations with 2.64 megawatts of solar electric capacity.
In the past year alone, the price to install solar has decreased by 20 to 25 percent. For example, the cost of an average residential solar electric system in Minnesota has gone from about $10 a watt to $7.50 per watt. Rebates from utilities and incentives (such as the State Solar Electric Rebate program administered by OES) have further lowered the cost of systems. OES has approved 260 solar electric rebates (representing $2.5 million) for residences and small businesses, with a total capacity of 1.5 megawatts.
In the past year alone, the price to install solar has decreased by 20 to 25 percent. For example, the cost of an average residential solar electric system in Minnesota has gone from about $10 a watt to $7.50 per watt. Rebates from utilities and incentives (such as the State Solar Electric Rebate program administered by OES) have further lowered the cost of systems. OES has approved 260 solar electric rebates (representing $2.5 million) for residences and small businesses, with a total capacity of 1.5 megawatts.
10/21/2010 - Still time for OES solar hot water and solar air heat rebates
More than $300,000 in rebate funds from the Minnesota Office of Energy Security (OES) are still available for solar hot water and solar air heat systems installed at residences and small businesses. Application materials are located in the Rebates & Credits section of the OES website. Contact OES at 651-296-5175 or energy.info@state.mn.us for more information or if you need assistance completing the application.
