QUICK NEWS, January 10: UK SOLAR ON THE VERGE; 700 MW OCEAN WIND FOR BALTIC; NEW ENERGY UNHOOKED

UK SOLAR ON THE VERGE
Solar energy industry may be on threshold of an exciting era; This year we must use our subsidy more wisely, and if industry, NGOs and government pull together, solar will shine in 2012
Greg Barker, 9 January 2011 (UK Guardian)

"This has been the most challenging few weeks to date in the life of the nascent UK solar sector. After a short burst of unprecedented sales growth, with installations more than doubling between June and October, we had to intervene very quickly indeed to ensure the entire subsidy for this and other exciting micro-generation technologies supported by feed-in tariffs, wasn't swept away by excessive returns for a lucky few…

"…[I]t is easy to see why solar is so popular. It is reliable, intuitive, easy to install and is a great solution for people worried about rising electricity bills or wanting to do their bit to fight climate change. But with the price of solar falling quickly in a very short period of time, the subsidised tariff payments were suddenly offering new customers financial returns completely out of step with other green technologies or government-backed schemes. Double-digit yields, index linked and guaranteed to be paid at that rate for 25 years."

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"In the current financial climate when interest rates are at record lows, it really was too good to be true. Unfortunately the scheme the coalition inherited just wasn't designed to adapt to these dramatic price falls.

"This government believes in solar. We see its huge industrial and employment potential. We get the strong case for smart, well-targeted subsidy, to help early deployment and build a thriving UK sector. However that is not the same as a blank cheque. And we are equally determined to stand up for consumers alarmed by rising energy prices and have shown ourselves willing to take action to curb rising energy bills…[T]he challenge for the new year is to make sure we use the remaining subsidy far more wisely…"


700 MW OCEAN WIND FOR BALTIC
E.on plans 700MW Baltic wind farm
Paul Garrett, 3 January 2012 (Windpower Monthly)

"German utility E.on has announced plans to build a 700MW offshore wind farm in the south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Poland. The project would be one of the largest of its kind."

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"The site earmarked for the wind farm is the Southern Middle Bank, about 100 kilometres from the coast of Sweden and bordering the Polish economic zone…The project…has been costed at SKR 20 billion (€2.24 billion)…The Southern Middle Bank is used for sand and gravel extraction, fishery and as a shipping route."


NEW ENERGY UNHOOKED
Renewable energy projects stalled amid squabbling
January 9, 2012 (AP via San Jose Mercury News)

"A long-running disagreement between federal agencies and Southern California Edison has stalled millions of dollars in renewable energy projects expected to provide power to facilities in California's national parks and forests.

"…[A]n $800,000 solar project at Death Valley National Park, photovoltaic panels at the visitors center at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and a solar power system at the U.S. Forest Service's facility at Mono Lake are among many taxpayer-funded projects that are stalled while federal agencies try to come to an agreement with Edison to tie the projects to the state's electrical grid."

California could get over half its electricity from rooftop PV - but not if they keep bickering. (click to enlarge)

"The impasse involves contract restrictions imposed by federal law. Generally federal agencies are not supposed to sign contracts that would leave them liable for unknown future damages because they would be committing money that Congress hasn't allocated. Other utilities in California, however, have signed similar agreements with the agencies with few problems…

"An Edison spokesman declined to discuss the projects because of the ongoing negotiations. The squabble has captured the attention of Gov. Jerry Brown, whose office is sending the governor's advisor on renewable energy, Michael Picker, to meet with all the parties in coming weeks to help hammer out differences…The situation has made it difficult for the parks to meet renewable energy goals…"