QUICK NEWS, October 6: MORE SOLAR MODULES & LOWER SOLAR PRICES; BETTER WAYS TO HEAT WATER; QUESTIONS ABOUT QUESTIONS ABOUT SOLYNDRA

MORE SOLAR MODULES & LOWER SOLAR PRICES
Production Cutbacks Insufficient to Prevent Solar Module Inventory Buildup; Current Production Plans and Demand Outlook Suggest Oversupply Will Be Maintained into Next Year
September 26, 2011 (solarbuzz)

"Continued solar module overproduction will lead to sustained price pressure across global photovoltaic (PV) markets, already reeling from factory gate prices now down 33% Y/Y…

"Preliminary analysis from Solarbuzz shows Q3'11 global demand growing by less than 1% Q/Q, but up 20% Y/Y. European markets are projected to account for 58% of Q3’11 global demand, down from 78% in the same quarter last year. Among the largest PV markets, the US and China are seeing the fastest rates of growth among major markets in Q3’11."

from solarbuzz - click to enlarge

"While some manufacturers have started to cut back their production and shipment plans, tier-one Chinese companies have maintained their full year shipment guidance. If manufacturers meet their 2H’11 guidance, global shipments are forecast to exceed end-market demand by 4.4 GW.

"Price cuts have started to stimulate 2H’11 end-market demand, but to date, this has occurred more slowly than expected…[D]ownstream companies across Europe face the unnerving decision of whether to build inventories…Failure to cut back production will result in soaring module inventory levels to almost 22 GW by the end of next year. In order to maintain the same level of inventory…production would need to be cut back by approximately 11 GW…"


BETTER WAYS TO HEAT WATER
Emerging Hot Water Technologies and Practices for Energy Efficiency as of 2011
Harvey Sachs, Jacob Talbot and Nate Kaufman, October 5, 2011 (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy)

"Water heating is typically the second largest energy end use in buildings in the U.S., exceeded only by space conditioning. Better buildings and technologies have reduced many energy loads such as lighting, refrigeration, and air conditioning, but hot water has received much less attention…

"…[Recent] market forces, accelerated by the ENERGY STAR® Program, have stimulated availability and marketing of advanced water heating products that use much less energy. New work has documented high waste in hot water distribution, and ways to dramatically reduce losses…"

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"ACEEE examined sixteen technologies and practices, and found that these technologies can save a cumulative 2.3 quadrillion Btu through 2025, or about 5% of projected demand in residential and commercial buildings in the year 2025 (43 quads). Collectively, they save an average of 37% of energy over federal minimum efficiency standards for water heaters and conventional water heating systems…

"…[Some] do not promise high returns on investment (fast payback), but the technologies offer new or improved amenity that consumers value (shorter waits for hot water, continuous hot water, etc.). These technologies are likely to be chosen for these tangible benefits, and will also save energy…"


QUESTIONS ABOUT QUESTIONS ABOUT SOLYNDRA
Newly Released White House Emails Detail Early Concerns Over Solyndra
4 October 2011 (Solar Industry

"As early as 2009, officials from the Obama administration expressed worry regarding the financial viability of now-bankrupt module manufacturer Solyndra, according to newly released internal emails.

"The messages were compiled as part of an ongoing congressional investigation into the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) loan-guarantee program and, specifically, Solyndra's 2009 loan guarantee."

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"…[S]ome official… warned against having President Obama visit Solyndra's factory in 2010 - pointing out that the trip may be ‘embarrassing in the not-too-distant future’ …[and] Brad Jones of Redpoint Ventures, a Solyndra investor, also reportedly questioned in a 2009 email why the company was receiving what seemed to be a disproportionately large loan guarantee…

"The DOE maintains that the sentiments expressed in the emails represent normal discussion of investment risk and do not reveal any favoritism by the Obama administration toward Solyndra…"