QUICK NEWS, January 25: 2011 WAS BIG FOR SUN; WHAT OFFSHORE WIND FACES; CALIFORNIA LOADS NEW ENERGY

2011 WAS BIG FOR SUN
Solar Capacity Rose 54% to 28 Gigawatts Last Year, BNEF Says
Marc Roca, January 13, 2012 (Bloomberg News)

"New solar capacity around the world increased 54 percent to about 28 gigawatts last year driven by record installations in Germany and Italy, Bloomberg New Energy Finance data shows…Photovoltaic installations rose to between 26.5 and 29.4 gigawatts last year [estimated at 28 gigawatts], compared with 18.2 gigawatts during 2010….

"European governments from the Germany to Italy and the U.K. are curbing subsidies as prices for PV panels decline, aiming to choke off a boom in installations that started after they offered feed-in tariffs giving above-market rates for electricity from low-carbon sources…"

Yet nowhere near what it could do (click to enlarge)

"Solar installations grew around the world, driven by crashing panel prices…New spending on solar energy jumped 36 percent to $136.6 billion in 2011, outpacing the $74.9 billion put into wind power, and represented almost half of all renewable energy investment worldwide last year, BNEF said…

"…[But]the strength of installations in the fourth quarter isn’t a reason for optimism in 2012. European markets will slow because of subsidy cuts, and while nearly all the other markets will continue to grow, they are smaller."


WHAT OFFSHORE WIND FACES
Overcoming The Cold Realities Of The Offshore Wind Power Market
Mark Del Franco, 19 January 2012 (North American Windpower)

"The offshore wind industry requires patience from developers and investors who have the vision to support projects through the inevitable peaks and valleys associated with offshore wind energy…[An example is] NRG Bluewater's decision to not extend its power purchase agreement (PPA) with Delmarva Power & Light for a 200 MW wind project off the coast of Delaware…[It was a reminder of the cold realities of today's market…

"…[T]he termination of NRG Bluewater’s contract should not necessarily be seen as the company’s failure to attract investment...[T]ime is required for offshore projects located in federal waters…due to the complexity of the regulatory leasing process."

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"…[Investors are more optimistic about…Deepwater Wind's 30 MW Block Island project…[because it] is planned for state waters three miles southeast of Block Island, R.I…[and] does not require a full federal determination…[though] it still must work with federal agencies…

"…[O]ffshore wind… is located 15 to 20 miles from the population centers…[so its power can readily be delivered] where the need is greatest…[There is] not only the cost of the power and the turbines, but also the transmission…[and offshore wind offers] economic and environmental benefits…[T]here is a lot of interest from international players, particularly from European companies that have already built offshore wind projects and are seeking U.S. participants with which to partner…"


CALIFORNIA LOADS NEW ENERGY
CPUC Votes To Strengthen Renewable Energy Rules For California Utilities
16 January 2012 (North American Windpower)

"The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has voted unanimously to strengthen a key clean energy policy in California called the "loading order," which sets a priority list for electricity sources.

"California's utilities must first employ energy efficiency and conservation to meet customer demand, and then energy from renewable sources. Only after those supplies are exhausted may the utilities purchase power from fossil-fuel plants."

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":The CPUC already requires the state's three investor-owned utilities - Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison - to obtain certain minimum amounts of electricity through energy efficiency, demand-response resources and renewables.

"But before the latest CPUC decision, the energy companies ignored the loading order once they had met these other state-required targets…The CPUC has ordered a halt to that practice…"