US Sees Second-Largest Solar Installation Growth In Q3

[ScienceRocks]

US Sees Second-Largest Solar Installation Growth In Q3

December 9th, 2014 by Joshua S Hill

The United States installed 1,354 MW of solar PV in the third quarter of 2014, up 41% over the same period a year earlier, and the making it the second-largest quarter of all time for the US solar industry, bringing the country’s cumulative solar PV capacity up to 16.1 GW.

These numbers come courtesy of GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association in the latest US Solar Market Insight Report, released today. The report also found that, through the first three quarters of 2014, solar PV represented 36% of new capacity to come online, an increase of 29% in 2013 and 9.6% in 2012.



“Solar’s continued, impressive growth is due, in large part, to smart and effective public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS),” said Rhone Resch, SEIA president and CEO. “By any measurement, these policies are paying huge dividends for America. Every three minutes of every single day, the U.S. solar industry is flipping the switch on another completed solar project, benefitting both our economy and the environment.”

US PV Installations, Q1’2010 – ‘Q3’2014




As seen in the graph above, the US utility-scale market segment has regularly and consistently represented the greater-share of installation capacity per quarter. In the third quarter of 2014, the US installed 825 MW worth of utility-scale projects, up from 540 MW a year earlier, and represents the sixth straight quarter in which utility-scale PV accounted for more than 50% of the national total.

The US residential segment, however, has also been growing steadily (if slowly) over the past couple of years, and this past quarter exceeded 300 MW for the first time — with more than half coming online without any state incentives to help it along.



Residential is now the most reliable market segment, growing 18 out of the last 19 quarters.

“Residential solar has become a remarkably consistent, growing market,” said Shayle Kann, Senior Vice President at GTM Research. “By the end of this year there will be more than 600,000 homes outfitted with solar, and we see no signs of a slowdown next year. By 2017, we expect the residential sector to be the largest in the U.S. solar market.”

Also see Zach’s coverage of US solar price trends noted in the report and the current solar PV pipeline and growth forecast out to 2016.

I can't believe anyone could down solar. Solar is kicking ass!

 

[Old Rocks]

And the cost continues to come down.

 

[ScienceRocks]

In 1992 the world had 102mw of solar...As of 2013, it had 138gw!

We will probably add another 40gw just this year to that total.

 

[HenryBHough]

No doubt it!

Solar is fan-fucking-tastic in a land where the sun shines 24/7!

Now let the bullshit about giant batteries and planet-sized flywheels begin.....

 

[Old Rocks]

Oncor proposes giant leap for grid batteries Dallas Morning News

Oncor, which runs Texas’ largest power line network, is willing to bet battery technology is ready for wide-scale deployment across the grid.

In a move that stands to radically shift the dynamics of the industry, Oncor is set to announce Monday that it is prepared to invest more than $2 billion to store electricity in thousands of batteries across North and West Texas beginning in 2018.

Utility-scale batteries have been a holy grail within the energy sector for years. With enough storage space, surplus electricity can be generated at night, when plants usually sit idle, to be used the next day, when demand is highest. Power outages would become less frequent. Wind and solar power, susceptible to weather conditions, could be built on a larger scale. The only problem has been that the price of batteries has been too high to make economic sense. But if they’re purchased on a large enough scale, that won’t be the case for long, said Oncor CEO Bob Shapard.

“Everyone assumed the price point was five to six years out. We’re getting indications from everyone we’ve talked to they can get us to that price by 2018,” he said in an interview Wednesday.

The Dallas-based transmission company is proposing the installation of 5,000 megawatts of batteries not just in its service area but across Texas’ entire grid. That is the equivalent of four nuclear power plants on a grid with a capacity of about 81,000 megawatts.

Sure. We all know how gullible those ultra-liberals in Texas are.

 

[Old Rocks]

Grid scale batteries are going to make wind and solar 24/7 energy. And at a more economical cost than conventional fossil fuels.

 

[Mr. H.]

Amazing the shit our tax dollars can buy, innit?

 

[Old Rocks]

While the tax dollars helped with research and the subsidation got the renewables started, on an unsubsized basis, wind, low end, is now at 3.7 cents a kilowatt. Dirty coal is at 6.6, and gas at 6.1, low end. Large amounts of grid scale batteries will be put online in the coming decade, and both wind and solar will be 24/7.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Solar can power this country hundreds of times over again. We could install 1.5 times what we need to balance out changes in weather conditions and never have to fucking worry about coal, natural gas or other fossil fuels again.

 

[RGR]

Nobody disputes that solar is great. But some of us are wondering why it is being PIMPED so hard?

 

[RGR]

Particularly by those who can't seem to talk about how great THEY have found it? And what they paid, and why they made that choice, and all the things they want others to believe but can't be counted on to buy into themselves? Tell us Matthew, please....we all know solar is great. So tell us about your experience with WHY it is great.

 

[elektra]

US Sees Second-Largest Solar Installation Growth In Q3

December 9th, 2014 by Joshua S Hill

The United States installed 1,354 MW of solar PV in the third quarter of 2014, up 41% over the same period a year earlier, and the making it the second-largest quarter of all time for the US solar industry, bringing the country’s cumulative solar PV capacity up to 16.1 GW.

These numbers come courtesy of GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association in the latest US Solar Market Insight Report, released today. The report also found that, through the first three quarters of 2014, solar PV represented 36% of new capacity to come online, an increase of 29% in 2013 and 9.6% in 2012.



“Solar’s continued, impressive growth is due, in large part, to smart and effective public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS),” said Rhone Resch, SEIA president and CEO. “By any measurement, these policies are paying huge dividends for America. Every three minutes of every single day, the U.S. solar industry is flipping the switch on another completed solar project, benefitting both our economy and the environment.”

US PV Installations, Q1’2010 – ‘Q3’2014




As seen in the graph above, the US utility-scale market segment has regularly and consistently represented the greater-share of installation capacity per quarter. In the third quarter of 2014, the US installed 825 MW worth of utility-scale projects, up from 540 MW a year earlier, and represents the sixth straight quarter in which utility-scale PV accounted for more than 50% of the national total.

The US residential segment, however, has also been growing steadily (if slowly) over the past couple of years, and this past quarter exceeded 300 MW for the first time — with more than half coming online without any state incentives to help it along.



Residential is now the most reliable market segment, growing 18 out of the last 19 quarters.

“Residential solar has become a remarkably consistent, growing market,” said Shayle Kann, Senior Vice President at GTM Research. “By the end of this year there will be more than 600,000 homes outfitted with solar, and we see no signs of a slowdown next year. By 2017, we expect the residential sector to be the largest in the U.S. solar market.”

Also see Zach’s coverage of US solar price trends noted in the report and the current solar PV pipeline and growth forecast out to 2016.

I can't believe anyone could down solar. Solar is kicking ass!

What was the total cost and how much more do we need. Without those two answers you are simply a liar.

I would be nice, and say it nicer, but you have been here long enough and have made 100's of threads without once stating what the total cost is.

So what is the cost, how many more decades of building.

How about some truth and not so much propaganda, post the cost and how many decades we must build your dream.

 

[ScienceRocks]

US Sees Second-Largest Solar Installation Growth In Q3

December 9th, 2014 by Joshua S Hill

The United States installed 1,354 MW of solar PV in the third quarter of 2014, up 41% over the same period a year earlier, and the making it the second-largest quarter of all time for the US solar industry, bringing the country’s cumulative solar PV capacity up to 16.1 GW.

These numbers come courtesy of GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association in the latest US Solar Market Insight Report, released today. The report also found that, through the first three quarters of 2014, solar PV represented 36% of new capacity to come online, an increase of 29% in 2013 and 9.6% in 2012.



“Solar’s continued, impressive growth is due, in large part, to smart and effective public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS),” said Rhone Resch, SEIA president and CEO. “By any measurement, these policies are paying huge dividends for America. Every three minutes of every single day, the U.S. solar industry is flipping the switch on another completed solar project, benefitting both our economy and the environment.”

US PV Installations, Q1’2010 – ‘Q3’2014




As seen in the graph above, the US utility-scale market segment has regularly and consistently represented the greater-share of installation capacity per quarter. In the third quarter of 2014, the US installed 825 MW worth of utility-scale projects, up from 540 MW a year earlier, and represents the sixth straight quarter in which utility-scale PV accounted for more than 50% of the national total.

The US residential segment, however, has also been growing steadily (if slowly) over the past couple of years, and this past quarter exceeded 300 MW for the first time — with more than half coming online without any state incentives to help it along.



Residential is now the most reliable market segment, growing 18 out of the last 19 quarters.

“Residential solar has become a remarkably consistent, growing market,” said Shayle Kann, Senior Vice President at GTM Research. “By the end of this year there will be more than 600,000 homes outfitted with solar, and we see no signs of a slowdown next year. By 2017, we expect the residential sector to be the largest in the U.S. solar market.”

Also see Zach’s coverage of US solar price trends noted in the report and the current solar PV pipeline and growth forecast out to 2016.

I can't believe anyone could down solar. Solar is kicking ass!

What was the total cost and how much more do we need. Without those two answers you are simply a liar.

I would be nice, and say it nicer, but you have been here long enough and have made 100's of threads without once stating what the total cost is.

So what is the cost, how many more decades of building.

How about some truth and not so much propaganda, post the cost and how many decades we must build your dream.

Solar energy - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Here is how much solar we have on this planet. Completely and utterly renewable! We don't have to fuck our planet and risk hundreds of lives our miners per year for it. Pollution and people being alive for their children is worth something. 2014 we humans installed 44gw of it! If it is so expensive, why?

Solar is the second most installed energy source currently in America. How could it be if it was so expensive? Your problem is the reality that solar is becoming cheaper and cheaper with each passing week, while your fossil fuels will one day find its self uncompetive. Solar could power America over 100 times without breaking a sweat.

Solar is anywhere from 7-14cents per kw/h without the government as of right now. Sure, coal and natural gas is slightly cheaper, but solar is moving ever downward on their throats! Grid parity is what it's called as a sunny place like Califorina or Az will reach it first with the lowest prices. This will spread!!! Look at the future! --> you really think your fossil fuels are going to be able to compete? Solar Power Costs Headed Toward 4c kWh CleanTechnica

"The highly conservative International Energy Agency predicts the cost of solar energy will fall to around 4c/kWh in coming decades as the sun becomes the dominant source of power generation across the world.

As we reported on Monday, the IEA now expects solar to become the biggest single source of energy by 2050 and has now doubled its forecast capacity for solar PV.”."

Oh'shitttt! Solar is as low as 5 cents per kw??? oh, fuck yes!!! Austin s Super Cheap Solar Agreement 5 kWh Goes To Recurrent Energy Not SunEdison CleanTechnica

More super cheap solar!!!! Dubai Shatters Solar Price Records Worldwide -- Lowest Ever CleanTechnica


Down it goes!!! US Solar Now 59 Cheaper Than Analysts In 2010 Predicted

 

[RGR]

Solar energy - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Here is how much solar we have on this planet. Completely and utterly renewable!

No one denies it. Nor does anyone with functioning geologic understanding deny the mind boggling abundance of radioactive isotopes, natural gas, oil, and all sorts of things humans use. And that is before we start mining the asteroid belt.

As to solar being renewable, poppy cock. This planet will die one day, and not because of humans but because the sun will run low on hydrogen. So unless you've also got a plan to get more hydrogen to the sun, this planet will one day be incinerated because it is no more sustainable than oil production, all of this is just a matter of time perspective, and yours is myopic.

We don't have to fuck our planet and risk hundreds of lives our miners per year for it.

But you demand power at night, therefore choices have to be made. Certainly an advertiser (or pimp) such as yourself would be pretty irritated if you couldn't post lab results with uncertainty market potential as though they were economic solutions otherwise.

Pollution and people being alive for their children is worth something. 2014 we humans installed 44gw of it! If it is so expensive, why?

Tell us how much of these GW's you have installed, in order to run your computer and advertise on internet forums. Then maybe we'll have a better handle on "why".

Solar is the second most installed energy source currently in America.

So how much of your power comes from it then? Because folks I know, after the sun goes down, are still looking to DO STUFF, and if your solution doesn't cover that contingency, then I have news....IT ISN'T A SOLUTION FOR EVERYONE.

Your problem is the reality that solar is becoming cheaper and cheaper with each passing week, while your fossil fuels will one day find its self uncompetive. Solar could power America over 100 times without breaking a sweat.

No one denies it. So could nuclear. But we don't do that either because there are choices to be made for convenience, timing, even the ability to turn on or off power generation. If you were more than an advertiser you would understand this, and you make it more obvious with each post that certainly YOU can't be bothered by these inconveniences you want to stick everyone else with because you can't even tell us about how you power your own life from solar 24/7.

Oh'shitttt! Solar is as low as 5 cents per kw??? oh, fuck yes!!! Austin s Super Cheap Solar Agreement 5 kWh Goes To Recurrent Energy Not SunEdison CleanTechnica

More super cheap solar!!!! Dubai Shatters Solar Price Records Worldwide -- Lowest Ever CleanTechnica


Down it goes!!! US Solar Now 59 Cheaper Than Analysts In 2010 Predicted

Let us know how your night time posting goes when YOU do it then. Report back. Instead of pimping the potential, tell us about YOUR reality. How do you post using solar when the sun is down? You charge batteries all day? How expensive are those on TOP of the solar installation YOU use?

 

[initforme]

Solar panels can be a strength and can help people lower their energy costs in the long run. They are no threat to big oil however as we are addicted to oil and are oil gluttons. SOme fear solar will hurt oil and therefor try to find every bad thing about it. If it suits your needs then a panel is the way to go. Why anyone would have anything against solar is beyond me. Big oil gets all the handouts as far as subsidies anyway. They own this country.

 

[HenryBHough]

Until and unless inexpensive storage can be developed the net result of solar/wind power will be to RAISE your electric bill. That's because the cost of maintaining backup generation for no-sun/no-wind will not go away. In fact, because it will be less used, it will be more expensive. Yes, those who can buy their own solar/wind installations may see a net saving but they'll pay dearly for any grid power they have to use and everybody who cannot afford to go "green" or is a renter whose landlord won't allow an installation will pay dearly.

But limo-libs won't mind. Not at all.

 

[RGR]

Why anyone would have anything against solar is beyond me. Big oil gets all the handouts as far as subsidies anyway. They own this country.

After Solyndra, no one can ever say, with a straight face, that big oil gets all the handouts. Big oil pays their taxes, and collects the same amortization and depreciation deductions that ANY business can get, and unlike your handouts to Solyndra, oil companies then DELIVER a product. That product can then be used to generate power in the dark, during storms, at sea, for entire cities or right in your home under the sink.

Having said that, there certainly isn't anything objectionable to solar and wind, as long as you understand the inherent limitations.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Solar has gone from 1.5gw in 2009 to 16+gw today. It grew nearly 5gw last year alone. It is now the second fastest growing source of installed energy in this country. If it is so uncompetive and uneconomical...Why does it grow like this?

 

[Old Rocks]

Of course grid scale storage is the key to effective utilization of wind and solar.

Oncor proposes giant leap for grid batteries Dallas Morning News

In a move that stands to radically shift the dynamics of the industry, Oncor is set to announce Monday that it is prepared to invest more than $2 billion to store electricity in thousands of batteries across North and West Texas beginning in 2018.

Utility-scale batteries have been a holy grail within the energy sector for years. With enough storage space, surplus electricity can be generated at night, when plants usually sit idle, to be used the next day, when demand is highest. Power outages would become less frequent. Wind and solar power, susceptible to weather conditions, could be built on a larger scale. The only problem has been that the price of batteries has been too high to make economic sense. But if they’re purchased on a large enough scale, that won’t be the case for long, said Oncor CEO Bob Shapard.

“Everyone assumed the price point was five to six years out. We’re getting indications from everyone we’ve talked to they can get us to that price by 2018,” he said in an interview Wednesday.

The Dallas-based transmission company is proposing the installation of 5,000 megawatts of batteries not just in its service area but across Texas’ entire grid. That is the equivalent of four nuclear power plants on a grid with a capacity of about 81,000 megawatts.

 

[HenryBHough]

Nuclear power plants generate electricity.

Batteries store electricity made by other means.

Apples and Oranges.