Shuaikang Group small capacity of 400 million launched photovoltaic solar water heater

Shuaikang Group, formerly known as Yuyao City tuner Parts Factory, founded in 1984.

1984 Shuaikang Group President Zou state was ordered to run Yuyao, Zhejiang tuner accessories factory - production of fine-tuning screws TV factory for secondary supporting.

Then Shuaikang is a small hand workshop: only 12 small dilapidated cottage, 4 units Lever injection molding machines and 12 sets of instrument lathe, power inverter total assets, but 150,000 yuan.

From the trimmer screw overlord to a nationwide TV tuner King, from the secondary supporting a supporting Zou state led the company to earn a pot of gold. But in the process of supporting the kinds of pain let Zou state determined to produce the products directly to consumers.

Do the right thing and doing things right, the most important strategy is a corporate priority decisions.

In 1993, China's first deep-type hood born in Shuaikang solve the traditional range hood suction, easy oil spills difficult to unpick and wash, noise and other defects, and open a new era in the kitchen revolution.

Unexpected, however, the introduction of deep type hood, the market reflects indifference. For a limited funding, the urgent need to sell the enterprise, no doubt, in a blow.

After a detailed investigation and careful market visits, Zou state that sales staff are not too far away from the market. He led the sales team in the user's home free test machine, solar grid tie inverter deep type hood suction noise, easy to clean, the advantages presented to consumers, and against all the odds, voted heavily for advertising. Six months later, Shuaikang range hood order flying like snowflakes camel to Shuaikang successfully achieve transformation.

"Sweeps away ten thousand fumes, Shuaikang led the way, in 1996, Shuaikang potential dark horse to become the industry leader in sales, sales and market coverage of the three first in the country to create the miracle of the development of the industry, also laid the Shuaikang in the the hood industry's leading position.

In 2007, the the Shuaikang 10,000,000 hood off the assembly line, creating a record of the the domestic cumulative production of a single enterprise hood number.

Shuaikang kitchen appliances in 2008, the product successfully settled in the 29th Olympic Stadium Bird's Nest, the only settled in the Bird's Nest kitchen electrical products. 2009 Shuaikang water heater awarded the "Chinese water heater market is the most trusted brand" the title of "Chinese water heater technology best" honor, solar panel DEY series was "water heater best value for money" winning. 2010, Shuaikang 32 kitchen products from many home appliances at home and abroad come to the fore Expo licensed products, is the brand of the kitchen and bath industry selected Model.

In October of the following year, the Ningxia Hanas

New Energy Group to invest 22.5 billion yuan to build Asia's first solar trough - a gas-fired combined cycle (ISCC) power plant broke ground in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the planning capacity of 92.5 MW, is expected in 2013 put into operation in October.

In Haiyang in Chengdu invested in a solar concentrating thermal power mirror project, a total project investment of 500 million yuan. Golmud in Qinghai voted to build 100 megawatts of concentrated solar power plant demonstration project, the figure of the China Power Investment Group, sine wave inverter the project's total investment of 3.1 billion yuan.

According to media reports, Guodian, Green Group have begun the work of the DNI (direct solar radiation) also in Inner Mongolia, China Huadian Corporation and AVIC General Aircraft Co., Ltd. signed a letter of intent for strategic cooperation, the cooperation of the solar thermal power generation .

Reporters from the Qinghai Haixi energy Bureau was informed flagging Delingha City, for example, in addition to in the control Solar has built a 10-megawatt project, the 50 MW trough power projects in Guangdong Nuclear also won the Provincial Development and Reform Commission and Guodian, Huaneng also is applying for CSP projects. "easy to say on behalf of the new.

In addition, the of Hangzhou Boiler shares and Hangzhou Steam Turbine B shares in the control of solar CSP project providing equipment. Three flower shares through invested nearly $ 20 million, held by Israel HF 31% stake in the company to enter the field of solar thermal power generation. The maiden voyage of energy conservation is the establishment of the the maiden voyage the photothermal company, to enter the field of solar thermal power generation.

The local government's "abacus"

China's first commercial CSP projects completed, has tasted the sweetness from the local government.

Solar materials and equipment in the control still Sinotrans, and we hope that it is able to place manufacturing, landing CSP projects and enterprises, to provide some ancillary supporting services, so as to drive the development of local enterprises. "Delingha by The CSD Director Yanbing Wu said.

In fact, the limited financial income Delingha, the local government also hopes to optimize the industrial structure through the development of the solar thermal industry. Delingha regarded as the industry has just started, the overall volume is not great, the chemical industry accounted for a slightly larger proportion of new energy industry will also be a part of our industrial development. "

Reporters learned from the Energy Bureau of Haixi, Delingha in the West Exit this planned new energy industrial park, for the development of solar power inverter photovoltaic and solar thermal, industrial park covers an area of ​​200 square kilometers, the photothermal only planning a 46 square kilometers, planning capacity, compared with the "12th Five-Year period reached 200 megawatts.

Easy generation of new to the reporters, "because the landing project procurement of raw materials are the enterprise itself Sinotrans, we hope that it will place procurement, therefore, set aside part of the open space in the park to do some matching, specifically for PV solar thermal, we is promoting supporting enterprises have settled down. "

However, relative to the enthusiasm of local governments, hi Mandarin was very calm, domestic 98% are photovoltaic power plants, solar thermal power station built small, and very successful, start an entrepreneurial investment to run the power plant is less to be negligible. "

Hi Mandarin, solar thermal power generation conditions are not ripe, nor has it reached the degree of industrialization and commercialization, however, the solar thermal power generation is definitely the future development direction, prospects no doubt.

In addition, the hi Mandarin pointed out that although many domestic enterprises to invest launched a solar thermal power generation project, but the real inside investment how much is still unknown, "some companies just want some concessions to to occupy local resources conditions, the local government policy. "

Equipment manufacturers the opportunity

It is understood that the companies involved in the solar thermal power generation business in the domestic market is mainly divided into systems integration and equipment manufacturing two blocks. With the completion of China's first commercial CSP plants associated with upstream and downstream equipment manufacturers will benefit first CSP plants to the grid.

The foregoing control solar persons have fixed suppliers of equipment and raw materials procurement of the company's power plant construction, its capacity can guarantee that the the Company project's development, and the core equipment of the power plant has been fully realize the localization and industrialization. Core technologies such as tower power stations, solar mirror field control technology, on the Chinese and control their own production.

The parties, including several major systems of the condenser, collector, thermal storage, power generation, power station construction technology core and difficulty concentrating system including heliostat including the inside of the control system, the controller. The collector system, including endothermic tower above the absorber, the heat storage system comprises a molten salt, power generation systems, and thermal power is the same.

"Qinghai in control of solar energy, grid tie inverter there are three main shareholders in the control Group Holdings, the Hangzhou Boiler share and Hangzhou Steam Turbine B shares, the shares involved in the design and manufacture of thermal system of Hangzhou Boiler, Turbine power generation system, Hangzhou Steam Turbine B production. "the person said.

Written in control solar reply to the reporter the claimed, the upstream and downstream industry chain for solar thermal power generation in China has been more complete, with a full set of manufacturing tower solar thermal power critical equipment such as solar control systems, solar boiler, turbine, solar heliostat , transmission components and other advantages of enterprise, the same time, China also has a mirror glass industry outstanding enterprises in salt mining salt, motor, machining tower solar thermal power industry chain.

"After the project is put into operation, contribute to the joint development driven by a number of high-tech industry, not only to promote the rapid development of all kinds of high-end equipment for solar thermal power, while driven software R & D, glass, communications, electronics, building materials, thermal equipment, chemical materials and synchronous development of the machining industry. "so that the above reply.

Full commercialization will take time

In addition to the constraints of the feed-in tariff for solar grid tie inverter thermal power generation cost and technology still faces two obstacles, the industry generally believe that the above CSP plants will take some time away from the real commercial operation.

Cost of power generation for the project, said control solar stakeholders to the "Daily Economic News" reporter, admitted that the cost of solar thermal power generation is certainly better than photovoltaic, after all, have not really achieve large-scale applications. Scale applications, the first construction costs are high, the cost of the operating process, how operators should seek experience.

However, the source said, from the industry in the long run, the very edge of light and heat. Light and heat is just out of our cost of power generation is certainly better than the PV just came out, but also a lot lower. "In fact, the early stages of development of photovoltaic power plants, the NDRC concentrating photovoltaic PV project on Chongming Island, Shanghai and Inner Mongolia Erdos The project's approved tariff in more than 4 yuan / kwh.

This the control solar written reply also said that at this stage of solar thermal power generation equipment manufacturing did not reach economies of scale, resulting in the initial investment cost and the unit cost of power generation is higher than the thermal power, hydropower. With 2 hours of thermal storage unit cost of solar thermal power projects in general in more than 25,000 yuan / kWh, but the company chose a small area of ​​the heliostat as the condenser system's core components, greatly reducing the cost of manufacturing, project implementation cost and power plant maintenance costs.

In addition, the company from concentrating collector systems, thermal storage systems into the national power generation system and key equipment, process design, manufacturing capacity as well as a 10-megawatt project accumulated a wealth of experience in engineering and operation and maintenance are greatly reduced power plant construction costs as well as power plant operating costs. As the technology matures and the growth of large-scale applications, the future cost of solar tower thermal power stations will be reduced to with photovoltaic quite, or even lower levels.

However, new easy-generation that now is too early to calculate the cost of power generation projects, the general figures given in the control solar is 18,000 yuan / kWh, which does not include the subsequent operating costs, and in the project's pre-feasibility report , capital preservation is of 1 kWh 1.26 yuan, can only wait for the completion of the project and operations results.

Commercialization prospects for the CSP plants, easy-generation frankly, solar thermal power generation from the real commercialization is still a long way to go, this depends on national policy and enterprise, including the decline in corporate costs, technology innovation. As in the Delhi region, but also consider saving plateau.

"Enterprises must reduce the cost of each link, the technology is not mature enough, the subsidy policy is not clear, a lot of problems." Yi said on behalf of the new, but the light and heat just out into everything to look forward.

, Lin Boqiang to the "Daily Economic News" reporter said that technological progress is a process, basically tariff issues and the policy of subsidies, this is the most critical problem. "The country has been in intensive introduction to support solar policy, I believe that soon there will be good news out."

More expensive than photovoltaic solar thermal power converter generation attractive prospect still cited capital compete in

With the completion of the first commercial operation of solar thermal power generation project, the CSP industry has also become a hot spot of the capital market and the attention of the local government.

The media reported that the "12th Five-Year Plan for renewable energy development proposed CSP 2015 will reach one million kilowatts of installed annual target, the next five Nianguang thermal power generation market size of up to 150 billion, and as future 10 years, large-scale commercial solar thermal power generation starts, the market size of the total investment of up to 100 billion yuan.

"We have a fixed equipment suppliers, key equipment has been fully realize the localization and industrialization." The control solar sources told the "Daily Economic News" reporter.

In this regard, the local governments have the same consensus Delingha economic development "The government plans to provide auxiliary support services for CSP projects and enterprises landing place, the local enterprises Hercynian Huahui has in the control of solar tray production." Reform Commission Chairman Yanbing Wu said. '

The new darling of the capital market

In fact, as early as in the control of solar projects before the domestic advance layout enterprise CSP plants are not lacking in the shadow of the listed companies.

July 1, 2010, Asia's first tower solar thermal power inverter plant under construction in Beijing Yanqing, this project is jointly developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huang Ming Solar Energy and Huadian Group, with a total investment of 1.2 billion yuan, the power generation capacity of 1 MW , is a demonstration project. "The projects have been completed, China's largest pilot demonstration project, the more successful operators are also light and heat power generation project." China Renewable Energy Society, vice president hi to Mandarin.

Involved in the Beijing Yanqing projects Himin solar still Texas Sun Valley voted to build a two-megawatt scale solar trough power projects, Huang Ming Solar is closely tracking as 1,000 megawatts of solar thermal power generation project in Golmud, Qinghai.

3000 immigration warm

Cui Aunt greeted at home, wash a change, have a good year. This does not, she also mentioned a mouth of a solar panel water heater. "His wife, while the weather is good, to the solar water heater inside the water filled." Before Jinning Dianchi Lake "four back also a retaining the Kunyang settlements - ecological immigrants living area complete solar architecture integration. Since then, 137 sets of street lights installed in a residential area, 457 sets of garden lights, covering the whole of 3062 sets of solar water heaters, so the immigrants living area is bright warm, clean, and full of laughter every household, busy to prepare New Year ahead .

In December 2011, Jinning County Dianchi Lake "four back three also a retaining" Kunyang settlements after completion, the official name and in the community. Advocate green ecological construction, in response to the country to promote energy conservation and the development of new energy to the call in 2011, residential communities declared as the State Ministry of Housing solar photovoltaic building demonstration project pilot, an investment of 30 million yuan, built a total installed capacity of about 800 kilowatts the users low pressure side power inverter generation for personal use. Installation is complete 49.95 kilowatts powered off-grid solar lighting system for the 137 sets of street lights, 457 sets of garden lights use centralized installation completed 759.24 kilowatts of solar cell matrix.

Not see the smoke from the see, however, the hot water to the community people leisurely

The use of new energy is an important measure of this community to implement energy saving. 3062 sets water heater installation covering all households in the community, let them spend a low-carbon environment, save money solar water heaters. Rely on this solar power is continuous overcast twenty-three days, with fluorescent lights no problem! "Side of Dianchi Lake Ma fisheries Tan village of Yang Ji Fa, pointing to the roof solar panel, told reporters. "This solar thousands of dollars too! The central county most money, we only dig part installed on home electricity savings of one-third." Community Songqiong Feng, deputy secretary said, the district every house on the water heater, fine rain per month with down, boil water, take a bath, lighting also tens of dollars, is also cheaper than the city district.

"But not from the smoke, but see the hot water." Lived much of his life in rural areas of the river Mei Tsuen villagers Cui Aunt filled with emotion. She said that the installation of new residential energy use, both saving energy, but also the safety of bathing, lighting, take a bath, washing vegetables, do not have the smoky, without thinking Tianchai, a twist switch the hot water on to.

Without the the electricity bills immigrant New Area with bright street lights every night light

Walked to accommodate more than 3,000 households, more than 10,000 immigrants living area, criss-crossing the road on both sides erect uniform solar street lights; thousands of pieces of solar panels placed on the roof of each building, added to the huge community The atmosphere of the city.

Currently, the community has completed the construction of building integrated photovoltaic, 137 sets of street lights, grid tie inverter the installation of 457 sets of garden lights, it is like cutting the bright glowing pearl shines homes.

Huang said: "solar street lights covering every corner of the district, every 20 meters, an automatic bright, dark, dawn off automatically, also do not have the electricity bill, one night trip very detailed, original Kunyang settlements chief convenient. "

When night fell, the immigration area will light up the bright lights. Children run under the street light, and chat with old people playing chess, the young man of song and dancing, everyone's face was filled with happiness and joy, a community a beautiful landscape.

Night after night lit street lights, electricity was not tenants bear. Solar street lamps community residents bid farewell to the living conditions of the rural "night after night black" before. Community residents past nightfall, the village on Heidengxiahuo's now admitted to the cell solar street light, dark or still outside with bright, with the city the night to go out, do not hit the flashlight.

Novel solar street light, elegant appearance, absorbs the sun's heat during the day by solar photovoltaic panels, timing open. Even for two or three days of rainy days in normal lighting. Average service life of 20 years, do not need to run cables installation, low cost of installation and maintenance.

Jinning 210 days a year of sunshine to provide convenient conditions for the use of solar energy, and clean energy development has provided a guarantee for excellent air quality. Next, community shops, police stations, clubs, health service centers, vegetable market, supermarket 759.24 kilowatts of solar cell matrix installation is complete, to achieve energy saving and environmentally friendly electricity.

Obama ultimatum to Congress on climate change

Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama on the issue of climate change to Congress issued an ultimatum, saying Congress must draw up plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, grid tie inverter and to adapt to the global warming potential risk, otherwise, the White House may act alone.

"If Congress does not for the next generation of early action, then I will do so," Obama said in his State of the Union speech. "I will discuss with the members of the Cabinet with a viable way to reduce pollution through administrative powers our homes well prepared to tackle climate change and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy."

Obama said Congress should carbon pricing, given its economic significance. Obama briefly admitted his ineffective to deal with the issue of climate change in the first term. Republican opposition means that Obama's best opportunity on this topic, or to resort to the administrative authority.

Obama will vigorously promote cheaper solar and wind energy, and to encourage more domestic natural gas exploration, adding that the latter has to stabilize oil prices in the domestic market of the United States played a role.

"But I still want to work with Congress to encourage technological innovation and natural gas into cleaner energy, in order to protect our water and air."

Obama said the United States should take advantage of its abundant fossil fuel reserves, towards a non-emission era of clean energy.

"I propose that part of the oil and gas income, investment in energy security trust fund to finance research on new technologies, will always make our cars and trucks out of petrol."

Is expected in 2013, Dagang local GDP year-on-year growth of 19%, the regional revenue up 20%, per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents was 12% and 13%, respectively, year-on-year growth.

According to reports, this year Dagang around the Nangang Industrial Zone and Textile Economic Zone, support for training and other supporting industries as petrochemicals, light industry and textile. Accelerate the technological transformation of existing enterprises, transform and elevate the focus on auto parts, bicycles, rubber and plastic products industries, and promote the rubber and plastics industries concentrated area, the base of auto parts and municipal bicycle production bases. Support new energy, new materials industry, speed up the North China wind power four Longyuan Wind Power III, construction, push forward rolling a cold-rolled sheet two CNTIC square piles and other construction projects, good annual production capacity of 500,000 square meters of solar panel PV glass Tong industrial gas cogeneration project preparation. Strive annual sales revenue of over 500 million yuan of industrial enterprises amounted to 20, the proportion of more than 85% of the pillar industries.

Hundreds of tons of garbage in the United Kingdom by the Chinese refused and had to run back home. With the enhancement of environmental awareness of Chinese consumers, not only foreign waste imports into China more and more difficult, the environmental performance of the car has become even more people attach importance to, in addition to the national introduction of new energy vehicles to support policies for new energy vehicles, which undoubtedly brought about by the development of a huge potential force.

Compared to the current technology is not big mature pure electric cars, hybrid known as the era of new energy vehicles, the best transitional product. As one of the leader in the field of global hybrid, Honda has original hybrid technology, the world has accumulated more than one million sales, which INSIGHT is most representative of the Honda Hybrid models.

INSIGHT equipped with Honda's unique IMA hybrid system, the advanced 1.3Li-VTEC engine and the IMA battery of high-efficiency motors and wisdom IPU intelligent power inverter unit combination to improve fuel utilization and showed a strong driving power, 100 km combined consumption of only 4.4L. In addition to IMA hybrid system, INSIGHT also equipped with Honda's advanced Eco Assist energy driver assistance systems, allow moving fuel consumption at a glance, achieve fuel consumption blossoms control, and environmental scoring function helps the driver to master the more fuel-efficient driving habits, and thus real vehicles and dialogue.

The Dongfeng Honda depth Yi development of the cause of environmental protection is not simply the introduction of a two environmental models, but from the production, procurement, sales, and other aspects of comprehensive development. 600kW solar photovoltaic systems from the introduction of the second plant, to promote green dealerships to carry out centralized logistics, Dongfeng Honda to build a "building green plants, the production of green products, enhance green procurement and green building sales become green citizens" environmental whole value chain.

In addition, the Dongfeng Honda to join hands for many years dealerships across the country, the majority of owners organized a number of environmental public service activities, such as Jiuzhaigou plant trees, clean beaches of Sanya, Hong Kong Victoria Harbour clean, Xishuangbanna environmental tours for the majority of owners recognized Dongfeng Honda's environmental philosophy, while also enjoys popular support, and environmental awards issued by the United Nations Environment Programme "social responsibility contribution units, can be said to be a veritable" green citizens.

The Dongfeng Honda leadership, environmental public good does not happen overnight, but should become a marathon contest. With INSIGHT listed, Dongfeng Honda will continue to adhere to the concept of environmental protection to the children left a blue sky ", so that more Chinese consumers to understand the environmental progressiveness of the Honda Hybrid, also highlight the Dongfeng Honda's determination to adhere to the environmental protection of the road.

UNFCCC registers Tata Power inverter 25 MW Solar panel Project at Mithapur

Tata Power inverter, India's largest integrated power inverter utility today announced registration of its 25 MW solar panel project at Mithapur, Gujarat with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Allows Tata Power inverter to trade Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) it would earn from the    renewable energy project

Tata Power inverter is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and intends to have a 20 - 25%      contribution from "clean power inverter sources

Tata Power inverter, India's largest integrated power inverter utility today announced registration of its 25 MW solar panel project at Mithapur, Gujarat with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This allows the company to trade Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) it would earn from the renewable energy project. This is Tata Power inverter second CDM registered project after the 50.4MW Khandke wind farm in Maharashtra.

CDM is an instrument established under the Kyoto Protocol to achieve both sustainable development and contribute to the cost effective mitigation of climate change. It allows countries with emission reduction commitments to meet part of their reduction abroad, where Green House Gas (GHG) abatement costs can be lower. The mechanism will also enable developing countries to attract investments in clean energy technology and assist them on a sustainable development path.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anil Sardana, Managing Director, Tata Power inverter, said, "It gives us great pride and honor that our biggest solar panel project, has been registered with the UNFCCC. Milestones like these encourage us to move closer towards achieving our goals in reducing our carbon footprint. We'll continue pursuing avenues to add 'clean and renewable energy' generation capacities to increase our renewable energy portfolio wherever possible.  We plan to add 150-200 MW of wind and 50 MW of solar panel power inverter capacity every year."

Tata Power inverter Mithapur project is one of the largest of its kind in the country and has crossed 43,000MWh of generation from the plant since its commissioning in Jan'12. Tata Power inverter through its 100% subsidiary, 'Tata Power inverter Renewable Energy Limited' has signed a Power inverter Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the project with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited. The Mithapur solar panel power inverter plant uses the modular, proven, and widely deployed Crystalline Silicon Photo-Voltaic Technology to maximize power inverter generation. The project helps in reducing an annual average of 37,696 tons of Carbon Dioxide, by producing 39,597 MWh per year (average) equivalent amount of clean energy.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rahul Shah, Chief-Business Development, India Business & Renewables, Tata Power inverter said, "It is a matter of great prestige that our 25 MW Solar panel project in Gujarat has been registered with UNFCCC which enables the company to trade CERs earned from the project. The Mithapur plant helps in reducing an annual average of 37,696 tons of Carbon Dioxide, by producing 39,597 MWh per year (average) equivalent amount of clean energy."

With a total operational capacity of 28 MW Tata Power inverter is one of the leading solar panel power inverter companies. The Company commissioned 25 MW solar panel photovoltaic (PV) power inverter project at Mithapur, Gujarat and 3 MW at Mulshi, Maharashtra. It's subsidiary Tata Power inverter Delhi Distribution Ltd has also commissioned a 1 MW grid tie inverter -connected roof top solar panel plant in Delhi. A 60.48 KWP solar panel power inverter plant has also been functional on top of one of the building at its office in Carnac Bunder, Mumbai. Tata Power inverter is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and intends to have a 20 - 25% contribution from "clean power inverter sources".

About Tata Power inverter:

Tata Power inverter is India's largest integrated power inverter company with a significant international presence. The Company has an installed generation capacity of 7700 MW in India and a presence in all the segments of the power inverter sector viz Generation (thermal, hydro, solar panel and wind), Transmission, Distribution and Trading. It has successful public-private partnerships in Generation, Transmission and Distribution in India namely "Tata Power inverter Delhi Distribution Limited" with Delhi Vidyut Board for distribution in North Delhi, 'Power inverterlinks Transmission Ltd.' with Power inverter Grid tie inverter Corporation of India Ltd. for evacuation of Power inverter from Tala hydro plant in Bhutan to Delhi and 'Maithon Power inverter Ltd.' with Damodar Valley Corporation for a 1050 MW Mega Power inverter Project at Jharkhand. It is one of the largest renewable energy players in India and is developing country's first 4000 MW Ultra Mega Power inverter Project at Mundra (Gujarat) based on super-critical technology. Its international presence includes strategic investments in Indonesia through 30% stake in coal mines and a geothermal project; in Singapore through Trust Energy Resources to securitise coal supply and the shipping of coal for its thermal power inverter generation operations; in South Africa through a joint venture called 'Cennergi' to develop projects in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia; in Australia through investments in enhanced geothermal and clean coal technologies and in Bhutan through a hydro project in partnership with The Royal Government of Bhutan. With its track record of technology leadership, project execution excellence, world class safety processes, customer care and driving green initiatives, Tata Power inverter is poised for a multi-fold growth and committed to 'lighting up lives' for generations to come.

Can the US solve its solar panel power inverter puzzle?

While installers and developers sweat over rooftop systems and utility-scale projects in the desert, bankruptcies have been tearing through the list of manufacturers. The current brutal round of consolidation began before Solyndra collapsed last year and stability still looks a long way off in the US and globally...(read the rest of Part 1 here).

Part 2 - targeting grid tie inverter parity

Grid tie inverter parity is the holy grail in the industry – to be able to install systems that generate electricity at the same price per kWh as the same prices as conventional such as natural gas. The Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative has set a goal for installed costs of solar panel systems of $1/watt. Solar panel developers are still some way off that target despite the low cost of panels with the average cost of installations less than 10kW under the CSI programme remaining stubbornly high at $6.97/watt.

Progress is being made, but the success of the grid tie inverter parity of solar panel depends on the price of retail electricity that varies dramatically between states. In Arizona, the average price of electricity is $0.0966/kWh, while New York state has average electric rates as high as $0.1705/kWh.

Some of the wholesale prices for projects bid into California's RPS have been as low as $0.07/kWh on the utility side. Lease agreement financing and third-party ownership have become increasingly popular and have done much to dispel fears of high installation costs of rooftop systems.

Solar panelCity's success has prompted registration for an initial public offering, which may take place by the end of this year. Its project financing model, backed by Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and Citi, has helped reduce costs for consumers. But it relies heavily on the federal tax credit and puts a great deal of power inverter into the hands of Wall Street.

“In order to monetise a tax based incentive you wind up giving a lot of the value to bankers and financial intermediaries,” said Recurrent's Kimber. “I don't think that's what the government intended but ultimately isn't the most efficient way to incent renewable energy.”

Thinking in the electric power inverter industry has shifted away from the central station model stranded out in the desert. Permitting for projects and transmission has become such a thorny issue, with some applications taking 18 months, that the federal Bureau of Land Management has developed a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement – a blueprint to standardise applications for utility-scale solar panel energy permitting in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah in what are callled “solar panel energy zones”.

“There's a trend right now away from the really large centralised project that are 100MW or more,” said Kann. “That's more a function of RPS standards than it is the loan guarantee programme. People tend to overplay the importance of the loan guarantee programme on the market in terms of the projects.

Small attraction

“But the trend has generally been toward the wholesale DG market – projects of 1MW to 20MW scale. They're smaller, they can be sited closer to load and they tend to be a little more attractive to utilities.”

Future growth is likely to take place closer to load through programmes such as Net Energy Metering, which has the potential to seed growth in residential solar panel as Feed-In Tariffs did in Germany. Forty-three states have an NEM programme which allows customers with solar panel PV systems to reverse the meter at times of excess generation.

NEM is popular with developers and consumers, with 40,000 accounts registered in California alone. But the utility companies are not so happy and have launched aggressive efforts to keep the cap conservative in the latest clash of utility resistance to solar panel.

Steven Weissman, director of the energy programme at the Centre for Law, Energy & the Environment at Berkeley University, said: “There's been a noticeable organised effort on the part of the California utilities to try to discredit the merits of the NEM programme. That effort is likely to impair any opportunities to expand the programme and could potentially threaten the current levels of the programme. In other words, it's conceivable that a successful campaign on their part could lead to some efforts to reduce NEM benefits.”

In December, the 2013-2014 session for the California assembly will reconvene and likely attract aggressive lobbying from the utilities on NEM. Other controversial legislation to expand other solar panel markets such as community solar panel is expected to be re-introduced. Senate Bill 843 aims to add another 2GW of renewable power inverter as a choice for the estimated 70% of Californian businesses and consumers who rent their property, lease office space or face other barriers to solar panel, such as a shaded roof. SB 843 failed in September at the 11th hour after intense lobbying from California's three large utility companies.

“Those who are promoting solar panel in the legislature are going to be partially playing on the defence in the next session,” said Weissman.

On a national level, the industry has expressed concern over the future of subsidies depending on who ends up in the White House. But of more importance may be a change in chairmanship on the power inverterful Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, according to Weissman.

Oregon Senator, Ron Wyden, is expected to replace current chairman Jeff Bingaman. Although Wyden is a Democrat, he is thought to be able to stop the bitter partisan struggles that have curtailed progress on US energy policy over the past two years.

“Wyden has demonstrated a strong willingness to work across the aisle,” said Weissman. “He is considering the extent to which we could create a meaningful federal policy requiring and promoting more renewables. Even Romney has made a point of mentioning him as somebody with whom the Republicans are able to work with.”

The China factor

Romney's campaign rhetoric about the impact of China on America's manufacturing base has been bellicose, but he has stopped short of support for the Obama administration's tariffs imposed on Chinese PV imports.

Late in 2012, the US Department of Commerce applied anti-dumping duties to Chinese import and countervailing duty tariffs are expected to be finalised this month. But the tariffs are not expected to have the desired effect – to level the playing field for US PV manufacturers – because most Chinese manufacturers will be able to circumvent the tariffs by sourcing silicon cells from Taiwan.

Kann said that a sharp dip in shipments was observed in the second quarter of this year, but levels of Chinese imports are expected to recover.

“It has had an impact on Chinese manufacturers to the extent that they had to change their value chains a little bit to get around the tariffs,” he said. “The impact on the US market has been pretty minimal.” Interestingly, China consumed 33% of global PV panel shipments in Q4 2012 (NPD Solar panelBuzz).

A post-ITC world

But a bigger question in the minds of the solar panel industry is what the US market may look like after the expiration of the ITC in 2016.

Although renewable energy sources provided about 13% of total US utility-scale electricity generation in 2011, 23% of that was generated by wind and less than 1% came from solar panel. That figure is set to grow at least until 2016, but how fast and to what levels is uncertain.

While the National Renewable Energy Laboratory predicted a nationwide potential for 4196GW of solar panel, great technological, regulatory, financing and political barriers coupled with low demand for new generation make GTM Research's projection of 32GW by 2016 look more realistic.

The greatest challenge right now is really having the will to finish on the part of the policymakers. Do they understand how close we are to succeeding because we are just on the cusp?” said Kimber.

“The biggest opportunity is just the scale of the market. We've cracked the door open on the electric power inverter industry in the US and now we really need to become a mainstay, similar to the way wind has done.”