The housing market is down. Trying to sell your house involves possible remodeling, staging, and finding the right realtor. But maybe instead, you maybe instead of listening to HGTV you should listen to your local hippy. A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that homes with PV systems sell for a premium over those without them. Read more here.
Google, along with Chevron and Goldman Sachs have funded a 1,000 acre solar field in California’s Mojave Desert. Rather than photovoltaics, this solar field utilizes mirrors to direct the heat to create steam to run a turbine. The solar plant should generate enough power for 125,000 homes. A report commissioned by the DOE estimates it will cost 3.5 cents per kilowatt hour to generate power from solar thermal. Currently, costs for a pulverized coal power plant are 4.8 cents per kilwatt hour. Interesting stat: An analyst for Emerging Energy Research estimates investments in solar thermal will reach $85 billion come 2020. Read more .
Thanks in part to unusually strong winds, Germany has already met the EU’s national target that Germany have 12.5% of electricity from renewables. Further, Germany is rapidly growing it’s own renewable industry. Employment in the industry was 250K in 2007 and is expected to blossom to 710K come 2030. This renewables boom can be attributed to Germany’s 1991 renewable energy law. The law mandates utilities purchase renewables and sets a price well above the wholesale price. The fixed rate substantially decreases the risk associated with the long-term investment. Interesting stat: Germany leads the nation with installed capacity of renewable energy, with just over 25 gigawatts. Read more HERE.
According to Greentech Media, over $3.4 billion was invested in 222 renewable energy projects in 2007. This is up 47.8% from 2006. 71 of these projects were solar and 44 were biofuels. Read more here. In stark contrast, Shell has quietly been selling off it’s solar interests. Most recently, Shell sold it’s photovoltaic operations in India and Sri Lanka to Environ Energy Global of Singapore. Last year, it sold off it’s solar module production business to Germany based SolarWorld. Read more here.
Research and Markets has released a report on China’s Solar industry. Some highlights:
- By 2030, global solar energy output will account for 10% of the global power portfolio, rising to 20% by 2050.
- Fluctuations in the hydrocarbon energy market have limited China’s economic growth and thus, provided large incentive for alternative energy development.
- China is the largest solar water heater producer and consumer in the world.
- The market share of photovoltaic energy in China is expected to grow from 4% in
2003 to 20% in 2010 and to 60% in 2020.
Buy the report here.
