US solar industry is growing

The US solar energy industry has become the latest renewable energy sector to report impressive growth figures for 2009, further underlining the extent to which clean tech industries have defied the economic downturn.

According to new figures from the Solar Energies Industry Association (SEIA) released yesterday as part of the trade association's annual report, the amount of installed solar capacity in the US grew 37 per cent last year to 2,108MW.

Solar industry revenue similarly grew 36 per cent over 2008 to $4bn (£2.6bn), driven by strong demand in the utility-scale and residential sectors, state and federal policies incentives and declining solar panel prices.

The report also said that the sector had enjoyed a strong start to 2010 with more than 46MW of solar capacity having come online by early February as a result of new grants released as part of the US stimulus package.

Industry analysts expect further growth across the photovoltaic industry this year as developers rush to begin construction work on projects before the Treasury Grant Program expires at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, thousands of jobs are expected to be created after more than $600m in manufacturing tax credits were awarded to solar equipment producers, allowing more than $2bn of investment in new and upgraded factories, according to the report.

"When the president looks back at how stimulus dollars were invested, he's going to see that solar was one of the best returns on investments in 2009 for the American taxpayers," said Rhone Resch, SEIA president and chief executive.

In addition to government spending, the industry was also bolstered by rising levels of private investment, including a total $1.4bn of venture capital backing during 2009.

The success of the burgeoning solar market is being mirrored across much of the US renewable energy sector as clean tech firms continue to resist the drag of the recession.

Just this week the US Geothermal Energy Association published its annual report showing that the number of projects under development rose 26 per cent during 2009, while the American Wind Energy Association recently reported that the sector delivered a record-breaking 10,000MW of new capacity during 2009.

Albiasasolar

A menudo solemos leer en prensa como salen nuevas empresas buscando inversores. Está el caso cercano de Nueva Rumasa y me ha chocado ver una empresa del sector de las energías renovables pidiendo inversores.

El anuncio lo ví ayer en el diario el país y según entiendo compras un generador fotovoltaico con seguidor solar a dos ejes de 9,9 KW nominales por 55.000 euros + IVA.

Por el momento, este tipo de inversiones se escapa de mis posibilidades. Pero me gusta que existan este tipo de productos en el mercado.

La planta donde se ubican los aerogeneradores está situada en Cáceres.

El cartel promocional antiguo dice así:

La compañía Albiasa Solar, formada por empresarios e inversores vascos, se encuentra actualmente promoviendo la instalación de una planta fotovoltaica en la provincia de Cáceres en la que tiene previsto desarrollar una inversión de más de 60 millones de euros. Esta planta o “huerta solar” estará compuesta de tres campos solares de 3,5 MW, 2 MW y 1,5 MW cada uno y ocuparán una superficie de 90 hectáreas.

En 2009 ya se encuentran vendiendo la tercera fase.

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Often we tend to read in the press as emerging new companies looking for investors. Is the New Rumasa close case and I was shocked to see a company in the renewable energy sector investors asking.

The ad I saw yesterday in the newspaper as I understand the country and buy a solar photovoltaic array with two axes follower of 9.9 KW nominal € 55,000 + VAT.

For now, this type of investment is beyond my means. But I like that there are such products on the market.

The plant where the turbines are located is located in Caceres.

The old promotional poster reads:

Solar Albiasa The company, formed by Basque entrepreneurs and investors, is currently promoting the installation of a photovoltaic plant in the province of Caceres, which plans to develop an investment of more than 60 million. This site or "solar farm" will consist of three 3.5-MW solar fields, 2 MW and 1.5 MW each and will occupy an area of 90 hectares.



In 2009 already are selling the third phase.

Nevada solar One

El otro día viendo la televisión ví un documental donde se relataba como la empresa española Acciona estaba construyendo una central solar en Nevada que podía alimentar las noches luminosas de Las vegas.


Leo en la web de acciona lo siguiente:

En 2007 se conectó a red la mayor central de este tipo instalada en el mundo en los últimos 18 años -Nevada Solar One, de 64 MW, en el desierto de Nevada (EEUU)-, una central con tecnología propia de cilindros parabólicos que ha servido de base para el posicionamiento de la compañía en el sector. Supuso una inversión de 250 millones de dólares.

Me parece como si me hubieran timado. Cuando ve un documental sobre tecnología punta desea ver algo actual no algo de hace dos años. Curiosamente las cosas que explicaban en el documental como tecnología punta son prácticamente las mismas que cuando iba a la universidad a finales de los 90.

Un post eurodipity más.

Poco I+D para ese sector. Por cierto cuando acabe mis estudios mandé curriculum tanto a Acciona como a otras empresas punteras del sector tanto eólicas como solares y sigo pensando que siguen necesitando de mis servicios.

Me da risa la inversión de las empresas en nuevas ideas.


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The other day watching TV I saw a documentary which tells how the Spanish company Acciona was building a solar plant in Nevada that could feed the bright nights of Las Vegas.


Leo's website operates in the following:

In 2007 was connected to the largest network of its kind installed central in the world in the last 18 years, Nevada Solar One, 64 MW in the Nevada desert (USA) - a central characteristic of parabolic trough technology has provided the basis for positioning the company in the sector. Involved an investment of $ 250 million.



I feel like I've been scammed. When you see a documentary about art not want to see something now some two years ago. Interestingly explaining things in the documentary as art are virtually the same as when I was in college in the late 90s.

Soon R & D for this sector. Of course when I finished my studies curriculum sent to both shareholders and other leading companies in both wind and solar sector and I still think that still need my services.

It makes me laugh the business investment in new ideas.