How much is a solar panel installations cost in 2012

How much is a solar panel installations cost in 2012? Is still continues to down or otherwise? The company SunRun residential solar energy has a look at what we can expect the solar industry in 2012. According to SunRun, the adoption among consumers in general will grow as prices continue to fall. At the same time, the industry will see significant consolidation and durable. Here is a list of predictions for 2012 SunRun for solar energy:

Solar power is even cheaper: the cost of installing solar energy has been reduced by 30 percent last year and price declines will continue. The module prices could fall 20% in late 2012, becoming more energy available for families.

A Year of Darwin: industry consolidation is inevitable in 2012, is the likely disappearance of an oversupply pushing manufacturers to reduce prices. Although difficult, this consolidation will mark the industry leaders last.

Solar lease on the cash purchase: How do people learn that you can install solar on the roof without having to buy the panels, you will. This option, known as the solar service or lease solar, was almost 60 percent of the solar energy market in California in late 2011 and allows families to secure lower electricity rates.

Solar power for the middle class: The analysis shows that middle-class neighborhoods are increasingly adopt solar energy, which will continue in 2012. The trend is driven largely by solar energy services companies that help consumers in general to put solar panels on their roofs without a significant initial cost.
Rationalization brings a lot of money for communities: low-cost improvements in solar processes, such as allowing you to add billions of dollars into the local economy, reducing the cost of installing solar energy by 25% in 2012, creating jobs in thousands local communities.

Advances in technology in addition to the panels: Advances in solar technologies make solar design and implementation easier and more economical. Along with the declining costs of solar panels, support for these technologies make solar energy more affordable and scalable.

Solar Millennium is bankrupt

Fund Iberosol already closed

The Erlanger project developer Solar Millennium is the Fürth District Court to file for bankruptcy. The postponement of payments for the delivered projects in the U.S. until next year can not sustain the company. Now the major project Iberosol in Spain is on the line.

Solar Millennium, of Erlangen, Fürth District Court is a petition to open insolvency proceedings. After the Erlanger project developer wanted to sell its entire pipeline project in the U.S. solar hybrid, it was rumored already that the company will probably not hold out long. For months, the Erlanger struggling for survival since October and was barely out of the negative headlines. The controversy of Ex-Executive Utz Claassen for damages and the resignation of company founder Hannes Kuhn did the rest. On the stock market slide of the stock of Solar Millennium last from 1.10 € to 45 cents.

Among the hybrid of solar projects in the Sauerland Brilon votes is also the object of prestige in Blythe in the California desert. Originally planned as a parabolic trough power plant, Solar decided to implement Millennium mid-August the first half of the one-gigawatt power plant with photovoltaic. On the grounds that it wanted to concentrate on its core business of parabolic trough and hybrid power plants in Asia, Europe, North Africa and Latin America, they wanted to make the projects in the U.S. at the Sauerland, but remain involved in the project development.

Hole in the fund not to cram

The negotiations between the two German companies on business in the U.S. pull out now already since the beginning of September this year. Although "the greatest possible extent there is agreement on the transaction; major contracts were signed. However, certain conditions for the validity of contracts not yet occurred, "it said in a press release by Solar Millennium. That was until recently one disagreed on the amount and timing of payments on hybrid solar Solar Millennium. The Sauerland wanted the transfer until the next year working, what tears at Solar Millennium a hole in the cash that you can not cram in Franconia as fast.

No investors for Iberosol

Moreover, the Erlanger were no investors after intensive negotiations for entry into the parabolic trough project Iberosol win in Spain. Now this major project is on the line. Already with effect from 20 December is a precaution, the public has issued funds to finance Iberosol closed. It remains unclear however, what happens to the money already paid.

"Both transactions have on the current liquidity requirements also generate funds that would have laid the foundation for further development of society," reads the statement at the opening of insolvency proceedings. "In an effort to obtain for shareholders and creditors existing values, the institutions of society found themselves forced to take this step."

Solar panels on the same land and crops

Sacrificing fertile land for the production of energy from solar photovoltaic, or reserve them always to agriculture? This question, frequently raised, is now an alternative answer: If you install grid panels to five meters in height, it can produce energy and grow on the same ground. This is the idea behind agrovoltaico, technology that has just seen the light in the Po Valley.

In April 2010, Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food, in an article in La Repubblica newspaper expressed its concern over the rise of photovoltaic panels on farmland: "With huge expanses of solar panels lose the underlying soil permeability, the activity Biological tend to die resulting in desertification decreed that infertility and increase the danger of floods. " It followed, therefore, only an invitation to install the panels on the roofs and reserve the fertile soil for agriculture.

Some Italian businesses have, however, thought that the two could be reconciled: if you install solar panels to a sufficient height above the ground and it does so only partially to shade the ground so that it receives direct sunlight, however, can be grown under the panels. Consequently fertile areas could be exploited for the production of energy from solar photovoltaics without removing them from agriculture.

This led to the'agrovoltaico ': the first farm to make use of this innovative solution has been recently inaugurated near Mantua (a chapel, in the municipality of Virgil). Following this, three other pilot plant (installed in the provinces of Piacenza and Mantua) were put into operation or are about to do. Overall they cover an area of ​​approximately 55 hectares and the total installed peak power is 10 MW.

Groups of photovoltaic panels are supported at about 5 feet off the ground by sturdy poles, which are the so-called "axis solar trackers", which communicate among themselves and with the control system via wireless, or wireless connection. Thanks to these trackers (also known as trackers, ie trackers), the panels change throughout the day orientation in order to follow the position of the sun and maximize their yield.

To provide direct illumination to the ground below, the stakes are placed at a distance of twelve feet apart and the panels are placed so that only 15% shade.

The height of the supports to allow farm vehicles to pass without any problem, if necessary, however, the panels can be arranged parallel to the ground in order to facilitate the movement and activity. The panels can also rotate to ask completely perpendicular to the ground when appropriate, in case of rain, and - above all - of snow.

The first company 'agrovoltaica', Chapel of the Vostok, employs 750 8 000 solar trackers and panels, spread over an area of ​​15 hectares. The total installed capacity is 2.15 MW.

"The plant was built in May and the first harvest in June, was an easy crop, forage or miles - Sarah Belladelli states, with an associate engineer, architect, Robert Meadows, has decided to give life to this Maybe the new business and agriculture -. The ground was uneven due to the installation, so with this first crop we have reclaimed the land, from next season organic farmers, especially salads, fruits, herbs and aromatic. "

The plant was designed and produced by REM (Energy Revolution Maker), which is based industrial holding company in the province of Brescia was founded in 2008 by a group of six historic Italian companies interested in entering the international level as producers of systems for generating energy, which did use of sustainable technologies and zero-emissive.

"When we joined forces in REM - the president says Roberto corners - we had a clear idea of ​​investing in renewable technologies best, provided they were environmentally friendly and emit no greenhouse gases." A multidisciplinary group has worked for 18 months looking at various options, finally choosing to focus on this unique symbiosis of agriculture and photovoltaics, which optimizes the use of the territory, ensuring the production of energy crops and the livelihood of the company.

REM has already filed for international patents and gained strong experience in the four pilot plants, the company is to carry out more ambitious projects, such as a well-100MW plant.

Though the concept is ingenious, and its successful implementation, the concerns about it are not few. First comes the question of aesthetics: many argue that tracts of solar panels to five meters in height fields are not a good show and ruin the rural landscape.

Following the question about the quality of products grown in square meters of photovoltaic systems. "Personally, I never cultivate vegetables and other edible crops, but only flowers - says Daniele Toniolo, president of the Venetian Italian Farmers Confederation (CIA) - vegetables need direct sunlight, the risk is that as you cultivate a emissions ".


In fact, in this regard, the filmmakers say that the level of shading is extremely small (about 15%) and that the support structures occupy very little space.

To give rise to further doubts contributes to the issue of electromagnetic fields that are generated around the panels. Of course, the devices are placed high enough, but as the risk that these fields interfere with the production process?

"Technically all you can do in Holland for years the tomatoes with aquaculture in the bath, but as the level of nutrition are those tomatoes?", That the comparison made by Maurizio Gritta, president of the cooperative organic farm Iris, which operates on 40 hectares of land in the Natural Park South Oglio, near Cremona. "Magnetic fields are not in accord with the biological products and crops in general - continues Gritta - we have our pasta factory located absorbers magnetic fields to avoid damage to cereals, because the revelations have shown that the machines they produce."

As always, hardly a technology can not solve a problem without creating others. The solution is still worthy of consideration and has already generated interest at the international level, so that EcoDelta, French photovoltaic important player since 2008, has partnered with REM to spread the agrovoltaico exclusively in France.

Solar panels cover in Sardinia a greenhouse

The largest park in the world serravoltaico produces fruit and vegetables, clean energy and jobs. Too bad that the technologies are Indian and American.

The basic idea is probably to achieve maximum incentives, suffering less impact in a rule that said that only 10% of the arable land of which they may have encumbered by solar panels. After the invention agrovoltaico, with solar panels placed at 5 meters in height on arable land, and is now the serravoltaico. In Sardinia, in Campidano, has just created the largest park in the world.

The panels do not sacrifice production. The plant is designed for growing quality fruit and vegetables, melon, watermelon, zucchini Roman, fennel, and pride, the fruits of love, or the pink berry high demand in the Netherlands. The solar greenhouse has been built on Scioffu Villasor, 25 km from Cagliari. Compared with oil-or coal-fired plants, allows significant energy savings: 25 thousand tons of CO2 and provides electricity to 10 thousand households in Sardinia. The large park photovoltaic sets a world record for size and power: 20MW in an area of ​​27 hectares, with 84 thousand solar panels in one field and 134 greenhouses.

The only slightly disappointing aspect of the technologies used and the main industrial players involved in the creation of the park are not Italian, but Indians and Americans. On this critical issue has recently given the new environment minister Corrado Clini, stressing that public incentives provided to renewable energy bill currently in the fourth should be reformulated to encourage domestic enterprises to compete on this front increasingly strategic .

The central green, in fact, was built with an investment of Euro-Indian 70milioni Moser Baer Clean Energy (Mbcel) in collaboration with the American giant General Electric (GE). The agricultural management is entrusted to the Twelve Energy involving five cooperatives and will consist of 90 new jobs. The coop will take care of the marketing and sale of products, guaranteeing a secure source of income.

Ascent Solar Chosen as one of Best Inventions 2011

Ascent Solar Technologies recently announced its CIGS flexible solar panels have been appointed one of the 50 best inventions of 2011 by Time magazine, which allows the production of energy was not possible before.

"We are honored to be recognized by Time as one of the 50 best inventions of the year," said Ron Eller, president and CEO of Ascent Solar. "Our flexible solar panels seamlessly integrate a wide range of applications in a wide range of markets. TIME recognition further confirms aspects of transformation of Ascent Technology. "

The thin-film PV modules that lightweight and flexible has won the recognition of the publication, as they are designed to integrate with any application that uses the surface to generate clean energy. Created by Ascent Solar panels are considered as "brilliant" by Time magazine.

Another effort to improve the technology of solar panels is a company in Santa Clara, California, Alta Devices, which has launched a project to discover cheap solar energy.  Today's solar energy business will continue to compete in a level of efficiency solar panel with a cheaper cost. Factor to reduce the cost of solar energy, including efforts to use alternative materials manufacture of solar cells are more widely available and inexpensive and also the level of conversion of light into energy.

Is solar energy renewable and why?

The answer for is solar energy renewable? yes it is. As it is known that solar power is a source of energy provided by nature continuous and never-ending although used without stopping. The use of solar energy today began ogled by many countries as an alternative renewable energy sources that are easier and prices began to affordable. To make sure the truth of question of is solar energy renewable is to use solar energy to be converted into electrical energy that can be utilized for various purposes and applications. Solar energy is converted into electrical energy using solar cells are assembled in a module or panel. In small applications, solar panels can usually be applied in the gadget as a battery charger.

 Is solar energy renewable or are there any other renewable sources? In addition to solar power, wind power is also a renewable energy source that is always available at all times and particularly abundant in coastal areas or large place such as airfields and so on. Meanwhile, solar power is very abundant in areas that are rarely rain or water, hot and dry like in the desert. But for smaller applications, solar energy and wind energy can be applied in residential areas that support for the locations.

Is solar energy renewable and more safe than fossil energy? Renewable energy from solar energy is more safe than energy generated by fossil,because the fuel from fossil will left the carbon footprint causes green house effects. In addition,currently fossil supply is running low or limited due to its is non renewable energy material.

Is solar energy renewable and more cost efficient? Besides being a source of renewable energy, solar energy is now beginning to be reached with lower price due to cost declines and the various technologies being developed to obtain a more efficient solar cells with less expensive materials and can be recycled. Currently, there are variety of solar cell types such as thin solar cells, flexible solar panel and conventional solar modules.


Is solar energy renewable and is there an alternative to solar cells to harness solar power? Renewable solar energy can also be used to create heat or steam to drive an electric generator or electric turbine. This technology is called Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) or solar thermal and the system has been applied to the current largest solar tower in Florida. Solar thermal energy can also be used on the housing for heating water or heating system of the building. Is solar energy renewable? You already can concluded it now.

The 100-percent solar house

Completely without heating in winter and also their own four walls with 100 percent solar heat? Yes, there are actually solar houses.

To reach the sun-house idea, a very high solar fraction for domestic hot water and heating, has in recent years been more and more followers. Dozens of solar homes that derive at least 50 percent of its energy needs from solar power, were built in recent years. Some houses also reach 60, 70, even 80 percent solar fraction. And a few make the seemingly impossible: to reach 100 percent solar fraction, even in deepest winter.

Large memory for the harsh winter

To achieve such a result, the builder must invest massively but first in a very large collector area to refuel at all sufficient solar energy, the entire southern roof, preferably with a steeper slope, is just as sufficient. And secondly, of course, save a very large buffer memory to the trapped heat over a longer time. Pure solar houses need this solar tanks with tens of thousands of liters. Such tanks easily cost as much as a family car. In addition, a 100-percent solar house both the collector and the tank must be oversized. They must mathematically be able to provide significantly more solar than 100 percent coverage. Reason: even during an unusually long winter cold spells, it will have the homeowner warm.
 
Even in winter, solar use

By the way: Since even the giant tank of a solar house usually can not store the energy for a whole winter, the solar collectors during the cold season. They do, however, not reach the temperature level which is possible in the summer. Since the solar storage tank designed as a storage layer, the solar heating system still works: In the lower part of the memory is only moderately heated water, so that in this area by means of heat exchangers can also yield rather weak solar radiation can be stored. In the upper layers of the memory, it becomes increasingly warmer, here to bring the heat exchanger has a yield more vigorous sunshine. For the operation of the mandatory area for solar house heating reaches way because of the large radiating surface even temperature, so that even the weak winter sun can be used.
100 percent solar fraction: Not a new idea

Experimentalbauten First, the massive use of solar energy for heating purposes, there were already many decades ago. The first solar house in our latitudes, which corresponds to the currently valid ideas and the very fact requires no additional heating was built 20 years ago by solar pioneer Josef Jenni, Switzerland. It should then be proved that a pure solar house is technically possible. This house has three memory buffer with a total of 118,000 liters in volume and 84 square meters of collector area. This design proved to be considerably later than the way oversized: Today, single-family homes usually equipped with solar buffer stores 30,000-40,000 liters.

A cost-effective compromise for the 100-percent solar house that is near-solar house, which reached almost 100 percent solar fraction. A developer from Chemnitz has developed the Energy House 100, with the number 100 is a bit cheated: On average 95 percent solar coverage promised by the provider for his large between 100 to 190 square meters of house types, mostly with a 30,000-gallon storage and large collector with Southern exposure feature. In mild winters the houses come with normal use under circumstances of even alone with solar energy, for longer periods of cold weather with little sun jumps up a water-bearing stove that not only the room is where it is heated, but also in addition to the buffer memory.

For all solar houses is: You must be well insulated in order to work: A minimum of KfW Efficiency House-70 standard is required. These buildings come with 30 percent less heating energy than is legally required by the already stringent energy (EnEV). In addition to its large areas of glass facing south in order to ensure a passive use of solar energy.

The first solar ski lift in the world opens in Switzerland

In the remote of Grisons, Safiental this winter comes to a premiere. The first solar ski lift takes the world on its operation. Its stands above the small Walser village Tenna which 450 meters long and equipped with 82 "Solar Wings". Each of 100 pound Solar Wings equipped with three panels to support cables mounted several meters above the ski lift. They provide about 90,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, which are required for operating the lift around 25,000 kilowatt hours per year.

The excess energy goes into the public grid. The solar modules achieve a high efficiency, because they automatically turn to the sun. And large snowfall is no problem. The modules can be placed almost vertically, so that the snow falls. Although the lift is only 450 meters long, it opens up 4.5 km of groomed slopes. The 1.35 million francs solar ski lift was financed by the solar lift from its own resources, from donations from churches, organizations and private donors. The solar-lift will be officially opened on  December 17 with a celebration. To celebrate the day, the lift can be used free of charge. The ski village of 110 souls-Tenna is also followed by 25 francs for a day pass to the very favorable.

Hungarian solar car prototype has 130 km / h top speed

The Hungarian government intends to convert all green transport and environmentally friendly. Because that goal, many scientists, engineers and designers to work on building a prototype that turned out to be wonderful.

The prototype uses a combination of solar energy through solar panels installed on the roof, electricity and gas. They created a propulsion system that produces amazing fuel economy of 65 km / l.

Thanks to solar panels, it stores enough energy to make short trips 15-30 miles away so completely echo. If you need to make a longer trip you can charge the battery of the electric motor.

The AUT has a capacity of three persons, the driver sits in the middle and the two passengers on the sides. The body is carbon fiber and the car weighs only 272 kg complete.

It has a top speed of 130 km / h, the company says it expects to begin producing and selling during 2012 so far has an estimated price of U.S. $ 20,000.