24 apr. 2015

Solar energy and Apple

THE BILLIONAIRE LIFE OF Warren Buffett

Solenergi i Nord-Korea

Who reads my blog?

This weeks readers on my little blog;



PostSidvyer
USA
147
Sverige
71
Ryssland
31
Tyskland
27
Frankrike
8
Italien
3
Malaysia
2
Norge
2
Danmark
1
Indien
1

Since I am swedish I think this is fascinating numbers.

REC Silicon May Build Saudi Arabia Polysilicon Plant

REC Silicon May Build Saudi Arabia Polysilicon Plant - Bloomberg Business


The solar-panel materials maker agreed to consider jointly building the 20,000 metric-ton plant with Saudi producer IDEA Polysilicon Co., according to its third-quarter earnings statement today. REC Silicon, based in Moses Lake, Washington, said it expects to take 18 months to study the investment, with a decision expected in 2016.




The company is building a 18,000 metric-ton polysilicon and silane gas plant in Yulin in China’s Shaanxi province through a joint venture to take advantage of thriving demand for renewable energy in the world’s largest energy consumer.
With the new plant, REC Silicon will be able to avoid Chinese import fees as high as 57 percent levied in response to a U.S. decision in 2012 to impose tariffs on Chinese solar cells. The company’s two operational plants are in the U.S.

How To Profit From Solar Energy

Circle furniture goes solar

17 apr. 2015

Fantastic

20-Mile Bike Lane Is Also Massive Solar Array




Large-Scale Solar UK 2015

UK's largest fresh veg supplier switches to solar energy > National News > News | Click Green

UK's largest fresh veg supplier switches to solar energy > National News > News | Click Green

Solar Installation Acceleration in India and Beyond | The Energy Collective

Solar Installation Acceleration in India and Beyond | The Energy Collective

First phase of 50MW Norfolk solar project connected to the grid | Solar Power Portal

First phase of 50MW Norfolk solar project connected to the grid | Solar Power Portal

How Solar Panels are Made

Solar Power Revolution - Here Comes The Sun -- Documentary

REC silicon 2014 highlights

2014 HIGHLIGHTS (COMPARED TO 2013)

> EBITDA of USD 232.9 million
• Revenues increased by 18% to USD 493.0 million
• EBITDA includes special items of USD 101 million
related to the transfer of technology to the Yulin JV
– EBITDA excluding special items increased by 335%
to USD 131.9 million

> Higher average polysilicon prices – continued market recovery
• 20% increase in average polysilicon prices
• Strong price growth through the third quarter of 2014
• Price decline at year end due to weaker PV markets

> Strong silicon gas sales volumes
• Volume increased by 54% to 3,428 MT
• 8% price decline for silane gas
• High spot sales due to offline competitive capacity

> Continued cost leadership
• FBR Cash cost of USD 12.1/kg
• Reflects continued improvements to reliability
and cost control

> Expansion initiatives
• Yulin Joint Venture in China
– Received USD 198 million for technology transfer
– Equity contribution of USD 75 million
• Rx 25/26 Expansion
– Capital investment of USD 115 million approved
– Detailed engineering underway


Strategy and Objectives

REC Silicon’s strategy is to maintain its position as a low cost leader and
technological innovator in the Silicon materials industry.
REC Silicon intends to improve its competitive position by:
• Improving the stability of manufacturing processes
• Focusing on continued quality improvements in FBR
(surface powder removal and reduction of contaminants)
• Minimizing the impact of trade dispute between US and China
(prioritize spending and develop market opportunities outside China)
• Increasing cost advantage by improving efficiency and
streamlining processes
• Expanding semiconductor polysilicon product offerings to
penetrate markets


OUTLOOK

Third party indices continue to project increased global PV demand. The
resulting increased demand for polysilicon is expected to drive
continued improvements to market balance 2015. In addition, limited
capacity additions and asset rationalization should support price
increases in the second half of 2015.

In 2015, industry analysts are estimating global PV demand in the range
of 53 to 57 GW, compared to an estimated 38 to 42 GW in 2014. The
large range is expected to cause persistent uncertainty regarding the
supply and demand balance for solar grade polysilicon and demand is
expected to build through 2015.

Silicon gas market forecasts project continued strong growth in demand
in 2015, driven by Crystalline PV Cells, Flat Panel Displays, and
semiconductor industries. 

REC Silicon intends to defend market share
gains realized during 2014 and expects sales volumes to increase by 7
percent

16 apr. 2015

California Just Had a Stunning Increase in Solar - Bloomberg Business

California Just Had a Stunning Increase in Solar - Bloomberg Business

Technology Roadmap: Solar Photovoltaic Energy - 2014 edition

Publication:- Technology Roadmap: Solar Photovoltaic Energy - 2014 edition

Fossil Fuels Just Lost the Race Against Renewables - Bloomberg Business

Fossil Fuels Just Lost the Race Against Renewables - Bloomberg Business

REC silicon annual report 2014

hugin.info/136555/R/1911638/682136.pdf





Letter from the CEO





Although 2014 was a year of modest growth in the PV industry, we expect strong growth going
forward, with the market estimated to be at least 100 GW by 2020. REC Silicon is well
positioned to meet this increased demand because of our innovative FBR technology, an
extremely efficient process with high quality.



 This past year, we announced the 3,000 MT expansion of our production
capacity in Moses Lake, which will produce polysilicon suitable for high
efficiency applications. Additionally, in July, our joint venture company in
China was established with our partner, Shaanxi Non-Ferrous Tian Hong
New Energy Co., Ltd. This joint venture will utilize REC Silicon’s next
generation FBR technology in a plant that includes capacity of 19,000
MT of polysilicon. This project will combine the best polysilicon
technology with the operational efficiency opportunities that are
available in China. We expect the production from this plant, which is
scheduled to begin in 2017, to be among the most competitive globally.
The demand for silicon gases continued to be strong in 2014. Over the
course of the year, REC Silicon confirmed its position as a reliable, high
quality silane supplier, and we maintained our strong market position.
We expect the silane market to continue to grow and that REC Silicon
will continue to be a leading supplier. Our research and development
efforts continue to succeed in the development of other silicon gases,
opening up new, exciting opportunities.
Throughout the year, our highly motivated team has demonstrated a
strong focus on continuous improvement which has led to record-high
production volumes, with industry-leading manufacturing costs. This
performance was achieved through process optimization, innovation,
rigorous training, standardization and utilization of lean manufacturing
and Six Sigma methods.

14 apr. 2015

Solar energy sector vs. REC silicon


Solar energy sector ETF and REC.


Global solar demand in 2015

Global solar demand in 2015 to hit 57GW on strong 30% growth rate – IHS | PV-Tech





Longer-term growth 

According to IHS, PV installations are forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5% over the next five years to reach 73GW in 2019. 
However, IHS has cut its forecast for global PV installations by 1.5GW in 2018, which it said was due mainly to a 3GW reduction in its outlook for the European market. IHS still forecasts more than 50 GW of new PV capacity to be installed in Europe over the next five years. 
However, strong demand momentum in APAC was said to partly offset the lowered European demand forecast, according to IHS.

Solar Will Triumph by 2018

Solar Will Triumph by 2018, Breaking The Subsidy Dependence, Says Bernstein - Tech Trader Daily - Barrons.com



Electronics and Energy Storage analyst Mark Newman estimates that the energy storage would cost ~$15,000. The solar system would cost $20,000. The batteries would enable you to consume 80% of the electricity produced during the day at night. As long as you didn’t do too much laundry when it had been raining for several days in a row, you would never need to buy electricity from the grid again. The cost for this amenity (again in the red zones below) today is roughly $0.30-32/KWh. Unless you are running a diesel generator today, that is not economic. The cost is roughly the same in developed and developing markets. In developing markets, installing is cheaper but financing costs are higher.