More on Decreasing Cost of Solar

In a post on March 2, 2012, the rapidly decreasing cost of solar power was reported.

There is additional evidence that the cost of solar power is decreasing. We now have a report from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), Tracking the Sun, an annual report of the cost of solar power.

According to the report, the average cost of a utility scale (2 MW or larger) solar system in 2011 was $3.4/watt. Systems larger than 10 MW had installed costs of between $2.8/W and $3.5/W.

"These data provide a reliable benchmark for systems installed in the recent past, but prices have continued to decline over time, and PV systems being sold today are being offered at lower prices," Galen Barbose of the Berkeley Lab told Solar Industry Magazine in a recent story about the report.

If the cost of solar power continues to drop, it will become competitive with the purchase of coal, with out a subsidy. That is, a utility will be able to, when the sun is shining, reduce its purchase and use of coal, replacing the output from coal plants with the output from solar plants. Fossil fuels would continue to be used for the time that the sun is not shining, but less would be used.

Is Natural Gas Better Than Coal for Climate Change?

Many of us have thought that natural gas could serve as a bridge between coal and "clean" energy (solar and wind) because combustion of natural gas produces far less CO2 than combustion of coal. Therefore, from a climate change perspective, natural gas was better than coal.

Solar Hot Water - Industrial Scale

Most articles (here and elsewhere) about solar energy is about the production of electricity from solar cells, typically photovoltaic cells.

Another use way of using sunlight is heating water directly, a process generally referred to as “solar thermal”. Solar water heaters have been available in smaller sizes for residential water heating, but the use of industrial scale solar thermal plants is more unusual, at least not as well reported.

Solar Power – Will the time come soon when no subsidies are needed?

The good news is that that time when subsidies are not needed for solar power is coming and may be here very soon.

One problem with renewable power, such as solar PV (sun to electricity) and wind is the cost. Presently, to be competitive with fossil fuels renewable power must be subsidized. Subsidies include tax breaks and the renewable energy requirements that require that utilities buy a certain amount of renewable energy, even if they have to pay more than their selling price for the power.

Pantego Wind Farm

Conserve NC is a supporter of alternatives to fossil fuel, including wind energy. We recognize that one of the limitations of wind energy is the environmental consequences of improper siting, particularly the effect on wildlife.

One example of bad wind farm siting is the proposed Pantego wind farm in Beauford County in eastern NC. This is a proposed 80MW wind farm that is to be located near the Pongo lake area of the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Pantego Wind Energy LLC has asked for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the NC Utilities Commission.

Wind Power

ConserveNC supports the development of wind power when the wind turbine sites will not adversely affect either people or wildlife. One of the major problems of wind energy is the fact that improperly sited wind turbines can kill birds and bats or disrupt the habitat of wildlife.

Certain locations off the shore of NC are not used by birds or other wildlife that would be disrupted by wind turbines. These areas also have relatively strong and steady wind and will supply a large amount of energy. They should be used.

For more information, see offshorewindnc.org/

In future posts, we will comment about wind power, particularly off shore wind power. So stay tuned.

Largest Landfill Gas-to-Energy program in the state kicks off

The Sampson Independent reports here on the landmark partnership between Gregory Poole Equipment Company, Progress Energy and Waste Industries to produce electricity from the methane produced in the Sampson County landfill to power 4,000 homes for an estimated 70 plus years.

This project has recently been deemed by the U.S. EPA "as an endeavor that will effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve local air quality…and develop a lasting renewable source of energy. Annual environmental benefits are…equivalent to taking 5,400 passenger vehicles off the road, the carbon dioxide emissions from 66,300 barrels of oil consumed, or carbon sequestered annually by 6,100 acres of pine forest.

For a photo of ground breaking a year ago, with Gregory Poole Jr., Dix Park advocate, in this EPA link .

Large Wind Turbines in NC mountains

The NC Senate Finance committee, a few hours ago, approved an amendment to a bill that would prevent the construction of large wind turbines in certain mountain counties. In addition, the bill would impose strict siting requirements on wind turbines in the coastal area. This is a victory for those who love to watch the birds soar along the ridge lines in the mountains, as well as those who love the views in the mountains.

In the coastal areas wind turbines have the capability of greatly disturbing the habitat of birds that fish in our sounds. While direct birds strikes is the most well known and discussed problem of wind turbines, (and, of course, very bad for the bird that was struck) another, less well known effect is on the bird habitat. Often birds in the hills and mountains soar on the updrafts. In coastal areas birds often feed in one area of the sounds and sleep in trees on land. They commute each morning and evening from one area to the other. Lines of wind turbines interrupt these commuting patterns and force the birds to move to other areas. In the mountains they prevent the birds from using the ridge lines for hunting small game.

I certainly hope that the full Senate and the House will approve the bill. Yes, we do need to find alternative forms of energy, but not at the expense of the birds and other wildlife.