Photoelectric Dreams

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Quote and B.O.T.E.

Quote

Kyocera’s Schröer, perhaps embodying the conservative nature of his company (which he sought to emphasize during the discussion), said that Japan is likely to see around three GW installed in 2012, with the same figure being reached in 2012. He also made the important point that a paradigm shift was currently underway in the user market for photovoltaic, in that consumers were no longer looking at how much they will make from an installation, but rather how much they can save on utility bills - as grid parity is reached in certain markets.

B.O.T.E.

Average price of residential electricity in Japan: 30 cent/kWh

Potential production costs of solar: 10ish cent/kWh

Potential share of residential load: About 50%

Average residential consumption: 6000 kWh/year (Same as California)

Savings: .20*3000 = $600/year

Friday, June 8, 2012

Ready, Solar, Go

Hello Mr. Gomez

I'm impressed with the new building efficiency standards and in particular the Solar Ready roof requirement. Can you tell me what the Solar Ready roof requirement costs are per home or business? Is this information broken out in the analysis?

Respectfully,
Photomofo

Dear Photomofo,

The final version of the solar ready requirements (Section 110.10 of the 2010 Building Energy Efficiency Standards) may be viewed at http://www.energy.ca.gov/2012publications/CEC-400-2012-004/CEC-400-2012-004-15DAY.pdf#page=129. The attached errata includes changes in grey highlight.

The solar ready requirements are really for a reserved piece of roof space that isn’t self-shaded by other features on the building. There are no ‘infrastructure’ type items such as conduit/piping, collateral structural loads, or pre-installed mounting hardware, thus costs are expected to be minimal to none.

For single family homes, the solar ready requirements are applicable to subdivisions with 10 homes or greater. The cost that single family homes built in 2014 would incur to make them “solar ready” was calculated to be $182. The primary report relied upon for the development of the “Solar Ready Roofs” requirement for single family homes was done by the California Utilities State Wide Codes and Standards Team (CASE). You can find this report in its entirety at http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2013standards/prerulemaking/documents/current/Reports/Residential/Water_Heating/2013_CASE_R_Solar_Ready_Solar_Oriented_Developments_Sept_2011.pdf. For single family homes there is a requirement for a 200 amp bus bar and spare breaker space opposite of the main breaker/service conductors, which resulted in the $182. The $182 is averaged across expected single family housing starts. For the approximately 80% of homes that would already be designed to have a 200 amp bus bar or electrical service, the actual costs would be less. For the 20% of homes where the 200 amp bus bar or electrical service would be considered an ‘upgrade’, the actual costs would be higher. This is detailed in the CASE report.

The report for nonresidential buildings can be found at http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2013standards/prerulemaking/documents/current/Reports/Nonresidential/Water_Heating/2013_CASE_PowerDist3_NonResSolarReady_9.30.2011.pdf. While there was an added cost determined for single family homes, there was no added cost for nonresidential buildings. Below is an excerpt from this report explaining why.

From the Nonresidential Solar-ready Building Report done by the California Utilities Statewide Codes and Standards Team

3.5 Cost Effectiveness Methodology

The proposed code change does not require equipment installation nor does it have any incremental

maintenance costs. The only costs associated with the measure are design costs. Initially designers

will need to familiarize themselves with the solar-ready requirement, but over time design will

become streamlined and the costs will be minimal. The LCC Methodology does not include design

costs in the costs of a measure, so for LCC purposes the measure has no costs.

A list complete with links for all documents relied upon for the development of the 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards can be found at http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2013standards/rulemaking/documents/ISOR_Documents_Relied_Upon.pdf.

If you have any further questions, feel free to email back at the hotline email address below, or contact us by phone at (800) 772-3300.

Best regards,

Javier Perez

Energy Standards Hotline Staff

California Energy Commission

1516 Ninth Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

(800) 772-3300

Title24@energy.ca.gov

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Arguments Against a Tariff in Europe

Goya's Madhouse, 1812-1819

1. Germany is a huge exporter and China is their #1 trade partner.

2. The EPIA is already using non-neutral language against a tariff.

3. There are a lot more installers in Germany than manufacturers.

Strangely, there are hints that Germany is going to fight fire with mire... Rather than bring a case against China they may end up implementing WTO illegal trading practices - domestic content rules specifically. This hysterical policy is completely ineffective but it seems to make people happy for whatever reason. It's symbolic I suppose... Shut up and eat your symbolism you sniveling schvine.

Thank You Sir, May I Have Another

Why Stop at $500K? DoTAX Quietly Multiplies Hawaii Solar Tax Credit

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Starry Night Over the Rhone

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Dear JPEA

Hello

I was hoping you could help with a general question. Can you tell me how the average price of residential PV systems in Japan has changed in 2011 and early 2012? Is there a resource that tracks the changes in quarterly average installed costs? Has the JPEA considered tracking this information and providing it as a benchmarking resource for the public?

Respectfully
Photomofo

Dear Photomofo-san

Thank you for your contacting us, but so sorry too late reply to you.

Regarding your question of average residential PV system price. This organization; JPEA hesitates to announce PV system price. Because it might conflict with the Antitrust Law, therefore JPEA is not able to show the PV system price.But we could get average residential PV system price information from Home-Page of JPEC (Japan Photovoltaic Expansion Center).

The Data of actual result are shown as below. We are not able to get the data of 2012 yet.

Case1 :Installation to New House.
Case2: Installation to Existing House

Best Regards
JPEA Secretariat

Hello,

Thank you so much for this information. I believe it is important for the PV industry in Japan to keep track of installation statistics and regularly provide updates to the public. This gives the commercial and business sectors a reliable source of information to cross-check when they go to buy a system. This cross-check reduces over-charging and spurs healthy competition.

Transparent and reliable statistics also provide government administrators with a benchmark for adjusting the FiT in the future - a benchmark they can be publicly held accountable to when it comes time to adjust FiT rates next year. I have seen very few countries reliably track installation costs and volumes. It is something I humbly suggest the JPEA should think seriously about. If this is against the JPEA's charter maybe the JPEA can encourage a 3rd party to gather and broadcast the information.

Respectfully
Photomofo

Dear Photomofo-san

Good Day!

Thank you for your comments.

Especially cross-checking and updating of data is very important for consumer & contractor to reduce over-charging and to spur health competition.

And also disclosure of PV system installation price contributes to the healthy development and fixation of the FIT system in Japan.

Best Regards

JPEA Secretariat