NORWAY’S Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) intends to inject new wafer technology and “several tens of million euros” of additional plant investment to facilitate this at its $2.5 Billion Singapore integrated solar cell plant this year.

Ole Enger, its president and CEO, told BT this week that the move is aimed at boosting REC’s cost-competitiveness amid “a very tough global market at this time, where everybody, including the Chinese solar makers, is losing money”.

An estimated supply of 33-34 gigawatts of solar cells is expected to swamp the market this year, with demand at just 26-28 gigawatts, Mr Enger said.

With its plants back home struggling to compete on costs, REC, which shuttered half of its Norwegian wafer capacity last year, said last week it was permanently closing its monocrystalline wafer plant employing 200 in Glomfjord, with just its two Heroya wafer plants left.

Analysts said Heroya has been spared the axe, at least for now, only because it is finalising a new “monocast” wafer technology which REC intends to transfer to its more-competitive, integrated wafer, cell and module Singapore site.

Confirming the latter Nr Enger explained that in the silicon-based solar business, there are currently two competing technologies, namely multicrystalline and monocrystalline, with the latter more expensive to produce but giving higher solar efficiency.

“We have a breakthrough at Heroya which enables us to produce mono-light quality with multicrystalline technology, so costs of production can be reduced considerably,” he disclosed. While the cost-saving quantum has not been established as the technology is not yet fully finalised, it could be as much as 10-20 per cent, he said.

Singapore – which accounts for half of REC’s global revenue (with the group’s US polysilicon operations bringing in the other half) – has so far been holding its own, even price-wise, especially against the top Chinese and Taiwanese competitors.

“Independent field tests have placed REC’s products as No 1, that’s why we can command slightly higher prices of 7, 8 to 10 per cent,” he stressed.

But it is not resting on its laurels. Since start-up of the fully automated Tucas facility in Q3, 2010, REC has been reducing its solar cell production costs. This has been slashed by some 30 per cent from 149 euro cents/watt at the start, to 101 euro cents/watt last year.

Giving an update, he said that “Singapore costs are now considerably below one euro per watt”, but he declined to give specifics, which will be disclosed at its coming Q1 financials.

Asked if REC had a target for its Singapore facility, he would only say that “solar cell prices are for the moment at 75 euro cents per megawatt, so we want (Singapore) costs to be below that”. “And the coming monocast technology which will be introduced in the Singapore plant will help significantly towards that.”

The ACCC has written to Greens deputy leader Christine Milne to validate it will consider her statements that the three power suppliers may be neglecting to enter into power purchase agreements to sell power generated by renewable energy competitors.

The statements came as the Business Council of Australia said the country’s long-term energy strategy had become too intensely determined by climate change depended too much on an supposition that the rest of the globe would take firm action on climate change.

The council, which is the optimum body for CEOs of leading organizations, said in its submission to the government’s draft energy white paper that there was now ‘‘an opportunity for a rebalance’’.

Senator Milne had written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission last month saying that some power organizations had independently indicated concern that AGL, Source and TRUenergy might be retaining energy buy deals ‘‘to anger the roll-out of competitive power projects’’, particularly wind flow plants. She asked the watch dog to analyze the statements.

The three organizations are the only large ‘‘gentailers’’ — they generate power as well as selling it on the store industry.

‘‘Just like the Coles and Woolworths duopoly,’’ Senator Milne said, ‘I am very concerned that big power companies can potentially abuse their power to not only block the roll-out of renewable energy and energy efficiency, but also drive up power prices to increase their own profit margins.’’

Power retailers must get a proportion of their electricity from renewable sources under the nation’s renewable energy target of 20 per cent by 2020. The three energy companies said last night they were meeting this responsibility by investing in renewable energy projectsstriking power purchase agreements and buying renewable energy certificates — a form of subsidy for investors in renewable schemes. A spokeswoman for AGL said the company ‘‘continues to be a strong supporter of the renewable energy target and has invested over $3 billion on renewable assets over the last five years’’.

An Origin spokeswoman said the Australian energy market was ‘‘one of the most competitive and effective in the world’’.

The business council, meanwhile, said in its submission that ‘‘a key deficiency’’ in the draft paper was its lack of alternative climate change policy scenarios to that of Treasury’s modelling of the Gillard government’s carbon price.

‘‘Alternative international climate change scenarios and their impact on Australia should be modelled,’’ it said.

The four-yearly reviews proposed by the draft paper should ‘‘include modelling reflecting actual progress in international climate change negotiations’’.

The council also urged the government not to rule out nuclear energy as a major source of future power.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/electricity-giants-accused-of-blocking-green-power-20120410-1wn17.html#ixzz1rghzBOxI

Produced by the Renewable Energy Corporation (REC), which has its headquarters in Norway, REC solar panels use photovoltaic (PV) technology to harness the power of the sun and turn it into clean, affordable energy that tackles the problems of increasing electricity costs, growing demand and climate change concerns.

Under the initiative of progressive organisations such as the REC, solar energy reduces the need for fossil fuels that are responsible for a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions throughout the world. Fossil fuel emissions affect the delicate balance of our eco system, our weather climates and many forms of wildlife, but REC solar panels look set to offer a greener, permanent solution to this ongoing global issue.

Why Choose REC Solar Panels?

By installing REC solar panels, your contribution to a greener environment and a safer planet for our future generations is just the beginning. In reality, solar panel installations are significant financial investments that continue to reap rewards for many years to come. By choosing REC solar panels, Australia now enjoys greater energy independence that at any time in past.

Installation is simple and by committing to REC solar energy, your home generates its own sustainable source of electricity. Maintenance is minimal and all REC solar panels come with a full 25-year warranty. Users of solar energy qualify for renewable energy certificates under the Australian Government’s Solar Credits Program.

In addition, some states now offer feed-in tariffs that pay a premium rate for homeowners who install REC solar panels. Australia aims to reach a 20% overall domestic supply of solar energy by 2020, which serves to highlight the potential financial windfalls of using REC solar options as an investment for your home.

The principles are very straightforward. Electricity providers meter the surplus energy created by through your home and redistribute it back into the national grid for re-use by other customers. Also referred to as net metering, homeowners who use REC solar panels in Australia are compensated for each surplus kWh of sustainable energy that they create.

The Environmental Advantages of REC Solar Energy

Energy independence is a major factor in choosing REC solar panels as energy created is generally consumed in the areas where it is produced. As well as helping to sustain local homes and

businesses with a renewable energy source, REC solar components reduce the use of our natural resources and preserve the environment for the benefit of local plant and wildlife.

With our own natural resources dwindling, REC solar panels provide a viable alternative for creating sustainable energy through photovoltaic (PV) technology for future generations. As a totally green and renewable staged procedure, the individual cells within REC solar panels convert energy from the sun into much-needed electricity, which can be used in your own home with surplus solar energy being sold on to generate a passive income stream.

Discover the power of REC solar panels and create a brighter future, a safer environment and a profitable source of sustainable energy for our next generations.

Media release by Christine Milne - Australian Greens Deputy Leader

The Gillard Government has today cancelled a scheme to support the solar hot water industry, one of Australia’s leading clean energy manufacturing sectors.

The Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme, part of the 2010 stimulus program, was due to be phased out in the middle of the year. While industry has been calling for the scheme to be extended, it was cancelled today at 5pm, with a media release sent out at 5.01pm.

“The government likes to talk about transforming Australia for a clean energy future, and yet today they have dumped a key scheme supporting solar hot water manufacturing,” Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

“Just like manufacturers in other sectors, the solar hot water industry is struggling with the high dollar, as well as low renewable energy certificate prices and competition from cheap imported instantaneous gas water heaters.

“This industry employs well over a thousand people, in one business alone, working in the clean energy economy. It seems that the only manufacturing jobs being actively supported in this two speed economy are those from the old economy.

“This scheme should have been extended, not cancelled early, particularly not at such ridiculously short notice and with no reasons given whatsoever.

“This decision demonstrates that the government hasn’t learned the lessons of the stop-start rooftop solar schemes, the Green Loans debacle and so many other examples through the Gillard, Rudd and Howard years.

“The solar hot water industry has invested quite reasonably in stock, parts and production schedules going forward. This decision treats all those investments with contempt.

“The government should immediately reconsider this wrong decision and extend support for this industry which is producing one of the cheapest emissions reducing technologies and exporting it to the world.”

To read the full article please go here

Testing at level 6, the highest stressing of the panels, the Solar panels managed to endure 56 days without fail. In this process, the modules are exposed to a 5% salt chloride solution. A test cycle lasts for one week and involves four salt spray stages of two hours at 35°C with 93% humidity. Each of these stages is followed by storage in a wet environment at 40°C, also at a relative humidity of 93%. After realization the four spray stages with moist storage, the modules are additionally stored in a normal climate for three days.

REC solar power sections can therefore be used near the beach without needing to worry.

Sandvika, January 11, 2012

REC Systems, a business unit of REC, has successfully developed, constructed, financed, sold and received the 25-year feed-in tariff accreditation for the 5MW Durrants solar power plant located on the Isle of Wight, UK. The Durrants solar power plant will produce 5400 MWh of electricity yearly and includes more than 19,000 high performance REC Peak Energy modules. The installation will offset 3,500 tons of CO2 per year and provide enough energy to support 1,450 four person homes per year. In addition, REC supplied solar panels to the 5MW for Ebbsfleet solar plant in Kent, UK.

These projects are amongst the largest grid-connected solar power plants in the UK, located in locations with excellent irradiation. They are also among the first PV plants in the UK to receive project financing for the UK feed-in tariff scheme. Given the changes in the FiT, REC had to ensure a quick construction of the Durrants project in order to achieve the completion and connection of the plant to the grid by the July 31 2011 incentive scheme deadline. The successful completion is a result of cooperation between REC Systems, Kronos Solar GmbH who originally developed the Durrants project and Vogt Solar GmbH who were subcontracted to undertake the construction and systems integration. Kronos Solar is a Munich-based project developer with a track record in project development in Europe. Vogt Solar is a Berlin-based system-integrator, who also developed and constructed the Ebbsfleet project.

Both projects were project financed by Bayern LB’s London branch which provided £36 million of debt including portions funded by the German Development Bank (KfW). The Durrants project was sold to a fund managed by Bluefield Partners LLP. Bluefield is a London based fund manager focused on solar and renewable energy investments which will also manage the Durrants project on behalf of its investors. “REC is pleased to work with Kronos, Vogt Solar, Bayern LB and Bluefield to realize this landmark project. Excellent collaboration throughout the development and construction process made it possible to realize this project in a very short period allowing us to effectively manage difficult market conditions. The sudden change in solar policy has brought challenges for large-scale developers in the UK. REC hopes that the government will provide a predictable framework to support the growing solar industry in the country”, said Terje Pilskog, SVP REC Systems.

In Europe REC Systems have offices in Munich, Germany and Milan, Italy, managing the development, design, installation and financing of large scale rooftop and free field projects. During 2011, REC Systems developed and constructed more than 70 MW of PV projects.source

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