Week in Review - Emerging from the clouds

It’s been a stormy season for solar but it looks like things are getting better. New reports find that among all sources of renewable energy, solar was the biggest seller last year and it’s likely to keep growing. Meanwhile solar technologies are moving forward and adoption of solar is happening in new markets and through new means, like being installed on new homes as a standard feature. And the World Renewable Energy Forum (WREF), an international renewable energy conference is getting underway in Denver.

A new report from GlobalData found that in 2011 the solar industry generated $209 billion in investments, and its expected to grow in the coming years. Out of all renewable energy markets, solar was largest, consisting of 49 percent of global renewable energy investments. Looking forward that number and percentage is likely to grow. The report anticipates that the U.S., China and India are likely key drivers of growth for the industry in coming years.

This week WREF comes to Denver. The forum features over 200 sessions with presenters and an audience from around the world. Among other things speakers will discuss how to help spread the further adoption of renewable energies across the world in a way that addresses and meets local needs. It’s also the first time the American Solar Energy Society and WREF have held the event together bringing international flair the ASES’s biennial conference.

The WREF is indicative of the international markets and manufacturers that are now looking to solar to solve their energy needs. For instance Canadian Solar is increasingly looking to Eastern Europe to develop new markets. It recently shipped 3.3 megawatts of photovoltaic modules to Plodiv, Bulgaria and it is developing relationships with suppliers and installers in Bulgaria and other parts of Eastern Europe.

Meanwhile BMW has partnered with Real Goods Solar in the U.S. to get solar into more homes. In this case just the 700 homes of U.S. residents that are leasing BMW’s ActiveE electric vehicle (EV). The company is piloting the vehicle in the U.S. prior to introducing its i3 EV in 2013. The early adopters are being offered a 35 percent discount on a PV array installed by Real Goods Solar, even on power-purchase agreement-systems.

More and more homebuilders are including solar as a standard feature in new homes, but that’s largely been in Southwestern U.S. states and California. Now the trend is taking roots in North Carolina. Meritage Homes and EchoFirst have partnered with installer Southern Energy Management (SEM) to offer the Echo hybrid solar thermal photovoltaic system as a standard feature on homes starting in Raleigh, N.C.

While the solar industry is largest in California, it’s taking roots all over the place in the U.S. For instance, Washington County, Md., recently unveiled plans to become the likely the first county in the U.S. to be completely powered by solar energy. The county is in final discussions with EPG Solar to install photovoltaic arrays at the county's Forty West and Resh Road landfills. The installation’s will be enough to cover all of the county government’s energy needs.

Changes are happening in the concentrating solar power (CSP) world as well. Gossamer Space Frames and 3M have introduced the LAT 73, the largest parabolic trough for CSP. The device uses a combination of 3M and Gossamer technology to reduce the costs of CSP systems by more than 25 percent by using lightweight, more reflective materials.