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Panel shortage snags solar system sellers

H

H. E. Taylor

Jan 1, 1970
0
2005/09/18: ClimateArk: Panel shortage snags solar system sellers
Renewable-energy programs overseas cause local shortage of supplies and drive up prices

Southern Nevada has plenty of sunshine and solar power, but companies installing solar
power systems are dealing with a shortage of photovoltaic panels.

Photovoltaic panels, which typically are made of silicon, can convert sunlight directly
into electricity, and Nevada is encouraging installation of more photovoltaic systems to
reduce power use.

Under state law, Nevada Power Co. of Las Vegas gives residential, commercial and
small-business customers a rebate of $3 for each watt of electricity produced by
photovoltaic panels.

At the same time, Germany and Spain are offering their citizens financial incentives for
installing solar systems, too, and that has created a shortage and driven up prices, said
Chris Brooks, renewable energy director at Bombard Electric Co., a large electrical
contracting company.

Spain has budgeted the equivalent of $832 million for its renewable-energy program
and set a goal of increasing the renewable-energy use to 12.1 percent by 2010, up from
6.9 percent at the end of last year, reported Renewable Energy Access, an online
renewable-energy news site.

"The demand is high and, as a result of high demand, there is a long lead time for this
product," said Bob Balzar, renewable energy and conservation program director at
Nevada Power and its sister company, Sierra Pacific Power Co. of Reno.
"Manufacturers are working very hard to keep up with demand."

The shortage in photovoltaic systems has boosted prices 15 percent to 20 percent over
two years, Brooks said, although earlier this year he had expected prices for
photovoltaic systems to decline.
[...]
<http://www.climateark.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=46330>

<regards>
-het
 
B

Bob Eldred

Jan 1, 1970
0
H. E. Taylor said:
2005/09/18: ClimateArk: Panel shortage snags solar system sellers
Renewable-energy programs overseas cause local shortage of supplies and drive up prices

Southern Nevada has plenty of sunshine and solar power, but companies installing solar
power systems are dealing with a shortage of photovoltaic panels.

Photovoltaic panels, which typically are made of silicon, can convert sunlight directly
into electricity, and Nevada is encouraging installation of more photovoltaic systems to
reduce power use.

Under state law, Nevada Power Co. of Las Vegas gives residential, commercial and
small-business customers a rebate of $3 for each watt of electricity produced by
photovoltaic panels.

At the same time, Germany and Spain are offering their citizens financial incentives for
installing solar systems, too, and that has created a shortage and driven up prices, said
Chris Brooks, renewable energy director at Bombard Electric Co., a large electrical
contracting company.

Spain has budgeted the equivalent of $832 million for its renewable-energy program
and set a goal of increasing the renewable-energy use to 12.1 percent by 2010, up from
6.9 percent at the end of last year, reported Renewable Energy Access, an online
renewable-energy news site.

"The demand is high and, as a result of high demand, there is a long lead time for this
product," said Bob Balzar, renewable energy and conservation program director at
Nevada Power and its sister company, Sierra Pacific Power Co. of Reno.
"Manufacturers are working very hard to keep up with demand."

The shortage in photovoltaic systems has boosted prices 15 percent to 20 percent over
two years, Brooks said, although earlier this year he had expected prices for
photovoltaic systems to decline.
[...]
<http://www.climateark.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=46330>

<regards>
-het

That's great, nothing spurs R and D and production like demand. If demand is
there solutions and product will follow.
Bob
 
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