Recent growth rates for solar have been impressive at 40+% these past several years. But the newly published Solarbuzz Annual Report, Marketbuzz 2009, shows last year’s rate blew those numbers away. The global solar installation market more than doubled (growing 110%) to add 5.95 GW of solar PV and bring our cumulative solar capacity to (more…)
Archive for March, 2009
It’s Official: Global Solar Market Exploded in 2008
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009Maldives pledges climate leadership – carbon neutrality by 2019!
Monday, March 16th, 2009
There aren’t many countries more threatened by climate change than the 1,000+ atolls of the Maldives. This coral reef paradise rarely rises more than 5 feet above sea level (~1.5 meters) and thus faces the threat of mostly disappearing by century’s end. Their President Mohamed Nasheed decided not to wait for other countries to act, and yesterday pledged (more…)
Natural Gas Supplies Remain High, For Now
Friday, March 13th, 2009
Yesterday’s EIA natural gas storage report showed ample supplies continuing through March. Inventories are 13.3% higher than average for this time of year and almost 20% higher than last year. But the rig count makes many analysts think prices will rise in the second half of the year unless economic collapse sends demand even further down. (more…)
Solar College Initiative Launches Nationwide Survey
Thursday, March 12th, 2009Sustainable Energy Transition is the fiscal sponsor for an exciting new initiative this Spring to maximize the deployment of solar on our country’s campuses. Our mostly volunteer operation of the last three months has already gotten interest from students and staff at 150 campuses and we are now trying to choose our pilot 20 campuses to engage this Spring. To ensure we have all the necessary information to make the best decision, we posted a brief online survey for interested campuses which is accessible at (more…)
Economic Woes Subdue Global Oil Demand Further
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
Global GDP forecasts for 2009 fell again this week as news of contraction emerged in recent economic powerhouses such as Australia, Brazil, and even China. And since oil demand is closely linked to economic output, the 2009 forecast is for even lower demand than the EIA projected last month. They now see global oil consumption falling (more…)
More record low solar prices in Europe
Monday, March 9th, 2009
The price of solar modules continues to fall in March. In fact, the drop accelerated from February’s pace driven by a seven euro cent fall (~1.5%) for prices in Europe to a new record low of 4.55 euros per watt. In the US, prices fell three cents (.6%) to $4.78 per watt. This translated into an estimated price per kWh of (more…)
Atlantic City Becomes Leader in Renewable Energy
Thursday, March 5th, 2009Atlantic City is not just the East Coast’s gambling epicenter anymore. Today it added another claim to fame: leadership in renewable energy. The Atlantic City Convention Center celebrated a gigantic new solar array that is the country’s largest roof-top system. At 2.37 MW, the Convention Center installation beat out (more…)
Gasoline and Diesel Move toward Parity Again
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009
Remember the old days when gasoline and diesel had roughly the same price? Well, it looks like things are returning toward price parity after last year when diesel often had a premium of ~75 cents. These past few weeks, US diesel production has created ample supply levels and the price has fallen toward the rising price of gasoline. (more…)
Powershift Breathes Life into Solar College Initiative
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009
Powershift rally photo by Energy Action Coalition
What an amazing conference! Powershift not only built community among 12,000 active students and allies by bringing them under one roof. The gathering also inspired and empowered these young people and their colleagues to make a lasting impact from the campus to the federal policy level. One of the projects that benefited greatly from Powershift 2009 was the emerging Solar College Initiative. (more…)