L R AS Published on Tuesday 20 September 2022 - n° 416 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the European Commission's proposal to tackle the upcoming crisis
As winter approaches and gas consumption rises, the European Commission is proposing to reduce demand and recover considerable amounts of money that would have been taken from European consumers. It proposes to give it back to them in the form of aid or subsidies.
There is no guarantee that the amount announced will match the amount collected. There is no guarantee that the winter will go by without power cuts. The considerable increase in the price of electricity is a drain on household purchasing power and disrupts businesses: A European recession is very possible following the unfortunate European embargo on Russia.
We need to take a better look at what this proposal from the European Commission is all about.
L R AS Published on Tuesday 13 September 2022 - n° 415 - Categories:News of the Month
What to remember this week, as of 11 September 2022
The main point
The most serious commentators (INSEE, Banque de France, IFO, Bundesbank in Germany) are very pessimistic. They warn of the consequences of price increases, whether for energy, manufactured goods, food, etc. They warn about the low revaluation of salaries and the significant loss of purchasing power of the population.
This difficult period, which will end in 2024 at the earliest, or at the end of the war in Ukraine, must be used to review in depth the habits, beliefs and objectives that were previously set. This is because the certainties of availability, practicality and economic conditions (interest rates) have changed. It is best to take a moment to study the changes and see how to adapt to them. This is necessary in order to emerge from this approaching crisis in good conditions.
First important point: the price of lithium, which is essential for the production of batteries, has increased sixfold in 2022 and ninefold since January 2021. It is scarce; it is of increasingly lower quality. It will slow down the spread of batteries and electric vehicles. Other battery components seem to be just as difficult to obtain
Recycled battery materials are being sought because primary products are too expensive
Secondly, it is surprising that the new American law, promulgated less than a month ago, is generating so much enthusiasm, vocation and eagerness on the part of photovoltaic manufacturers. Not a week goes by without new capacity increases or factory openings being announced! Impressive.
Two more benefits of the new US law for Heliene and PV Hardware
3rd (subsidiary) point (subsidiary) The Commission has a new idea to try to limit public discontent and even avoid a serious social crisis: taxing "super-profits". It is hard to see where they would be in photovoltaics. The President of the Commission, after having brilliantly lit the fire of Russian gas prices and price increases in the Union with her embargo, is still trying to distinguish herself.
The European Commission proposes to impose a maximum price on renewable electricity
Other interesting points :
LThe sunny summer has increased the share of solar in the European energy mix
A near-certain energy supply shortfall in Europe for Rystad Energy
L R AS Published on Tuesday 13 September 2022 - n° 415 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the review of our certainties in photovoltaics
The most serious commentators (INSEE, Banque de France, IFO, Bundesbank in Germany) are very pessimistic. They warn of the consequences of price increases, whether for energy, manufactured goods, food, etc. They warn about the low revaluation of salaries and the significant loss of purchasing power of the population.
This difficult period, which should be over by 2024 at the earliest, or the end of the war in Ukraine, should be used to review in depth the habits, beliefs and objectives that were previously set. This is because the certainties of availability, practicality and economic conditions (interest rates) have changed. It is best to take a moment to study the changes and see how to adapt to them. This is necessary in order to emerge from this approaching crisis in good conditions.
L R AS Published on Tuesday 6 September 2022 - n° 414 - Categories:News of the Month
This week's highlights, as of 4 September
The main point
The Defence Council in France was held in secret. Nothing leaked. All we know is that there is nothing to worry about, that the government is there. Yet several public bodies have been sounding the alarm for several months, indicating that the situation is serious. Despite the government's silence, gas and electricity prices are rising, indicating a deteriorating situation. The situation is deteriorating, with price rises becoming more widespread, inflation at its highest level in decades and interest rates rising. This leads to a very likely recession without even rationing of gas and electricity supplies. This affects all French people, all Europeans, all because of the clumsy sanctions taken by the European Commission which is now silent. The damage is done and well done!
1st important point: the Energy Regulatory Commission had to revise the specifications of the tenders to adapt to the increases in costs and prices
Updating of the specifications of the 17 French calls for tenders
2nd secondary point: The rise in energy prices is not only bad: the sale of wind-generated electricity on the market means that the State does not have to buy this energy and that savings are made.Hence the contribution of renewable energies in 2022, which will be reflected in the 2023 budget.
For the first time, renewable energies will contribute to the state budget in 2023
3rd (subsidiary) point point (subsidiary) :
Another high in the price of silicon
Is this the end of the silicon price rise? Chinese authorities are asking for it
Other interesting points :
Result of the so-called PPE2 tender
AS Published on Tuesday 6 September 2022 - n° 414 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the Defence Council
The Defence Council in France was held in secret. Nothing leaked out. All we know is that there is nothing to worry about, that the government is there. Yet several public bodies have been sounding the alarm for several months, indicating that the situation is serious. Despite the government's silence, gas and electricity prices are rising, indicating a deteriorating situation. The situation is deteriorating, with price rises becoming more widespread, inflation at its highest level in decades and interest rates rising. This leads to a very likely recession without even rationing of gas and electricity supplies. This affects all French people, all Europeans, all because of the clumsy sanctions taken by the European Commission which is now silent. The damage is done and well done!
L R AS Published on Tuesday 30 August 2022 - n° 413 - Categories:News of the Month
This week's highlights, as of 28 August 2022
The bottom line:
The US law finds a way to counter Chinese PV products and provides a boost to installers, but more importantly to PV manufacturers
A look at the upheaval brought about by the Inflation Reduction Act
1st important point :
Several voices question the capacity for installation of solar power plants in Europe in the years 2024 and 2025
pvXchange questions the future of PV in Germany
Growing disincentives for power plant installations, especially in 2024 and 2025
Europe will deploy almost 40 GW in 2022. What happens next?
2nd sub-point :
Chinese PV production (silicon, wafers, panels) increased by about 50% -by half- in the first half of the year. PV export volume doubled in value
Chinese PV exports and production in the first half of the year
Other interesting points :
Feed-in tariff increase and changes to the S21 tariff decree in France
The inverter market in 2021 and SMA's dropout
Neoen in Q2: considerable effort in power plant construction
AS Published on Tuesday 30 August 2022 - n° 413 - Categories:Thread of the Week
A look at the disruption brought about by the Inflation Reduction Act
In the middle of the summer, a law bizarrely called the "Inflation Reduction Act" was passed and signed into law in the US. It is the result of more than six years of searching for a solution, and after some trial and error.
It distributes tax credits to installers of solar power plants and manufacturers of photovoltaic products.
It will revolutionise the renewable energy landscape, considerably weaken the Chinese industry, and lead to the emergence of new industrial centres in the United States of course, but also in India. In three years, the PV world will have changed
L R AS Published on Sunday 10 July 2022 - n° 412 - Categories:News of the Month
This week's highlights, as of 10 July 2022
The key point
The price of silicon is rising. It goes up every month. It sets in motion a mechanism of increase. In a Western economic logic, the shortage increases the price to distribute the small quantity. The Chinese logic is quite different. You need to know it because it applies exactly to the case of silicon
1st important point: the opacity of the power purchase agreement market led to price abuses. The proposed index can shed some light on the situation. But many other issues are raised by this index or these indices
S&P Global + Pexapark: PPA benchmark index
Second point: even if it is probably only an experiment, or a result of research & development, it is considerably forward-looking. The more energy is produced in a building, the higher its self-consumption rate will be.
3rd (subsidiary) point (subsidiary) New measures tostimulate photovoltaic production could give French leaders ideas
New energy regulations in Germany
Other interesting points :
AS Published on Sunday 10 July 2022 - n° 412 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the silicon context
The price of silicon is rising. It goes up every month. It sets in motion a mechanism of increase. In a Western economic logic, the shortage increases the price to distribute the small quantity. The Chinese logic is quite different. You have to know it and it applies exactly to the case of silicon
L R AS Published on Wednesday 6 July 2022 - n° 411 - Categories:News of the Month
This week's highlights, as of 3 July (No 411)
The main point
The European world is going haywire.
PvXchange has started the ball rolling: no more power plants can be built in Europe because something essential is always missing. Even residential roofs are delayed. Deliveries have an unknown date. The elements that may be supplied cannot be known! What is happening with photovoltaics is just an illustration of the current European world: it is going through a brutal inflation whose effects are still to come. The European world is going haywire.
AS Published on Wednesday 6 July 2022 - n° 411 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the disruption of the world and of photovoltaics in particular
PvXchange has started the ball rolling: no more power plants can be built in Europe because something essential is always missing. Even residential roofs are delayed. Deliveries have an unknown date. The elements that may be supplied cannot be known! What is happening with photovoltaics is just an illustration of the current European world: it is going through a brutal inflation whose effects are still to come. The European world is going haywire.
L R AS Published on Wednesday 29 June 2022 - n° 410 - Categories:News of the Month
This week's highlights, as of 26 June (No 410)
The big picture
Four months after the invasion of Ukraine, the European situation is beginning to look more clear-cut. Almost everything has been changed or turned upside down. Disadvantages have arisen, advantages are emerging. A period of change has begun. Will we be able to choose the paths for a sustainable 21st century?
A look at the disadvantages and advantages of the war in Ukraine
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The first important point: governments cannot do everything. The association of four major photovoltaic developers to issue a call for tenders for 7 GW of panels per year, on condition that they are American-made, opens up prospects for manufacturers who know that they will have outlets and that they can invest to meet this order. This is a good way of boosting American manufacturing. An example to follow
A crucial step: a major call for tenders to stimulate industrial production
Secondary point:there are still too few renewable energy installations to satisfy the global economy. We had forgotten this with the noise of the environmentalists. The Ukrainian war has just been a brutal reminder of this
According to BloombergNEF, fossil fuels are quite useful in the face of Russian gas
3rd point point (subsidiary) The construction of solar power plants takes time, several semesters from conception to operation. The speed of recent changes (covid, Ukraine, rising panel prices, rising interest rates) has changed the parameters for project development. Two trade unions reported the difficulties of some companies that have not included a price indexation clause in their contract. They have to either postpone or stop their construction
The downturn in the PV economy is hindering or interrupting some PV installations
Other interesting points :
Akuo in 2021: multiple achievements, but stable turnover and EBITDA
AS Published on Wednesday 29 June 2022 - n° 410 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the disadvantages and advantages of the war in Ukraine
Four months after the invasion of Ukraine, the evolution of the European situation is becoming clearer. Almost everything has been changed or turned upside down. Disadvantages have arisen, advantages are emerging. A period of change has begun. Will we be able to choose the paths for a sustainable 21st century?
L R AS Published on Wednesday 22 June 2022 - n° 409 - Categories:News of the Month
This week's highlights, as of 19 June (n°409)
The most important point: The European Commission must decide whether lithium is dangerous. Will it ban it or allow it?
Lithium has become a major ingredient in the batteries of electric vehicles to provide endurance, speed and therefore practicality. However, the danger of lithium to human life has just been highlighted. The European Commission is seized of the problem. It has to decide. What is the situation?
L R AS Published on Wednesday 22 June 2022 - n° 409 - Categories:PV Watch
A look at the dangers of lithium
Lithium has become an established ingredient in electric vehicle batteries to provide endurance, speed and therefore practicality. However, the danger of lithium to human life has just been highlighted. The European Commission is seized of the problem. It has to decide. What is the situation?