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Spain's Solar-Power Collapse Dims Subsidy Model Article (Solar Power bubble popped!)
WSJ Online ^
| September 8th, 2009
| By ANGEL GONZALEZ and KEITH JOHNSON
Posted on 09/08/2009 6:50:49 AM PDT by 2banana
In 2008, Spain accounted for half the world's new solar-power installations in terms of wattage, thanks to government subsidies to promote clean energy. But late last year, as the global economic crisis worsened, the government dramatically scaled back those subsidies and capped the amount of subsidized solar power that could be installed.
Factories world-wide that had ramped up production of solar-power components found that demand for solar panels was plummeting, leaving a glut in supply and pushing prices down. Job cuts followed.
"The solar industry in 2009 has been undermined by [a] collapse in demand due to the decision by Spain," says Henning Wicht, a solar-power analyst at research group iSuppli.
...
As a result, Spain's solar capacity last year increased to 3,342 megawatts from 695 megawatts, the size of a coal plant, a year earlier. Government subsidies for solar power jumped to 1.1 billion ($1.6 billion) in 2008 from 214 million in 2007.
Solar power "was a financial product, not an energy solution," says Ignacio Sánchez Galán, chairman of Iberdrola, the world's biggest renewable-energy company. Iberdrola has largely shunned solar because wind power is cheaper and requires less land.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: energy; power; solar; spain
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To: RonF
A hell of a lot
less. Fueling over 20 years? In America? Don't make me laugh...coal is dirt cheap compared to ANY other energy-generating method. Look at $/MMBTU comparisons published by EIA every week.
Sheesh.
21
posted on
09/08/2009 7:30:50 AM PDT
by
SAJ
(way too late to 'work within the system'. just about time for rebellion)
To: 2banana; Grampa Dave; SierraWasp; thackney; Southack; PhilDragoo; CPT Clay
I'm glad to see this posted again. I read it when it came out.
Just think:
1. Ethanol--heavily subsidized and most Major Players in US now Bankrupt or shutting down.
2. Spain proves that even heavily subsidized solar will fall.
3. Wind--most major wind projects now being opposed by the same Gang Green armies that oppose Oil, Gas, Coal & Nukes.
Back to ethanol--What major SA country ethanol producer is now, with massive loan guarantees from US & China, developing and TRUMPETING a major, world class offshore OIL FIELD.
To: 2banana; xcamel
I have found at least one beneficial and economical use for solar panels; I can put one on the roof of my truck while it is parked, and it keeps the battery topped off.
That way I know that it will start right up and ignite that powerful gasoline.
23
posted on
09/08/2009 7:35:45 AM PDT
by
Sender
(It's never too late to be who you could have been.)
To: The Great RJ
Even with unlimited subsidies neither can work.
24
posted on
09/08/2009 7:37:51 AM PDT
by
Straight Vermonter
(Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
To: 2banana
I haven’t noticed anyone posting it yet, and maybe most folks are not aware of it, but our Obama government is in the process of planning for a solar powered generation system here in the desert of Southern California. It is to be located along the Interstate 10 corridor between Indio and the state line at Blythe. The proposed project is HUGE.
25
posted on
09/08/2009 7:40:17 AM PDT
by
CdMGuy
To: BOBTHENAILER
26
posted on
09/08/2009 7:42:21 AM PDT
by
Grampa Dave
(Does 0b0z0 have any friends, who aren't traitors, spies, tax cheats and criminals?)
To: CdMGuy
our Obama governmentLeave me out, okay?
:-)
27
posted on
09/08/2009 7:47:52 AM PDT
by
upchuck
(New sign on my truck: Are you a "Hope and Change" regretter?)
To: The Great RJ
Without massive subsidies, neither solar nor wind can replace coal or nuclear power for generating electricity.
Yes and no. If you run an energy-intensive industry, you need 24/7 baseload power. But prices for solar cells have halved over the last year. We're getting close to a point where it makes sense for WalMart (large commercial buildings, access to credit and / or cash at hand) to cover its roofs with solar cell to run the daytime air conditioning rather than pay peak rates. And that would be regardless of subsidies.
The car didn't replace the train as the dominant mode of transportation all at once, it first conquered specific niches. And that is the point where solar is right now. Where we go from there is up to the market to decide (how will the price for coal, for natural gas, for uranium develop, or in the case of solar cell manufacturing: high-grad silicon or arsenic?).
28
posted on
09/08/2009 7:49:50 AM PDT
by
wolf78
(Inflation is a form of taxation, too. Cranky Libertarian - equal opportunity offender.)
To: 2banana; SierraWasp; Jeff Head; tubebender; ASA Vet; george76; NormsRevenge; BOBTHENAILER
Thanks for posting this.
Those of us who have been on this globe for many decades have seen/heard the bs stories of the wonders of solar/wind power and alternate fuel sources for most of those decades.
The only way they can even come close to existing is via massive govermental subsidies.
If we had invested the money wasted on those so called green sources into searching and drilling for oil in the states and off our shores and building new oil/gasoline refineries, the middle east would be begging us to buy their oil at very cheap prices.
Of course neglecting nuclear power and clean coal power has been a disaster for us, also.
29
posted on
09/08/2009 7:50:09 AM PDT
by
Grampa Dave
(Does 0b0z0 have any friends, who aren't traitors, spies, tax cheats and criminals?)
To: BOBTHENAILER; Dog Gone; Grampa Dave; thackney; Ernest_at_the_Beach
That bees... BP! British Petroleum!!!
30
posted on
09/08/2009 8:35:26 AM PDT
by
SierraWasp
(Obama Targets Medicare Advantage Plans (Seniors Are Getting Screwed!!!))
To: wolf78
Where we go from there is up to the market to decideExactly. It would be foolish for anyone (individual, company, government) to look at alternative energies as a one-size-fits-all solution.
Alternative fuels - in their current form - are excellent for specific applications. Local (off-grid, home) power, and hot water come immediately to mind.
However, to try and apply the same tech that works well in miniature to a national scale is foolishness. And, to have the gov't attempt to pound that particular square peg into a round hole with the use of massive subsidies, is foolishness of the highest order.
31
posted on
09/08/2009 9:06:49 AM PDT
by
wbill
To: PSYCHO-FREEP
Solar power "was a financial product, not an energy solution," says Ignacio Sánchez Galán, chairman of Iberdrola, the world's biggest renewable-energy company. Iberdrola has largely shunned solar because wind power is cheaper and requires less land.This guy was comparing WIND power to SOLAR power, not a coal fired plant.
32
posted on
09/08/2009 9:11:04 AM PDT
by
Paradox
(ObamaCare = Logan's Run ; There is no Sanctuary!)
To: SAJ
***..coal is dirt cheap compared to ANY other energy-generating method.***
Years ago, when I went to work in a coal fired power plant, it was pointed out to me that every time you turn on a light, you are actually using solar power converted by vegetation that grew milions of years ago and turned into carbon.
33
posted on
09/08/2009 9:12:13 AM PDT
by
Ruy Dias de Bivar
(Tar and feather the sons of b!#ches! Ride them out of town on a rail!)
To: wolf78
***or in the case of solar cell manufacturing: high-grad silicon or arsenic?).***
Just wondering...How well does a solar cell hold up in a serious hail storm, say golf ball or larger sized hail stones? Or when a big tree limb is blown down and hits the pannels.
34
posted on
09/08/2009 9:17:08 AM PDT
by
Ruy Dias de Bivar
(Tar and feather the sons of b!#ches! Ride them out of town on a rail!)
To: Ruy Dias de Bivar
True enough, but the process is rather too slow for practical day-to-day application.
;^)
35
posted on
09/08/2009 9:27:55 AM PDT
by
SAJ
(way too late to 'work within the system'. just about time for rebellion)
To: Ruy Dias de Bivar
Just wondering...How well does a solar cell hold up in a serious hail storm, say golf ball or larger sized hail stones? Or when a big tree limb is blown down and hits the pannels.
I'd say as a rule of thumb: If it doesn't break your windows, your solar panel should be fine. I guess there's a market for solar cell insurance and the real risk is factored into the insurance premiums. But then again, no type of power generation is perfect. If you have a record heatwave / drought conditions you'll e.g. run into cooling problems with a nuclear reactor.
36
posted on
09/08/2009 9:41:39 AM PDT
by
wolf78
(Inflation is a form of taxation, too. Cranky Libertarian - equal opportunity offender.)
To: BOBTHENAILER
Amen, thanks for the ping!
37
posted on
09/08/2009 10:11:56 AM PDT
by
CPT Clay
(Pick up your weapon and follow me.)
To: 2banana; Normandy; According2RecentPollsAirIsGood; TenthAmendmentChampion; Horusra; Delacon; ...
38
posted on
09/08/2009 10:34:29 AM PDT
by
steelyourfaith
("Power is not alluring to pure minds." - Thomas Jefferson)
To: Ruy Dias de Bivar; SAJ
vegetation that grew milions of years ago and turned into carbon. Maybe not. See The Deep Hot Biosphere : The Myth of Fossil Fuels by Prof. Thomas Gold of Cornell.
The reviews include this comment:
You have given many very good arguments, and I am convinced. -- Hans Bethe, Nobel Laureate
39
posted on
09/08/2009 12:14:01 PM PDT
by
slowhandluke
(It's hard work to be cynical enough in this age)
To: slowhandluke
40
posted on
09/08/2009 1:52:40 PM PDT
by
Publius6961
(Obama Garden Club: Nothing but plants.)
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