Giant solar project in California rivals coal plant

MarketWatch ^ | Aug. 15, 2008 4:15 p.m. EDT | Steve Gelsi, MarketWatch

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- SunPower Corp. shares rallied 18% Friday after the solar-panel maker announced its participation in a giant 800-megawatt, photovoltaic project from Pacific Gas & Electric Corp., hailed by industry insiders as the first major utility-scale endeavor of its kind in the United States.

Analysts cheered the project's news as a positive move for the solar stocks, hit by concerns tied to a slowing economy and oversupply, as well as uncertainty over federal tax subsidies for alternative energy.

A common sight on rooftops or emergency phones on the highway, photovoltaic panels are finally taking a stab at producing energy that rivals full-scale coal and nuclear plants, at least when the sun is shining.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Anyone know about this?

[mgc1122]

Psssst ... here’s a tip. Coal still burns at night, and when it’s cloudy or raining.

[xcamel]

Not reported... the solar project needs 700 MW of conventional backup to be of any value. No regular power plants will be running any less because of this.

[Argus]

So does uranium.

[BigBobber]

Wedbush Morgan analyst Al Kaschalk noted that the companies said the deal is contingent upon the solar-power investment tax credit, which awaits congressional approval. He's expecting an extension later this year or early in 2009.

The key paragraph.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

August 15, 2008
PG&E Signs 800 MW in Solar PV Deals with OptiSolar & SunPower

***********************EXCERPT**************************

The 550-MW Topaz Solar Farm project would utilize thin-film PV panels designed and manufactured by OptiSolar in Hayward and Sacramento, California. Located in San Luis Obispo County, California, the project would deliver approximately 1,100,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually. The project is expected to begin power delivery in 2011 and be fully operational by 2013.

SunPower's planned 250-MW solar ranch, would be located in San Luis Obispo County's California Valley and could deliver an average of 550,000 MWh of electricity annually. The project is expected to begin power delivery in 2010 and be fully operational in 2012.

[Onelifetogive]

Psssst ... here’s a tip. Coal still burns at night, and when it’s cloudy or raining.

But, electricity demand is highest in the daytime when A/C is running. These things would be OK for peaking. Saves the millions of dollars required for storage systems.

[Jacquerie]

With enough taxpayer subsidy, any government program will “work” just like they did in the Soviet Union.

[mgc1122]

“So does uranium.”

Excellent addendum. Well stated.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thant’s a good point...it will be interesting to see how this goes....

[VictoryGal]

Here’s another tip. Just because lefties like something, doesn’t mean it ain’t useful :-) Seriously what’s wrong with celebrating this?

[guitarplayer1953]

Next we need to look into who in congress and the senate bought stock in this company prior to this being announced, of what they knew and when they knew it.

[ThomasThomas]

Peek demands occurs during sunlight hours on the clearest days. Solar is a workable scorce because much of peek demand is for A/C.

[wolfpat]

How much deforestation will have to occur for this to be built?

[Bryan24]

Large scale solar power generating is NOT a bad thing. It is basically free energy during the day. If it can be exploited, exploit it and reap the benefits.

People poo-poo the idea of electric cars. If you can build an electric car that wil travel 100 mmiles on a charge, and will charge in 8 hours, let companies start installing electric chargers in parking lots and charge your car while at work. The trip home is FREE.

[NormsRevenge]

Hugh indeed, that’s one of them ventures that the GUb and al gore has allies in their portfolios.. well funded with venture capital some years back to pull this off.. follow the money

[StormEye]

"Wedbush Morgan analyst Al Kaschalk noted that the companies said the deal is contingent upon the solar-power investment tax credit, which awaits congressional approval. He's expecting an extension later this year or early in 2009.

The key paragraph.

The key paragraph indeed. It's only feasable if the American taxpayer is forced to pay for it.

[kabar]

How much of a subsidy does this cost the taxpayer?

[FixedandDilated]

I demand that you stop peeking! That can get you arrested.

Now, about peak demand for electricity, that’s another matter. ;)