PV reducing cost of electricity in Germany?

[heinbloed]

Thanks, J. Ingram !

[heinbloed]

Here a report from the USA, I'm not sure how to read the results:

http://www.uspref.org/images/docs/SC_ITC-Payback_July_12_2012.pdf


How are installed systems of renewable electricity generation influencing the electricity prices in the UK?

From what I've heard some years ago a 10-15 % share in a national electricity market makes renewables a price killer, non-renewable electricity investments becoming dead socks.
This share has now been achieved in the UK, most international energy companies specialised in non-renewables have lost interest in the UK's non-renewable electricity market
(Eon, RWE, SSE, etc...).

Unless heavily subsidised like the Chinese atomic power plants. At home - in China - these new atomic plants have been put on hold. Not worth it. Existing sites will be finished but new ones not financed, not being allowed, So the press.

[heinbloed]

After reaching for 20% renewables in the grid in the first quarter of 2012

http://www.photovoltaik.eu/nachrichten/details/beitrag/fast-20-prozent-strom-aus-erneuerbare-energien_100005591/

25% have now been achieved

http://www.photovoltaik.eu/nachrichten/details/beitrag/erneuerbare-erreichen-erstmals-25-prozent-marke_100008664/

A short message here in English, it's just out:

http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2012-07/24151083-germany-pv-contribution-increases-47-percent-yoy-451.htm#

And Scotland already more then 30% !

[heinbloed]

In May 245 MWp PV had been added to the German grid, in June another 1,790 MWp. Together 2,044 MWp.

The electricity prices at EEX dropped by 10% compared to May/June 2011.

Installation confirmed by the Federal Grid Authority here:

http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/cln_1912/DE/Sachgebiete/ElektrizitaetGas/ErneuerbareEnergienGesetz/VerguetungssaetzePVAnlagen/VerguetungssaetzePhotovoltaik_node.html#doc149586bodyText2

(click onto "Meldungen Mai und Juni" at the bottom of the page)

and electricity price development here:

http://www.iwr.de/news.php?id=21716

(use 'google translate' or similar)


PS

Here the news in English:   http://www.solarserver.com/solar-magazine/solar-news/current/2012/kw31/germany-installs-437-gw-of-pv-in-1h-2012-ihs-predicts-73-gw-over-full-year.html

[heinbloed]

Swiss electricity sellers losing hundreds of millions - thanks to German PV generation:

http://www.videoportal.sf.tv/video?id=997cb26b-d467-46eb-bb3b-85bc04d886ce;DCSext.zugang=videoportal_sendungsuebersicht

They complain about a disturbed market, can't sell expensive hydrostorage electricity anymore during mid-day. German PV is cheaper than hydro-storage generated electricity.

Since they can't sell their product they don't buy cheap baseload electricity (from atomic and coal power) anymore.

-------

The German PV market is open for everyone, the Swiss hydro-generators missed the oportunity and now complain about the consequence of their own greed, didn't invest when there was the right time. Instead profits were eaten in the past, blasted for the sake of shareholders.
Now they have oceans of water and no draught in sight.

 

[heinbloed]

Two Dutch gas-fired powerplants closed down yesterday thanks to cheap PV power.
The two plants are situated in Claus- and Moerdijk, owned by ESSENT.

See here:

http://www.z24.nl/economie/artikel_374604.z24/Duitse_zonnestroom_legt_Nederlandse_gascentrales_plat.html

These gas-fired plants are owned by the German provider RWE who owns also 30% of Holland's only commercial atomic powerplant, Borsele.This atomic power plant is now running in the minus as well and will be closed down anyhow soon. See

http://fd.nl/ondernemen/195416-1208/centrales-van-essent-staan-steeds-vaker-stil

The Dutch electricity provider ENECO runs their latest brand-new gas-fired powerplant on stand-by, the cheap PV from Germany doesn't allow for full throttle production.

RWE plans to run their Dutch gas fired plants now on remote control from Germany, turning them on if the market conditions allow for a profit making. And this will be fewer and fewer times. 
So there is plenty of back-up if wind and sun can't deliver.



 

 

[heinbloed]

New installation record in Germany

4.373 GWp of PV have been installed in the first half of 2012.

http://www.taz.de/1/archiv/digitaz/artikel/?ressort=me&dig=2012%2F08%2F10%2Fa0173&cHash=bc7176bcdf

and

http://www.sonnewindwaerme.de/photovoltaik/deutschland-neue-rekordinstallation-fuer-2012-sicht

Detailed installation sizes and places (by state) here:

http://www.eupd-research.com/fileadmin/templates/images/mailer/EuPD_Research_Installationen_2012.jpg

And a new world-wide installation record as well:

http://www.photon-international.com/news_archiv/details.aspx?cat=News_PI&sub=worldwide&pub=4&parent=4634

First electricity traders in Germany are lowering their electricity prices for household consumers as well. The price for industrial consumers is dropping since years.

[heinbloed]

PV installations already overtook wind installations in Germany

The federal grid agency of Germany has published the latest electricity installation report.

PV  comes to a total of 29.887 GW and wind energy to 28.959 GW

A total of 169.3 GW is installed, renewables cover 69.9 GW (41 %) .

Source:

http://www.solarserver.de/solar-magazin/nachrichten/aktuelles/2012/kw35/kraftwerksliste-der-bundesnetzagentur-zeigt-solar-hat-wind-ueberholt.html

[heinbloed]

Electricity prices dropping in Europe thanks to German PV installations:

http://www.photon-international.com/news_archiv/details.aspx?cat=News_PI&sub=media&pub=4&parent=3379

The report covers the observed electricity price on a Saturday, one could argue that there is little demand on weekends so 'only' households do benefit ....

Well, as reported in this thread, normal working days have seen similar price patterns as well.


Some more info in English from Fraunhofer society:

http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/news/news-2012/electricity-production-from-solar-and-wind-in-germany-in-2012

http://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/news/news-2012?set_language=en


PV installations are that fast realised nowadays that serious market distortions (cheaper prices) are being expected:

http://www.photon-international.com/news_archiv/details.aspx?cat=News_PI&sub=media&pub=4&parent=3379

In Spain ST electricity has now covered for the first time 4.1% of the national electricity demand for 17 hours in one stretch. That includes nightime:

http://www.protermosolar.com/

http://www.solarserver.de/solar-magazin/nachrichten/aktuelles/2012/kw35/protermosolar-solarthermische-kraftwerke-in-spanien-erreichten-im-juli-mit-4-einen-rekord-anteil-an-der-stromversorgung-des-landes.html

[heinbloed]

Austria's electricity providers can't charge what they used to anymore. Industrial electricity at peak time sold frequently for €80.-/MWh, now it is down to € 50.-/MWh.

The Technikum Wien (http://www.technikum-wien.at/en/home/) has confirmed what the market is already living up to:

http://www.technikum-wien.at/fh/aktuelles/news/?full=4487

PV power has now the biggest share in installed electricity production capacity in Germany, larger than any other competitor. Over 30 GWp.

The goal for Germany is set at 200 GWp to give full coverage, 100% solar electricity, see:

http://www.pv-magazine.com/services/press-releases/details/beitrag/germany--200-gw-pv-potential-_100005597/#axzz269KqyxVM


The achieveable global installation target is considered to be 300GW/a:

http://www.pv-magazine.com/features/eu-pvsec-2010/#axzz269KqyxVM

For a good discussion:

http://www.photovoltaic-conference.com/

Italy is taking off as well:

http://www.photon-international.com/news_archiv/details.aspx?cat=News_PI&sub=europe&pub=4&parent=4701

[heinbloed]

For tomorrow, a normal working day, 50% of renewable energy is expected in the German grid:

http://www.transparency.eex.com/en/Statutory%20Publication%20Requirements%20of%20the%20Transmission%20System%20Operators

Ca. 24% wind power, ca. 26% PV power, the rest other renewables, conventional power sources plays only a marginal role.

The EEX prices dropped accordingly:

http://www.eex.com/en/

Peak demand prices are again lower than base load prices.

Why insulating a house to a certain standard and equipping it with expensive "certified" gimmiks when the energy price is that low?

[heinbloed]

http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16012707,00.html

and

http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16235063,00.html

[heinbloed]

A Swiss market place, price units are in 'Rappen' (Swiss currency)/kWh:

http://www.green-energy-marketplace.ch/index.php?section=auction

[heinbloed]

By 15 % electricity prices fell, year on year, at the Paris based European Energy Exchange ("EPEX",  http://www.epexspot.com/en/ )

This price drop is seen over the entire market, peak-load, base-load and futures.

Article here, in German language:

http://www.euwid-energie.de/news/neue-energien/einzelansicht/Artikel/strompreise-im-grosshandel-15-prozent-guenstiger-als-vor-einem-jahr.html


We are understanding that some national electricity markets simply do not not exist to serve the consumer. Are not "market driven" but controlled by the Mafia:

http://www.solarserver.com/solar-magazine/solar-news/current/2011/kw46/uk-electricity-prices-to-soar-by-2021.html

[heinbloed]

In Germany the "Erneuerbare Energien Abgabe" (renewable energy tax) which suports the producers of renewable electricity will be  increased from january 2013.

It rises from 3.59 cents per kWh to 5.28 cents per kWh for householders.

Despite this increase of taxes no utility has anounced any price increases for next year - so far:

http://www.iwr.de/news.php?id=22227

The 15% price drop of wholesale electricity prices (caused by increased competition with renewable electricity) within last year is financing now the Energiewende - it seems.

Renewable electricity covers now 27.2% of the electricity consumed in Germany, PV on its own provided 9.6% in July:

http://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/konjunktur/nachrichten/mehr-als-ein-viertel-oekostrom-erneuerbare-energien-auf-hochtouren/7257808.html