NO BEST SUN

No Single Solar Winner: Developers, Utilities Embracing PV And CSP
Jessica Lillian, 31 May 2011 (Solar Industry)

"As the U.S. solar market continues to reach new heights, both photovoltaics and concentrating solar power (CSP) will be required in order for the industry to achieve future goals. Given the inherent advantages and disadvantages of each of these technologies, diversification within a single company is becoming an increasingly popular strategy.

"Developers and equipment suppliers that work with both PV and CSP enjoy attractive synergies…[that] can broaden their geographic range, help utilities meet renewable energy mandates in a more grid-friendly fashion, and contribute more fully to the industry's aggressive solar deployment goals…"

solar tower power plant (click to enlarge)

"…SolarReserve received a $737 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for its 110 MW Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project…[which will use a] proprietary molten-salt power-tower technology allows it to deliver power as a baseline operating facility or as a peaking facility eligible for favorable time-of-day pricing…[but] CSP technology relies on high solar resources, thus limiting its footprint…[so SolarReserve builds PV] in a joint venture with GCL Solar, a subsidiary of China-based silicon manufacturer GCL Poly.

"For utilities, varying the size and type of solar power projects brought online can help mitigate the grid-connection issues that have historically challenged renewable energy integration…Arizona Public Service (APS)… has deliberately pursued solar technology diversification… to streamline connections and speed overall deployment…[It] has a power purchase agreement in place with Abengoa for the Solana plant, a 250 MW trough CSP facility under construction…[and] five contracts totaling 80 MW in place under its Arizona Sun Initiative, which focuses on small- to medium-scale PV…"

PV solar power plant (click to enlarge)

"...[APS] is also pursuing residential-scale PV deployment…Residential PV faces its own set of policy hurdles nationally, but both CSP and utility-scale PV development remain particularly vulnerable to the whims of policymakers.

"…The DOE's loan-guarantee program – which…has filled a critical finance void over the past few years – is set to expire at the end of the year…Many industry executives have expressed little faith that the program will be extended and are now operating under the assumption that it will no longer exist in a matter of months…[They say] U.S. permitting procedures for large-scale solar - PV and CSP alike - can stifle development…"