Rhone Resch, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) sent us an email today talking about the Solyndra hearings taking place on Capital Hill.  Apparently the company (Solyndra) is not providing much information on their situation, which has led to a partial information vacuum during the hearings around the current state of solar in the United States. With the media machine buzzing and looking for sound bites in a politically charged environment (GetSolar’s opinion), surrounding a high-profile clean-tech failure, the SEIA is making all effort to set the record straight about solar in the US.

After taking on a billion dollars of private venture capital, and a further half billion dollars in Federal loan guarantees, Solyndra finds (among other things that will surely come to light in the investigations) that it no longer has a cost competitive solar product in today’s much lower-cost solar market.  In an effort to dispel various solar technology myths the SEIA has published several of the most prevalent myths, which we have re-published here for your reading. Rhone Resch was on C-SPAN this morning (see video below), providing additional background information about Solyndra and solar in the US.

MYTH #1: There are no jobs created by the solar industry
FACT:
Today, the solar industry employs more than 100,000 Americans, double the amount of solar workers in 2009. They work at more than 5,000 companies, the vast majority being small businesses, in all 50 states. The industry grew by 69 percent in the past year, making it one of the fastest growing sectors in the U.S. economy.

MYTH #2: Solar only works in states like California.
FACT:
Solar energy works in all 50 states. Germany has more installed solar capacity than any other country and it receives roughly the same amount of sunshine as Alaska. Less than one-third of the photovoltaic (PV) capacity installed in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2011 was installed in California. In fact, more PV was installed on commercial buildings in New Jersey than in California during that quarter.

MYTH #3: The market for solar energy is very small.
FACT:
The U.S. solar energy market is big and growing fast. In 2010 alone, $6 billion worth of finished solar energy systems were installed in the U.S. The U.S. solar energy market grew 69 percent in the second quarter of 2011, helping aid our economic recovery. In fact, many analysts project that the U.S. will become the largest solar market in the world in the next few years.

MYTH #4: Solar energy is too expensive for widespread usage.
FACT:
Solar energy is already cost effective in many locations across America. The price of solar modules has dropped 30 percent since the beginning of 2010 as the industry scales up and companies innovate with new products and manufacturing techniques. Also, new financing options allow homeowners and businesses to start saving money on their utility bills as soon as they turn on their solar systems.

MYTH #5: If solar power really worked, it wouldn’t need government support.
FACT:
The U.S. decided long ago to support energy sources since energy drives our economy. Every major energy source and technology has benefited from federal government R&D support and incentives of various types. This is true of the oil, natural gas, hydroelectric, nuclear and biofuels industries—all of which continue to receive government support today.

MYTH #6: Solar products are all made in China.
FACT:
The U.S. was a significant net exporter of solar products in 2010, including to China. Total U.S. exports of solar energy products was $5.6 billion, with net exports totaling $2 billion. Of the $6 billion in direct value created by U.S. solar installations in 2010, more than $4.4 billion, or 75 percent of the value, accrued to the United States.

MYTH #7: Solar devices require more energy to manufacture than they produce in their lifetime.
FACT:
Studies have conclusively demonstrated that energy payback for photovoltaic (PV) energy is now less than three years. Given that PV module warranties are generally in excess of 20 years, a PV system will produce far more energy over its lifetime than was consumed to manufacture it. Technological progress is reducing the energy consumption of PV manufacturing further. Energy output and input ratios for concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar water heating equipment are also favorable.

MYTH #8: Solar energy needs a technological revolution to go mainstream.
FACT:
Solar technologies available today already provide enough electricity to power 630,000 American homes. Solar panel prices have fallen 30 percent in the past year and a half. No scientific breakthroughs are required for solar energy to power America. Solar is ready and available today; it only needs smart and consistent policy to thrive.

What better place to host the biggest solar energy installation at a U.S. national park than Yosemite? Tucked in a region that gets more annual sunshine than just about anywhere in the country, the California park boasts nearly perfect conditions for solar power.

Officials several days ago inaugurated the 672-kilowatt (kW) solar array, which comprises a 500-kW parking canopy for employees and visitors; a 100-kW rooftop solar array atop a warehouse; and a 72-kW wall-mounted installation (pictured above).

As we reported over a year ago, it was originally speculated that the “solar panels are expected to generate electricity at a levelized cost of about 13 cents per kilowatt hour, reducing annual electricity costs by about $104,000.” According to The Business Journal, however, those annual energy costs savings are actually projected to be closer to $50,000 — equivalent to around 12 percent of the park’s annual electricity needs.

All 2,800 solar panels were supplied by …click here to read more

In light of the recent heat wave — er, heat dome — that has been blanketing the country, we thought it’d be fitting to share one of the interesting side benefits of solar panels: they can help keep your roof cool. Here’s how it works, in general terms:

Solar panels are typically installed on a rack that stands off against the roof. The resulting gap between the panels and the underlying shingles allows air to circulate around the array. This setup is good for the solar panels, which perform best in cooler temperatures. It’s also good for the roof, the ceiling and the residents inside.

It turns out that the gap and the panels create a thermal barrier that helps keep the inside of the building cool. Recently revisited by the Independent, a 2010 report confirms that buildings with rooftop solar panels are typically cooler than those without: …click here to read more

In case you missed the news, the U.S. Air Force Academy on Monday flipped the switch on a brand-spanking-new solar array at its facility in Colorado Springs.

Designed and built by SunPower Corp., the 6-megawatt solar power system is connected to Colorado Spring Utilities’ electricity grid. In its first year of operation, the array is expected to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 1,200 average American homes each year — or about 12,000 megawatt-hours.

Speaking at the inaugural event, Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould (pictured above) emphasized that the project was made possible in large part thanks to a partnership between the Air Force and the local community, according to U.S. Air Force News: …click here to read more

Last year, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont put forth a bill that envisioned solar panels on 10 million roofs across America by 2020. It was an ambitious goal that ultimately (and unfortunately) failed to gain traction in Washington.

Now, it appears Sanders is at it again. Along with Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) and Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), the Vermont Independent is moving his 10 Million Solar Roofs Act of 2011 forward.

The only problem is that the Senator’s math is a little messy.

Last year’s bill called to for $250 million in funding for fiscal year 2012, and $500 million annually through 2021. By our count, that’s a total budget of over $4.5 billion.

According to Solve Climate News, however, the most current version of the bill carries a price tag of just $250 million spread over a five-year period, starting in 2012. …click here to read more

In the aftermath of Japan’s nuclear disaster last month, China officials made known their intent to double the country’s solar energy target — from 5 gigawatts (GW) by 2015 to 10 GW by 2015. Now, it seems, the country is doubling down on its solar-power ambitions… again.

As reported by AFP, China recently announced it will more than double its solar power target for 2020 to 50 GW — an amount roughly equal 25 percent more than all the solar photovoltaic (PV) power currently installed worldwide.

William Pentland, playing a bit of a skeptic, offers further perspective: …click here to read more

Google is up to it again. The search giant recently announced plans to invest five million big ones in a solar energy park in Germany.

The recently completed facility is located on 47 hectares (116 acres) in Brandenburg an der Havel, near Berlin. The power plant has a peak capacity of 18.65MWp, which puts it among the largest in Germany.

Google is always looking for new ways to encourage development and deployment of renewable energy across the world. This facility will provide clean energy to more than 5,000 households in the area surrounding Brandenburg. Until the early 90’s, the site was used as a training ground by the Russian military. We’re glad it has found a new use!

We agreed to jointly invest in this project with the German private equity company Capital Stage, which brings strong experience in the German photovoltaic and renewable energy market. Germany has a strong framework for renewable energy and is home to many leading-edge technology companies in the sector. More than 70% of the solar modules installed in Brandenburg are provided by German manufacturers.

Google has been making headlines for its clean energy-related activities in the U.S., as well. The company is backing a plan to build an undersea transmission line that, if completed, would facilitate the transfer of offshore wind power to densely populated Atlantic seaboard markets.

What follows may or may not be a shameless plug for my alma mater. Regardless, it’s a great annual event that deserves a bit of press…

The Tufts Energy Conference, now in its sixth year, offers attendees the chance listen to (and mingle with) some of the foremost thinkers in energy-related fields.

Plus, this years there’s a cocktail party (taking place Friday, April 15)… what more could you want? …click here to read more

Department of Energy head Stephen Chu yesterday announced over $110 million in funding to support the development of advanced solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing techniques.

“Expanding the U.S. solar energy industry is an important part of the Administration’s goals to diversify our electricity supply and rebuild America’s manufacturing base to create jobs now and in the future,” said Secretary Chu. “The SunShot Initiative will not only keep the United States at the forefront in solar energy research and development, but will help us win the worldwide race to build a solar manufacturing industry that produces solar systems that are cost competitive with fossil fuels.”

In recent years, the U.S. has rapidly lost ground in terms of total investment in clean energy. China-based solar-panel manufacturers, in particular, have made headway thanks in part to government-backed loans.

In addition to federal tax credits available to to homeowners and businesses that install solar energy systems, the U.S. is aiming to promote cost efficiencies in the solar manufacturing process. As part of the SunShot Initiative, funding will be made available over five years to a number of companies, including:

• Bay Area PV Consortium (Stanford, CA) – $25 million for University-Focused Development
• SVTC Technologies (San Jose, CA) – $25 million for Industry-Focused Development
• U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (Albany, NY and Palm Bay, FL) – $62.5 million for Industry-Focused Development

See the SunShot wesbite for more info.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance this week is having its annual conference in New York. Among the tidbits making their way through the Interwebs, I found the following particularly interesting:

(1) Michael Liebreich, chairman of the research group, noted in a talk that he expects the cost of developing a solar power project to drop by half in the next decade, worldwide. New Energy Finance numbers suggest the cost of large solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to decline to from  around $3.00 per watt today to $1.45 per watt in 2020.

A reduction of that magnitude would make solar energy more competitive with fossil fuels. …click here to read more