Good and Bad News in Solar PV
2GreenEnergy super-supporter Gary Tulie sent me this article on U.S. solar installations and notes: “Good, but not good enough.”
He’s right, of course. Though solar installations expanded slightly in the last quarter, they were hampered by several phenomena that are holding this industry back, e.g. “Net Metering 2.0 policy,” mandatory TOU (time of use) rates, and the Section 201 investigation currently underway at the U.S. International Trade Commission, looking at illegal trade practices coming from China.
And speaking of China, as we’ve often discussed, the world’s biggest polluter is also the leading investor in renewable energy. In the face of the astonishing exit of the U.S. out of the Paris climate change agreement, on the roundly discredited claim that it will hurt the American economy, Beijing is investing many hundreds of billions of dollars and creating literally millions of jobs in clean power.
Sad.
Craig,
Ah yes, how you admire the Peoples Republic of China.
Forgive me if I don’t share your faith in such a beacon of liberty, accuracy and truth as can be found in pronouncements by PRC media and People’s Ministry of information.
The PRC is indeed the leading investor in energy. Unfortunately, it’s investment comes at a terrible, (although well hidden), environmental cost.
I’m afraid reality is somewhat different than portrayed by PRC propagandists. The PRC has responded to the resurgence of US coal exports by changing domestic consumption policy.
The PRC is now reversing the trend to upgrade the quality of coal used domestically by reverting to lower grade coal for domestic consumption.
The merger of the State owned huge electricity generator and distributor, China Guodian Corp with the largest domestic Coal miner Shenhua Group Corp. , illustrates the PRC’s willingness to meet the challenge from the US.
The newly merged Guoneng Investment Group will be a very big and hungry Dragon indeed ! The biggest effect will be the increase of lower grade domestic coal by 185 million tons totaling 460 million tons increase for this alone.
In 2016 The PRC announced it was cutting coal production by 2% each year until 2025 in accordance with the Paris Accord.
However, what it didn’t state was that figure represented ‘existing coal mines, many of which are depleted or uneconomic. It didn’t cover new mines or mines in Inner Mongolia, or PRC owned mines in neighboring counties or mining investments world wide.
Since 2012, the PRC has steadily increased coal fired consumption by nearly 1.7 billion tons (nearly double the US total output).
While it’s true the PRC is investing in energy research and renewable projects, it’s certainly not abandoning coal or oil production.
The PRC is building massive coal transport infrastructure in inner Mongolia, it’s not investing so much money for a dying industry.
The cost of this single infrastructure project is more than the PRC total budget for renewables for 10 years !
Both Russia and the PRC have taken note of President Trump’s use of Coal and Oil exports to bolster diplomacy. Both great powers have a healthy respect for the quiet, but wily, Rex Tillerson.
Craig, it pays to read all the news, not just select the bits you want to read through rose tinted glasses.
There’s nothing wrong with articles in Solar Industry magazines promoting the solar industry, as long as you balance that advocacy with other sources. If not, you gain a distorted and unrealistic point of view.
Discussing the local economy and opinions on the future of the Coal industry at the ’19th hole’ at ‘The Hall’ Paintsville Golf Course and Country Club,( well worth a visit), provided me with a very different aspect to the otherwise depressing tour through the desperately underprivileged communities in Johnson and surrounding Counties.
Not even a visit to Van Lear the birthplace of the hugely talented, musical gifted Webb siblings of Butcher Hollow, could lift the air of dignified poverty.
The welcome, generous hospitality we have received in these small communities, is amazing. So different from the sinister “Deliverance” movie depiction of these Appalachian folk.
I suppose it may be in part to my companions charm, and boundless vitality, or curiosity that I’m from Australia, but I’m sure it’s also the nature of these folk once you get past their natural reserve.
Maybe if like RFK, Hilary had bothered to visit and care about about these folk and their concerns, she’d be in the White house today. These are very astute, shrewd folk, the can detect even the slightest degree of hypocrisy.
In these communities there’s not just genuine support for the President but real affection. By which I mean they are quite aware of his shortcomings, but regard them as human faults.
They hate the hypocrisy and conceit of his detractors. These are not the neo-Nazi rednecks, so beloved of the media, but deeply religious, American patriotic families, a little reserved with the shyness that often accompanies long term poverty, but genuine people.
My host’s at the Paintsville Country Club were more affluent and represented a cross section of business and professions. Here opinion was more divided on the future and the administration, but united in a dislike of Hilary Clinton.
Interestingly, the President gains support even among these folk due to the relentless personal attacks by his opponents, mostly when the media or celebrities attack members of the Presidents family.
I’m looking forward to visiting local bars in Paintsville, Pikeville, Ashland, Middlesborough, Williamsburg, and Hazard (visited by the Clintons and Tom Paxton).