European solar market trumps US but there is a bright spot.
According to a report by the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), published March 10, 2011, the US solar energy industry had a banner year in 2010 and is a bight spot in the US economy as the fastest growing sector. In contrast to the US GDP growth of 2.8%, the US solar market grew 67% in value in 2010 (SEIA executive summary).
US demand growth was, however, outpaced by a global market boom driven primarily by Germany and Italy. It’s reported that the growth in Europe was due to the large government incentives available at the time. However, those incentives have since expired.
The US solar market grew from $3.6 billion in 2009 more than doubling in 2010.
It’s expected that the US opportunity to expand its share in 2011 while the global market slows down. The numbers of installations are likely to double in 2011 in the US. Much of the global PV industry is turning its eye to the US with great expectations.
In 2007, only four US states installed more than 10 megawatts of PV. Now, 16 states have accomplished that feat, notably Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and New Jersey installed more than 50 megawatts. In 2010, New Jersey more than double it’s installations, ranking the 2nd largest state for solar installations with more than 100 megawatts in a single year.
“This report shows that solar energy is now one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, creating new opportunities for both large and small businesses. Every day, Americans across the country are going to work at well-paying, stable jobs at solar companies, from small installers all the way up to Fortune 500 companies,” said Rhone Resch, SEIA president and CEO. “This remarkable growth puts the solar industry’s goal of powering 2 million homes annually by 2015 within reach. Achieving such amazing growth during the economic downturn shows that smart polices combined with American ingenuity adds up to a great return on investment for the public. The bottom line is that the solar energy industry is creating tens of thousands of new American jobs each year.”
While New Jersey has outpaced even California, Maryland isn’t even on the map.
Maryland was one of the first states to adopt a Renewable Portfolio Standard in 2004. A solar “carve-out” was added in 2007, requiring that a percentage of the renewable portfolio standard must originate from in-state solar generated electricity; the percentage gradually ramps up to 2% by 2022. In April 2008 Governor Martin O’Malley signed Senate Bill 209, which accelerates the RPS to require that 20 percent of the state’s electricity supply come from renewable sources by 2022. In 2010, the Maryland legislature adopted provisions that further accelerated the RPS requirements in the early years (2011 through 2017), resulting in more residential and commercial solar installations during this period.
MDV-SEIA, the Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia chapter, is working on policy changes to fast track change, making it possible to hit the state requirements by 2022.
Overall, the state is at 27% of its 2022 goal.
Way to go New Jersey! Let’s get going Maryland! Be part of the solar revolution, green jobs and solar savings!
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Solar Technology: Eye-ing up the Sun
Solar systems are most efficient when they reach that “sweet spot” on your roof. Essentially, solar array systems need to be pointed in the right direction. Helping us do that is the Solmetric Sun Eye, a handheld device that helps solar installers target the sun to design the best systems. 
Shade is the arch nemesis of solar energy. So we employ the Sun Eye to avoid it and defeat it! Featuring a fish-eye camera, a level, an inclinometer, an electric compass, and a GPS, it gives our analysts all the information they could possibly need to evaluate a site.
The best part is that it’s so easy to use! You put in the GPS coordinates, walk around a site, and it measures the azimuth and tilt of a roof. It even tells you where the best location is for the system.
Using the fish-eye lens, it’s easy to see where obstructions cause shade, so we can use that information to better equip the homeowner or business owner to make decisions about possibly trimming trees. It’s an essential tool to making the most of your investment!
See more about the Sun-Eye here at the Solmetric web site, or watch the video to learn more!
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Product showcase: SunPower
Solar Energy World offers the best products on the market to homeowners throughout Maryland, Washington DC and New Jersey. 
Throughout the year, we’ll feature various products we use on solar installations.
For our first product showcase is SunPower®.
SunPower is the perfect combination of brawn and beauty. What makes them one of the best products on the market?
Best Technology
Since SunPower panels are the most efficient, that means they require less space. According to third party testing, SunPower produces more electricity than other solar solutions*.
Not all watts are created equal. Solar systems are often described in terms of the amount of power they are capable of producing in a given instant (measured in watts or kilowatts). The most important factor to take into account, however, is the amount of actual electricity the system is expected to generate during its lifetime (measured in kilowatt-hours). When compared to other brands, SunPower panels produce the most electricity in a wide range of conditions.
Higher efficiency ratings mean more energy savings.
Strong Return on Investment
Among the many benefits of a SunPower solar system, the fact that it offers the greatest returns may be the most important.
SunPower generates up to 16% more electricity when compared to other solar solutions.
Solar is one of the wisest investments you can make today. According to Business Week, homeowners can expect a return on investment of 15% or more per year on their solar system.
Most Experienced
With a network of best-in-class, certified dealers, homeowners can have peace of mind. SunPower dealers are the most thoroughly trained in the industry. Every certified dealer is handpicked and put through the most rigorous training.
Certified SunPower Dealers handle every step – permitting, incentive applications, testing, connecting with the utility and serving maintenance needs.
Schedule a free in-home appointment to learn more about SunPower.
*Arizona State University: 7% more than Poly-Si (Test dates: June – Aug 2008); Loughborough University (CREST): 9% more than Poly-Si (Test dates: 2007-2008);University of Stuttgart (IPE): 7% more than HIT (Sanyo), 16% more than thin film (Test dates: June 2006 – May 2009); University of Cyprus: 7% more than a-Si (Mitsubishi), 16% more than Mono-Si (BP Solar) (Test dates: June 2006 – May 2009).
Solar Energy World is a Premier SunPower® Dealer
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Commercial Solar: Installation
Many people know that Solar Energy World is a leading installer of residential solar panels. But did you also know that we are one of the largest solar integrators in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and New Jersey? We design and install cutting-edge, highly efficient, versatile solar energy systems for businesses who want to be both green and financially savvy.
There are many options available to commercial building owners, including Capital Investment (customer-owned system) and Power Purchase Agreement. Once your business decides on the best system, our team will work with you throughout the entire installation.
Our commercial installation services include a through cost-benefit analysis, a feasibility study and detailed engineering design, a walk-through of the permit and rebate process, the system install, and on-going service and support. From the initial site survey to marketing support to promote your solar system, Solar Energy World is there, step-by-step.
If you own a commercial building, schedule a meeting to learn how you can start saving and earning with solar.
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Commercial Benefits of Solar
You might think that commercial solar arrays are expensive. The reality is this: it’s costly NOT to go solar. Here’s the breakdown (what you’re missing!):
- The typical ROI (return on investment) is between 12-30%!
- The federal government subsidizes your system by 30% (uncapped)
- The state of Maryland (as an example) offers up to $2.5 million per system in tax incentives, and many counties in the state also offer credits or grants. Other states offer credits and grants as well.
- Increase the resale value significantly without adding to property tax liability
- Write off 100% depreciation in the first year
- Reduction in operating costs while electricity costs skyrocket throughout the country
- “Hedge” against the rising energy costs
- Promote your business’ efforts at going green
These are a handful of the benefits of going solar for businesses.
Business owners also have options to meet their needs, as Solar Energy World offers a type of “rent-to-own” option called “Power Purchase Agreements” or the ability to own your own system and fast-track MAXIMUM savings and earnings.
Learn more about our company’s commercial solar energy options, and the government incentives for solar power that are available.
Remember, “Go green, save green!“
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Solar Panel use in the Winter
There is often confusion about solar panel use in winter: Can they be used? How do I clear snow? Are they less effective? Solar panels absorb solar energy and convert it into electrical energy, so it doesn’t matter if it’s warm outside or not. In fact, solar panels continue to work throughout the winter months.
Winter days are shorter, so there’s less time each day for the panels to soak up the sun’s rays. Snow covering the panels will prevent them from working as effectively. If snow covers your solar panels, the sun will likely melt it fairly quickly; the slant from the roof will also help snow slide off. And remember, if the snow knocks out power, you and your family won’t be without heat!
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“There is so much information! How can I choose the best system for my home?”
The easiest way to choose the right system for your home is to let us do the work! You can schedule an appointment to learn more about solar energy panels, solar hot water heating systems, and rebates and incentives. We’ll make sure that you understand how various systems can benefit you and increase savings.
You’ll want to contact your energy company to determine your average kilowatt hour usage for the past year. Once you have this information, it helps in choosing a solar system that will eliminate your energy usage.
Once we’ve provided you with a free cost/benefit analysis and you’re ready to move forward, we’ll send our technician to your home to confirm the measurements and energy savings.
We understand that all of the rebates and incentives can be confusing, so we’ll complete the tax credit and rebate paperwork to ensure that you’re getting all the financial support that is available.
The installation is usually complete within 2-3 days depending on the size of your system. Once your system is installed, we set up the final inspection with the appropriate municipality and/or utility company. Then we make sure you’re connected to the grid so you can start receiving the rewards for going solar.
We’ll complete the final paperwork for the appropriate Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) so you’ll start seeing savings and earnings immediately!
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Electrifying News for West African Kids
Imagine waking up tomorrow in sweltering heat, with no air conditioning. Then, you have to walk for miles in burning sunlight to collect firewood and fresh water, all before breakfast can be cooked. Throughout the rest of the day, you and your children labor in equatorial heat to make ends meet.
At nighttime, your kids still have the strength left for their studies, but once the sun goes down, they have to share one lamp to every dozen or so children, so their work is rarely finished. These children actually want to study, but they go to bed having spent another day without the ability to do their homework.
In Mali, one man is making a difference in these children’s lives.
Most of rural Africa does not have access to electricity, but an entrepreneurial 26-year-old named Daniel Dembélé is changing that for good.
Daniel Dembélé and his PV panels
“Over here in Mali, 80% of the villages have no light – Not 80, it is 99%,” said Dembélé, a West African and European small business owner. He returned to his home country to seize on a solution he envisioned for many people who live in the rural poverty of Mali.
“I have 500 students. And the graduation rate is close to 20%,” said one teacher. One student summarized the problem: “When we go to school our parents have no one to help with the chores. They pull us out because they need us to work in the house.”
With no light to study for their classes, these students cannot pass their exams, graduate, and make a difference for themselves and their families. Dembélé invented a solution. He makes small and portable low-wattage photovoltaic (PV) panels, teaches local communities how to make them, and is able to power light bulbs in classrooms, health centers, and homes. PV solar panels are also a much more sustainable solution than burning wood, which is time consuming, dirty, and ultimately, a nonrenewable resource.
So far, he has been able to solarize numerous schools, houses, and clinics, providing access to solar energy for dozens, and uplifting communities in incalculable and invaluable ways. Educated children will be able to help themselves and their families end poverty and improve health, while transforming lives.
The graduation rate in the newly solar-powered schools went from 20% to 97%, and Dembélé’s business, Afriq-Power, is continuing to electrify schools and clinics in Mali.
Recently, LinkTV’s newly launched site ViewChange.org opened a contest for stories and videos showcasing global development. Dembélé and his work were featured in a documentary called “Burning in the Sun,” which won in the View Change “Innovation” category! The film will also be on Netflix in the spring.
To learn more about how you can get involved, attend a film festival featuring the movie, or purchase the DVD, visit the official blog for “Burning in the Sun”.
In the meantime, you can get involved right here in the USA by learning more about how to power your own house with solar energy. Since you probably need more power than a 60 watt light bulb, we don’t recommend building solar panels yourself. Visit our main page to learn more about solar, and to schedule a free in-home solar analysis to find out how you can get your own system. Solar is better in Africa, it’s better here in the USA, and it’s better everywhere.
Green really can save the world!
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Green Living: Solar Energy Powering New Orleans’ Make It Right Homes
Nearly six years have passed since Hurricane Katrina pounded the Gulf Coast and caused miles of destruction in the city of New Orleans, including the 9th Ward. Make It Right has garnered national attention due in part to the participation of actor Brad Pitt, but the environmentally friendly construction is admirable, as well.
Homes in the 9th Ward are equipped with rooftop solar panels that generate 2.7-3.0 KW of energy. The systems over-produce energy, allowing homeowners to gain credits that reduce their monthly energy bill.
You can read more about solar panels on homes in New Orleans at Make It Right’s website: http://www.makeitrightnola.org/index.php/building_green/detail/energy_efficient_features/
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There must be some disadvantages to solar energy. What are they?
While we’ve noted the numerous advantages of solar energy, it is only responsible to note some of the disadvantages, as well.
- Initial cost of installation: Solar energy systems can be costly to install at first, but with various grants and incentives available, that cost can be greatly reduced.
- Larger space required: Because of the equipment associated with solar energy, smaller residential and commercial spaces may be limited in solar opportunities.
- Solar energy requires light: While this is true, the light required for solar energy does not need to be direct. Consumers can also install solar thermal systems that are powered by heat.
- Pollution can impact solar panels: Unfortunately, pollutants in the air can have an effect on solar energy panels. The blockage caused by pollution prevents optimal light from reaching the panels.
Like all energy systems, solar energy does have disadvantages, but the many advantages that we’ve noted so far usually outweigh these points. We are happy to discuss incentives to lessen initial costs and panel placement to ensure optimal light.
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