Entwicklungen nach Fukushima - ESB-Radler

We still have those terrible images in our mind: first the incredible strong earthquake that hit
Japan in March 2011, followed by the devastating Tsunami – and to make things worse – the
nuclear accident at Fukushima, caused by the Tsunami following the earthquake. The accident
hat been considered by many to a be a game changer in the energy sector.
Solar Energy after Fukushima’s Nuclear
Accident
By Carlos Rivera (MBA 2008)
It is true that Germany’s Government – anticipating a
voter’s uproar – reacted promptly (too promptly some
say) and decided to bring forward by several years the
complete cease of local nuclear energy production. And
it is also true that the safety aspects of nuclear plants
is being questioned world-wide, including nuclear-energy-friendly
France. But what happened to the solar sector?
Has the nuclear accident triggered a world-wide
solar boom as expected by proponents of alternative energy?
Technically, the solar sector is divided in two different
technologies: photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric
(also known as CSP: Concentrated Solar Power).
Photovoltaic
This is the technology one normally thinks of when we
talk about solar energy – we see the panels increasingly
on numerous roof toops through the city and country-
14 Schwerpunkt Erneuerbare Energien – Entwicklungen nach Fukushima
side. The panels consist of semiconductor materials, such
as silicon; when sunlight hits the surface a voltage difference
is generated which in turn creates electric power.
The disadvantage of this technology lies mainly in none
existing energy storage possibilities (battery storage is
still too expensive). As a consequence, the power generation
is decoupled from the power consumption. Power
is being generated when the sun is shining and not
necessarily when power is needed. This has serious impacts
on the electric power grid, which of not compensated,
has serious implications on the system stability.
From the cost perspective, this technology has gone a
very long way, currently reaching about 1 USD per 1 Watt
(module prices). This is still more expensive than wind
energy, but it is a small fraction of what it used to cost
some years ago.
The module prices are still falling and the target of reaching
grid parity looks nearer than ever (of course, it
depends on the location). However, it has not been reached
yet and the projects are only possible thanks to
the generous subventions by public institutions. These
subventions are questioned in the course of the evolving
sovereign debt crisis around the world as affected countries
try to reduce their budget deficit – partly through
the reduction of the subventions for technology mentioned.
This has been the case of Spain, Germany and
the US – the main markets for PV.
Increased production capacity not met by current demand,
shows its effects on decreasing prices and enhances
consolidation within the industry:
ß BP decided to leave the market, due to lack of profits;
ß Isofoton (Spain), Solon (Germany), Solyndra