Essay by Eric Worrall
First printed on JoNova; Regardless of inexperienced claims renewables are the most affordable type of energy, renewable producers are struggling to outlive Europe’s hovering power costs.
European photo voltaic PV manufacturing in danger from hovering energy costs – Rystad
By Jules Scully
October 6, 2022Round 35GW of PV manufacturing tasks in Europe are prone to being mothballed as elevated energy costs harm the continent’s efforts to construct a photo voltaic provide chain, analysis from Rystad Vitality suggests.
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Audun Martinsen, Rystad Vitality’s head of power service analysis, mentioned excessive energy costs not solely pose a big menace to European decarbonisation efforts however might additionally lead to elevated reliance on abroad manufacturing.
“Constructing a dependable home low-carbon provide chain is important if the continent goes to stay to its targets, together with the REPowerEU plan, however as issues stand, that’s in critical jeopardy,” he added.
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Learn extra: https://www.pv-tech.org/european-solar-pv-manufacturing-at-risk-from-soaring-power-prices-rystad/
Shortly after the above was printed, a French photo voltaic module plant was closed;
Maxeon closes French photo voltaic module manufacturing plant
By Jules Scully
October 7, 2022Maxeon Photo voltaic Applied sciences has shut down a PV module manufacturing plant in France, citing a difficult worth setting.
The ability was impacted by rising prices and taxes on uncooked materials imports, in keeping with a Maxeon spokesperson.
“The manufacturing worth of the Porcelette plant not permits us to be aggressive on the European market,” the spokesperson mentioned in a press release despatched to PV Tech.
Situated in northeastern France, the power was inaugurated in 2012. In keeping with press launch from that yr, the plant had a 44MWp manufacturing line able to producing 150,000 photo voltaic panels yearly.
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Learn extra: https://www.pv-tech.org/maxeon-closes-french-solar-module-manufacturing-plant/
The plain query, if renewables are so low cost, why don’t these vegetation relocate to a big plot of land, disconnect from the grid, and energy their manufacturing amenities from their very own low price renewable power merchandise?
Appears an apparent answer – however for some purpose renewable producers appear to be selecting to shutter their vegetation, slightly than switching to consuming their very own product.