Comments on: 49% Of New US Electricity Capacity Is From Solar, Q1 Record (Report)

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:28:00 +0000

I suspect the uncertainty of federal support for wind meant that a lot of projects were rushed to completion before the end of the year.

There was only 43 MW of wind under construction at the end of 2012, so not a lot to finish in the first quarter of 2013.

Now that the support system has been changed from “completed” to “under construction” by the end of the year we should see a more orderly installation rate.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:15:00 +0000

I think part of the non-residential deals with owner ship model in US. A lot of stores are owned by a REIT and the stores just rent space. I think REITs have problems right now investing in PV.

Also if 49% of Q1 was PV, and it was second behind NG; wasn’t any wind added? Or did they all finish in Q4 and now are just starting new again.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:52:00 +0000

Good ruminations. Thanks. No clear answers for you.

By: JamesWimberley

JamesWimberley — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:45:00 +0000

The decline in non-residential installation – flat since 2011 is odd. Youds expect businesses owning real estate – shopping malls, warehouses, factories – to be more focused on the bottom line than householders, who are also influenced by fashion and values. So why did a 15% year-on-year fall in prices not lead to greater commercial spending? The true elasticity of demand can’t be zero. Possible explanations: business owners are more influenced by (manufactured) policy uncertainty; they are more conservative, and susceptible to the Kochtopus’ anti-renewables campaign; the early adopters were largely influenced by reputation (IKEA, WalMart) and the majority are just waiting until solar is clearly a paying proposition; they can’t get finance even for certainly profitable investments.