...of Energy: Rooftop Solar Panels Coal fired energy plants have long been recognized as extremely damaging to the environment. The role of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, in precipitating climate change is well documented. Carbon-dioxide emissions have increased manifold since the Industrial Revolution and have led to an increase in the Earth’s temperature in the past 50 years, worsening forest fires, drought and coastal flooding among other disastrous side effects of climate change, according to the U.S. Global Change Research Program. (NOAA National Climatic Data Center). In Kentucky where 91% of its power is generated from coal (Department for Energy Development and Independence; Kentucky Coal Association), there is a great impetus for utilities to cut down on carbon emissions. Unfortunately current efforts to reduce carbon emissions are largely insufficient because they do not attempt to reduce America’s and Kentucky’s overreliance on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. Rather, currently adopted technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and natural gas-fired plants that halve carbon emissions merely seek to reduce the environmental impact while still relying on fossil fuels for energy. (Nijhuis) (Breeze) For a solution to be viable in the long run, it must propose an alternative energy source to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for energy which is the root cause of excessive carbon emissions. Investing in renewable energy like solar power is therefore...
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...of solar business opportunities. There are several solar industry opportunities to choose from; retail and wholesale distribution, after-market products, installation and repair, and other service oriented businesses. To aid in our entrepreneurial decision making in entering the solar industry, we have researched the following macroeconomic areas; GDP growth rate, interest rates, level of unemployment, business cycle, fiscal policy, monetary policy, international trade, and demographics. GDP Growth Rate Graph 1 Graph 1 For over fifty years the most widely accepted measure of a country’s economic progress have been the changes in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is a calculation of market output, adding together the price of all final goods and services that are produced and traded for currency within one year. It is measured by combining the nation’s personal consumption expenses, government expenditures, net exports, and net capital formation (GDP, n.d.) Graph 2 Graph 2 The United States by far is the GDP leader in the world with a GDP of $16.8 trillion in 2013, ahead of China’s $9.2 Trillion and just below the entire European Union with an estimate $17.4 trillion GDP. This is an important comparison because although the U.S. has the highest GDP on the planet, however, it ranked 20th in solar power countries per capita during 2012. The huge gap between the leading country, Germany, and the U.S., shows how much potential growth there is in the solar industry in...
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...demise. Will this story become a parable for America's waning competitiveness? With its clever combination of solar and cylinder, the "O" with rays striking it, and the tag line, "The new shape of solar," marketing for Solyndra's unique tubular module design was at the top of the class. It is reminiscent of making oats cereal in small toroids, the shape of the letter O. We need to determine if there was more to Solyndra than just good public relations. Figure 1: Solyndra's elegant design is evident in this 200 series panel with well-spaced cylindrical modules and simple mounting system. Tubular module design The design for Solyndra panels was based on a series of tubular modules mounted parallel to each other inside a frame. The generously spaced tube structure allowed airflow through the panel thereby reducing wind loading. Where large-area flat panels might fly off a roof in strong winds, Solyndra claimed its panels could withstand 130-mph winds without specialized mounting. With no need to physically anchor the panel to the roof, Solyndra certainly delivered on the promise of simpler installation. On the other hand, the danger of strong winds pulling flat panels off a roof is more of an issue for the partially upright mounts typical of panels angled to the optimum azimuth for the particular geographic location. As topical and "green" as solar panels are, they are a...
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...renewable energy industry. She is looking at one section of the industry to invest in, which is that of contracting the installation of solar panels. Cindy, has read, that families and businesses are saving money by going to solar for their power needed. Also, that there are government back regulation to make solar more assessable to people. For Cindy, she is looking pass the business opportunity for installing solar planes, but that this product can reduce pollution and help save the environment. GDP and Solar Energy In the United States and most nations in the world, energy is vital in keeping society stable and expanding. Energy provides the ability to aid in transportation, activities in daily living and employment. In the United States, $1.2 trillion dollars were spent on energy in 2013 or 8.3% of the GDP. That translates into an annual cost of 3,895 dollars per person was spend on energy consumption. With the great environmental impact seen by the production of energy, there was been more of a call, for renewable energy forms, as that of solar panels. The United States dose consumes 19% of the world’s energy supply and a 19% total of the world’s GPD. With the large needed for energy, companies are looking for new way to produce this produce that cost less and reduces the environmental impact. Renewable energy consumption is projected to increase annually at a rate of 1.6%, on average, between 2011 and 2040, compared to 0.3% growth in total energy. Solar photovoltaic...
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...SolarCity to make its own solar panels? Elon Musk faces several management challenges in preparing SolarCity to make its own solar panels. First, rather than following suit behind companies that are focusing on the “platform-only model” and doing business solely as the middleman, Musk proposes that SolarCity make their own photovoltaic panels rather than purchase them from outside suppliers. This may prove to be a bit of a challenge because SolarCity will need to spend more time and money on the resources required to manufacture these photovoltaic panels instead of buying them from suppliers. Resources such as equipment, raw materials and more manpower to actually manufacture the product. Also, by expanding the Silevo factory in Buffalo, New York to deal with the increasing demand for solar panels, there is a higher need for efficient and effective management to deal with a more diverse workforce. With more ground to cover so to speak, managers will be faced with the challenges of setting appropriate goals for SolarCity and utilizing its resources efficiently in attempts to build a competitive advantage (Jones & George, 2016, pp. 20-21, 30). Communication among managers through planning, organizing, leading and controlling (pp. 7-10) will also be a challenge in expanding the organization, since all the messy manufacturing work is going to be done within the company rather than outsourcing to other contractors or depending on the influx of cheap panels from China. Lastly, Musk...
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...The sun, a source of unlimited, sustainable, renewable energy, it is no wonder why solar energy systems is being used worldwide from country’s in poverty to homeowners in the United States. From large scale utility plants to urban communities, more solar energy systems are being used to generate electricity for many different reasons. Whether it’s saving our planet, saving money, or increasing the value of a home, these are just a few reasons why solar energy is growing. Over the past three decades SunPower Corporation has been able to improve the technology in renewable energy to generate the most energy from the sun. SunPower has been leading the quest to improve lives and our world for a better future one day at a time. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration in September of 2014, utility-scale solar power plants generated over 12,303 gigawatts- hours of electricity compared to September 2013which generated 6,048 gigawatts-hours. This is enough energy to power 1,513,703 average U.S. homes, (Danko, 2014). With the trend of solar energy and clean carbon emissions, the numbers of solar companies has risen. From manufacturing to installing, having a solar energy system has been easier and cost effective especially for homeowners. To motivate homeowners to start using solar energy system, local and state wide government has offered many incentives such as, “the eight-year extension of the Investment Tax Credit for renewable energy that was part of the...
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...U.S. Imposition of Steep Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels – Protecting or Hurting American Markets and Consumers? On Tuesday, December 16th 2014 the United States Department of Commerce approved a collection of trade tariffs on solar panels imported from China and Taiwan. Tariffs on these solar panels, ranging from 18.56% to 35.21%, have been in place since earlier this year when the Commerce Department issues a preliminary decision. The case was brought by SolarWorld Industries America, Inc. the U.S. subsidiary of German company SolarWorld AG. SolarWorld alleged that Chinese companies were selling solar panels in the U.S. market below manufacturing cost, a practice known as “dumping”, with the intent being to cause harm to domestic manufactures of similar products. This particular case dates back to 2012 when SolarWorld first successfully petitioned to impose solar panel import tariffs. Chinese manufactures of solar panels then started using solar cells, the central component of the technology used to harvest the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity, made in Taiwan as a means to circumvent the restrictions. This led SolarWorld to again ask the Department of Commerce to expand the tariffs to include Taiwanese manufactured panels. The proposal will next go to the U.S. International Trade Commission for review, and if approved, keep the assessed duties in place for at least five years. A SolarWorld spokesperson has declared this action as a major victory...
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...‘‘PERSUASIVE SPEECH OUTLINE’’ Solar power is a viable source of energy. ‘INTRODUCTION’ ATTENTION GETTER: It’s the human condition to underappreciate what we are given when we become accustomed to its presence .The everyday convenience of electricity isn’t fully appreciated until a power line goes down and you’re thrust back into the colonial times with candles and fire stoves. Unfortunately as Pakistani’s we visit the dark ages several times a day. So now I ask you to imagine a Pakistan where unlike the false promises of politicians there is actually electricity in every house, where you don’t have to hear the gyrating noise of a generator everywhere you go. A Pakistan which isn’t plunged back into the dark ages every 3 hours. BACK GROUND: With the depletion of the energy resources in the world, governments, industries and scientists are in search of cost effective and readily available energy resources that can be exploited to satisfy the increasing energy demands in the world. Solar energy has been regarded as one of the most paramount and cardinal sources of renewable energy. As per scientists, the energy received from the sun in one hour is more than the whole world’s total produced energy in a year. It would take only around 0.3% of the world's land area to supply all of our electricity needs via solar power. Pakistan is going through a very severe energy crisis right now. Though Pakistan has got a lot on its plate right now, solving this issue would eradicate dozens...
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...through true ignorance of the facts or in an attempt to be duplicitous about the damage that is really being done. In 2013 4,751 MW of new photovoltaic (PV) capacity was installed representing a 41 percent increase in deployment over installation levels in 2012 (Solar Industry Data, 2014). While this might mean a reduction in non-renewable resources (referred to as NRR’s going forward) burned, it also represents a drastic increase in the use and production of numerous toxic chemicals that result from the PV manufacturing process. According to Dustin Mulvaney, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at San Jose State University, the production of PV panels begins with the creation of Silicon wafers, a process that uses and/or produces sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide both of which are known as caustic chemicals that can be dangerous to the eyes, lungs and skin. As the production process continues corrosive chemicals like hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid and hydrogen fluoride are used along with phosphine or arsine gas in the doping of the semiconductor material. Even after these items are made, the use of toxic products continues. Mulvaney once again points out that lead is often used in solar PV electronic circuits for wiring, solder-coated copper strips, and some...
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...civilizations and many distinctive cultural traditions. The Mayas, Olmec’s, and the Toltec’s all came before the great Aztec empire, who was a nation of great wealth. In 1519 thru 1521 Mexico was conquered and ruled by the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes. Mexico was the colonized by Spain for the next three hundred years. Mexico won their independence from Spain in 1821 after many bloody revolts and uprisings. Mexico has a population of (2010 est.) 112,468,855 (growth rate: 1.1%); birth rate: 19. /1000; infant mortality rate17.8/1000; life expectancy rate. Solar Photovoltaic Solutions is an American company based in Atlanta Georgia. The proposition of this report will be to export our industry leading solar panels into the Mexican market. This report will provide evidence that there is a business opportunity for our company to assist Mexico with viable alternative energy solutions that are being underserved. Solar Photovoltaic Solutions LLC has identified opportunities in three segments in the country. The research will focus first, on Mexico’s political/ regulatory changes, followed by an economic opportunity evaluation and challenges of doing business in Mexico, Lastly a comprehensive analysis of the photovoltaic market and value chain. Mexico’s political changes have begun with the...
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...Solar panel Business Economics ECON545 Cindy It’s really interested in the solar panel business. To Cindy this look likes a great oopportunity and long-term Investment, with a huge potential of financial growth. Even though she is really exited and willing do business she had no Idea of what its involve in the process nor the business itself. Because she know that I’m very great in Economics and I can help her make the best choice; She has requested for me to help her understand the risk as well as financial implication. I have agree to help her in the by showing her the following process to make the best decision. * Understanding the market * Demand Determinant * Supply Determinant * Elasticity * Cost of production * Economic profit or loss The first thing we need to established is that in New York City it would be impossible to run just on solar panels (at least for now); however we can use solar panel to consume less Cole electricity to produce less carbon oxide and safe thousands of dollars in each household. There are many ways to install solar panel on a building or apartments; for example on the rooftop, Windows, fires cape, and even walls. But not only can she sale to building she has the option to sell to the city for street light all across the city and even span to the state. She can sell to the parks (private or public) and parking lots. The opportunities are endless specially since electricity in the city is monopolized...
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...Executive Summary We are launching “Power Plastic” as a subsidiary of “Konarka Technologies” in India, it’s unique technology is based on patented photo-reactive materials made from conductive polymers and organic nano-engineered materials, this allows Power Plastic to provide alternative and new lightweight, flexible, and cheap material that converts indoor and outdoor light into electricity, our product is much more versatile than traditional solar panels, which will utilize in our marketing strategy. We are targeting India’s middle-Class segment, rural & remote areas which lack basic power grid infrastructure, we are expecting to utilize India’s policy shift towards more clean and renewable energy, which lead India to be among the top 5 countries in the world in terms of renewable energy capacity. Our positioning strategy is based on the competitive values Plastic Power brings as opposed to the conventional solar products currently available in the market, though competition would be fierce with industry leaders who have been operational in India for the past 2 decades, posses governments support whether in access to land or allocation of government subsidies to their customer base, in addition showcase many success stories despite the many challenges faced. Our objective in terms of market share is to 5% for the next 12 years, targeting 80m households; our overall marketing budget is 24 million US Dollars. Macro-environmental Factors India, due to its fast...
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...In today’s fast paced manufacturing world, it is essential for the industrial engineering sector to embrace emerging technologies in order to improve practices that will in turn improve productivity and help reduce inefficiencies. In the industrial engineering sector today there are many new technologies that are capable of assisting engineers in their quest to improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace. Some examples of this are computer aided design, (CAD), computer aided manufacturing, (CAM), 3-D printing, robotics and LED’s. All of these technologies have been about for some time, but in the last few years they have started to come to the forefront in industry and it is believed by many that they will only become better and better over the next decade. To try and explain how emerging technologies can and are indeed helping industrial engineers I will choose just a few examples of these...
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...2/21/2016 Org Policy & Strategy JA Solar Holdings Co, a publically traded company, competes in the energy industry and specializes in the manufacturing and sale of solar sell products. They primarily sell their product through sales personnel and provide business to business distribution of their products and overall they create modules which turn sunlight into usable forms of electricity. Their competitors include Hanwha Q Cells Co, JinkoSolar Holding Co, Trina Solar Ltd, and a newer entrant, Vivint Solar Inc. In the past, efforts to move the world towards solar energy have faced a series of challenges but seem to differ in priority between societies in the developing world. Countries that are known to be more economically deprived have focused on the use of fossil fuels because of their reliability and ease of use. In areas like the U.S., people have been hesitant to adopt solar power cells because of how expensive installation costs were in years past. Often time’s people fail to have a futuristic mind set to see the added benefits and money saving opportunities that you get from installing solar cell panels around your home. However with recent tax incentives and major efforts to make solar cell products more accessible and affordable for households, more and more people have begun to adopt the technology. In China, efforts to move into renewable energy solutions like solar power have increased dramatically and many of the world’s largest solar cell manufacturers can be found...
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...Chinese Energy Market Michael Alexander Landon Bunn Thomas Burrus Benjamin Duva Marcela Horan Table of Contents: Executive Summary…………………………………………Page 3 Demand for Energy…………………………………………Page 4 Coal and China…………………………………………………Page 6 Solar Energy in China………………………………Page 8 Competition…………………………………………………………Page 9 U.S./China Relations………………………………Page 10 Recommendations……………………………………………Page 14 Joint Ventures………………………………………………Page 15 References…………………………………………………………Page 17 Executive summary As the nation with the world’s largest population moves towards an industry focused on consumer products, the need for an abundant supply of energy becomes essential. While coal and oil are the current sources of energy, concerns about the quantity available and environmental problems force officials in China to look elsewhere for the country’s energy. Nuclear, wind, and hydroelectric power are all options in this field, but solar energy seems to be the most promising. This paper researches the history of energy demand in China and the potential of solar energy. By providing information about competition, the relations between China and the U.S., and methods of entry, we hope to give insight to those interested in entering the Chinese Energy Market. Demand for Energy in China Figure [ 1 ] From the 1940s to the 80s, the Chinese economy grew from an output level of 18% to 44%, while the amount of energy required to match the economic output tripled. This created an...
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