Solar Power Economics
A 1-day discussion of the factors influencing solar power's competitiveness
25 November 2010, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Introduction | Enquiry | Registration | Download Brochure
Course objectives
Regularly updated and highly interactive, this one-day course both describes and encourages attendees to discuss the key factors which determine the competitiveness of solar power generation in current and future electricity markets. It will quantify the geographic variations in solar resource, describe the influences on its cost and the regulatory frameworks currently supporting solar, explain the challenges (and solutions) in integrating solar into the grid, and highlight the pros and cons of competing options (both renewable and fossil).
Style & Level
The course is run in an informal and highly interactive manner which recognises that there are no simple answers to questions such as “when will solar reach Grid Parity?” - rather a series of interconnected issues, many of which remain open to debate.
No background level of either financial or technical knowledge is assumed and all concepts are clearly explained, making the course suitable for a wide variety of attendees from both within and beyond the solar industry.
Approximate Timing
Course begins: 09:00
Course ends: ~16:00
Agenda Details
Solar Power Applications, Markets & Resources
- Dividing “solar” into different markets and applications.
- The different competitive contexts of the different markets and applications
- A review of key market data and trends.
- Quantifying solar resources:
- Why location matters so much.
- Optimising installation and determining the value (or otherwise) of tracking solutions.
- Simple, free tools to estimate energy potential in different regions.
Selling Solar to the Grid
- An introduction to electrical power markets: demand, supply and price.
- Different types of power plant: how and why does solar compete?
- What do utilities and transmission operators look for in a power source?
- Solar variability – how much of a problem? (And solutions to cope).
- The “Smart Grid” and the future of solar power.
- The value of storage.
- Regulatory supports and requirements, such as Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs).
“Grid Parity” and the Cost of Solar Electricity
- The cost of solar:
- Capital and Operational cost factors and examples (and why numbers vary so much).
- Influences such as: market demand, raw materials supply, manufacturing capacity, cost/learning curves and other factors.
- Technology choice and costs such as balance-of-system and land-use.
- Grid Parity: what does it mean and is it a useful measure?
- Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE):
- How is it calculated?
- Which variables have the biggest effect?
- How do regulatory incentives (e.g. ITC) affect it?
- How much impact do financing variables have?
- How useful are studies of LCOE and what do they show?
- Introducing a comprehensive (and free) tool for modelling the finances of solar projects.
- Other factors in the solar power debate:
- Energy security and risk.
- Solar jobs.
- Further or future regulatory influences, including carbon markets and taxes.
- Solar vs. alternative power generation technologies: can it compete?
About your trainer
Dr John Massey is Green Power Academy's Training Director and in-house solar expert. He combines a strong academic science background with over fifteen years experience researching and analysing technology industries and trends in the commercial sector (covering a range of technologies and markets including renewable energies, telecoms and consumer electronics). He has delivered training globally, explaining the workings and financial / commercial context of rapidly evolving technologies to senior, non-technical executives. He has also developed educational material for both live and distance learning courses.
Following a 1st Class Honours degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, John gained a PhD in Earth Sciences and – in addition to his commercial experience - has gained further academic qualifications in topics including Economics, Innovation and Sustainability.