Despite a few hick-ups. It’s the only energy source that is getting cheaper..
First, some good news out of Germany, from Reuters:
German cabinet backs nuclear exodus by 2022
Mon Jun 6, 2011 10:53am EDT
* Cabinet validates plans to shut reactors
* Utility E.ON to seek more compensation; RWE studies moves
* Industry group, CDU politician query high climate goals
* IEA criticises Germany
(Adds utilities, industry on climate, updates share prices)
By Markus Wacket
BERLIN, June 6 (Reuters) – Germany’s planned exit from nuclear power received backing from the cabinet on Monday, the economy and environment ministers said in Berlin.
The far-reaching energy strategy, spurred by the crisis in Japan, reverses longer life cycles that were granted to nuclear power stations only last autumn.
It will entail changes to power grid expansion plans and the subsidy system for renewable energy such as solar and wind.
The ruling Christian Democrats (CDU) and their coalition partners the Free Democrats (FDP) are to discuss details separately, such as the schedule of the nuclear power station phase-out and whether some capacity will remain on stand-by to safeguard supply.
Chancellor Angely Merkel on Friday agreed with state premiers on a phased exodus from nuclear plants, which supplied 23 percent of German power last year, and to stick to plans to more than double the share of renewables to 35 percent by 2020.
This came after a decision on May 30 to phase out nuclear generation by 2022 and leave eight suspended plants shut for good. [ID:nLDE74T0GY]
Both chambers of parliament have to agree a change of course on energy strategy by the parliamentary summer break from July 8.
MARKET REACTION
Shares in E.ON (EONGn.DE) and RWE (RWEG.DE) were down 2.47 and 0.54 percent at 1444 GMT, while renewable stock Phoenix Solar (PS4G.DE) was up 2.27.
The government dropped plans to add a further cut to incentives for photovoltaic energy. [ID:nB4E7GU00F]
Wholesale power markets drifted lower on Monday. The benchmark Cal ’12 position in Germany was at 59.25 euros a megawatt hour, down 50 cents from Friday. Traders said much of the nuclear news had been priced in when the contract hit 60 euros in early April.
Some analysts estimate that utilities risk losing billions of euros in earnings, but they point out that there will be offsetting factors such as greater opportunities for renewables.
E.ON said it was facing additional financial damages and would seek compensation, after already announcing last week it would sue the government over a fuel tax that it intends to levy although lifespans are no longer extended. [ID:nWEA4685]
A spokesman said on Monday the concessions made since then to state premiers and the opposition posed even greater risks.
A spokeswoman for RWE said her company was studying the latest decisions and “was keeping all legal options open”.
In another response, CDU energy expert Thomas Bareiss told Reuters the move could mean lower CO2 emissions goals for Germany and the EU as more fossil-fuels-based generation plants would probably step in to replace lost nuclear capacity.
The head of Germany’s federation of industry (BDI), Hans-Peter Keitel, also said on German radio a change to Germany’s ambitious climate protection goals might be necessary.
The International Energy Agency criticised Germany’s move.
“By deciding to phase out nuclear, it is clear that the cost of electricity will increase, and the security implication is that reliance on imports rises,” its executive director Nobuo Tanaka said in London. [ID:nLDE7550X9]
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Markus Wacket, Gernot Heller, Chris Steitz, Tom Kaeckenhoff, Vera Eckert; editing by Jason Neely and Jane Baird)
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Wall Street’s Half-Reports on the Solar Industry’s Bright Future
Clearwater Assets
It is interesting how the Wall Street media and firms give you half the picture.
“Over the last decade, PV technology has acquired the potential to become a major source of power generation for the world. That robust and continuous growth is expected to continue in the years ahead.”
“Firstly, renewable energy is no longer considered a curiosity. PV has proven itself to be a reliable and safe energy source in all regions of the world.”
“Secondly, the price decreases that have brought PV close to grid parity in several countries have encouraged new investors.”
“The total installed PV capacity in the world has multiplied by a factor of 27, from 1.5 GW in 2000 to 39.5 GW in 2010 – a yearly growth rate of 40%. That growth has proved to be sustainable, allowing the industry to develop at a stable rate.”
“While growth in the EU in coming years could be low, or even negative, non-EU countries should more than pick up the slack from 2011 and 2012 onwards, ensuring continuous global PV market growth until 2015 and beyond.”
“With between 131 and 196 GW of PV systems likely to be installed in 2015, the forecasts are promising.”
“The future of the PV market remains bright in the EU and the rest of the world. Uncertain times are causing governments everywhere to rethink the future of their energy mix, creating new opportunities for a competitive, safe and reliable electricity source such as PV.”
|
Year
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
|
|
1,581
|
2,513
|
6,168
|
7,257
|
16,629
|
Here is EPIA’s forecast for worldwide, annual installations in gigawatts, which includes a reduction in Germany and some European countries, but growth in most of the world:
|
Year
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
|
Moderate
|
13,330
|
15,335
|
18,240
|
20,855
|
23,930
|
|
Policy-Driven
|
21,145
|
23,155
|
31,360
|
36,670
|
43,900
|
In the conservative “Moderate” scenario, the solar market will decrease by 20% from 2010 to 2011. (Most solar stocks are Chinese, which are currently trading with P/Es of 3 to 4. If earnings for solar companies drop by 20% in 2011 because the solar market drops by 20%, then their P/Es would go to 3.75 to 5. Some critics may argue that earnings may drop twice as much as revenue. If so, then their P/Es would go to 5 to 6.7, which are still cheap even compared to value stocks.)
“The Policy-Driven scenario proved to be the most accurate one over the past years.”
“Based on strong customer demand for JA Solar’s products and a number of new customer wins, the Company currently expects total cell and module shipments to exceed 2.2GW in 2011, representing an increase of approximately 50% compared to 2010…Sales contracts signed to date for 2011 delivery amount to more than 2GW, representing approximately 90% of the Company’s expected shipments for 2011.”
“…shipments for full year 2011 remains unchanged at 2.2GW.”
“LDK Solar reiterates its 2011 guidance of revenue in the range of $3.5 to $3.7 billion…” (Revenue for 2010 was $2.5 billion.)
“2011 will be another year of growth”
“…Chinese modules, reaching more than 50% of the global PV module production in 2010, against less than 15% in 2006.”
The above EPIA report, which includes a reduction in solar installation in Germany, was published before Germany’s announcement to shut down all of their nuclear power plants by 2022. Therefore, the EPIA report needs to be updated, and it is likely that their next report will show even higher growth.
“All numbers mentioned … are based on announced production capacities. The announced capacity is typically higher than the actual capacity due to non-realised expansion plans or obsolete and non-competitive production lines. In addition, the average capacity utilisation is not of 100% because of downtime (maintenance, insufficient material and component supply), production facilities that are still in the ramp-up phase or simply because of a temporary lack of demand. Finally, contract manufacturing is becoming an important phenomenon in the PV industry, increasing the risk of double counting of the production capacities.
The existing overcapacity offers a kind of built-in flexibility that shields the PV industry from severe fluctuations in the current demand.
Once the demand has stabilised, further consolidation will bring global capacity utilisation to more competitive levels. In a recent report, PricewaterhouseCoopers shows that there were 32% more Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in the solar sector in 2010 than in 2009.”
- Is it possible that the source of the report is not giving the full picture?
- Is it possible that the source of this report has a bias, such as a long or short position, directly or indirectly?
- Is it possible that the source of this report is trying to manipulate the stock?
- Is it possible that the source is putting a spin on the news or giving half-truths?
