European Prices Of Solar Is Lower Than Coal Or Gas

The UK-based Sunday Telegraph publication, yesterday reporting concerns over a shortfall in European gas supply, a Brussels and London-based thinktank last week confirmed the historical evolution in Europe, based on the cost of carbon.

The Sandbag thinktank announced the carbon rate determined by the EU’s 13-year-old Emissions Trading Scheme, collectively with the rising wholesale prices of fossil fuels, has guaranteed solar, as well as onshore wind, are more economically viable choices.

And with that estimate based on last Thursday’s EU closing price of €20.42/tonne ($23.72), the trend has extended into this week, with the carbon rate rising to €20.55 at Friday’s close.

The Sandbag figures indicate lowest bids of €38/MWh from recent wind and solar PV auctions in Germany opposite a carbon price which, combined with the raw fuel costs gives year-ahead generation costs of €46/MWh for coal production and €49/MWh for “bridge” fuel gas.

Europeans Running Out Of Gas

And the article goes on to show that those fossil fuel production expenses will be underestimates as they fail to factor in undeclared variables such as transport expenses, operations and maintenance, investment costs, waste product disposal and pollution standards.

The Telegraph recently reported gas wholesalers are communicating shipments east because the commodity charges a significantly higher price in East Asia, leading to fears oversupply in Europe after the bitterly cold weather depleted reserves at the start of the year that brought the “beast from the east” storm.

EU And Solar

The periodical's investigators expect the EU carbon price, decided by a cap-and-trade system of carbon reductions which can be sold between emitters, to hit €25/tonne by the end of the year and €35 next year, particularly with the ETS being developed to better factor in climate change consequences.

With Germany this year planning to draw up a timetable for the phase-out of coal, it seems there has never been a better time to invest in renewable power, rendering the U.K. government’s decision to place its faith in nuclear and fracking for gas even more bewildering.

The World Is Going Solar

There's plenty of indications that around the world there will be some changes coming in regard to issues that will arise as the world runs out non-renewable energy sources.  It makes you all worry, right? Well, there is something we can do about it.  You can quickly jump into the solar panel game.  You can be part of the solution rather than the problem.  You are already on this website, so you must have some inclination about what to do, you probably already have informed yourself to the point where you realize that solar panels can, and for a meager cost, feed your homes energy needs with renewable clean energy. 

Just make sure, and promise us here at HahaSmart you will have a look at what we can offer you on the cost of solar panels and cost of solar installations. We will strive to find you the best prices available. Follow the solar experts. Try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need and how much you can save on your energy bills each month.