This component has the function of combining a set of strings by connecting them in a parallel form. This reduces the number of wires running from each string to the inverter. The voltage of the combiner box will be the same as the string voltage, and the output current of the combiner box will be the same as the sum of the current of each string. The typical current capacity of the combiner boxes is 200 ADC although capacities up to 400 ADC are not uncommon. For crystalline silicon modules, a 200 Adc combiner box is used to connect approximately 16 strings, while the same box would connect approximately 60 thin film module strings. The combined power of the strings is sent to the inverter with a cable appropriately rated for the current output. The combiner boxes integrate some protection devices such as fuses
[42] For example, PVsyst, PVSol, SAM, RETScreen, Insel, TRNSYS, PV F-Chart, Solarpro, MauiSolar, etc.
[43] REFTI is a project designed to acquire financial data and project development insight form the renewable energy community. The project, run by NREL, polls the industry semi-annually on the cost of equity, debt terms, and other criteria and produces aggregated, confidential results which are presented via webinars and publicly available spreadsheets. REFTI data and presentations are available at: https:// financere. nrel. gov/finance/REFTI.
[44] Only the first six years of the project life are shown in the Figure 11.4. All values are based on a “halfyear” convention of the associated depreciation schedule.
[45] DOE has a goal of $1/watt installed for utility-scale systems by 2017. See http://www1.eere. energy. gov/ solar/sunshot/index. html
[46] Assuming a 8% weighted average cost of capital, seven year straight-line depreciation, and 1-axis tracking. Low-cost funds available from Germany’s KfW bank were excluded as that support structure isn’t available in the U. S.
[47] Assuming a 35% tax rate and a 10% internal rate of return.
[48] Overview and Status Update of the §1603 Program. U. S. Treasury. March 29, 2012. http://www. treasury. gov/initiatives/recovery/Documents/Status%20overview. pdf. Accessed April 23, 2012.
[49] U. S. Treasury. 2012, op cit.
[50] Awardees represented in “List of Awards” spreadsheet available on Department of Treasury 1603 program website. March 13, 2012. http://www. treasury. gov/initiatives/recovery/Pages/1603.aspx Accessed April 24, 2012. The spreadsheet does not indicate all projects – some are grouped by awardee.
(e) heat from the geothermal fields and (f) the bioenergy (Art. 3, II). Camara de Diputados. LXI Leg- islatura. (n. d.) Ley para el Aprovechamiento de Energias Renovables y el Financiamiento de la Tran – sicion Energetica. [Online] Available from: http://www. diputados. gob. mx/LeyesBiblio/ref/laerfte. htm [Accessed April 2012].
[52] These attributions that the LAERFTE gives the CRE were published in the Official Journal of the Federation conventions and model contracts to regulate power generation according to the capacity, which are the following: 1. contract of interconnection for sources of renewable energy and small-scale cogeneration systems; 2. Contract of interconnection for sources of renewable energy and cogeneration in medium-scale systems; 3. Contract of interconnection for electric power generation with renewable energy or efficient cogeneration plants; and 4. Contract of interconnection for source of hydroelectric power.
[53] The Congress of the State of Guanajuato created the law for the Fomento del Aprovechamiento de las Fuentes Renovables de Energia y Sustentabilidad Energetica para el Estado y los Municipios de Guanajuato, published on 8 November of the year 2011. The Congress of the State of Coahuila created the law of Ley de Fomento al Uso Racional de la Energia in the year 2007, which consists of 18 articles. The law for the Ley para el Fomento, Uso y Aprovechamiento de las Fuentes Renovables de Energia del Estado de Durango y sus municipios was published in the official newspaper No. 1 dated 3 January of 2010. Finally, the Ley de Fomento de Energias Renovables y Ahorro de Energia del Estado de Sonora was published on August 27, 2009 and consists of 26 articles.
[54] According to the Ministry of energy, the participation of the geothermal and wind energy grew hardly 1% during this period.
[55] The CRE regulates the natural gas and electricity industries, grants the permits for the generation of energy, adopted the framework for the provision of energy contracts, and methodologies for the calculation of tariffs for private energy service providers. Camara de Diputados. LXI Legislatura. (n. d.) Ley de la Comision Reguladora de Energia. [Online] Available from: http://www. diputados. gob. mx/ LeyesBiblio/ref/lcre. htm [Accessed April 2012].
[56] Global Wind Energy Council. (n. d.) Regions. Mexico. [Online] Available from: http://www. gwec. net/ index. php? id=19 [Accessed April 2012].
[57] Asociacion Nacional de Energia Solar. (2010) Balance de Energia. [Online] Available from: http:// www. anes. org/anes/index. php? option=com_wrapper&Itemid=13 [Accessed April 2012].
[58] Another goal facing the program is to electrify 2,500 rural communities by the year 2012, would thus be mainly solar and wind energies.
[59] It is the National Institute of housing of Mexican workers. The Infonavit’s law which States that the contributions give right to obtain a credit for housing or the periodic return of the Fund which constitutes, so-called savings was passed in 1972. Institute of the National Housing Fund for workers.(n. d.) Hipoteca Verde. [Online] Available from: http://portal. infonavit. org. mx/wps/portal/TRABAJADORES [Accessed April 2012].
[60] Secretaria de Energia. (n. d.) Portal de Energias Renovables. [Online] Available from: http://www. reno- vables. gob. mx/ [Accessed April 2012].
[61] Art. 40: “…In this fraction shall apply provided that machinery and equipment are in operation or operation for a minimum period of 5 immediate years following the year in which the deduction is made except in the cases referred to in article 43 of this law. Taxpayers who fail to meet with the minimum period specified in this paragraph shall cover, where appropriate, the corresponding tax by the difference resulting between the amount deducted in accordance with this fraction and the amount which should deduct in each exercise in terms of this article or article 41 of this law, have not implemented the deduction of 100%. For these purposes, the taxpayer shall submit supplementary declarations for each of the corresponding exercises, later than the month following that in which is not complied with the deadline established in this fraction, and must cover the surcharges and the corresponding update, from the date in the….” Camara de Diputados. LXI Legislatura. (n. d.) Ley del Impuesto sobre la Renta. [Online] Available from: http://www. diputados. gob. mx/LeyesBiblio/ref/lisr. htm [Accessed April 2012].
[62] Secretaria de Energia. (2011) Prospectiva de Energias Renovables 2011-2025. [Online] Available from: http://www. renovables. gob. mx/portal/Default. aspx? id=2094&lang=1 [Accessed April 2012].
[63] Asociacion Mexicana de Energia Eolica, A. C. (2011) Panorama General de la Energia Eolica en Mexico 2011. [Online] Available from: http://www. amdee. org/Recursos/Proyectos_en_Mexico [Accessed April 2012].
[64] Mexican Wind Energy Association, A. C. (2011) Panorama General de la Energia Eolica en Mexico 2011. [Online] Available from: http://www. amdee. org/Recursos/Proyectos_en_Mexico [Accessed April 2012].
[65] Ibid.
[66] Only the State of Texas has more than one quarter of the total installed capacity of wind power in the U. S. with 10.1GW. Sawin, J. (2011) Renewables, 2011 Global Status Report. Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century Secretariat.
[67] In the year 2008 the total installed capacity was 25,170 MW and USA led worldwide, but in 2010 the growth of the total installed capacity in this country was slower, peaking at 40.2 GW and placing it behind China that it leads the world market with 44.7 GW. Sawin, J. (2011) Renewables, 2011 Global Status Report. Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century Secretariat.
[68] Asociacion Nacional de Energia Solar. [Online] Available from: http://www. anes. org/anes/ [Accessed April 2012].
[69] Secretaria de Energia. (2011) Prospectiva de Energias Renovables 2011-2025. [Online] Available from: http://www. renovables. gob. mx/portal/Default. aspx? id=2094&lang=1 [Accessed April 2012].
[70] Comision Federal de Electricidad. (n. d.) Informe Anual 2010. [Online] Available from: http://www. cfe. gob. mx/QuienesSomos/publicaciones/Paginas/Publicaciones. aspx [Accessed April 2012].
[71] Asociacion Nacional de Energia Solar. (2010) Balance de Energia. [Online] Available from: http:// www. anes. org/anes/index. php? option=com_wrapper&Itemid=13 [Accessed April 2012].
