BP Alternative Energy is focusing on those sectors of the energy industry where we can profitably grow our business. This has led us to focus on wind and biofuels, businesses that are material, scalable, and suited to BP's core capabilities. We also invest in sustainable energy technologies to gain strategic insights on the advances occurring in this sector.

In keeping with this strategic focus, BP is winding down its solar operations.

This decision was very difficult given BP's near 40-year commitment to solar energy. However, the major global solar markets have experienced tremendous change over the past few years and we have been unable to generate the necessary returns to continue our operations.

Throughout our long history in solar energy, BP Solar has driven the growth of the global industry through advances in technology. We have built landmark projects, including the recent 32 MW Long Island Solar Farm in the US. Over the years, BP Solar has installed approximately 1.6 gigawatts of products in almost every corner of the world.
Warranty and Recycling support

All valid warranty claims will continue to be honored. For warranty and recycling support, please contact your installer. In the event that your installer cannot be contacted, please refer to the relevant country information below for further information.
BP remains committed to growing our Alternative Energy business. In 2011 we invested $1.6 billion, more than any previous year. During 2011, our biofuels business acquired the Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer Companhia Nacional de Açúcar e Álcool (CNAA) and increased our share in the Brazilian biofuels company, Tropical BioEnergia S.A., to 100%. Our wind business progressed three new wind farms in the US. We made several investments in sustainable energy technologies including Chromatin, a supplier of renewable biomass feedstocks for power, fuel and chemical producers.
Product advisory

Nationally, renewable electricity generation in the US doubled from 2006 to 2011 and prices for wind, solar, and other clean energy technologies decreased, while employment in cleantech industry sectors expanded by almost 12 percent from 2007 to 2010. Supported by private innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as critical public sector support in the form of tax credits, grants, and loan guarantees, many clean energy technologies have grown robustly over this period while making significant progress in terms of price and performance.
Beekers
The Clean Energy Technologies program will analyze the ways in which technical opportunities will achieve cost reductions and performance improvements across a range of clean energy segments. Covered topics will include wind and solar power generation, enhanced natural gas recovery systems, improvements in biofuels and biomass energy systems, and how such improvements can put clean energy technologies on a path to subsidy independence and continued private investment. Additionally, we will explore the impact of the coming changes to federal clean energy subsidies and programs, examining their likely impact on key market segments.
NREL Solar Panels
Program Content - The sessions listed below are a sampling of the Clean Energy Generation curriculum.
Session 1 - Clean Energy Technology 101
We will provide an overview of the capabilities and limitations of Solar, Wind, Hydro, Biochemicals, Natural Gas, and Biofuels in meeting our energy demands. Our discussion will include the advantages and disadvantages of each technology, along with recent innovations and their impact on the market.
Session 2 - Creating a Path to Subsidy Independence
We will look at the impact of the potential expiration of the Production Tax Credit (PTC), various federal grant programs, loan guarantees and other investment tax credits (ITCs), and discuss how to create a pathway to subsidy independence. We will analyze the intersection of falling prices for renewables with dwindling subsidies.
Session 3 - Renewables Integration
Electricity generation from wind and solar is intermittent and difficult to predict. We will review the impact of intermittent sources on the grid and discuss technologies that enable increased penetration of renewables while maintaining grid reliability and power quality. Utilities are just beginning to explore the potential of these enabling technologies and the numerous benefits they bring, making this an attractive area for future investment.
Session 4 - Balance of System and Component Plays
The commoditization of solar panels has placed increased importance on balance of system components (inverters, mounting hardware, monitoring systems, etc.) in reducing the costs of solar PV systems. At the same time, cost reductions in wind power plants are being driven as much by component and balance of system improvements as increasing turbine size. In this session we will review the trends in cost reductions and identify areas where cost reduction opportunities remain.
Session 5 - Advanced Materials for Clean Energy Generation
We will identify areas where advanced materials have potential to significantly impact clean energy generation. Topics covered will range from new solar materials that achieve drastically higher efficiencies and/or lower costs than current materials, emerging composites for wind turbines, the role of rare earth elements in the solar and wind industries, the latest developments in materials science related to biofuels, working fluids for enhanced geothermal systems, and so on.
Session 6 - Clean Energy Generation Forecasting
We will evaluate the considerable research being carried out in the areas of short and long-term wind and solar forecasting, which can reduce wear on wind turbines, enable increased penetration of solar and wind on the grid, and reduce energy costs. Technologies evaluated will range from extremely short forecasting based on equipment co-located with generation equipment to long range forecasting and project siting based on satellite data and imagery.
Session 7 - The Financial Bottom Line
We will discuss and analyze cost-savings initiatives, operational efficiencies, and accelerating the time between R&D and full-scale production. We will review the transition from a focus on capital costs ($/kW) to a focus on the levelized cost of energy (LCOE in $/kW-h) when evaluating renewable energy projects.
Session 8 - Project Development
We will review the development of cleantech projects, with a focus primarily on engineering and innovation related to the clean energy technologies addressed in Clean Energy Technologies 101. Our discussion also will cover financing and regulatory hurdles, and will include an overview of the rise of new financing models, such as the increasing availability of lease programs and power purchase agreements for small solar installations.

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