Why invest in renewable energy?

In the past few years, the use of solar panels has gone up considerably. The use of energy from the sun is enticing to all as it helps to cut down on energy bills.

This is one of the reasons why solar panels are spotted across the rooftops of homes. As consumers are realising that they require a better and improved solution to meet their energy requirements, solar panels are assuming relevance and bagging the energy spotlight successfully.

Want to know why you should consider investment in solar panels? Take a quick look at the below-mentioned points to understand why solar power is the only way forward.

• Solar panels will help to generate a considerable portion of your home’s power and eventually lower the dependency on the conventional power sources. For example, install solar panels to offer electricity just for appliances or lighting. It will lower your dependency on the utility company and curtail the electricity bill as well.

• Since your energy consumption will be low, your home is expected to be energy efficient.

• The decision to switching to alternative and renewable energy sources means the surplus energy generated by your solar panels can be shared with others who (urban poor) need of electricity.  

• Net Metering policy can work in favour of home-owners using solar power. The electric meters will measure the electricity production, consumption level and calculate the difference.

• One of the other financial benefits from solar panels is that the resale value of your house will go up approximately by 30-35%.

• Use of solar panels can help bring down the heating bills considerably. The savings on heating costs versus the use of traditional electricity is capable of reaping significant financial rewards in the future.

• It is a good idea to connect the water heater used at home to the solar panel. During winter power outage, taking a hot shower won’t be a problem anymore.

• Currently, in the market, there are different DIY kits available which help to build solar panels at an affordable rate, which eventually boosts the profitability.

Industry insiders are of the belief that India as a nation enjoys a strong advantage when it comes to solar power. Many say that India is particularly suitable for solar power. While the central government is making concerted efforts to strengthen the country’s solar energy supply, it is believed that Indian solar industry may register a handsome growth of 250% in the coming days. In simple words, India has the potential to become one of the top five solar players internationally.

Delhi-based The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) recently stated that currently, 300-million people in India do not have access to electricity. Solar power can make the life of school children much easier as it allows them to do their homework after dark and allow consumers to stay connected via mobile phones.

People around the globe are deepening their solar relationship by bolstering its use in their day-to-day affairs. Consumers are consistently looking for alternative source of energy that the fossil fuels have left. Apart from being a game changer for global climate change, it is time for India treats solar power as a lucrative opportunity.

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Industry: iPhone 7 costs three times less the price ? Reason ?

If the price of the iPhone seems exorbitant to you, here are the reasons. Reasons emanating from experienced analysts.

Thus, components and assembly of an iPhone 7 basic cost three times less than its selling price in stores. According to estimates by IHS Markit, 224,80 dollars it takes to manufacture an iPhone 7, 32GB, which will then be sold $ 649 in stores. Analysts IHS indulge every year in this estimate. It takes into account the price of components but also the assembly and testing of products. However, it does not include the costs of research and development, distribution and marketing. Operating margin for Apple is typically around 30%.

Such production costs are in line with those of Samsung products. But the margin Apple remains most important, explains Andrew Rassweiler, head of the study conducted by IHS Markit. "All things being equal, Apple makes more margin than Samsung but the cost of materials is more important than in the past " , he notes. According to IHS, the iPhone 7 is in fact the most expensive to manufacture Apple's history. The iPhone 6S, last year, costing 36.89 dollars less. Involved, a more powerful battery, larger storage capacity or a better camera on the new phone.

Unrivaled for the standard model, the production costs of the iPhone 7 are still lower than the iPhone 6 Plus, released last year. These amounted to 231.50 dollars, 219.80 dollars for the hardware and $ 4.50 for the assembly and testing - 0.50 dollar less mysterious than the iPhone 7. Such estimate has yet been made for the iPhone 7 Plus.

IHS Markit provides the estimated cost of key components, and the identity of their suppliers. The cheapest room phone, produced by Huizhou Desay, would cost only $ 2.50. The processor, it would have a price of 26.90 dollars.Finally, the screen part historically the most expensive, amounts to 43 dollars.

Comparison of materials used for both phones also gives the opportunity to see the replacement of Qualcomm Intel on two components: the base band and the PMIC, useful for optimizing performance. 

A return of Intel on the iPhone.

Source: Aujourd'hui.ma

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Impact of 3D Printing on Supply Chain and Logistics Industry

Have you heard about 3D printing on the fly from Amazon? The largest Internet-based retailer in the United States and world, Amazon has patented the concept of mobile 3D printing delivery trucks to deliver products even faster to consumer. When a shopper orders a selected product from Amazon, this triggers the nearest truck to 3D print and deliver the product to the consumer, effectively removing the need for any storage.

They 3D printed a complete 6-storey office building in China!
Over the span of 10 years, the price of the cheapest 3D printer came down from USD 18000 to USD 400 and became 100 times faster. All major shoe companies have started 3D printing shoes. In remote airports, spare airplane parts are 3D printed. Cosmetic companies started testing new products on 3D-printed skin instead of animals.

3D printing technology has emerged as one of the most disruptive innovations to impact the logistics industry and the global supply chain. 3D printing technology is impacting professional and our personal lives, with some claim that the technology merely enhances some aspects of production process, while others argue that technology will revolutionize and replace existing manufacturing technologies. Whether revolutionary or evolutionary, 3D printing technology is recognized as an important trend that will significantly impact supply chains. Although, in the private consumer market, expansion of 3D printing is an interesting development in its own right, the biggest potential for disruption lies in industrial applications. It is striking to see how 3D printing will influence supply chains of the future.

Gartner forecasts 3D printer shipments will more than double every year between 2016 and 2018. Overall, end-user spending on 3D printers is expected to increase from USD 1.6 billion in 2015 to about USD 13.4 billion in 2018. McKinsey predicts 3D printing will generate an economic impact of USD 230 billion to USD 550 billion per year by 2025, the vast majority originating from consumer uses and direct manufacturing applications.
Economists have labelled additive manufacturing (a.k.a. 3D printing) the 3rd industrial revolution. Following are the key areas in supply chain and logistics likely to be impacted by 3D printing technology:

1. Rationalization of inventory and logistics: Logistics will adjust to print on demand, eliminating the need to carry inventory
2. Resource efficiency: Material saving during production and ability to utilize recycled materials
3. Customer demand will be met more quickly: Reduction in manufacturing lead time and strategic near-shore manufacturing facility
4. Customization: Tailoring individualized offers to each customer, involvement of client in design, and providing ability to test prototypes
5. Global Logistics: Reduction in cost of international logistics by reducing overseas manufacturing thus decreasing quantity of air and ocean freight and brokerage cost

The supply chain traditional model is founded on traditional constraints of the industry, efficiencies of mass production, the need for low cost, high-volume assembly workers, and so on. But 3D printing bypasses those constraints.
From that point of view, the traditional model stops making senseIt is no longer financially efficient to send products zipping across the globe when manufacturing can be done almost anywhere at the same cost or lower.
However, disruptive technologies come with challenges. Following are challenges for 3D printing:

• IP Issues Authors of digital design templates could be targeted by hackers and incur copyright infringement.
• Security Concerns For example, when printing harmful objects such as a knife, gun etc., which party would be held responsible?
• Liability For example, who is to blame if a 3D product fails: the company printing and selling it, the material supplier, the printing machine manufacturer, or the designer?
• Mass Production It cannot compete with the speed of traditional manufacturing process.

The raw materials today are digital files and the machines that make them. And that demands a new model both for manufacturer and logistics provider.
Forward thinking companies are viewing 3D printing technology from all possible lenses. For example, UPS and DHL have begun to offer 3D printing services. But only time will let us know whether manufacturers turn to their logistics service providers to store and maintain their blueprints or whether this will be a new niche for IT specialists.
Logistics service providers will only be allowed to store and print out the data models if the manufacturers trust them and are prepared to give them the 3D data models. What's certain is that in future, the value of a product will reside in a digital file. Manufacturers will try to protect their IP by inserting copy protections and assigning licensing rights. It is too early to say what the role of the logistics service providers will be in all of this. However, logistics companies have a huge opportunity of becoming a strategic player in the game.
CXOs of supply chain and logistic industry must be aware of the potential impact that 3D printing technology could have on their respective organization and be prepared to react in an agile, flexible, and adaptive manner.

References:

1. http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2887417
2. http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/business_technology/disruptive_technologies
3. https://3dprint.com/46934/amazon-3d-printing-patent/
4. https://www.theupsstore.com/print/3d-printing
5. DHL Trend Research and Technology Innovation Management Review

Source: HCL, Vinayraj Chowhan [Indian scientific writer]
 

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