An RFP due in August for solar larger than 2 MW plus brownfield solar projects of any size. Draft program rules for Illinois community solar programs are also expected in August.
Announcement
Upcoming Roundtables at SPI
Register now for our upcoming roundtables on September 12 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas:
Both events are free of charge!
Markets & Policy
U.S. Senate sub-committee FY 2018 budget proposal increases energy research spending
The Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water development slammed what it called an “unrealistic” budget from President Trump, and proposed additional funding for agencies Trump planned to gut or eliminate.
Installations
DOE launches “Hit me with your SunShot” photo contest
The contest is offering up to $2,500 in prizes, and pv magazine is hoping that DOE will license the winners under public domain.
Installations
We have your back: SolarWorld offers deductibleless secondary warranties
The Oregon-based panel manufacturer launched the SolarWorld Assurance Warranty Protection Program for residential and commercial customers, designed to take effect if the original factory coverage could no longer be supported.
Markets & Policy
Disruption circa 2017: An interview with Tony Seba
In this interview from the Intersolar North America 2017 trade show, pv magazine talks with visionary author Tony Seba about developments in the solar, battery and electric vehicle markets, and how the predictions that he made in his 2014 book Clean Disruption look three years later.
Markets & Policy
Direct Energy quits residential solar
The company’s move is part of a trend of power companies getting out of the residential solar installation business.
Manufacturing
REC Silicon’s sales rise 18% in Q2, net loss increases
The Norwegian-American polysilicon producer saw its revenue drop slightly Y-o-Y to $61 million in the latest quarter, as its Washington polysilicon facility runs at only 50% utilization due to restricted access to the Chinese market.
Installations
Strata Solar implements total quality management program
North Carolina’s largest installer of utility- and commercial-scale solar systems spent two years developing and refining a total quality management program to showcase their commitment to getting projects done right the first time.
Breaking new ground
Central America’s solar boom: Central American nations have emerged from obscurity to a leading role in the deployment and integration of large amounts of renewable energy. But the Energy Transition in this region is just beginning.
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Press Releases
Renewvia Energy Builds Largest Rooftop Solar Array in New Hampshire for Worthen Industries, a 150-Year-Old Manufacturing Business
Renewvia helps Worthen Industries cut its energy costs in half and take a step toward self-sufficiency with installation of 2,710 solar panels.
Ideal Power to Provide Over One Megawatt of its Stabiliti™ Power Conversion System for Solar-Plus-Storage Integration in California School District
Ideal Power Inc. , (NASDAQ:IPWR), an innovative power conversion technology company, today announced that it has received an order for 35 units of its compact and efficient Stabiliti™ 30 kilowatt (kW) power conversion system from an existing customer.
Measure Adds Aerial Solar Plant Inspections to Drone Services Portfolio
Turnkey solutions help solar industry reduce inspection time & costs, quickly identify faults & irregularities, & optimize energy output.
University of Virginia, Dominion Energy and Coronal Energy Announce Ambitious Solar Energy Project
The University of Virginia continues to expand its portfolio of carbon-free generation and achieve key sustainability targets with another partnership announced today with Dominion Energy. Under a 25-year agreement, the University will purchase the entire output of a proposed 120-acre solar facility in Middlesex County.
Installations
Featured
NYSERDA offers toolkit for navigating payments to local governments
The toolkit is designed to help local municipalities understand and negotiate payment-in-lieu-of taxes agreements with solar developers.
New Hampshire solar rebate program hits a granite wall
The state’s Public Utility Commission froze the program on July 14, delaying processing until at least September and putting hundreds of applications on ice.
...NCCETC: Net metering slowly shifting to value of solar
This quarter’s report on policies and rate design that affect distributed solar showed many of the same themes as previous reports, but also a glacial shift in approach.
...San Diego is looking for 500 MW of pumped hydro to integrate renewables
San Diego is looking beyond batteries for solutions to match supply and demand of electricity as solar penetrations increase.
...Manufacturing
Boviet launches three new PERC modules at InterSolar in San Francisco
The Vietnam-based solar manufacturer unveiled three new PERC solar modules at the Intersolar North America show this week in San Francisco. The new lineup includes a 355W 72-cell module, a 290W 60-cell module, and a 300W 60-cell smart module.
LG, Enphase roll out microinverter-enabled AC module
LG Electronics and Enphase have jointly unveiled the new NeON 2 ACe AC module integrated with an IQ AC microinverter at the Intersolar North America trade show in San Francisco.
...G20 nations dragging their heels on low-carbon transition, reports find
Study from Climate Transparency shows that while green finance among G20 nations has been stepped up, legacy commitments to fossil fuels mean countries will miss “well below 2 degree” warming limit set at Paris Agreement. Fossil fuel spending still four times higher than renewable spending, Oil Change International report also finds.
...Enphase threatened with de-listing due to low stock price
The warning from NASDAQ follows financial difficulties at the microinverter pioneer
...Solaria ramps Power XT production line to more than 40 MW per year
While other U.S.-based module manufacturers have struggled this year, the California-based company has quietly been expanding.
...Markets & Policy
They’re back: Campaign for Accountability asks FTC to investigate solar industry
The last time the government watchdog group made solar news, they asked the Oregon attorney general to investigate what they called 'deceptive sales practices' in the state. Now they're asking the Federal Trade Commission to do the same nationwide.
Microsoft defects from utility to purchase renewable energy
With purchases planned to exceed Washington State’s RPS levels, Microsoft joins the trend of large technology companies buying clean energy on the open market.
...Peter Rive to leave Tesla
The SolarCity co-founder has left to “explore other opportunities” two months after his brother and fellow SolarCity Co-Founder Lyndon Rive announced his departure.
...A Florida first: South Miami to require solar on new homes
The new regulation, the first of its kind outside of California, mandates 2.75 kW of solar for every 1000 square feet on new homes, as well as those that increase their square footage by 75% or more.
...Hawaii regulators approve HECO’s 100% renewable energy plan
After years of trying to get utilities fully on board, HECO has issued a five-year plan to double solar and renewables on the road to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2040.
...Technology
Featured
California’s energy transition needs more than cap and trade
The state’s landmark program, which includes carbon price high enough to affect the electric power sector, has been extended. However, California may have bigger challenges when it comes to transforming its energy system.
Penn State CPV system outperforms c-Si by 54%
A single-cell concentrating photovoltaic system developed by researchers at Penn State University has reached 30% efficiency, and generated 54% more energy during a two-day test than conventional crystalline silicon solar under the same conditions.
...Trump appoints uncontroversial energy lawyer to head FERC
Kevin McIntyre has a lot of experience with federal energy cases but has made few waves, and so far the solar industry is taking a wait-and-see approach.
...Leaked DOE study draft: U.S. grids are getting more reliable, not less
A leaked draft of the study ordered by DOE Secretary Perry appears to show what we already knew: That grids are getting more reliable, not less, as wind and solar are added. But the political tampering with the facts may already be happening.
...U.S. Department of Energy backs solar with further $46 million for SunShot Initiative
The funding is for 48 identified solar projects spanning two SunShot programs designed to advance solar power technologies in the U.S.
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