pvMB 1/16/19: Updates on Enphase’s microinverter swap-out, LONGi becomes a Sunnova-approved vendor, Shell installs a solar+storage microgrid, and more!

Sonnova approves LONGi as one of its residential solar module vendors – Through this new partnership, Sunnova’s network of local installers can offer both style and substance to residential customers across the United States with LONGi’s 60-cell LR6-60PB family of black-on-black modules with power density up to 315Wp. LONGi’s Hi-MO1 High Efficiency Low LID Mono PERC Technology is an ideal choice for residential customers who demand a high-performing, reliable rooftop module with a sleek aesthetic. Sunnova installers can begin to order LONGi’s monocrystalline module technology starting in January 2019. Source – LONGi Solar.

Shell installs solar+storage microgrid – The Shell Technology Center in Houston, Texas is now running partially on the power of a new solar+storage microgrid designed by Black & Veatch. The system is combination of 300 kW of ground-mounted solar, a 127 kW natural gas generator, a 250-kW, 1,050-megawatt-hour (MWh) lithium ion battery and a 250 kW load bank. This is not the project’s final look, however, as later in the year additional battery energy storage systems and electric vehicle chargers will be added to the microgrid. Source – Black & Veatch

32 electric balancing authorities opt into California ISO reliability coordinator services – From the pool of 39 electricity balancing authorities and transmission operators in the Western United States, 32 have signed on to receive reliability coordinator services from California ISO. A Reliability Coordinator (RC) has the highest level of authority and responsibility for the stability of the electric grid. This responsibility comes with the requirement to comply with federal and regional grid reliability standards. RC can also take measures to prevent or mitigate system emergencies in day-ahead or real-time operations. The ISO will start providing RC services to California and parts of Northern Mexico in July, with the remaining service areas getting theirs later in the year. Source – California ISO

Con Edison chooses Sunverge platform for Smart Home Rate project – The winning bidder has been announced and, as the title would reflect, Sunverge’s intelligent energy storage system and dynamic Virtual Power Plant (VPP) platform has been chosen for Con Edison’s Smart Home Rate project. The platform is anticipated to help customers get the most out of complex, dynamic rates. It includes time-variant supply charges, a daily demand charge and event-based coincident demand charges. The platform will receive hourly energy prices and demand events, and automatically manage power flows behind the meter, optimizing grid power use, battery storage, solar self-generation, and smart appliances in the home. This will reduce energy bills and increase efficiency. Source – Sunverge Energy

Enphase announces upgrade program – We got more details on Enphase’s Upgrade Program this week in a formal announcement. The program will allow owners of legacy Enphase systems the opportunity to replace their second-generation microinverters with Enphase’s newest line of products. The program comes with three upgrade options: Microinverter Upgrade, Full System Upgrade, and Next-Generation Upgrade, with the first two options running the customer $67.50 per panel and  $469/panel, respectively. Enphase has opened up the signups for installers, after the conclusion of which legacy system owners will be informed of the program and given an opportunity to sign up. Source – Enphase

And to end on a less optimistic note: while these days we talk about how China installed over 50 GW of solar in 2017, and India wants to put online 40 GW a year through 2030, there was a time when the United States represented over 70% of the world’s solar PV market share.

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