Harry Atwater to receive IEEE award, Nautilus acquires 21 MW in Minnesota: pvMB 4/8/19

Hello and thank you for starting your workweek with the pvMB. Today we’ll be looking at SEIA’s response to the ongoing Hanwha ITC investigation, a potential vote on the 500 MW Spotsylvania project, a free utility planning model from Arizona State and everything else you need to know in the onset of this week in the solar industry.

April 8, 2019 Tim Sylvia

Image: Hanergy

Alta Devices’ Atwater receives 2019 William R. Cherry Award – Prof. Harry Atwater, co-founder of Alta Devices is set to be honored with the 2019 William R. Cherry Award at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer’s Photovoltaic Specialists Conference in Chicago this June. Atwater is being honored for his 35 years of research contributions to photovoltaic science and technology. In his time at Alta, specifically, the company was able to achieve the current world record for one-Sun single-junction solar cell efficiency and module efficiency. Source: Hanergy Thin Film Power Group

Nautilus Solar Energy acquires 21 MW of Minnesota community solar from ReneSola – There’s no doubt that Minnesota wears the national community solar crown, and now the largest community solar program developed by ReneSola in the state has been purchased by Nautilus Solar Energy. The project, which spans four different geographic sites, is expected to go on-line during the fourth quarter of this year. This is the third transaction between the two companies in Minnesota in the same number of years, with those previous projects both being roughly 13 MW. Source: ReneSola

Vote on 500 MW Virginia solar farm could come Tuesday – After months of education, debate and flat-out squabbling, Tuesday could well mark the end of the saga that has been the contentious 500 MW solar project proposed for Spotsylvania, Virginia. The project, if approved would be developed by Utah-based Sustainable Power Group and be the largest on the East Coast, though there has been significant pushback from Spotsylvania residents. However, even if the vote does not pass, it is likely the project is built in some capacity, as the smallest portion of the project, 30 MW, has already been approved. Source: Fredericksburg.com

SEIA’s response to Hanwha ITC investigation – SEIA, the leading solar energy trade organization in the United States, has released an official comment on Hanwha Q CELLS’ ongoing patent infringement lawsuits against REC Solar, Jinko and LONGi: “SEIA supports the U.S. International Trade Commission’s decision to take evidence and hear arguments on the public interest early in the investigation. While we take no position on the merits of the patent infringement claims, we are concerned about the potential adverse impact an exclusion order would have on American consumers and the U.S. solar industry.” Source: John Smirnow, general counsel and VP of market strategy, SEIA.

Solar-focused initiative at ASU providing free utility planning model to state regulators – The LightWorks initiative at Arizona State University, focused on “energy from sunlight,” will provide a free utility planning model to state regulators. “Commissioners directed staff to move forward with a partnership with Arizona State University to develop a modeling tool to assist the Corporation Commission with evaluating the energy grid in Arizona. Staff will work with ASU, energy companies, and other relevant stakeholders to develop and implement this tool. The tool models and evaluates the integration of various types of electric power generating sources at different levels into the Arizona energy grid.” Source: Arizona Corporation Commission.

Finally, one of the coolest things this writer has ever seen, a solar-powered taco boat:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvweo6HhURI/

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