Chinese module prices are expected to rise 12.5% due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Existing inventory is expected to keep this price rise in check to some degree. It’s unclear when prices will return to previous levels, as modules are expected to be roughly 4¢/kWh higher than estimates even through Q4. Source: Power Technology
Tesla watchers expect the company to announce a new benchmark for its batteries that, if successful, would take its models to a long-sought Holy Grail — side-by-side cost parity with gasoline vehicles. The anticipation among Tesla’s feverish fans is around a big unveil next month on “Battery Day,” where they expect CEO Elon Musk to announce that he either has or will soon achieve the battery equivalent of the two-hour marathon — the $100 per kWh lithium-ion battery. In January, Musk told analysts that what he had to say “will blow your mind. It blows my mind.” Source: Medium
Powerhome has partnered with Generac to offer customers an energy package that includes Generac battery storage components and generators with any solar panel installation. The system is the PWRcell, a scalable battery solution that can store between 8.6 kWh and 17.1 kWh of energy. Source: Powerhome
Duke Energy is donating $150,000 to help low-income customers in North Carolina who are struggling to pay their utility bills during the COVID-19 crisis. The funds will be provided to approximately 600 households through the company’s Energy Neighbor Fund and Share the Warmth programs. Outside of this financial relief, the company has suspended disconnections due to nonpayment, waived late-payment charges and waived returned payment/check fees, among others. Source: Duke Energy Foundation
Seychelles readies the world’s largest salt-water floating solar plant: Located in the Indian Ocean archipelago, and with a population of just 25,400, Seychelles is putting together the world’s largest floating solar power plant on saltwater. According to the IRENA energy agency, the country currently has an installed 0.9 MW of solar capacity. The 5 MW solar PV plant will use 13,500 solar panels, deployed across 40,000 square meters of water. Construction will begin in July on a lagoon on Mahé, the main island of the archipelagic nation. Source: ZME Science
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Can hardly wait to see what Elon Musk has to say about the “economically affordable” battery pack that may be the magic $100/kWh or less?
As electric utilities try the so called “low hanging fruit” of keeping their “regulated monopolies” alive in a flood of technology that can be bought and used by many to tend to their average daily energy needs. I’m thinking sooner or later the residential and small commercial will collide and create an option of an ESS that has more battery pack energy storage capability, somewhere in the 75 to 200kWh for less than $100/kWh. If one considers how the grid works now and how one can use their own alternative energy generation and storage system, they could take care of their “average” daily energy needs with just 20kW of smart inverter and energy storage system to power their home’s or small businesses and use the utility as backup power or energy arbitrage.
The population of Seychelles is about 95,000. I do hope all the other figures are not out by a factor of nearly 4 to 1.
Lead Acid Deep cycle 12 Volt wet batteries have a cost of about $80.00 per kWh before taxes and a life of about 7 years when maintained properly and charged and discharged daily. For an off grid home system, where weight and size is not a problem and you have someone willing to check the water and monitor corosian, lead acid works well. But for “mainenace Free” and an 8 to 10 year life, lithium batteries at $100.00 per kHh and little or no mainenance on interconecting wires for acid induced corrosion, I can hardly wait. Charge contolers would need to be set up for the Lithium voltage as well as inverters because the lithium batteries run at a higher nominal voltage but with the lighter weight and size, it could be woth it next time I need to replace my 8,000 amp hour system. (80 – 100 amp hour deep cycle marine/RV batteries)