Solar panel recycling: Turning ticking time bombs into opportunities
With the average lifespan of a solar panel at roughly 20 years, installations from the early 2000s are set to reach end-of-life. Will they end up in landfill or be recycled? The cost of recycling is higher than landfill, and the value of recovered materials is smaller than the original, so there’s limited interest in recycling. But given the presence of heavy metals, if waste is managed poorly, we’re on track for another recycling crisis.
Morning Brief: Nuclear fusion startup raises $84 million from Temasek and Equinor
Also in the brief: Green hydrogen in Denmark, North Dakota solar on tribal lands, Lime Rock New Energy raises $600 million in growth equity focused on renewable energy tech.
Morning Brief: The Wolf of Wall Street teaches solar sales, misleading solar ads tout 100% free panels
Also in the brief: GOP Senators seek help for renewables, Engie is among those chosen in Hawaii’s largest renewable tender.
Job Moves at NextEra, Sunnova, FirstEnergy, 8minute, Solaria, Enel X, GAF Energy, Watt Fuel Cell
Executive and boardroom moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and venture capital.
Startup wants to put solar arrays on wave energy generators, along with wind turbines
Sinn Power of Gauting, Germany combines wave, wind and solar power for the “first floating ocean hybrid platform.”
Morning Brief: 5 experts predict the future of renewable energy, PG&E has procured more than 1 GW of storage
Also in the brief: Amazon has announced its first solar energy facility in China, the Borough of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and Sun Tribe have agreed to a PPA, Michael Moore has given climate deniers a platform and more.
Morning Brief: Six Ohio school districts go solar with no upfront cost, two big solar projects are coming to capped landfill sites in New York
Also in the brief: the California Solar and Storage Association has released an eight-point economic stimulus plan of action, PG&E’s restructuring will likely happen later this month, a new solar car, Mark Menezes’ nomination to become Deputy U.S. Energy Secretary and more.
Three signs that battery energy storage is mainstream today
With the inclusion of battery energy storage into new building codes and safety standards, it’s obvious just how mainstream storage is today.
Morning Brief: the North Carolina solar industry has weathered Covid well, Vistra announces battery expansion
Also in the brief: Consumers Energy is providing 100,000 Google Nest thermostats to Michigan households, Tesla has quietly made Model 3 ready for bidirectional charging, SolSmart adds new partners.
Job Moves: New CEO at Solaria, plus Primergy, NovaSource, Lithos, EPRI, APS, MEI, ACORE
Executive and boardroom moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy VC.
