John Fitzgerald Weaver
North Carolina looks nationwide for its “Clean Energy Plan” guidance
As required by Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 80, the state has released a draft report of policy and action recommendations to help clean the electric grid – including a recommendation to decarbonize power by 2050.
California approves solar+school buses
California regulators have approved an SDG&E proposal to install 3,000 to 6,000 medium and heavy vehicle charging stations, as well as a vehicle-to-grid pilot where 10 school buses will be tested for use as grid assets.
LONGi shingled module, Soltec bifacial simulations, Campbell Scientific solar albedo, more!
Hardware! Hardware! Get your fresh hardware! Terrasmart’s new *fixed* racking takes into account bifacial solar panels, Quickmount releases 5 to 10 degree commercial rooftop racking system, “Lead Crystal” batteries with 18-20 year lifetimes, more!
Is a California solar+storage boom about to happen?
CAISO has warned state regulators that there could be a 4.7 GW capacity shortfall in 2022, in the early evening hours of the annual peak demand events of September. The grid operator has suggested alteration of water cooling laws, as well as increased procurement of resources.
80% renewables is cake – let the extremists argue over the rest
A general consensus among researchers is starting to arise, showing that reaching 80% wind plus solar across various markets in the United States can be done at pricing equal to or cheaper than the cost of electricity today.
Apple picks single axis trackers and bifacial solar panels (w/pictures!)
Swinerton Renewable Energy is moving to interconnection this week of the 200 MWac / 251 MWdc Techren II facility in Boulder, Nevada. The plant uses NEXTracker single-axis trackers and bifacial solar modules from Canadian Solar and LONGi.
Using machine learning and cheap satellite data to design rooftop solar power
Researchers have built a tool to use cheap satellite imagery – like Google Maps – to automatically create solar designs with a 91% accuracy rate.
Texas confirms public power’s energy storage rights
Municipally owned utilities and electric cooperatives, as of September 1, will have legal affirmation that they’re allowed to own energy storage assets – and not have to register as power generators – within the state.
Hardware brief: $1 million=Dynapower, Morningstar still Morningstar, SMA+BYD=<3 & more!
Its Friday, so build something and be cool! Rainwise has launched a compact professional grade weather station, Sungrow has put out a whitepaper with design tips, and more!
Regulator says lithium-ion batteries create “unacceptable risks”
Arizona regulator Sandra D. Kennedy has filed a review of lithium ion technology’s drawbacks relative to other energy storage technologies, specifically noting hydrogen fluoride release and thermal runaway, in light of two Arizona energy storage battery fires.
