John Fitzgerald Weaver
Solar power brings in the big (lease) money for Washington State
Avangrid Renewables has signed a solar energy power contract with Puget Sound Energy for a 150 MWac solar power plant, the first solar power project over 30 MW in the state to reach this milestone. The land lease rate of $300/acre/year is 150x the prior $2/acre/year grazing rights the state land was paid.
pvmb 3/15/19 – Tesla gets a new car and CFO, FERC deletes its phone directory, and more!
pv magazine USA sees spring is around the corner, so here’s a fresh Morning Brief, including Fitch downgrading more California Solar and Toyota buying power from solar projects planned in Kentucky.
Despite 2018 gas build-out, U.S. fossil fleet is still at 2006 levels
Per U.S. Department of Energy figures, the United States has retired just over 147 GWac of coal and gas, while building 143 GW of the same sources (almost all gas) during the last 12 years.
Industry first: Flow battery gets 10-year performance insurance
Munich Re, a global insurance company, is offering a 10 year “Project Cover” plan for ESS’s two flow battery models – 50 kW / 400 kWh and 100 kW / 400 kWh. ESS suggests a 25+ year lifetime on its product with zero degradation.
Financial software integrates distributed storage software
Financial modeling software provider Energy Toolbase will integrate Stem’s energy storage modeling software to help communicate the economic benefits of storage at customer sites.
Powerhouse not so strong, seeking “strategic alternatives” for solar shingle product
RGS Energy has announced that its board is seeking “strategic alternatives” including a sale of the company, following on its stock being delisted from the NASDAQ to the pink sheet OTXQX platform.
pvMB 3/8/19: Solar tariff exemptions for Turkey and India stay, solar on libraries, schools, and homes oh my!
Its Friday, and that means you’re going to miss out on the pvMB for a whole weekend – we’re there for you! Today we cover Hanwha’s response to LONGi’s statements over its lawsuit, Cypress Creek looking in Pennsylvania, and a whole lot of places where rooftop solar is being installed.
Wind+solar developer sells pipeline to National Grid for more than $100 million
National Grid has purchased the wind and solar energy developer Geronimo Energy for “at least $100 million”, and is negotiating to buy a 51% stake in 378 MW the group has already developed.
Rounding up solar O&M in the Lone Star State
PV Operations Dallas, April 16-17, will host a broad group of industry heavy weights to give you the ins and outs of solar power & energy storage O&M in Texas and the Southwest.
Stronger steel means less steel for solar power foundations
An analysis of solar farm foundations suggests that using grade 80 versus grade 50 steel can save $2,000-$10,000/MWdc by using less steel, while still resisting corrosion.
