John Fitzgerald Weaver
Utility scale solar power plus lithium ion storage cost breakdown
NREL has released an inaugural report highlighting utility scale energy storage costs with various methods of tying it to solar power: co-located or not, and DC- vs AC-coupled.
Solar tsunami
Developers have applied to build 139 GWac of large-scale solar projects in the territory of six grid operators – around five times what is currently online across the country – and that figure doesn’t even cover the entire United States. By any metric, we are looking at an unprecedented boom in solar development over the next five years.
Nuclear, wind and solar tag team climate in Connecticut
Connecticut has announced contracts covering 45% of its electrical load, including nine solar projects (some with storage) averaging 4.9¢/kWh.
First Powerhouse purchase order
RGS Energy has announced it’s first purchase order for its Powerhouse 3.0 solar roof shingle kit, which follows an announcement of the onset of assembly of solar components and wire harnesses on December 11.
Sunlight, smarts, a house, and some money means solar power
Stanford researchers, using machine learning applied to satellite imagery, have found 1.4 million solar power installations in the United States. The researchers also extracted significant socioeconomic patterns from the data which they say can help to predict future installations.
Warren Buffett trades for four solar plants, retiring a coal unit
Nevada regulators have approved six contracts for 1 GWac of solar power coupled with 100 MW / 400 MWh of energy storage. The purchase allows for the retirement of one of the state’s two running coal units.
Off grid solar powered electric vehicle charging in NYC
New York City is installing 50 of Envision’s EV ARC mobile solar-powered EV charging stations with integrated energy storage. The dual axis tracking hardware holds batteries and 9 solar modules.
Solar securitization shines on winter solstice
Sunrun’s Athena, a portfolio of 34,493 solar leases and power purchase agreements totaling $322 million, has been priced and closed at a 5.55% yield.
2018 solar power year in review (part 2)
In part 2 we look at more of some of the action in 2018, from the dramatic growth of the 100% renewable energy movement to California’s mandate for rooftop solar on new homes.
Higher module efficiencies and inverters driving solar power cost declines
NREL’s Q1 2018 cost report for solar power systems saw a 5% drop in residential costs and a 2.6% fall in commercial, but a 1-2% increase in the utility scale space compared to the previous year.
