John Fitzgerald Weaver
Slowing distributed energy growth continues into 2024
Ohm Analytics reported that the 2.3 GW of distributed generation, which includes rooftop solar, deployed in Q4 2023 marked the end of a long period of growth. Roth MKM warns that if a turnaround does not occur soon, residential solar could decline by 20% to 30% in 2024.
Direct pay process, tax credit transfer recapture risk and more
At the Solar Energy Industry Association’s annual event in Times Square, experts delved into the complexities of the Inflation Reduction Act and its impact on solar financing.
Car batteries can optimize the power grid
Australian researchers have found that if 10% of vehicles are electric and utilize V2G connections, they could reduce peak electricity demand at local substations by 6% and save car owners hundreds of dollars per year on charging costs.
Battery prices collapsing, grid-tied energy storage expanding
From July 2023 through summer 2024, battery cell pricing is expected to plummet by over 60% (and potentially more) due to a surge in EV adoption and grid expansion in China and the U.S.
Solar wins hundreds of millions in New England capacity payments
Solar projects totaling 16.6 GW won $3.58/kW per month in the 2027-28 NE-ISO capacity auction.
Solar generated 5.5% of U.S. electricity in 2023, a 17.5% increase
Solar generation grew by 17.5% compared to 2022, albeit at a lower rate, adding just over 33 TWh of generation compared to the 40 TWh added in 2022.
U.S. solar up 52% in 2023 as nation deploys 35.3 GW of capacity
Bloomberg NEF says U.S. clean energy generation grew by 0.9%, with wind and hydro generation falling and solar generation growing 15.4%.
Solar at “twice the natural capacity factor of the sun”
Eland Solar 2 and Skeleton Creek are two high-capacity factor renewable power plants moving through development.
California needs 10 GW of solar deployment in five years, 57.5 GW of new solar added by 2045
For context, the state has about 43 GW installed cumulatively to date, according to SEIA. The state’s new 2035 electricity emissions goals include 19 GW of new solar power, 20.6 GW of new wind and 15.7 GW of new battery power.
Millions in government funding to advance batteries for planes, trains, and maritime transport
Arpa-e announced twelve research awards totaling $15 million to develop electric airplanes, electric railroads and ships servicing the continental U.S.
