Tim Sylvia
The battery chemistry schism is imminent
According to a new report from Wood Mackenzie, lithium-iron-phosphate is poised to overtake lithium-manganese-cobalt-oxide as the dominant stationary storage chemistry within the decade, making footholds in battery storage before moving onto EV dominance.
The ‘Rubber-Band Effect’ on renewable energy project margins
On the journey from concept to monetized power plant, renewable/storage projects tend to get tugged toward “zero” margin (from either direction); and the further the rubber band is stretched, the stronger the pull back toward zero.
Power and utility deal activity is down significantly to start 2020, but renewables show strength
A new report released by Ernst & Young shows that power and utility deals in the Americas saw huge drops in volume and value due to the Covid-19 pandemic, though commitment to renewable investment remains strong.
Vistra approved to build a grid battery bigger than all utility-scale battery storage in the US combined
A permit to expand Vistra’s natural gas-fired Moss Landing generation station in Monterey County, California to 1,500 MW/6,000 MWh has been approved, setting the stage for the world to see gigawatt-scale battery energy storage for the first time ever.
Morning Brief: wind and solar continue to rise drastically in the global power mix, Toyota announces three new solar projects
Also in the brief: Powerhome completes a solar installation at Indianapolis Colts HQ, Chevron is making a Series A investment in the three-year-old nuclear fusion startup Zap Energy, more than 200 workers are needed for a solar project being developed in Cherokee, Alabama and more.
Toledo Solar receives DOE grant to research lighter, steel-backed solar modules
As if being the only thin-film cadmium telluride solar panel manufacturer in the residential market wasn’t enough of a niche, Toledo Solar is now looking to develop something never done before: modules with glass-enameled steel backs.
The U.S. can be powered 100% by renewable energy. How do we get there?
Long story short, it’s possible for the U.S. to run 100% on renewable energy. How we get there is the long story.
Morning Brief: Maximizing solar self-consumption by rethinking panel orientation, carbon-neutral beer
Also in the brief: Did we mention carbon-neutral beer? Plus drone inspection of transmission towers.
Mosaic launches new solar finance offering with no payments for the first year
Outside of a 12-month promotional period where customers don’t have to make payments on the system, Mosaic’s newest offering, PowerSwitch Zero, also includes a contactless sales tool and and installer partnership product.
Facebook announced nearly 1 GW in new renewable contracts
As the company races to meet its goal of becoming 100% renewably powered by the end of 2020, Facebook has made another massive investment in clean energy — signing contracts for 806 MW of solar and wind power from projects across Utah, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee and Ireland.
