Solar plus storage can deliver, at lower cost, the same generation profile as “mid-merit” gas generating units in a number of cases studied, per an analysis published by Fluence.

Of Earth’s 500,000 potential sites for closed-loop pumped hydro storage, the largest U.S. site under development is in Arizona. If the project is built, the potential for pairing with solar could open new opportunities for solar development.

A “virtual power plant” can aggregate distributed solar and storage to help balance supply and demand, and provide grid services. Nearly half of the utility executives interviewed by Deloitte said their firm is considering such a solution, also known by the acronym “DERM.”

By using high projected costs for solar, low costs for natural gas, and capping solar installations at 500 MW per year, the Tennessee Valley Authority “did not optimize for what is best for Tennessee Valley residents,” says a citizens group.

Last year’s 1% growth in global PV additions is a sharp drop from increases in prior years, and a long way from the 21-29% annual increases that a Science journal article maintained were “challenging but feasible” through 2030. Continued progress on five major challenges can get us back on track.

The bill would create a task force to recommend replacement revenue sources by June 7. Transmission lines serving the Arizona coal plant could support gigawatts of solar or solar-plus-storage.

Clean energy groups have begun challenging the results of utility planning models by running their own models, which show that adding more solar will lower customer bills. Two groups in North Carolina are among the pioneers in this work, opening a new front in the contest over solar deployment.

Enthusiasm for solar, wind, and storage is common among electrical engineering students, according to two industry experts, while “advanced” utilities look to hire graduates to integrate renewables and storage.

Corporations that lock in a fixed purchase price for solar power, offset by sale of the power at varying wholesale rates, could face “significant financial downside,” says an advisory group, as more solar on the grid could drive down wholesale prices.

Contractors in California, Arizona and Texas built almost 90% of this capacity. Policy groups in the 10 states aim for fair rates for solar customers, plus community solar. “Snapshot stories” included.