PV interconnection requirements may change with new reliability guidance
Interconnection requirements for mid-sized and large inverter-based systems directly connected to the transmission grid may change based on new guidance issued in draft form by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The guidance does not apply to distributed PV.
Coal and gas red-flagged on reliability; solar doing fine
In an annual report card on North America’s grid reliability, coal and gas are sent to the principal’s office, while solar gains operating guidance related to 2016 and 2017 wildfire-related outages. Texas is cautioned for its lower-than-desired reserve margin, although that was not a problem in 2018.
Renewables would displace 86 GW of gas projects in Beyond Carbon campaign
Solar, wind and storage would take the place of 150 proposed gas-fired generators in a Beyond Carbon campaign launched by Michael Bloomberg and the Sierra Club. Building on the success of the Beyond Coal campaign, Beyond Carbon aims to stop new gas-fired generators, while continuing to retire coal units.
Solar carports go national: photo essay
Even if your car is baking in the hot summer sun, you can imagine it staying cool under one of these solar carports recently built all across the country. Technologies include prefabricated framing, double cantilever canopies, and water management systems.
Warren proposes $2 trillion for clean energy manufacturing
Senator and Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren calls for “big and bold investments in American research, American industry, and American workers” to counter climate change.
Scientists see global PV rocketing to 10 terawatts by 2030, for starters
A Science journal article describes how to reach “a future with ~10 terawatts of PV by 2030 and 30 to 70 terawatts by 2050, providing a majority of global energy.”
Texas real-time pricing provider plans to expand with EDF Group funding
The pioneering firm Griddy says that its real-time pricing app shows customers when they can use more low-priced solar and wind power, while saving money in the process. An investment from EDF Group will help Griddy expand its reach to the New York and PJM grid regions.
Georgia solar groups call for a hosting capacity map
A hosting capacity map saves time and money for developers of distributed solar. Utilities in California, New York, and elsewhere have already posted these maps online, and now two Georgia solar groups have asked state regulators to require Georgia Power to provide a hosting capacity map for its service area.
Pumped hydro with better financing can compete with batteries
Pumped hydro storage is highly cost competitive for large-scale energy storage, according to a report published by the San Diego County Water Authority. The report models a pumped hydro project as securing better financing terms than battery storage.
Solar + storage bypassed in Dominion Virginia’s resource plan
By excluding storage from its resource plan, the Virginia utility also excluded solar + storage, proposing up to 3.2 GW of gas-fired peaking units instead. Separately, a solar association and the utility agreed that modeling should use a solar capacity factor higher than the 23% value specified by regulators.
