Michigan’s solar industry awaits order in Consumers Energy’s rate case
After Consumers Energy raised its net metering cap as a bargaining chip, some advocates see a Value of Solar study as a way to ensure that the rates that have allowed the state’s small-scale solar market to flourish remain in place.
SPAC, the final frontier: QuantumScape raises $680M for advanced EV batteries, TJ Rodgers raises $200M in SPAC IPOs, plus EVs galore and Stem
Once sort of disreputable, the SPAC is now a “financial innovation” and a “funding mechanism for ambitious companies who are in the midst of a growth phase-change,” in the eyes of some investors. Here’s a roundup.
Venture capital funding in solar, storage and energy intelligence sees a year-end surge
At least a dozen energy transition startups are getting their start during the pandemic holiday season.
Morning Brief: Solar roadway in Georgia, Oakland bans natural gas in new buildings, DC gets solar to the people
Also in the brief: Ohio bill would ban new large solar and wind projects for up to three years
The roadmap to the lowest cost grid is paved with distributed solar and storage
We wanted to know what the grid would look like, and cost, if we stopped ignoring the benefits of DERs and optimized the integration of these resources through a better modeling process. We found that when you use better planning models and scale both local solar and storage, as well as utility-scale solar and wind, you maximize cost savings and unlock the path to the lowest cost grid.
Solar panel recycling in the US — a looming issue that could harm industry growth and reputation
The solar industry cannot claim to be a clean energy source if it leaves a trail of hazardous waste.
The US energy storage market was redefined in Q3
A record 476 MW/764 MWh were installed in Q3, with California’s deployment figures alone shattering all previous quarterly records.
Morning Brief: High-voltage power lines are ugly, and the US needs more
Also in the brief: Ohio bill would ban new large solar and wind projects for up to three years
Sungevity, once a residential solar installer of note, is auctioning its assets
The now former company has laid off its remaining staff, locked its offices and left dozens of customers, sub-contractors and former employees asking what comes next.
Update: Form Energy’s stealthy ‘aqueous air battery’ with 150-hour duration lands $76 million funding round
The holy grail of energy storage has always been low-cost and long-duration. Form Energy intends on deploying a 1 MW/150 MWh system with a Minnesota utility before 2023, an unprecedented energy storage duration if successful.
