Natron Energy, developer of sodium-ion batteries, raises $35M as investment in storage surges
The startup is building a battery using Prussian blue analogue electrodes and a sodium-ion electrolyte. Investors include ABB Technology Ventures, NanoDimension Capital, Volta Energy Technologies, Chevron, Khosla Ventures, and Prelude Ventures.
CEO of residential solar installer survived gangs and prison, only to face structural racism in his career path
Solar workforce development can help win independence from systemic racism
Morning Brief: CEI acquires 353 MW Coronal Energy portfolio, Inovateus Solar wins equity investment
Also in the brief: Clean Energy Virginia and U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette credits activists for a pair of high-profile pipeline setbacks.
Duke Energy Renewables’ largest solar project is live
The 200 MW Holstein solar project in Nolan County, Texas, a collaborative effort between Duke Energy Renewables and 8minute Solar Energy, has reached commercial operation, marking an increased presence for Duke in Texas — and 8minute’s first major foray into the state.
Morning Brief: Distributed Solar Development has acquired a community solar portfolio, community outreach in Hawaii
Also in the brief: solar pros running for elected office, Longroad Energy has announced a partnership with Maine’s Unity College, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation has chosen a management platform for its distributed generation program and more.
Sunrun to acquire Vivint Solar for $3.2 billion in all-stock transaction
The new, bigger Sunrun will have 500,000 customers and more than 3 GW of solar power assets. Is there value in scale in residential solar?
There’s more to solar systems than module capacity
While solar modules are often defined first and foremost by their capacity, higher module capacity doesn’t necessarily translate to a more efficient system, or even a longer-term yield. Understanding this and reflecting this idea onto customers can be key to delivering the right technology.
North Carolina pursues faster interconnection for utility-scale solar
Under Duke Energy’s current review process, interconnection queues grew to 14 GW in North and South Carolina last year. A new process should speed interconnection reviews, and enable projects located near each other to share the costs of transmission upgrades.
Solar and storage venture capital and finance roundup
Plus a bunch of investments in carbon capture.
Duke Energy Florida files for a new customer purchase program, hesitates to call it community solar
The program will allow customers to subscribe to blocks of energy generated by nearly 750 MW of new planned capacity in sunshine state. And while Duke has not yet called the program community solar, some partners have, which could prove to be a dangerous misnomer.
