Tesla brings brownfield solar to Maryland, solar stop signs and more: pvMB 4/2/2019
In today’s pvMB, we also bring you an Iowa legislator seeking more information before signing off on a bill to cut solar compensation, solar and wind entering their 3rd phase, and a bill to move prisons and university classrooms to solar.
More than a half million pumped-hydro sites for a world of 100% renewables
A recent Australian National University study shows that newly developed geographic information system algorithms can identify prospective sites for off-river pumped hydro projects throughout the world. The researchers, who identified around 530,000 potential sites, said pumped-hydro installations could enable large-scale energy time-shifting, as well as a range of ancillary services such as frequency regulation, which could help to integrate high levels of PV and wind into electricity systems.
pvMB 4/1/19: Maui’s largest solar plant approved, Duke introduces EV charging program… and more!
Actually, contrary to the title of this article, there is no MB today, nothing happened. Carry on with your day.
April Fools! I know, that was horrible, but it’d be even more horrible to not attempt a stupid joke today. As for today’s pvMB, we’ll be looking at a 6.9 MW project proposed in Orchard Park, New York, Clearway’s plan to construct 185 MW in Oahu, Quickmount PV expanding to the East Coast and everything else to get your Monday started.
The Illinois “Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Act” is real
The strangely-titled bill has been filed in Illinois, with an aim to transition and repurpose coal plants currently at risk of closure to solar+storage facilities. Vistra Energy, which owns both coal plants in this list and solar+storage facilities elsewhere, is pushing the legislation.
Navajo Nation bill would replace 2.25 GW of coal with renewables
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.
Goldman Sachs to snatch up 233 MW of C&I solar from SunPower
The transaction both feeds the growing appetite of institutional investors for solar projects, and also provides SunPower with more cash.
pvMB 3/29: Ameresco wins eight projects through SMART, University of Minnesota to go solar
The eagle flies on Friday, and in today’s pvMB we bring your Fluence’s new CTO, ET Solar making a comeback, Pason & Chint’s integrated energy storage solution, and more…
Lego owner moves into U.S. solar
An investment firm owned by the family behind Lego has bought a majority stake in solar asset owner Enerparc’s U.S. business. Enerparc’s management team will maintain a minority interest.
Florida Power and Light enters the race for the world’s largest battery
At 409 MW/900 MWh, FPL’s project would be four times the capacity of the largest battery currently online. But an even bigger battery is being planned in Texas.
Enel moves on a 13 gigawatt project pipeline & flips 6 GW of solar+storage
Enel acquired renewable developer Tradewind’s 13 GW portfolio of wind and solar plus storage projects in the United States, and then immediately sold the 6 GW portion of the portfolio that is solar+storage projects to Macquarie.
