Residential PV

After years of steady, relentless growth, the U.S. residential solar market is struggling with challenges on both the policy and customer acquisition fronts. And as the market diversifies away from California and the Northeast, the future is far from clear.

The influx of cash is the latest progress for the nation’s largest PACE provider, which expanded to more communities in Missouri last week.

South Carolina and Pennsylvania also saw significant increases in solar permits granted, but California and Colorado both dropped by nearly 30%, according to the latest OhmHome report.

The contest is offering up to $2,500 in prizes, and pv magazine is hoping that DOE will license the winners under public domain.

The Oregon-based panel manufacturer launched the SolarWorld Assurance Warranty Protection Program for residential and commercial customers, designed to take effect if the original factory coverage could no longer be supported.

The company’s move is part of a trend of power companies getting out of the residential solar installation business.

The state’s Public Utility Commission froze the program on July 14, delaying processing until at least September and putting hundreds of applications on ice.

This quarter’s report on policies and rate design that affect distributed solar showed many of the same themes as previous reports, but also a glacial shift in approach.

The new regulation, the first of its kind outside of California, mandates 2.75 kW of solar for every 1000 square feet on new homes, as well as those that increase their square footage by 75% or more.

Community Solar is coming at a time of PV, especially residential, market uncertainty. So far the United States is a big enough sandbox for both markets to play in.