Safe harboring in 2020’s rough waters: three crucial considerations
As it stands today, 2021 will likely be one of the strongest markets for solar equipment manufacturers selling into the U.S. market. A perfect storm of a recovering market post-pandemic, access to cheap capital, and the impending ITC drop-off will create strong, near-term market demand, as well as intense safe harboring activities.
EnergySage reports on storage for the first time ever, Tesla dominates
In the newest edition of EnergySage’s Solar Marketplace Intel Report, data about energy storage solutions being quoted to homeowners through the platform has been included for the first time — with more than half of the quotes for Tesla’s Powerwall 2.
Off-grid solar funding concentrated in just three companies
With a previous 50-50 split between equity and debt investment funding for the off-grid market shifting to 84% debt, and commentators stating most of this year’s backing was agreed before the onset of Covid-19, fears are mounting about the prospects for the sector.
US residential solar set for a record-breaking year — despite and because of 2020
Over the course of this strange year, American residential solar companies such as Sunrun, Vivint, SunPower and Tesla claimed they could weather the Covid storm with remote selling and new online strategies. It turns out they were right. BloombergNEF forecasts that Americans will install 3 gigawatts of solar on residential rooftops in 2020.
Regulators question Ameren’s math in net metering case
The utility is looking to move forward with a new rebate structure worth half the value of net metering, despite regulators’ orders to keep the rate in place until questions about the calculations Ameren is using to justify the new rate can be answered.
Morning Brief: Another day, another utility fighting net metering — Ameren in Illinois this time
Also in the brief: Aurora adds battery backup recommendations to its solar design software, Global energy storage capacity could grow at a CAGR of 31%.
Analyzing the 2% DC voltage drop rule
The good people at Mayfield Renewables take us deep into the technical weeds as they question a rule-of-thumb: Is the 2% DC voltage drop rule accurate for real-world conductor sizing or has technological progress in solar made the rule irrelevant?
Women entrepreneurs are essential to last-mile distribution of renewable energy technologies
A new fund has been launched to provide microgrants of $3,000 to $10,000 to the women entrepreneurs and community organizations working to provide clean, reliable and primarily off-grid power to remote communities.
Morning Brief: Revenue streams of CAISO batteries, Entergy still on the gas, New Hampshire NEM
Also in the brief: EPA raises legal questions about California’s plan to ban new gas-powered cars starting in 2035
What is distributed generation’s real worth for the grid?
A thought experiment by Severin Borenstein suggests how much rooftop solar could reduce transmission and distribution costs.
