Solar hosting capacity maps must be accurate to be useful
Solar hosting capacity maps, now required in seven states, show where solar can be added on a distribution circuit without incurring any grid expense—but only if those maps are accurate. California’s experience, says a policy paper, shows that best practice guidelines for validating maps are needed to aid state regulators.
Keeping net energy metering credits ‘clean’ in California means adding relays and meters
It’s during the interconnection review and approval processes that most developers run into the NEM integrity issue with California’s big utilities.
SEIA calls on FERC to dismiss the petition to end net metering
The Solar Energy Industries Association makes the case for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to dismiss the petition, solely on legal grounds. A filing by Solar United Neighbors, Vote Solar and other groups makes a legal case and also rebuts the petition’s claims about net metering.
Positive news for California rooftop solar in Q2 – so far
With a data point of one (California solar interconnection data through the end of April), the author makes optimistic inferences about U.S. solar in Q2 and 2020.
Morning Brief: 184 GW of renewables were installed globally in 2019, Alabama Power to add gas units
Also in the brief: Geronimo Energy has started construction activities for two Michigan solar projects, a New Hampshire Senator is asking the Defense Department’s progress toward meeting its renewable energy goals, Nelnet launches a renewables spinoff and more.
Loanpal solar loan securitization tests the water, signals a post-Covid market reopening
“Solar loans have proven to be a resilient asset class through these turbulent times.”
US solar has the chance to recover in 2020 after a record 3.6 GW first quarter
Utility-scale solar strength will cover for residential and rooftop weakness in 2020, according to SEIA and WoodMac.
First Tesla solar tile roof V3 installed in Massachusetts
It’s the first Tesla V3 solar tile roof in the state and the second on the East Coast. The 7.5 kW system includes two Powerwall batteries — although there is no time-of-use pricing and there hasn’t been a local power failure in a few years.
Morning Brief: California sets example for community solar, transparent graphene electrodes for PV cells
Also in the brief: The never ending saga of Arkansas utilities battling their 2,320 net metering customers, Atom Power raises $17.8 million for a solid-state circuit breaker for commercial and industrial buildings.
US residential solar provider Vivint strengthens its liquidity position while leaving room for growth
Instead of going to the ABS market, Vivint topped up a multi-lender revolving warehouse facility by $245 million. The debt transactions might signal a degree of lender confidence in the asset class and in Vivint during an unprecedented quarter.
