Distributed solar installed in 2021 nearly matches capacity of all new gas plants
Institute for Local Self Reliance annual update highlights influence of renewable energy in the US energy portfolio.
Construction begins for Meta (Facebook) $90 million solar project
The 70MW project is under development by Silicon Ranch and was launched through utility Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Green Invest program. Plus, pv magazine examines the work of “Solar Protocol” to bring attention to the fact that the internet is not as ethereal as it seems.
Sunrise brief: Solar starts strong, growing 40% year over year in January
Also on the rise: Four Northeast states form consortium to develop regional clean hydrogen hub. NREL researchers work on developing high energy density cells to advance stationary storage. Discovery of “structural earthquake” in cathode formation may improve sodium-ion batteries 20-40%. Federal budget includes $500 million for promoting energy storage.
Solar starts strong, growing 40% year over year in January
US solar generation reached new heights despite a year of challenges. Plus, pv magazine discusses “renewable” vs. “sustainable.”
Building solar 2x faster than ever would let California electrify with 100% renewables by 2035
10GW/year of solar and 5GW/year of storage would be needed under that aggressive scenario, according to an analysis for the California Air Resources Board.
Texas has enough solar and wind planned to permanently shut down coal
Texas could meet the state’s energy needs by replacing coal with a fraction of what is proposed in solar and wind, according to Rice University researchers.
Utility-run voluntary renewable energy program reaches 50,000 subscribers
Michigan utility DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower has been so popular, the utility has “thousands of megawatts” of clean energy planned to meet demand.
Sunrise brief: SolarEdge $590 million capital raise “expands the war chest,” said ROTH
Also on the rise: Invasion of Ukraine an inadvertent boost for green hydrogen. 175MW Pike Solar and Storage Project cleared for construction in Colorado. Joint development agreement for light-optimizing, energy-producing modules designed to top agrivoltaic greenhouses. Barrio Solar wants to help Brooklyn homeowners go solar. While interconnection seen as a bottleneck to solar, three grid regions processed 25GW of solar interconnection requests last year. The 400MW Obsidian Solar Center in Oregon gets final approval. Research on semi-transparent organic photovoltaic filters for agrivoltaic greenhouses.
175MW solar and storage project cleared for construction in Colorado
The Pike Solar Project will supply electricity and storage services to Colorado Springs Utilities under a 17-year power purchase agreement.
Oregon’s largest solar project gets final approval
The 400MW Obsidian Solar Center represents a 25% increase in the state’s total installed solar capacity, finally gaining approval after years of addressing land use complaints.
