Manufacturing

The Commerce Department has the choice to move forward with a baseless petition that will result in massive job losses and set back our clean energy goals or fix its mistake by immediately issuing a negative preliminary determination — speed is of the essence.

The latest PV Leaderboard report by Wood Mackenzie confirms that Qcells marks 14 consecutive quarters with top market share in US residential and commercial solar module markets.

First Solar’s second supply deal in as many days will see the company expand its partnership with Silicon Ranch with a commitment four times greater than all previous supply deals between the two combined.

Also on the rise: Origis Energy places order for 750MW of First Solar thin-film modules. Moment Energy repurposes EV batteries for off-grid use. Storing renewables in depleted oil and gas wells. Northeast US furniture giant greening its operations with onsite solar PV. Energy storage provider Fluence acquires AI software service firm Nispera. Modular solar PV and tidal power desalination buoys from Canada.

The deal was booked prior to the release of First Solar’s Q4 and Full Year 2021 earnings in February, and by contract Origis will benefit from technology developments until the order is complete in 2024.

Moment Energy is one of several companies and projects supported by the ARC program, which aims to provide clean-energy storage to urban and remote diesel-dependent communities in British Columbia.

Also on the rise: Largest solar project in Wisconsin gets regulatory approval. Aspen Power to acquire 53MW of community solar projects from Trajectory Energy Partners. 6K awarded $1.5 million Massachusetts manufacturing grant to fund battery recycling equipment. Solar anti-circ investigation may not be determined by Commerce until late August, said ROTH.

6K has also announced a new 33,000-square-foot battery center of excellence pre-production facility in North Andover, which will be one of the largest battery material production facilities in the United States.

The Gaskell West 2 and 3 project is located in Kern County, California, and is fully contracted holding five long-term power purchase agreements with cities and utilities in California.

Also on the rise: Solar on pace to save the world. Solar investments are scaling up, but inefficient O&M is weighing them down. Kevin Hostetler named CEO of Array Technologies. AgriSolar tour makes first stop at Biosphere 2. Boviet Solar R&D initiatives include 600W modules, N-Topcon, and HJT cells. With acquisition of Green IT, Radian Generation adds cybersecurity to its asset management toolbox. County-wide community solar campaign launches in New York. Gloomy IPCC report notes that capital flowing to fossil fuels still greater than that directed toward combating climate change.