Manufacturing

Also on the rise: Missouri town declares solar farm a nuisance. PG&E seeks 176 MW of front-of-the-meter local solar. Group using NREL’s free ReEDs model validates 100% renewables by 2035 for 24 states. Caesars bets on solar, breaks ground on three projects in Atlantic City. MIT, NREL researchers develop 40%-efficient thermophotovoltaic cell for grid-scale thermal batteries. SEIA cuts solar deployment forecast 46% in light of anti-circumvention investigation. LG Energy Solution Q1 net income cut in half by materials costs and supply chain challenges, with sights set on strong EV market.

The German company’s decision to cede market share to Chinese companies producing the material for solar panels, in order to focus on semiconductor-ready, electronic grade product, has seen it slip behind its rivals in terms of production scale.

The battery specialist plans to boost smart battery manufacturing and make strategic materials investments to drive down costs, increase profit

The new funds will allow the company to accelerate the scaling of its panel-level solar-plus-storage system, develop new technology, and increase its headcount.

Also on the rise: Minnesota’s renewable generation has risen 60% over the past decade, providing 28% of Minnesota’s generation in 2021. Mosaic solar finance company reaches $7 billion in loans funded. Leeward Renewable Energy, First Solar come to terms on module supply agreement. Growatt unveils solar rechargeable portable power station.

PV ICE uses the latest data from the solar industry to model the flow of PV materials over the next several decades, helping to predict the effects of different market trends, technological developments, and government policies.

The deal expands the two companies’ supply agreements to over 3 GW and will enable Leeward to develop 18 new solar facilities in its 20 GW US solar development and construction pipeline through 2024.

Developed by Canadian start-up Salient Energy, the zinc-ion battery has a rated capacity of 60 Ah, a nominal voltage of 1.3 V, and a volumetric energy density of 100 Wh/L.

Also on the rise: Broad Reach Power procures 900 MWh of battery systems from CATL for solar portfolio in Texas. Job moves at Maxeon Solar Technologies, PowerMarket, Ulteig and more. Sunrun says better policy is needed to add “vast” amounts of distributed solar and storage. Ohio regulators to review two massive renewable energy project proposals. California utility SDG&E sees utility scale solar growing greater than 10X by 2045. New JM Steel manufacturing plant will have a Nextracker tracker production line.

Six ERCOT projects will contribute over 900 MWh to the Texas grid and will reach commercial operation in 2023.