Trump’s mysterious cybersecurity order bans bulk-generation gear from ‘adversaries’
Although it doesn’t seem to impact solar directly, energy storage might be threatened. “The order leaves more questions than it answers,” according to Norton Rose Fulbright. What is motivating the administration? China? Why now?
Morning Brief: PG&E customers ready to ride out fire season with batteries, are EVs holding back stationary energy storage systems?
Also in the brief: Chinese EV startup Nio has secured a $1 billion investment, Kore Power has entered into a strategic partnership with ELM FieldSight, Nautilus Solar Energy has closed on a $90 million debt financing agreement and more.
Morning Brief: New Zealand invests in flow batteries, ‘NextGrid’ goes off the rails
Also in the brief: Tesla’s Q Con virtual power plant presentation, the University of Arkansas’ solar design contest, M&A during the pandemic, dodecahedrons and more
Pandemic-related uncertainty in the US solar industry — and the case for an ITC extension
Renewable energy industry officials are hopeful that a post-pandemic comeback is possible in 2021 but, “Supply chain issues haven’t played out yet,” said George Strobel of Monarch Capital.
Q Cells takes top share of the US distributed solar module market
The company claimed 25.2% of the residential solar module market, while controlling 13.3% of the commercial and industrial market, according to WoodMac’s Q1 2020 U.S. PV Leaderboard. The achievement marks the first time Q Cells has topped both markets, as well as the first time any company has held a residential market share of 25% or greater.
Trina’s new solar module confirmed at 515.8 W output, roadmap set for 600 W
Trina Solar has been manufacturing its 500 W modules for a month now and plans to increase module output to more than 600 W in the future.
Battery startup FreeWire raises $25 million in funding
The funding was led by an existing investor of FreeWire, BP, and will allow the company to commercialize its upcoming Boost EV Charger, as well as expand operations across the United States and into Europe.
First Solar signs PV-plus-storage PPAs with community choice aggregators
The First Solar-developed Rabbitbrush project will provide electricity for these two community choice aggregators for 15 years.
NEXTracker was the largest tracker provider in 2019
The ten largest solar tracker companies accounted for 88% of the market last year, according to analyst Wood Mackenzie, with the market growing 20% from 2018.
Solar inverters vs. cyberattacks
A U.S. research group is developing inverters and cybersecurity standards to protect solar installations from cyberattacks. The researchers said that inverters can shut down if they are hacked, or contribute to grid instability and result in the overcharging of batteries, while potentially creating problems that we still don’t know how to address.
