Grid-connected battery energy capacity grew 68 percent last year
A utility survey shows battery storage capacity growing sharply, including solar + storage installations in several states. Looking ahead, FERC Order 841 could spark extensive new storage for grid services, helping more utilities become familiar with storage and its benefits.
Silfab unveils US manufacturing site with $40 million investment in Itek Energy
Canada-based Silfab Solar has invested US$40 million in U.S. solar PV module manufacturer, Itek Energy, LLC’s Bellingham, Washington production facility.
RBI Solar integrates, literally and figuratively, SolarBOS
Gibraltar Industries, owner of solar racking company RBI Solar, of Cincinnati, OH has acquired balance of system designer SolarBOS, of California.
Battery materials producer Livent Corp. goes public
The lithium supplier is banking on both its substantial history and new developments in the rapidly growing the electric vehicle market.
Elon Musk scraps plan to take Tesla private
The company’s shares have returned to a level slightly above where they were prior to the August 7 announcement.
Report shows Tesla’s battery gigafactory booming
The report found over 3,200 employees working at the factory at the end of 2017, and $3.7 billion in invested in the plant.
Researchers propose doubling today’s solar panel efficiency using two weird tricks
By double stacking a perovskite-silicon solar cell and using the cell in a glass-on-glass bifacial solar module, scientists model that a 30-36% efficient solar module can be attained.
Battery materials market to grow 9% through 2022
A report by Technavio suggests the global market for battery materials could grow 9% annually for the next four years. Analysts point to the increasing installation of storage systems with PV as a key driver. pv magazine has covered previous reports predicting significant growth in PV and storage systems.
Enphase going Einstein with IQ8 solar power inverters
The IQ8 will allow off grid solar power without the need for energy storage by instantly recognizing local load demands and meeting them with available solar-generated electricity.
Enphase boosts confidence, touts technology during analyst day
While the microinverter maker is still the target of an aggressive short, Roth Capital Partners has reiterated its “buy” at $6.50 per share, describing the IQ8 as a “game changer”.
