Checking in on Akon lighting Africa
Musician Akon has provided 14 African nations with solar-powered electricity via street lamps and solar panels as part of “Akon Lighting Africa,” a project aimed at providing the continent of Africa with low-cost, sustainable electricity.
Morning Brief: Home Depot and Enel signa power contract, National Grid rebrands its renewable arm
Also in the brief: CollectiveSun raises $4 million for San Diego nonprofits to go solar, EDP has closed on a power contract for 100 MW of solar generated by two projects in Ohio and more.
SunDensity secures $2.5 million in funding for output-boosting module coating technology
The company has developed a photonic smart coating that it claims will increase the per panel power output by 20%, driving down overall project costs.
Solar-plus-storage replaces coal plant in New Mexico, makes carbon-capture retrofit moot
The utility is planning on replacing the San Juan coal-fired station’s 847 MW of capacity with 650 MW of solar generation and 300 MW/1,200 MWh of accompanying energy storage. The new plan all but kills a proposal from San Juan’s owner and the City of Farmington to add a carbon-capture retrofit to the station.
EnergySage reports on storage for the first time ever, Tesla dominates
In the newest edition of EnergySage’s Solar Marketplace Intel Report, data about energy storage solutions being quoted to homeowners through the platform has been included for the first time — with more than half of the quotes for Tesla’s Powerwall 2.
Not all solar panels are created equal, according to the Ultra Low-Carbon Solar Alliance
As the world accelerates towards decreasing carbon emissions, so too should the solar industry’s supply chain. This was the idea that has led to the founding of the Ultra Low-Carbon Solar Alliance, which officially launched today.
Regulators question Ameren’s math in net metering case
The utility is looking to move forward with a new rebate structure worth half the value of net metering, despite regulators’ orders to keep the rate in place until questions about the calculations Ameren is using to justify the new rate can be answered.
Launching a startup during an international pandemic
With the difficulties of launching a company exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, EnerVenue has been able to not only survive the challenges, but use them to the company’s advantage. pv magazine sat down with CEO Jorg Heinmann to discuss how the company leveraged risk into opportunity.
Rhode Island economists attempt to put a price on NIMBYism
Researchers at the University of Rhode Island have suggested homeowners are prepared to pay $279 per year to avoid living within a mile of a large-scale solar plant. Other research has contrary findings.
General Motors to achieve 60% renewable energy thanks to massive Arkansas solar deal
The automaker announced that it has come to terms on a power purchase agreement for a 180-MW solar project set to be constructed in Arkansas. The installation will use modules from First Solar.
