Calling all California solar and storage developers – 6,000+ systems, 32 MW+ request for proposals
Four California CCAs have combined to release a joint RFP in Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties for developers to build out distributed energy storage at local homes, multifamily properties, and commercial buildings that can keep the locations running when the grid is powered down.
Idaho Power renews attacks on net metering
The utility has proposed to state regulators a measure to decrease the rate that solar owners receive for their excess solar generation by 50% under the argument that net metering has failed to properly recover the costs incurred to serve customers with on-site generation.
Draft on extending and expanding ITC is expected to drop this week
The legislation is expected to propose extending the credit under terms similar to those that have been enjoyed for the last five years.
PURPA so good it hurts, still needed though
An analysis by a utility backed group suggests that the competitive market for solar power is producing better rates than the legally required PURPA marketplace, suggesting revisions to the pricing mechanism. Market activity suggests the political lever of the tool is still needed though, and the report has some issues.
SRP joins the big boys of battery storage
Salt River Project has announced a 250 MW, 1,000 MWh battery project, located in Little Rainbow Valley. The project will be the largest in Arizona and among the largest in the country.
Hardware Brief: 26.5¢/W modules, new silicon carbide inverters, dual axis tracker 4 year ROI, drones!!
Modules and inverters and trackers, oh my! PV InfoLink sees as low as 21¢/W modules on the spot market, Kaco has released a series of 1000V and 1500V inverters between 87 and 150 kW, Mechatron’s dual axis tracker took the place of a carport, and Drone Magnetic Survey Company has figured out that there’s a niche finding old wells and metal under solar fields!
Another giant makes its home in Texas
Ground has broken on Ørsted’s 420 MWac Permian Energy Center, complete with a 40 MWac battery unit to complement the project’s solar generation.
PPAs for the lay people, the first-ever Solar Games: pvMB 11/13/19
Hello wonderful readers and welcome to the pvMB, where today we shall be looking at NeoVolta’s Iron Phosphate Energy Storage System, Vision Solar expanding to Orlando, DroneDeploy raising $35 million and more!
Bifacial exemptions are back (briefly)
Invenergy has been awarded a temporary restraining order on the basis that the removal of the bifacial exemption was done without allowance for notice or comment prior to pulling the exclusion. With the decision going before the courts and the Section 201 mid-term review underway, tensions are at an all-time high.
DTE establishes renewables arm
The energy giant has split, creating a company with the sole purpose of managing its clean power business. That clean power, at least for the foreseeable future, will include negligible amounts of solar.
