pvMB 3/7/19: PanelClaw Partners with Yotta, China plans a space-based solar station…and more!
Hey evrybody, the weekend is nearly here, but what’s already here is your Thursday edition of the pvMB. Today we’re taking a look at San Diego Gas and Electric’s time-of-use billing, Microsoft purchasing 74 MW of solar energy in North Carolina, HellermannTyton releasing First Solar module-specific wire hardware and everything else that matters today in solar.
North Dakota finally embraces big solar
For the first time, North Dakota will have a solar installation at least 1 MW in size. Actually, that’s an understatement, as state regulators have approved Geronimo Energy’s bid for a 200 MW project outside of Fargo.
pvMB 2/5/19: Vivint moves into Home Depot, Sonnen appoints new board
Hello and welcome to the pv magazine USA morning brief. Today we’ve got for you John Kasich calling on Republicans to stop denying climate change, 71 Oregon scientists imploring state leaders to act on climate change, and everything else you need to know today.
Like peanut butter and jelly, wind+solar in a 1.2 GW deal
NextEra and KKR have partnered on a portfolio of ten operational wind+solar assets, totaling 860 MW of wind and 328 MWac of solar, in a $900 million convertible equity finance deal.
U.S. energy storage deployed grows 80% despite shortages
Wood Mackenzie reports that the United States deployed 311 MW / 777 MWh of grid connected energy storage in 2018, growing 44% and 80%, respectively. The company also noted industry headwinds as market shortages clipped demand, and slowed pricing decreases.
Midwestern and Northern Tier contractors put up 250 MW of small-scale solar
Contractors in Indiana, Washington, Illinois and Iowa put up half of that total, while groups work to expand opportunities state by state. “Snapshot stories” included.
Fossils going hard after solar in Spotsylvania
Large scale solar power development is under attack by fossil fuel interests, with the Spotsylvania, Virginia project by sPower being focused on by right wing news websites and “think tanks”.
Sunrun breaks 100 MW, heavy investment ongoing
The nation’s largest residential solar company noted higher than expected revenues, an increased net present value of its installations, and a hold of installation costs under $2/W – but also a strong operating cost increase and a Wall Street misinterpretation on expected earnings per share.
If not bifacial, then what?
JinkoSolar has launched a new bifacial solar module with a clear backsheet manufactured by Dupont to compete with standard glass on glass bifacial solar modules, as well to break into new markets where bifacial might not have fit in.
Enphase is making money again
Enphase noted $92 million in revenue in Q4’18, and over $106 million in cash on hand as the company reported quarterly and annual positive operating incomes – its first in years. Enphase is completely booked for all of Q1 and seemingly into the late spring months.
