If you build it, they will buy it: sPower refinances $499 million of wind and solar
The independent power producer has closed on a $499 million, investment grade, private placement financing representing approximately 650 MW of utility-scale wind and solar power projects.
Solar installation costs declined 5 to 11% in 2017, little so far in 2018
This year’s version of Berkeley Lab’s Tracking the Sun report saw residential installs fall 6% to $3.50 / W, small business fall 11% to $2.90 / W and large business fell 5% to $2.20 /W in 2017, with light changes in early 2018. However, these averages cover wide price variances in different markets.
Agrovoltaics: a solar-powered safety net for Massachusetts farmers
The long-term, steady income of solar power complements the higher revenue, but harder work of traditional farming. The Massachusetts SMART program looks to increase this trend with “agrovoltaic” incentives for solar co-located with crops.
$170 million of solar power coming to East Texas
Australian real estate developer Lendlease is pushing forward on a 200 MW solar power project. No electricity off taker has been noted, but the project has secured town approval and a tax abatement.
Sol Systems put a ring on it
A joint venture of Sol Systems and Nationwide Insurance has purchased 135 MW-DC of solar projects from Cypress Creek Renewables in North Carolina.
Alaska to get its largest solar arrays: 100 kW and 563 kW
Renewables IPP is preparing to build a 100 kW project in Willow, Alaska. This will be the state’s largest until a 563 kW plant comes online this fall.
Kentucky tips crown to solar power with one project to triple capacity
The Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency has signed a power contract to purchase most of the electricity from an 86 MW-AC solar power plant, which will begin to offset the loss of coal and gas facilities at the end of 2022.
How far should we push oversizing a solar power plant?
Fluence Energy has given guidance on optimizing solar module loading ratios, suggesting that a 1.9:1 DC:AC solar panel to inverter ratio, in defined circumstances, makes economic sense with integrated DC-coupled energy storage.
Solar power by sPower in Spotsylvania signs more contracts
The largest planned solar power plant east of the Rocky Mountains at 500 MW-AC has signed PPAs for all of its planned production with Microsoft, the University of Richmond, and a consortium of businesses including Apple.
Utility-backed fund raises $681 million for advanced energy technologies
Energy Impact Partners, who partners with 14 electric utilities, has raised $681 million to continue investing in technologies that have a high probability of influencing the future power grid.
