The world’s top banks remain committed to financing fossil fuels
A new report released by BankTrack, Oil Change International, Sierra Club and others takes a look at the trends in fossil fuel financing by the worlds top banks since the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement, grading each on the strength of their anti-fossil policies and habits.
The good news: The US added 13.3 GW of solar in 2019, beating wind and gas in new capacity
You know the bad news. Here are five takeaways from the pre-COVID-19 U.S. solar industry. As for how the coronavirus will impact 2020 foreacasts, supply chains, component costs and project timelines, stay safe and stay tuned.
Cheap renewables putting $639 billion of new coal investments at risk
The Carbon Tracker Initiative crunched some numbers and discovered that more than half a trillion dollars worth of coal investments are at serious risk due to the declining cost of renewables.
WattBuy to automate and expand NREL’s utility rate database
“Electricity providers will have to treat renewable energy customers as cost-conscious customers once these customers can look at data across the board.”
Morning Brief: Goldman Sachs and Telos form solar development outfit, Electrify America invests $2 million in EV chargers
Also in the brief: Powerhome named to Fast Company’s ‘Most Innovative Companies’ list, a Colorado town goes 100% renewable municipal electricity from a solar installation, a Minnesota couple wins a $50,000 prize for a module heating solution and more.
Energy storage projects reach ‘investment-grade’ with esVolta’s $140 million debt facility
It’s not the next lithium-ion battery breakthrough that’s going to accelerate the energy storage industry. It’s not the next inflated promise from a flow battery startup, compressed-air scheme, solid-state battery research project or energy storage dream funded by Bill Gates.
Sunrun installs record capacity in Q4 while driving down customer acquisition costs
The nation’s largest residential solar company installed 117 MW in Q4, reaching a total customer base of 285,000, all while bringing creation costs lower than they have ever been.
Solar could be installed on coalfields in West Virginia if The Nature Conservancy succeeds
Some former surface coal mines in central Appalachia could be repurposed for solar development. The Nature Conservancy, a global land conservancy with $1 billion in annual revenues, is exploring the options.
Morning Brief: D.E. Shaw buys Rancho Seco Solar II, DTE Energy must procure renewables
Also in the brief: CVE finances a 31.3 MW SMART portfolio, SolarEdge adds Karamba Security software to inverters, CIT leads $140 million financing for esVolta and more.
Oil giant Total increases stake in solar efficiency leader SunPower
Total will be acquiring 676,000 shares worth about $31 million, according to SEC filings.
