Markets & Policy

Solar contractors added another 1.8 gigawatts of small-scale solar in the ten sunniest states last year. In Hawaii and California, solar groups described their ambitious policy goals to keep the momentum going.

Executive and boardroom moves in solar, storage, project development, cleantech, utilities and venture capital.

Total acquired 50% of India’s Adani Group’s solar portfolio for $510m and Shell is building its first large-scale solar farm, a 120-MW effort in Australia.

Also in the brief: 150 MW coming to Pennsylvania, Sunnova to bundle roof replacements with solar+storage under one loan, a solar-powered big rig in Arkansas and more!

Modules and batteries get all the headlines, but solar racking represents the shoulders upon which everything is built — and advances in this field are happening fast. Vertical racking for bifacial modules, new floating racking, a replacement for aluminum flashing, corrugated metal connections, and more!

Solar contractors added far more small-scale solar in the 19-state area than in 2018, when they added 250 MW. Solar policy groups aim to improve opportunities for distributed solar in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Montana.

Today in the brief: True Green Capital Management closes financing for 70 MW New York community solar portfolio, Connecticut regulators decide to be honest, Brightcore Energy names chief strategy officer and more.

In sunny San Diego for Intersolar 2020, we’re seeing a new idea on tracking rooftop solar modules, diodes moving to the cell level, two types of building integrated solar products, and some solar hot water.

The solar trade association and seven solar developers have endorsed carbon pricing for wholesale electricity in New York, which would boost renewables and help New York meet its carbon goal.

SolarCity, a nonprofit acquired by Tesla, launched the nonprofit GivePower in 2013 — and the Rive brothers, SolarCity’s founders, are on the board.