Policy

The Long Duration Energy Storage for Everyone, Everywhere Initiative, created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will advance energy storage systems toward widespread commercial deployment by lowering the costs and increasing the duration of energy storage resources.

Also on the rise: Hanwha Solutions to expand solar cell and module manufacturing in the United States and Korea. The pv magazine tour of solar incentives stops in Vermont, home to aggressive renewable energy mandates and a one of the nation’s most forward-thinking utilities. IKEA to offer SunPower residential solar and energy storage. Electric vehicles are cheaper than gas-powered, depending on the state and incentives.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo indicated that antidumping investigations similar to the Auxin case in the past resulted in 10% to 12% tariffs, but Federal Register records show many large Chinese solar companies have paid higher rates than that. In 2017 to 2018, for example, rates for Trina Solar were 92.5%, Risen Energy 100.79%, Canadian Solar 95.5%, Jinko Solar 95.5%.

Owning an electric vehicle can save drivers thousands of dollars per year, with $6,000 average savings over the vehicle’s lifetime, but the savings is dependent on rebates, state fees, and the cost of gas and electricity.

Hanwha announces an investment of $320M in cell and module manufacturing capacity expansions to meet the growing global demand for sustainable energy. 

Various visions of the disruption that the transition to cleaner, cheaper electricity sources will have on energy markets and supply exist. Critics anticipate expensive chaos, while advocates see a powerful new network emerge. Serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist and energy futurist Bill Nussey has put his thoughts together in a new book, Freeing Energy, and pv magazine’s Tim Sylvia met the author to discuss its findings.

Higher natural gas prices call for more near-term solar, said Georgia’s solar trade group in testimony on Georgia Power’s proposed resource plan, adding that a utility cap on rooftop solar should be lifted. Two other groups challenged the utility’s modeling choices.

Also on the rise: Common Energy raises $16.5 million to expand community solar access nationwide. Scientists, industry players reveal plans for new LETID testing standard. OMCO Solar shores up manufacturing with $5 million investment. First Resilient Service Station microgrid project completed in Massachusetts. olar Alliance to design and build 500 kW solar project in Kentucky. Emissions-free battery recycling facility will use electricity rather than smelting.

After heavy protest to the proposed solar net metering rates and fees, the CPUC now seeks comment on how an equitable, environmentally-sound, and economically beneficial structure can be created.

Also on the rise: Western and Southeastern utilities’ progress in advancing 194 GW of solar projects is a mystery. Michigan utility seeks land siting utility scale solar. Approximately 858 GWdc of solar and over 1 TWh of batteries are in development. Summit Ridge energizes Montgomery County’s first ground-mount community solar project. PG&E $11 million pilot programs to accelerate vehicle-to-everything technologies. 50 states of solar incentives: Rhode Island.