Swinerton was the lead solar EPC contractor in the US last year
IHS Markit: At 10% market share, Swinerton Renewable Energy maintained its position as the preferred EPC contractor in the U.S. First Solar and Cypress Creek intend on exiting the EPC segment, creating opportunities for established local EPCs and the emerging group of international firms eyeing the growing U.S. utility-scale market.
Solar PPA prices in the US rise for the second consecutive quarter — after 18 months of decline
LevelTen Energy’s Q3 2020 PPA Price Index report shows that average utility-scale solar PPA prices rose again in Q3, up to $29.3/MWh. And while the ITC step-down and simple economics are to blame, LevelTen shares that the increases are no cause for alarm.
Morning Brief: Home Depot and Enel signa power contract, National Grid rebrands its renewable arm
Also in the brief: CollectiveSun raises $4 million for San Diego nonprofits to go solar, EDP has closed on a power contract for 100 MW of solar generated by two projects in Ohio and more.
America’s highways have significant solar potential
A report just released by the University of Texas at Austin’s Webber Energy Group has tackled how much solar each state could develop along interstate interchange and exit locations and how much this solar could potentially be worth.
Morning Brief: Pennsylvania looks to make community solar legal, Constellation signs 100 MW of supply contracts
Also in the brief: Wyoming regulators are critical of Pacificorp’s transition plan and solar and renewable industry leaders have begun an initiative to increase workforce diversity and inclusion throughout the industry.
Solar-plus-storage replaces coal plant in New Mexico, makes carbon-capture retrofit moot
The utility is planning on replacing the San Juan coal-fired station’s 847 MW of capacity with 650 MW of solar generation and 300 MW/1,200 MWh of accompanying energy storage. The new plan all but kills a proposal from San Juan’s owner and the City of Farmington to add a carbon-capture retrofit to the station.
Morning Brief: Dominion Energy issues an RFP for 80MW of new solar, Generac acquires Enbala
Also in the brief: Solar installer Sigora Solar acquired California-based Aztec Solar, first-of-a-kind utility plan could transform Southeast grid
Shoals, solar balance-of-system player, had a strong 2020 and sees an even stronger 2021
Dean Solon of Shoals Technologies Group: “The short version is that it’s been a damned good year.” An interview with Shoals covers the growth of large solar projects in the U.S., high AC/DC ratios and the real costs of using cheap components.
New Jersey regulators approve year two of the state’s community solar pilot, double capacity
150 MW of capacity are available for development in 2021, with at least 40% of all approved projects required to reserve at least 51% of their capacity to serve low- and middle-income households.
World’s highest utility-scale solar plus storage project
Built in Gangba County, in Xigaze, Tibet, the 40 MW/193 MWh facility was deployed at more than 4,700m above sea level and is functioning as a demonstration project for the ancillary services the technology could offer the Tibetan grid.
