Morning Brief: AES invests in solar startup 5B, Switch selects Tesla batteries for datacenters
Also in the brief: Hecate Energy, the largest privately-held independent solar power developer in the U.S., sold its 514 MWac solar project, plus the chart of the day.
PG&E, Tesla begin construction on one of the world’s largest batteries
With 182.5 MW and 730 MWh of capacity and expansion capabilities that would bring it to 1.1 GWh, the Moss Landing battery energy storage system is set to be even bigger than Tesla’s Hornsdale project in Australia, as big-battery development takes off worldwide.
Amber Solutions is betting big on small tech
In pursuit of “disrupting the global electrical and powered products industries” Amber Solutions has developed a solid-state AC/DC enabler, as well as an AC switch, which the company claims allows for greater reliability and control than anything like it before.
Breaking up the patent monopoly for the benefit of batteries
The patent monopoly is at odds with the global need for battery storage technology and if this norm continues, technology will not be able to be released in time to keep up with current climate goals.
Tesla EVs show profit while solar business hits new lows in revenue and deployment
It was a series of firsts, including a profitable full year and Megapack turning a profit that factored into CEO Elon Musk explaining that he has “never been more optimistic or excited about the future of Tesla.” Austin is confirmed as the site of the next Gigafactory.
Morning Brief: Trina launches 600 W solar module, Jinko hits 24.7% efficiency for n-type mono, Tesla tweaks PV price again
Also in the brief: Trump finalizes rollback of bedrock environmental law, how justice and climate change are inseparable
Traditional O&M teams are not equipped to recover distressed PV assets after severe weather events
In the U.S., this year alone, there have been ten weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Morning Brief: newer solar equipment ages gracefully, Solar FlexRack provides trackers for 14 MW of projects
Also in the brief: nearly 1 MW of solar has been installed on the roof of a 300,000-square-foot Kroger bakery facility, a big-rig driver installing solar on his truck, camouflage for solar panels and more.
There’s more to solar systems than module capacity
While solar modules are often defined first and foremost by their capacity, higher module capacity doesn’t necessarily translate to a more efficient system, or even a longer-term yield. Understanding this and reflecting this idea onto customers can be key to delivering the right technology.
Canadian Solar joins the 500 W-plus panel club
The Chinese-Canadian company has unveiled a range of high-power modules which are set to go into mass production by early next year. The series includes a commercial and industrial rooftop-dedicated product offering a reported 405 W.
