5 stories that sparked conversation in 2019
Certain articles at pv magazine strike a chord with readers and spark greater discussion among the community. Here are the most discussed articles of 2019 at pv magazine USA.
Tesla to hide ‘solar test-house’ under tents at Fremont site
Lora Kolodny at CNBC uncovered a recently granted building permit that allows Tesla to put up “two canopy covers” over its new “solar test houses.” Earlier this year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that 2019 was “the year of the solar roof.”
Dominion chooses 50 electric Thomas Built Buses powered by Proterra
The new electric school buses are part of a pilot program with a goal to integrate 13,000 Virginia buses into the state’s power grid as an energy storage resource.
There’s no roof too big for Tesla
Coming off of a rebound quarter for its residential solar arm, Tesla has launched a 15.4 kW installation option — for the customer with 4,000 square feet of solar home.
Hardware brief: California battery discounts, Dr. Nick!, commercial rooftop bifacial data, more!
It’s beginning to look a like fourth quarter solar rush headache time…so relax, check out some solar gear and services! Silicon and module pricing is down a touch, SMA energy storage systems approved in California, and there’s also a Fronius & BYD hook up!
California seeks $600 million+ for battery backups in “high fire threat districts”
Regulators are focusing 63% of the $1.2 billion SGIP energy storage incentive fund on those most affected by the power grid shutdowns, specifically risk electricity users with medical conditions, critical locations within communities, or those who have had multiple power shutdowns already.
US research lab rewires solar cell increasing efficiency to 27.3%, sees path to greater than 32%
NREL has published a paper showing an experimental solar cell, with a unique technique for wiring two separate solar cells into one, that increased the cell’s efficiency by 4%. As well the document offer a respectable review of other technologies being developed.
Solar tariff talks on the menu – bifacial exemption extended and ITC argued
Federal regulators upheld the bifacial solar module import tariff as a public good, and potential protector of irreparable harm against solar developers. Concurrently, the trade courts reviewed the solar module import tariff as a whole, with some groups stating module manufacturing showed success, while solar cell manufacturing hasn’t been helped.
Hardware brief: Solar panel walking shoes, poly modules dying?, Trina poly bifacial breaks record, more!
You’re busy, so we keep it simple – only the hardware here folks! Los Angeles simplified its installation requirements, solar+storage install in Vermont, solar walking shoes that spread the force to 1/10th allowable weight, Trina setting bifacial poly records, and polysilicon pricing at the floor!
GM building $2 billion dollar electric vehicle battery factory in Ohio
LG Chem and GM have announced an agreement to build a 30 GWh EV battery factory in Lordstown, Ohio which will employ 1,100 people and come online in 2023.
