Overbuilding solar cheaper than seasonal storage and natural gas in Minnesota
An analysis by Clean Power Research, commissioned by the MN Solar Pathways Initiative, shows that 10% solar by 2025, and 70% wind+solar+storage in 2050 can be achieved at a comparable cost to natural gas-fired generation.
Illinois electric utility publishes online map of potential solar capacity
ComEd, Illinois subsidiary of Exelon, posts a Hosting Capacity Map showing solar potential based on infrastructure capabilities on a local basis.
Dispatchable solar coming to Kaua’i
The cooperative utility on the Hawaiian island has signed a contract for design and engineering of a 25 MW pumped hydro project, plus an unspecified volume of solar, to provide “dispatchable” renewable energy and allow the island to integrate an unprecedented level of solar.
Demand-side flexibility: helping solve solar’s curtailment conundrum
This op-ed by WattTime takes a look at solutions to solar curtailment, including new software to enable greater demand-side flexibility.
Operating solar with reserve capacity enables more solar on the grid
A solar plant can increase its output by starting from a curtailment status and then reducing curtailment. If grid operators schedule in advance both solar curtailment and increased solar output, the cost-saving level of solar increases substantially.
DOE seeks solar power situational awareness
The DOE has launched a program to find unique and innovative solutions that increase grid operators’ situational awareness of solar PV systems deployed throughout the grid at strategic locations – and that are seek to go beyond pure R&D, seeking field validation.
Your appliances can save the grid (and allow more solar)
A new report by Wood Mackenzie finds a surprising amount of potential demand flexibility in U.S. homes, which can make the job of integrating more solar and wind easier.
SunCast: Grid integration of high levels of renewable energy
In this special edition, SunCast host Nico Johnson talks with pv magazine Americas editor about grid integration of high levels of renewable energy, and what’s going on at SPI
SunCast: Andrea Luecke and John Berger on the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria
As part of the collaboration between pv magazine USA and SunCast, we bring you an audio special edition marking the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria and looking at the role that solar and energy storage has played in the recovery of Puerto Rico.
The solar sponge: shifting demand to soak up production
A new report by the Smart Electric Power Association argues that a process called reverse demand response can allow utilities to minimize curtailment of solar while simultaneously lowering power prices.
