Two milestones achieved in AI-enabled concentrated solar power
The achievements pave the way for deployment of Heliogen’s centrifugal particle receiver in the Capella Project, a collaboration with Woodside Energy.
Vermont utility announces emissions-free “zero outages” initiative
Green Mountain Power targets zero power outages by 2030, backed by a strong contribution from solar, wind, and energy storage linked in microgrids.
Grid-forming inverters will enable a high-renewables grid
As renewable generation increases, so does the need for grid-forming inverters to provide the same functionality that rotating synchronous generators provide. The UNIFI Consortium is coordinating industry progress on the new inverter technology.
HVDC transmission serves mostly wind and hydro power, not solar
A report from The Brattle Group and DNV recommends clearing barriers in the U.S. to high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission. HVDC transmission projects show many cost-saving use cases, but so far, transmitting solar power is rarely among them.
U.S. utility testing 5 MW, 10-hour organic solid flow battery
German battery manufacturer CMBlu is supplying its 5 MW, 10-hour-duration organic solid flow long-duration battery technology to a US utility project, featuring high-performance organic energy storage molecules.
Bringing ERCOT’s speedy interconnection process to the rest of the U.S.
Texas grid operator ERCOT is enabling rapid growth in solar and wind capacity through an interconnection process known as “connect and manage.” That approach could be used across the U.S. with modifications, according to a new study.
Sunrise brief: California electricity pricing exploded in the last three years, far outpacing inflation
Also on the rise: Funding for second-life EV battery materials manufacturer reaches $4 billion. Model procedures for fixing distributed solar and storage interconnection. And more.
Model procedures for fixing distributed solar and storage interconnection
Any state could adopt current “best practices” for interconnecting distributed solar and storage by instituting model procedures published by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, the group suggests in a report.
Sunrise brief: Arizona approves cut to solar compensation rates
Also on the rise: “Make it burn” and other lithium-ion first responder guidance. Coalition urges Biden Administration to scrap hydrogen hub plans. And more.
Floating PV plant operators may achieve additional revenue through non-evaporated water
A group of researchers from Italy investigated the economic competitiveness of various ground mounted and floating PV systems with regard to cost and performance, taking into consideration revenues due to reduced water evaporations. They found that the use of non-evaporated water at photovoltaic system sites can achieve revenues greater than $3/kW if used for irrigation and higher than $4/kW if sold to generate hydroelectricity.
