U.S. utilities test distributed energy management
Distributed energy management systems can capture added value from solar and storage by shaving peak loads, providing grid services, and deferring grid investments. Utilities testing such systems have shared their lessons learned, while Western Australia leapfrogs ahead.
Suncast: pv magazine USA on 100% renewable energy
In this latest version of the Suncast podcast, pv magazine Americas Editor Christian Roselund talks about the feasibility of the 100% renewable electricity targets being considered.
Solar plus geothermal under review in Nevada
The owner of the Tungsten Mountain Geothermal Unit is researching the addition of 18 MW of solar PV to power some, or all, of the site’s parasitic electric load.
Flexible solar power saves money
An analysis of a First Solar power plant in Tampa, Florida suggests that by operating solar plants with more flexibility operators can save money for ratepayers – while also allowing for significantly higher penetration levels of renewables.
The home of the future, for renters
sonnen has announced its latest sonnenCommunity in Florida, in collaboration with Pearl Homes and Google Home. The development features a smaller footprint and automated homes, with most of the units set to be rentals.
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.
