Ten American-Made Solar Prize ideas get $100,000, go to next round
NREL has announced finalists in its first round of seeking new solar technologies that have significant market potential.
Hannon Armstrong jumps into community solar, SRP gives emissions the boot: pvMB 6/6/19
Good morning and welcome to today’s edition of the pvMB. This morning, we’ll be looking at the Sunpower system at a “destination” Porsche dealership, PacificCorp installing a solar + storage sytem in lieu of wires for Rocky Mountain Power, Laura Olton’s appointment to head the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission and more!
Scientists see global PV rocketing to 10 terawatts by 2030, for starters
A Science journal article describes how to reach “a future with ~10 terawatts of PV by 2030 and 30 to 70 terawatts by 2050, providing a majority of global energy.”
New York’s winter time solar duck curve cometh
A site origination exercise and load analysis by Cornell University suggests that 9 GW of solar will reduce peak demand in New York by nearly 10%. However it also finds that solar needs better capacity valuations to make for a stronger market, and will drive a wintertime duck curve during the season of lower electricity demand.
From the editor: SEIA’s solar+ plan falls short on ambition
The organization’s “ambitious goal” of solar supplying 20% of the nation’s electricity in 2030 looks more like a forecast, and vision for rapid decarbonization is coming from the climate movement and the American Left, not SEIA.
Designing for and monetizing curtailed solar power
Research by NREL and First Solar has produced highly accurate, real-time estimates of available aggregate peak power that a curtailed solar power plant can deliver to support the broader needs of the grid.
Sunrun aims to replace big power plants
By providing solar + storage, contracting to supply capacity in wholesale markets and even considering microgrid communities, Sunrun is taking on more and more of the space traditionally occupied by utilities and the large, centralized generators that they rely on.
New York utility gives free hardware to solar and EV buyers
ConEdison is supplying the ConnectDER solution—which accepts solar and EV wiring directly at the electric meter—when customers install solar and electric vehicles. Installation of the device avoids costly electric panel upgrades.
Fire at Tennessee polysilicon fab, NJ man scams the feds for $3 million in solar rebates: pvMB 05/06/19
It’s Monday, and it is pvMB time. Today in addition to the dark news in the headline, we also bring you three new directors at Rocky Mountain Institute, and record levels of solar curtailment in California this April.
Colorado to go carbon-free
With the presumed signing of SB19-236 by Governor Polis, the state will begin the steps to becoming carbon free by 2030, which is likely followed closely by increased renewable development.
