Sunrise brief: Trio of utilities want to spend $650 million for 465 MW of solar and storage
Also on the rise: Talen Energy has plans for energy storage at two fossil power plants, and a novel CSP technology passes a test that has its backers breathing a little easier.
XPRIZE launches $100 million carbon removal challenge, backed by Musk Foundation
The four-year global competition invites innovators and teams to demonstrate solutions that can pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or oceans.
RPI launches energy institute with backing from Siemens and Lutron Electronics
The New York City-based institute will link architectural design and engineering to create infrastructure that is both net-zero in energy use and climate resilient.
EnerVenue signs its first major distribution agreement
The deal with Hong Kong’s Towngas will pilot the company’s nickel-hydrogen battery technology and serve as an audition for future deals to come.
A geospatial approach to evaluating potential solar sites
High-resolution data let the study group drill down to individual parcels in order to figure out how much land is available for solar in both optimal and preferred sites.
Sunrise brief: Xcel Energy files plans for a 460 MW solar plant in Minnesota
Also on the rise: PG&E launches its solar-based microgrid program, a report from Berkeley Lab says the power sector is halfway to becoming carbon free, and battery recycler Li-Cycle will build a facility near Phoenix.
Power quality issues challenge utilities as solar is added to the grid, survey finds
Power quality issues emerge in terms of voltage swags, swells, flickers, and harmonic distortions, among other things. Many utilities said they are not happy with their ability to gather useful data to address the problems.
Here’s what Biden’s infrastructure bill offers solar and cleantech
The $2 trillion package includes a proposed 10-year extension of the ITC and PTC and calls for further incentives to add transmission capacity. Most solar advocates liked it, but one nonprofit panned it as being too industry-friendly.
Sunrise brief: GOP bill aims to ban federal funds to buy solar equipment made in China
Also on the rise: Concentric Power builds a microgrid, research pegs smoke’s impact on 2020 solar output, SolRiver buys a Carolinas development portfolio, jobs growth could signal good times for solar installations, and Plug Power plans another green hydrogen plant.
Sunrise brief: The future of long-duration energy storage looks bright, but costs need to fall…a lot
Also on the rise: DOE’s Solar Decathlon is getting under way as a virtual event, Massachusetts has a climate law (finally), and Nextracker wins a supply deal with Solaria.
