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.
Tesla’s Powerwall as the beating heart of your home
Vermont utility Green Mountain Power has started a program to replace its customers’ electric meters with the monitoring system in Tesla Powerwall batteries.
Energy Freedom bill moves forward, Spruce raises $208 million, stable solar pricing: pvMB 05/03/19
Happy Friday and welcome to the pvMB. Today we also bring you the Texas Senate passing a bill to prevent municipalities from interfering with citizens going solar, solar for schools in Minnesota, and more!
The Renewable U right for you
A recently published report by Environment America and the Frontier Group takes a look at which schools are leading the charge in the renewable transition, as dozens of colleges and universities now obtain 100% or more of their electricity from renewable sources.
The Solar Decathlon winner designs solar+lifestyle living space
Virginia students have won the 2019 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge with their treeHAUS highly sustainable solar+storage+trees+food waste+sound and so much more design, focused on expanding their local campus’ student housing resources.
Q-Cells unveils new half-cell monocrystalline panel
According to the Korean manufacturer, its Q.Peak Duo-G6 module is produced with larger wafers than those used in the G5. This is said to increase module yield by around 6% for a power output ranging from 355-420 W.
California is learning to trust 100% residential solar power
California utility PG&E has tested levels of residential solar power up to 100% penetration, and how to mitigate the effects of voltage and thermal overload via smart inverters and traditional transformer and circuit upgrades – with smart inverters shown to allow for up to 100% penetrations at cost-effective pricing.
It’s all about the efficiency
An analysis by mono PV maker LONGi shows the math on how increases in module efficiencies drive down balance of system costs.
Florida closing in on Southeast solar supremacy
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy’s second annual Solar in the Southeast report shows that while North Carolina is still top dog in the region, a strong 2018 pushed Florida past Georgia and poised the state to take the top spot.
