Riding the French Express to higher capacity factors
California’s NEXTracker has acquired key IP from French company Optimum Tracker to “fortify” its current offerings, while opening opportunities for further platform growth.
EIA examines HVDC for renewables
HVDC’s main challenge is the price, which can cost between $1.17-8.6 million per mile, along with scaling the technology in the United States.
Powerhouse solar shingle seeks 17.1% panel efficiency
In an pre-UL Certification specification page of the Powerhouse 3.0 Solar Shingle, RGS Energy notes a 55W, 15.6% efficiency shingle and a 60W, 17.1% efficiency shingle.
Powerhouse pumps $36 million in “written reservations”
RGS Energy repeated its September goal for UL certification, while announcing an expansion of its manufacturing partnership with Revere Plastic Systems to support up to $138 million in Powerhouse annual sales.
California breakdown of electricity imports upholds states’s clean reputation
Data released by the California Energy Commission shows wind as the largest source of electricity imported in 2017, and that even with imports the state’s mix is getting cleaner.
With more solar and wind, North America’s grid is getting more reliable
In this op-ed for pv magazine, Will Driscoll examines the findings of a NERC report which show that the reliability factor known as frequency response—once seen as potentially challenged by added solar and wind power—is improving.
GT Advanced Technologies opens silicon carbide factory in New Hampshire
The upstream technology company plans to sell silicon carbide for applications including advanced inverters for solar and battery storage, as part of a new emphasis on materials supply.
Kaua’i to near 70% renewables with massive solar + storage project
The 70 MWh energy storage system accompanying a 19 MW solar project is one of the largest batteries to be deployed in the United States, and is coming in at under 11 cents per kilowatt-hour.
AI-infused drone O&M for solar farms – 50 minutes per MW
Aerospec Technologies offers portfolio level drone O&M data analysis services backed by machine learning to tell you exactly what’s happening with every single solar panel, in near real time.
Energy storage takes the grid by storm at the EIA conference, part 2
Part 2 looks at presentations by Fluence and NREL, which outline the market opportunities present both today and in the future.
