Non-stop solar innovation despite module oversupply
It’s no secret that prices throughout the solar supply chain have been at rock bottom over the past 18 months. Alex Barrows and Molly Morgan of CRU Group explore how the market reached the imbalance that caused PV prices to crash, what this has meant for innovation, and how it might affect future technology transitions.
Colocating solar with Washington’s most valuable crop
When designed right, colocating apple orchards and solar installations can be not only economically beneficial for the landowner, but produce a higher rate of marketable apples.
Data center demand forecasts could spook utilities into overproduction
A new report from RMI urges caution and responsible new generation planning.
Transmission build last year was at one-fifth the pace needed, clean energy group finds
Reaching a low-cost high-renewables grid will require much more high-capacity transmission, but the pace of transmission development is not keeping up.
Iron-sodium battery to provide community backup for high fire risk zone in California
The Department of Energy granted $4.1 million to Inlyte Energy to deploy grid-scale batteries in a microgrid in northern California.
Design solar for storage now, or retrofit at a premium later
New analysis of retrofitting solar power plants with energy storage, accounting for the industry’s rapidly falling prices, suggests that prepping your solar projects today has a strong chance of being in your financial interest.
California startup installs building-integrated, organic photovoltaic facade
Next Energy Technologies has completed the first installation of its transparent organic photovoltaic glass facade. The 9.3 m2 installation is located at its headquarters in Santa Barbara, California.
Nexamp self-performs grid interconnection construction to accelerate solar project
The community solar company took interconnection work into its own hands, rather than relying on the electric utility. The company said it reduces both time and cost to self-perform the work.
California’s transmission delays persist despite surge in projects driven by state policy
PG&E’s most frequent reason for delaying projects is “prioritization,” which added an average of 8.4 years to the project time, an analysis from the nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists found.
Solar, wind and storage reliably power Texas grid during unexpected coal shutdown
Solar and wind generated 40.2% of the ERCOT grid’s electricity this year through June. When coal plants shut down for unexpected maintenance, solar and wind stepped in, providing about 50% of generation during peak summer demand in the highest electricity consuming state in the union.
