Overbuilding solar cheaper than seasonal storage and natural gas in Minnesota
An analysis by Clean Power Research, commissioned by the MN Solar Pathways Initiative, shows that 10% solar by 2025, and 70% wind+solar+storage in 2050 can be achieved at a comparable cost to natural gas-fired generation.
Solar panels increase grasses for sheep and cows by 90%
Researchers have determined that an Oregon solar facility altered the microclimate variables of mean air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and soil moisture beneath itself significantly – increasing water efficiency, allowing for much greater biomass growth.
Lazard, Lazard, LCOE – what’s the cheapest energy?
Lazard’s newly released Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis 12.0, and Storage 4.0, finds that where utility scale wind works, it dominates – and that the unsubsidized cost to build new utility wind and solar facilities is equal to, and often less than running already-built fossil facilities.
53 investments in the sun
The Department of Energy announced funding for 53 new through “advance early-stage” solar technologies. The projects in solar PV, CSP, finance and workforce training will receive up to $53 million in funding.
U.S. companies set to procure more than 5 GW of renewables by year’s end
RMI’s 2018 Corporate Renewable Energy Procurement Mid-year Market Update shows that corporations are buying more renewable energy than ever before and show no signs of slowing down.
DOE seeks solar power situational awareness
The DOE has launched a program to find unique and innovative solutions that increase grid operators’ situational awareness of solar PV systems deployed throughout the grid at strategic locations – and that are seek to go beyond pure R&D, seeking field validation.
#Solar100’s Lidija Sekaric: Solar’s jack of all trades
In this #Solar100 interview, Richard Matsui, Founder and CEO of kWh Analytics, speaks with Lidija Sekaric, director of strategy and marketing at Siemens Distributed Energy Systems.
Scientists give solar PV a paint job
Researchers and Berkeley Lab have discovered a shade of blue – dating back to ancient Egypt – which has impressive qualities they say could reduce building energy consumption and boost solar energy output. Meanwhile, NREL has developed a perovskite cell material that could be applied to a substrate using a paintbrush.
Spatial and temporal specificity: the new high bar for 100% renewables
Google, already 100% renewable powered via PPAs offsets of fossil fuels, is now aiming to make sure they’re clean energy powered 24/7 – even as the sun sets, and winds die down.
Nevada primed for up to a gigawatt of energy storage
A report by the Brattle Group for Nevada regulators suggests that by 2030 – depending on pricing – 700 to 1,000 MW / 2.8 to 4 GWh worth of energy storage could be cost-effectively deployed statewide.
