PVMA: 75 GW of solar PV installed globally in 2016
The PV Market Alliance has released its official solar installation figures for 2016, which show a 50% growth from 2015 with a total of 75 GW installed. This was mainly driven by a mammoth year of installations in China, although the future would seem less auspicious as the two biggest markets show signs of retraction.
Silicon Ranch raises $55 million in equity financing
The latest round of financing brings the total raised in 2016 to $165 million, which allows the company to pursue an aggressive growth strategy moving forward.
Newcomer Longroad Energy Acquires 3 GW Solar Portfolio
The Boston-based solar developer, founded in 2016, purchased the significant project pipeline to establish itself as a national player in the U.S. solar market.
Duke Energy connected 500 MW of solar in 2016
Just because the calendar turned to 2017, however, doesn’t mean the utility is planning to slow down its solar acquisition. It’s seeking to add at least 460 MW this year as well.
iDemand wins 1 MW storage deal in San Diego
iDemand Energy Storage (iDES3) has begun engineering and design work on a $4.1 million solar-plus-battery storage project for five buildings owned by San Diego County-based biotech company.
Recurrent Energy brings big Astoria plants to life
The two projects, named Astoria and Astoria 2, could power 40,000 homes with clean energy from the 175 MW they produce.
UL to give the skinny on IEC 61730 updates
The international PV module standard IEC 61730 went through significant alterations this year, and on Thursday UL will host a webinar to explain the changes.
Money for nothing (except ground-breaking clean-energy ideas)
With help from the California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development (CalSEED) initiative, the California Energy Commission is calling all enterprising clean-energy entrepreneurs to submit proposals to get a piece of $24 million to bring their ideas to fruition.
Renewable energy advocates slam utilities for slow progress under REV
Comments filed by AEEI and SolarCity on the Supplemental Distribution System Implementation Plan (DSIP) say utilities should do more to get ready for and assist with the integration of distributed renewables and storage, and AEEI says utilities should go back to the drawing board.
$1 B-plus San Vicente pumped hydro plan flows forward
San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) has requested letters of interest due in February for the design and business model for the proposed 500 MW San Vicente Energy Storage Facility, which could include PV energy to pump water to the dam.
