News

Private PV manufacturers and project developers alike are set to be squeezed out by the state in the world’s biggest solar market, according to Frank Haugwitz, who has compiled a wide-ranging report as preparations for the next five-year plan gather pace.

With a data point of one (California solar interconnection data through the end of April), the author makes optimistic inferences about U.S. solar in Q2 and 2020.

The industry is growing, but jobs and financial benefits are not distributed equally. Also in the brief: Large-scale battery installer NEC Energy Solutions is folding, and who is the New England Ratepayers Association?

Successful community solar development requires harmonizing construction, financing, and subscriber acquisition and management. Digital management platforms can give developers the tools to precisely manage these aspects and get the most out of their projects.

The Covid-19 pandemic featured prominently at this week’s inaugural pv magazine Virtual Roundtables Europe, which took place last week. Not only did the pandemic lead to the virtualization of pv magazine’s established June Roundtables, but it was a big topic in the final session dealing with markets and specifically the further development of power purchase agreements (PPAs) in Europe.

Across the industry, organizers are scrambling to find new ways for virtual trade shows to replicate the live networking and business building these events provide — and keep attendees engaged. We speak with the organizers of the trade show once known as SPI, as well as the folks at lntersolar and the event people at SolarEdge.

Developed to meet the needs of a rapidly-growing distributed energy market and backed by some of the biggest names in the Australian market, the team at Clipsal Solar has developed a platform they say can work with any combination of hardware and resources.

Batteries have won the lion’s share of recent cleantech venture capital — but here are some recent funding rounds for fusion, graphene, electrical panels, circuit breakers, geothermal drilling and direct-air capture of CO2.

Also in the brief: Geronimo Energy has started construction activities for two Michigan solar projects, a New Hampshire Senator is asking the Defense Department’s progress toward meeting its renewable energy goals, Nelnet launches a renewables spinoff and more.

Whether it be for a groundbreaking SpaceX launch or a contentious tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk finds himself in the news quite often. Yet, one story that has flown under the radar by the brash businessman’s standards has been going on for four years.