Sunrise brief: The King Midas of Solar, Dan Shugar, recognizes opportunity and capitalizes by launching successful, industry-defining companies
Also on the rise: Origis Energy places order for 750MW of First Solar thin-film modules. Moment Energy repurposes EV batteries for off-grid use. Storing renewables in depleted oil and gas wells. Northeast US furniture giant greening its operations with onsite solar PV. Energy storage provider Fluence acquires AI software service firm Nispera. Modular solar PV and tidal power desalination buoys from Canada.
Origis Energy places order for 750MW of First Solar thin-film modules
The deal was booked prior to the release of First Solar’s Q4 and Full Year 2021 earnings in February, and by contract Origis will benefit from technology developments until the order is complete in 2024.
Modular solar PV and wave power desalination buoys from Canada
A floating, reverse-osmosis-based unit turns sea water into potable drinking water through the power of the sun and waves. Oneka develops the product, which requires no external electricity source and no land.
Energy storage provider Fluence acquires AI software service firm Nispera
The company plans to integrate Nispera’s artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled software-as-a-service offering into its existing digital platform in order to evolve the platform and expand its options and capabilities.
Northeast US furniture giant greening its operations with onsite solar PV
Raymour & Flanigan joins the trend of big box stores adding solar to their roofs, as it contracted three projects with a combined capacity of over 1.2MW with Greenskies Clean Focus.
Storing renewables in depleted oil and gas wells
US researchers have proposed the use of hydraulically fractured oil and gas wells to store renewable energy via compressed natural gas, with the levelized cost of storage potentially coming in at $70/MWh and $270/MWh. They said wells could also be used to store other renewable gases such as carbon dioxide or hydrogen in the future.
Repurposing EV batteries for off-grid use gains support in British Columbia
Moment Energy is one of several companies and projects supported by the ARC program, which aims to provide clean-energy storage to urban and remote diesel-dependent communities in British Columbia.
Dan Shugar: More Maestro than Midas
pv magazine met with Nextracker CEO Dan Shugar and his colleagues to discuss leadership, Nextracker’s continued role in the energy transition, and how running a company can be a lot like performing in a band.
Sunrise brief: 50 states of solar incentives–spotlight on Connecticut
Also on the rise: Largest solar project in Wisconsin gets regulatory approval. Aspen Power to acquire 53MW of community solar projects from Trajectory Energy Partners. 6K awarded $1.5 million Massachusetts manufacturing grant to fund battery recycling equipment. Solar anti-circ investigation may not be determined by Commerce until late August, said ROTH.
50 states of solar incentives: Connecticut
Connecticut administers strong solar-supportive state policies, a benefit to its residents who pay nearly 50% more than the national average for electricity.
