Texas

Adding enough distributed storage to reduce peak demand by 20% could defer up to one-fifth of the transmission and distribution expenditures in Texas for about 10 years, a study found. Other states may find the study’s analytical insights to be useful.

Also in the brief: Alchemy Renewable Energy has closed on deal to acquire a 44.5 MWdc solar energy portfolio, Ormat Technologies has begun the commercial operation of the Rabbit Hill Battery Energy Storage System, Kansas’ largest solar project ever has officially gone live and more.

Additional solar could help the ERCOT grid region in Texas meet its summer peak, after it faced “tight grid conditions” last summer. New task forces aim to improve ERCOT’s markets for ancillary services and battery storage.

Residential solar asset owner-operator will use the funds to continue its acquisition spree.

The economics of solar project development in Texas are so compelling, even coal and gas giants want a piece of the action.

Also in the brief: Wärtsilä delivering a 70 MW energy storage project in CAISO and the DOE Solar Desalination Prize.

The number of large solar projects (say, 100 MW and bigger) is rapidly increasing in the U.S. — and pv magazine is keeping track. We’ve rounded up this week’s big news in big solar.

Solar remains an interesting option to power water desalination despite obstacles to its widespread adoption. A recent study has highlighted the processing or dumping of brine waste as an important factor to consider.

Also in the brief: New York is halfway to it’s interim storage target, SolarEdge is planning a virtual solar show, Sunrun is offering solar and storage $1/month for six months and more.

Also in the brief: the challenges facing islands and other isolated systems with high levels of renewables, AIP finances 604 MWdc of solar, SolarReviews preaches caution with Tesla solar rental program and more.