Texas power grid begging for solar power
ERCOT has set mid-day demand records, while aiming for pricing maximums over the past week as summer heat broke state records – all of which creates tremendous opportunities for solar.
Big oil going big solar
MMEX Resources has begun negotiations for additional acreage at the site of its distillation plant and refinery to add 75-100 MW of solar power. The company already has 1 MW installed.
Chint investigates U.S. manufacturing
The company is planning pilot U.S. inverter assembly in Texas, while it scouts for manufacturing locations in the U.S. Midwest.
With more solar and wind, North America’s grid is getting more reliable
In this op-ed for pv magazine, Will Driscoll examines the findings of a NERC report which show that the reliability factor known as frequency response—once seen as potentially challenged by added solar and wind power—is improving.
Texas to get its largest battery, coupled with its largest solar power plant
Vistra Energy plans to add a 10 MW / 42 MWh lithium-ion battery to the 180 MW-AC Upton County Solar 2 solar power plant. The energy storage project is scheduled to come online in Q4 2018.
West of the Pecos Solar sells 50 of its 100 MW
E.ON’s first move into the Texas solar power market is a 100 MW-AC solar project located in West Texas. The company announced an agreement to sell 50 MW-AC worth of the output to SK E&S Co, one of South Korea’s largest energy companies.
Texas developer sells solar portfolio for $100 million
Fengate Real Asset Investments announced a $100 million equity commitment and co-development partnership with Texas-based PowerFin Partners, along with the acquisition of a 9.1 MW portfolio of operating solar projects in Austin and San Antonio.
Large-scale solar stays strong in Q1 2018 (w/chart)
Thanks in no small part to modules stockpiled before the Section 201 tariffs hit, both the utility-scale and “non-residential” market segments grew year-over-year in Q1. And while the duties are expected to play a greater role in 2019, there are other factors supporting ongoing market growth.
GameChange reaches over 6 GW of manufacturing capacity
The racking and tracker maker has secured eight additional manufacturing lines, including in six Southeast states.
Utility-scale solar: A cost-effective, reliable cornerstone for America’s economic growth
In this op-ed SEIA’s Abigail Hopper and Martin Hermann of 8minutenergy argue that the rapid growth of solar and storage will completely reshape America’s energy economy for the better, with cheaper, cleaner power, and that the shift is already taking place across this country.
