California proposed decision on community solar ‘virtually ensures no projects will be built’
The California Public Utilities Commission approved a new community renewable energy program that critics argue favors investor-owned utilities while failing to create a workable market for distributed resources.
ERCOT proposes $1,500/MW incentive for legacy Texas storage to adopt grid stability support
Older storage and renewables might be incentivized to add grid stability services in Texas if current plans continue with a $25 million program.
Lion Energy takes equity stake in American Battery Factory aimed at securing domestic battery supply
Lion had already ordered 4.5 GWh of production from American Battery Factory, but the deal now goes further with an unspecified equity stake.
Batteries buying “free” California solar, driving up price
Aurora Energy Research has found that energy storage is raising the value of negatively priced solar electricity by up to $42 per MWh in the CAISO wholesale market.
“Pry open” VPP markets by ensuring VPP providers may access customer data, groups say
Two groups allege that utilities are blocking virtual power plant aggregators from accessing the meter data they need to provide a VPP. The groups call for using antitrust law to “pry open” VPP markets.
Base Power announces battery-free Texas retail energy plan across major utility territories
The company says it can save the majority of Texans money by leveraging its fleet of home batteries to offer “all-in” rates between 13.2 and 15.7 cents per kWh.
Arizona task force roadmap prioritizes virtual power plants and distributed solar to cut energy costs
Arizona’s Energy Promise Taskforce released 31 recommendations calling for the accelerated deployment of virtual power plants and distributed solar to meet a projected 40% increase in peak demand.
Minnesota PUC approves utility battery program while deferring VPP decisions
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved 50 MW to 200 MW of utility-owned storage while requiring Xcel Energy to study the grid value of distributed resources.
Solar keeps slimming down while power rises
An international study found that the specific power of commercial silicon solar modules increased from 8.5 W/kg in the early 2000s to 23.6 W/kg today, driven by advances in module design, bifaciality, and temperature management. The researchers highlighted that glass and framing dominate module weight, and considering operating conditions like nominal operating cell temperature and rear-side illumination is essential for accurate PV system design.
Vertical rooftop PV debuts in the U.S.
Norwegian vertical solar specialist Over Easy Solar has installed its first rooftop vertical solar installation in the U.S. market. The 100 kW system, combined with a green roof in New York, is expected to deliver around 120,000 kWh annually depending on factors including albedo, azimuth and local shadowing.
