United States

“Electricity providers will have to treat renewable energy customers as cost-conscious customers once these customers can look at data across the board.”

Also in the brief: Powerhome named to Fast Company’s ‘Most Innovative Companies’ list, a Colorado town goes 100% renewable municipal electricity from a solar installation, a Minnesota couple wins a $50,000 prize for a module heating solution and more.

Getting the most out of a bifacial module requires a rethink at almost every level of system design and the industry is hungry for field data generated by such systems to better inform energy yield modeling and define the best approaches to maximizing yield at minimal cost. NREL’s three-year study into bifacial performance is beginning to yield results.

Charlotte has become the first municipality to come to terms with Duke on a solar contract through the new Green Source Advantage program.

“2019 was a remarkable year for energy storage and the record-breaking fourth quarter numbers reaffirm the industry’s tremendous growth.”

No potential investor could be found to take over the thin-film solar business. Insolvency proceedings started a few days ago and the business operations of the CIGS thin-film company were finally halted.

Also in the brief: Outback Power releases AC coupling feature for Skybox hybrid inverter, BP Solar customers can be compensated for faulty panels, Martha’s Vineyard considers 100% renewable by 2040, and more.

GAF Energy’s president, Martin DeBono: “I think that Tesla has it absolutely right. They’re playing the long game, as are we. The industry will evolve from rack-mounted to BIPV.”

The mandate means that “solar has to be moved up in front of the design process. You have to plan for a PV system before you start building.”

Also in the brief: Virginia Clean Economy Act, Utah’s residential solar future in the hands of its PSC and solar-powered irrigation in India