Hardware brief: Sonnen gets smarter, tariffs biting harder, Vikram Solar’s new modules, more!
Only a couple of weeks until Solar Power International when we get to see the hardware in person – but for now, you get us! Kern Solar Structures galvanizes their steel well, a delta between 275 and 310 watt modules, and Solis is launching a utility scale inverter in the USA.
The necessary evil that is net metering
Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests that as net metering expands, financially challenged electric customers will begin to pay a higher share of the electric companies guaranteed revenue streams – and while this would be true in a static world – the broader picture of the value of individual energy empowerment makes this an acceptable systemic risk.
Louisiana guts net metering
Regulators in Louisiana have replaced net metering with compensation at avoided cost for all power exported to the grid on an instantaneous basis, effective January 1, 2020. As a result of this, the state’s small solar industry is expected to lose jobs.
Consumers agrees to buy half a gigawatt of solar in settlement
Consumers has reached an agreement with Michigan regulators to allow for the development of over half a gigawatt of its 3 GW interconnection queue by 2023. However, while the current backup is being remedied, what’s to stop another one down the line?
Allianz Global acquires Lotus Solar Farm, 174 Power Global closes on $210 million solar financing: pvMB 9/12/19
Hello wonderful people and welcome to the pvMB. Today we’ll be looking at New Jersey’s mall at Short Hills going solar, TVA’s CEO’s discussion on the future of energy for the company, Panasonic adding three Premium Installers and more!
Oahu completes Hawaii’s largest utility-scale solar block, local sheep rejoice
Three new projects have brought over 110 MW of solar power to the island of Oahu, representing the largest block of utility-scale solar to come online at one time in a state known for its solar prowess.
Vectren to hold IRP workshop, Solar Frontier America acquires 100 MW: pvMB 9/11/19
Hello one and all and welcome to the pvMB. Today we’ve got on the docket a prediction for solar PV installer to be the fastest-growing job in 2018-28, EV expos across Virginia and more.
Santee Cooper turns from coal to solar and storage
The scandal-plagued South Carolina public utility has announced plans to procure 1 GW of solar by 2024 and install 200 MW of energy storage by 2028, along with the closure of a coal-fired power plant.
Los Angeles says “Yes” to the cheapest solar plus storage in the USA
Los Angeles’ municipal utility has voted 5-0 to approve a 25-year contract with a 400 MWac solar plus 300 MW / 1.2 GWh energy storage facility, with the aggregate price of the electricity from the project at 3.962¢/kWh.
A solar titan born before us – Esdec buys IronRidge and Quick Mount PV
The European rooftop solar racking manufacturer launched in the United States last year and has now bought three US residential racking companies that represent 60% of the market, with greater than $250 million in combined revenue.
