Qcells to enter into $3 billion supply agreement for U.S.-made polysilicon
Hanwha Qcells will make sizable prepayments to help restart the REC Silicon plant in Moses Lake, Washington, expected by November 1, 2023, with a goal of reaching full capacity by the end of 2024.
Bonneville Power plans transmission upgrades to connect 6 GW of solar, wind
The transmission utility serving Washington and Oregon plans six transmission projects to carry power from 6 GW of new solar and wind projects to urban load centers. Seventy GW of solar and wind projects are waiting in the utility’s interconnection queue.
Flow battery capacity and longevity boosted by an unexpected ingredient
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory demonstrated the use of sugar water to improve the performance of flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage.
Sunrise brief: Vikram Solar to manufacture modules, wafers, ingots in the U.S.
Also on the rise: Operational risk for solar asset owners. Agrivoltaics seeking mainstream recognition in Farm Bill. And more.
Puget Sound Energy to reach 63% clean energy by 2025
While approving the utility’s plan that would add 300 MW of utility-scale solar and 50 MW of storage by 2025, state regulators ordered the utility to increase the transparency of its resource planning and to advance equity for its customers.
Solar-plus-storage microgrids minimize power shutoffs during wildfires
A study conducted by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shows that microgrids with solar-plus-storage systems can keep the average levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and annual public safety power shutoffs below 30 cents per kWh and 2 to 3% of annual energy demand, respectively.
World’s largest advanced silicon EV battery material fab begins construction in U.S.
A 20 GW initial production capacity will take place at the Washington state plant run by Group 14 Technologies.
Silfab Solar raises $125 million for U.S. cell and module manufacturing
The North American module manufacturer announced a second investment round from ARC Financial Corp.
Avangrid activates the largest solar project in Washington State
The company achieved commercial operations on the 150 MW solar facility, supplying electricity to Puget Sound Energy. Plus, Avangrid reports 2022 financial performance.
Sunrise brief: Duke Energy carbon plan sells ratepayers short
Also on the rise: Mexico could reach its goal of 35% clean electricity by 2024. Trina Solar’s new 6.5 GW Vietnam wafer plant to exclusively supply U.S. market. And more.
