Bridging the gap in Illinois community solar project and program development
Solar developers face the challenges of different degrees of uncertainty in project construction, financing and subscriber acquisition.
SunPower: Any trade action should apply to everyone but us
The high-efficiency solar maker asks for Section 201 action to include First Solar’s thin film products, but to exclude its back contact crystalline silicon solar as a unique product.
Utilities’ latest tactic? Fixed charge increases – and PUCs are listening
An EQ Research study indicates regulators are approving utilities’ requests for increased fixed charges and diminishing distributed solar’s value proposition in the process.
sonnenCommunity comes to the United States
A 2,900 home planned development in Arizona will feature electricity trading between a network of PV and battery systems, as a grid-tied microgrid that will also absorb excess power at strategic times for the local grid.
California gets “quacking” on ending Duck Curve problem
Senate Bill 338, which mandates that utilities come up with non-gas generation options to meet peak demand, was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.
MIT researchers develop ‘air breathing’ sulfur flow battery
A team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a type of battery which it says could store energy for long durations at a fraction of the cost of current storage technologies.
Module manufacturer Itek bucks trend, opens new factory
As the solar industry debates the long-term viability of U.S. module manufacturing rage in Washington, the company opened a new 48,000 square foot facility, positioning itself for potential marketshare gains if new sanctions on module imports are imposed.
Energy Department limits scope of coal, nuclear bailout
Under fire from a broad range of forces including the oil and gas industry, the Energy Department has limited its order for a coal and nuclear bailout to regional grid operators with energy and capacity markets.
First Solar weighs in on the Section 201 trade case
The world’s largest thin-film solar maker has sided with the petitioners, testifying to the difficulties that U.S. solar cell and module makers are experiencing and the challenges of competing with imports supported by foreign governments.
Oncor settlement ends byzantine solar rate request
Under the terms of a settlement approved unanimously by the Texas Public Utilities Commission, the Dallas-based utility withdrew its convoluted rate structure for distributed energy customers in return for a 3.4% increase in the base rates of all customers.
