Demand charge decision looms in Massachusetts
In three days, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will close the public comment period on utility Eversource’s plan to impose a demand charge on solar customers.
Short circuits: How they happen and how to prevent them
This article is the fourth in a series which will discuss specific system reliability issues seen in North American systems. Each article will focus on a specific failure mode, giving an overview and examples of defect presentation. A longer summary article diving into a broader industry context and defect prevalence will follow this series.
Battle between ideologies could determine trade case’s fate
According to reports, President Donald J. Trump’s economic nationalism is at war with his advisors’ market fundamentalism. Here’s what the outcome of that conflict could mean for the solar trade case.
Renewables generate (almost) as much power as nuclear during H1 2017
The DOE’s latest numbers show renewables rising to 20.05% of electricity generation during the first half of the year, just behind nuclear’s 20.07%. Solar provided 2% of electricity, and wind 7%.
Community solar, PACE policies moving forward in Illinois
ComEd’s community solar tariff faces intervenors in regulatory approval. Meanwhile, Illinois has signed into law legislation enabling Property Assessed Clean Energy.
NREL, Swiss researchers break 35% cell efficiency
A collaborative project between the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratories and researchers from two Swiss centers has tested a range of multi junction cells in tandem configuration, and achieved efficiencies of up to 35.9%.
Duke Energy to U.S. ITC: Trade case could “destabilize” the U.S. industry
Saying that higher prices for panels would discourage utilities like itself from investing in solar, the North Carolina utility requests the commission reject the petition that “would ultimately harm the very domestic solar manufacturing industry the petitioner is attempting to protect.”
Sharp shift stiffs solar as CPUC approves later TOU peak time
Over the passionate objections of national and state-level solar advocates, California’s utility regulators approved a peak-usage time shift from 3 pm to 4 pm for San Diego Gas & Electric rates, leaving solar customers compensated for less energy because its production would be off-peak.
Why we should call ourselves solar companies, not ‘energy’ companies
In this latest op-ed for pv magazine, solar marketing master Solar Fred talks about how our description of ourselves matters, and why solar is one of the best brands out there.
Inside the DOE grid study – an interview with Mark Dyson of RMI
Mark Dyson, a manager at Rocky Mountain Institute’s electricity practice, has some things to say about what the DOE grid study released last night got right – and what it got wrong.
