Solar-plus-storage dominating future U.S. power grid
A report from Berkeley Lab reveals a significant expansion of solar-plus-storage facilities in the U.S. power plant market, highlighting an evolution from frequency to arbitrage and curtailment mitigation markets. The best is yet to come, as ongoing price decreases are still being absorbed by the market and are already being used to fill the interconnection queues with terrawatts of capacity.
Sunrise brief: Sharp unveils new TOPCon solar modules.
Also on the rise: Producing hydrogen fuel from solar power and agricultural waste. Research shows that solar is good for your health. And more.
Sunrise brief: RE+ Northeast 2024 shines in Boston
Also on the rise: Large-format solar modules and legacy assumptions. Update on Puerto Rico solar market. And more.
NREL paper details nationwide heat-pump feasibility
The report looks at how installation costs and energy savings prices change in relation to climate, heating source and type of home and suggests that policymakers further reduce the costs of installing heat pumps so that more U.S. households can benefit from them.
Sunrise brief: California unlikely to reach clean energy targets without rooftop solar
Also on the rise: Solar and storage accounts for one-third of transferable tax credit market in 2023. Zero-emissions mobile off-grid EV charging trailer. And more.
How large-scale solar developers can tackle community opposition
A new Berkeley Lab study identifies the most prevalent community concerns around projects, as well as strategies for developers and others to improve those perceptions.
California’s lithium reserves could power 375 million EV batteries, say researchers
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory prepared a report, funded by the US Department of Energy, to thoroughly quantify the amount of lithium in an underground reserve in the Salton Sea, California.
California aims to absorb renewable generation with flexible demand appliances
California plans to shift 3 GW of load from dirtier, more expensive times of day to cleaner, less expensive times by setting flexible demand standards for many types of electric appliances. Global interest in California’s work is high, said a state agency commissioner.
Sunrise brief: U.S. Geological Survey and Berkeley Labs release updated solar project database
Also on the rise: Maxeon solar cells cleared of forced labor allegations after review. Kentucky regulators approve plan for 900% increase in renewable energy. And more.
199,000 job-years await PJM approval of 167 GW of solar, storage and wind
Trade group ACORE recommended long-distance, high-voltage transmission within the PJM grid region along with other, faster measures to help the grid operator approve 167 GW of pending solar, storage and wind projects.
