interconnection

Also on the rise: Invasion of Ukraine an inadvertent boost for green hydrogen. 175MW Pike Solar and Storage Project cleared for construction in Colorado. Joint development agreement for light-optimizing, energy-producing modules designed to top agrivoltaic greenhouses. Barrio Solar wants to help Brooklyn homeowners go solar. While interconnection seen as a bottleneck to solar, three grid regions processed 25GW of solar interconnection requests last year. The 400MW Obsidian Solar Center in Oregon gets final approval. Research on semi-transparent organic photovoltaic filters for agrivoltaic greenhouses.

Interconnection is widely seen as a bottleneck slowing solar deployment. Even so, three regional grid operators processed 25GW of utility-scale solar interconnection requests last year, an amount exceeding utility-scale solar installations in the entire US during the year.

Also on the rise: 300MW Bighorn Solar Project is complete. To achieve DOE’s goal, we need 700% more community solar in the next four years. MIT scientists develop PV cleaning system based on electrostatic repulsion. Solar drone data assessment shows rise in PV anomalies. Kentucky utility adds more solar as Solar Shares Program gains customers.

To achieve the DOE’s goal of powering the equivalent of five million households by 2025 with community solar and creating $1 billion in energy savings would mean an increase of more than 700% of installed community solar in the next four years.

Solar continues its march to take over the US electricity system, as five states meet more than 10% of in-state demand with solar PV, while another six states more than doubled their solar generation.

Also on the rise: LONGi modules detained under Hoshine WRO released. IBC solar cells shows efficiency potential of over 29%. SPI to begin manufacturing in former Sunergy plant. Is accelerated interconnection possible? Build Back Better now or later.

The proposed measures would prompt transmission providers to complete studies on time, the groups said. They asked federal energy regulators for an accelerated interconnection rulemaking.

Also on the rise: Oregon-based Powin Energy announced major supply deals covering a 5.8GWh pipeline of energy storage projects in the US and Taiwan. Trade groups raise concerns over interconnection queues. CleanCapital acquires a 39-project, 65.3MW portfolio of solar assets spanning 12 states. Enphase Energy enters agreement to participate in Swell Energy’s virtual power plant (VPP) program in Hawaii, New York, and California. First in the nation green bank surpasses $2 million total investment. PECO releases RFP seeking Pennsylvania solar energy credits. A look at mounting systems for PV on metal roofs.

With standardization and automation, interconnection studies “could be completed in months instead of years,” the groups told federal energy regulators, backing up their claim with a detailed plan to achieve that goal.

Also on the rise: Solar growth occurred despite more than a year of price increases. Interconnection delays and costs plague utility-scale developers. Affordable hydrogen-based system for seasonal energy storage could be achieved at a hydrogen price lower than $3. California PUC raises renewable energy target. Impending 3G shutdown may affect inverters: there’s an app for that.