1700 GW of solar, wind and storage await interconnection, up 28% in a year
Just 86 GW of fossil capacity awaits interconnection.
PJM projects 48 to 94 GW of renewables will be built in the grid region by 2030
The grid operator’s projected 5% “completion rate” for projects in its interconnection queue was questioned by executives at the renewables trade group ACORE and the consultancy GridLab.
Solid-state battery design uses metal blend electrolyte
New battery materials tested by Berkeley Labs and Florida State University could result in a more conductive solid-state electrolyte that is less dependent on a large quantity of individual metals, which proves effective for the huge demand in the EV market.
The outstanding success of solar on new homes in California
Even before the new home solar mandate, California had achieved groundbreaking levels of solar adoption, largely due to policy and incentives, said report by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.
ERCOT advanced 15 GW of solar in 2022, moving 5x faster than other RTOs/ISOs
Texas grid operator ERCOT advanced interconnection requests for 15 GW of solar projects last year, with three other grid operators advancing 9 GW. CAISO completed phase 1 studies for a large cluster of projects, while PJM and ISO-NE stayed mum on their progress.
Upswing in PJM interconnection costs amid energy transition, report says
Huge growth in interconnection requests along with lengthy reviews and high project withdrawal rates motivated PJM to create a “first-ready, first-served” approach in 2022, Berkeley Lab notes.
Solar is front and center in the fight for energy justice
Renewable energy in the form of community and rooftop solar can bring relief to people who are disproportionately affected by climate change, pollution, and rising energy prices. Many groups are working hard to open up access to solar and the recently passed U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has a plan, backed by generous funding.
Berkeley Lab report on U.S. residential solar adoption shows shifting income and demographic trends
New data from the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab shows growing solar adoption by less affluent households and disadvantaged communities.
Netting true value from batteries
Net metering reforms in the U.S. are a missed opportunity to harness residential battery storage, argue researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Compensation rules for residential rooftop solar are evolving toward a model that encourages customers to use battery storage to maximize solar self-consumption. However, is this a good thing? Galen Barbose, Sydney P. Forrester, and Chandler Miller investigate.
Utility-scale solar declines in costs, pricing, value
Solar prices have now dipped below the cost of wind in contract prices in many regions, analysis shows.
