Room for residential solar to reach 41 GW by 2025
A new analysis by Credit Suisse forecasts that installed residential solar capacity could grow more than 3x to reach 41 GW by 2025, and shows that there is plenty of space on rooftops to do this.
Solar module lifetime predictions are getting better
NREL has proposed a new methodology for determining solar module degradation rates, taking into account measurement challenges such as sensor drift, inverter nuances, soiling and others – keeping the focus on the solar modules themselves.
Operating solar with reserve capacity enables more solar on the grid
A solar plant can increase its output by starting from a curtailment status and then reducing curtailment. If grid operators schedule in advance both solar curtailment and increased solar output, the cost-saving level of solar increases substantially.
Scientists give solar PV a paint job
Researchers and Berkeley Lab have discovered a shade of blue – dating back to ancient Egypt – which has impressive qualities they say could reduce building energy consumption and boost solar energy output. Meanwhile, NREL has developed a perovskite cell material that could be applied to a substrate using a paintbrush.
Best practices for building residential solar power and market confidence
SEIA has released an update to its residential solar best practices guidelines. The guide’s purpose is to build trust in public observers of the solar market, and can be used to educate detail-oriented customers.
California’s solar and wind integration challenge
As a leader in the global energy transition, California is putting some of the highest levels of solar and wind on its grid in the world to date. And while the state’s grid operator has made some progress, the integration of these resources is currently limited not by physics, but by market rules and operational practices.
Native American lands have 61 GW of economic solar potential; DOE loan guarantees available
Native American tribes have the opportunity to evaluate 61 gigawatts of “economic” solar potential on their lands. An online Tribal Energy Atlas developed by NREL can help, as can federal loan guarantees targeted for tribal energy projects.
Distributed solar saved California over $650 million from 2013-2015
A new study finds that from 2013 through 2015, distributed PV reduced peak solar hour mean wholesale electricity prices by 8–9%, avoiding costs of $650–730 million.
Energy storage takes the grid by storm at the EIA conference, part 2
Part 2 looks at presentations by Fluence and NREL, which outline the market opportunities present both today and in the future.
Energy storage takes the grid by storm at the EIA conference, part 1
Presentations by Duke Energy, NREL, Fluence, GE and the EIA itself showed that energy storage is becoming a fact on the ground.
