Sunrise brief: NREL looks at how solar can cut its growing waste problem
Also on the rise: Dominion wants to add 1 GW of solar and energy storage in Virginia, SunPower inks an exclusive supply deal, and solar on new-build homes can shorten system payback times.
Solar on new-build homes has significantly shorter payback period
A report by BloombergNEF and Schneider Electric makes the case for governments to unlock huge rooftop solar potential, citing California’s solar mandate as a shining example.
Greenskies and Vanguard complete rooftop industrial solar project
The two companies completed a 1,500-panel, 573 kW solar energy system for the Port Authority of NY & NJ.
Green roofs can boost solar panel efficiency, study finds
The improvements are believed to stem from lower temperatures on the green roof.
Brighten Haiti aims to install solar PV on 109 schools in 2022
The group takes donations of discarded but still useful solar modules and offers solar apprenticeships to provide both training and reduced-cost PV systems to schools.
Sunrise brief: An HOA rains on a family’s solar installation
Also on the rise: Polysilicon prices are forecast to continue to rise, Ample raises $160 million from investors including Shell, and growing numbers of schools are going solar.
Solar 101: Go solar, but go with your eyes open
Solar is uniquely virtuous among energy industries. But like all industries, consumers need to pay close attention to protect themselves.
Solar 101: How to calculate your solar system’s payback period
The simplest way to model the payback period is to divide the project’s costs by its expected annual production number. That’s a good start, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Solar 101: Tips for keeping your rooftop solar system humming over the long term
Solar O&M comes down to mechanical rooftop connections, electrical solar panel connections, panel and connection temperatures, and inverters. Here are four possible plans of attack.
Sunrise brief: Convalt Energy wins approval for a 700 MW solar module production plant
Also on the rise: Canadian Solar wins a big energy storage bid, report makes a case for lots more rooftop solar in California, and Babcock & Wilcox will market a 100-hour, 135 MW energy storage technology.
