Solar on canals to test potential to conserve land and water in West
Three large projects in California, Utah, and Oregon will cover water reclamation facilities with solar panels, offering co-benefits for both energy production and water conservation.
State-level community solar programs extend 20% monthly bill savings to low-income households
Residents in eligible states can save on their electricity bills by subscribing to community solar via the Clean Energy Connector software. The Department of Energy is inviting more states to join the program, which vets solar providers and integrates consumer protections.
California elected officials call for repeal of “utility tax”
A coalition objects to the $24 fixed monthly charge that the California Public Utilities Commission approved to be levied on customers, regardless of how much electricity is used at home.
Solar wafer prices plummet, amid high inventory and low profit dominating the market
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
Citizens groups criticize TVA’s decision to build a 1.5 GW gas plant
TVA decided not to choose solar and storage despite 15 GW of such projects in its interconnection queue. TVA’s board of directors could overturn the gas plant decision, said an environmental law group spokesperson.
New solar antidumping tariffs are on the way, said Roth
The solar industry experienced project delays and cancellations when antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) tariff enforcement threatened supply in the past. Another round may be on the way as soon as this April, said a note from Roth Capital Partners.
Vehicle-integrated photovoltaics making the moves from niche to mainstream
A new report from the International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) looks at success factors required to take vehicle integrated photovoltaics (VIPV) from niche to mainstream based on a survey of 110 experts in the topic of transport and PV.
NREL releases online tool to estimate pumped hydro storage costs
The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a cost-estimation tool for new closed-loop pumped storage hydropower (PSH) plants in the United States. The tool allows operators to select from a range of system characteristics and account for factors such as local geology, labor rates and inflation.
Off-grid solar bench with wireless charging and Wi-Fi
A California university was provided off-grid solar powered benches by Bluebolt Outdoor.
Solar connectors: How to maximize safety and performance
Improperly installed solar connectors can cause damage far disproportionate to their share of upfront costs. Here’s how to prevent (or fix) the problem.
