Sunny Side of Residential Storage. Residential storage has a certain allure to me. It merges marketing with the technical side of our industry, in many ways making tech companies turn into sales organizations. Unlike residential solar, the starting capex is already much less and dropping while one could make the case that the value is greater. Storage creates this comfort if built for backup and a certainty around knowing when it will be discharged. Sonnen is taking on the beast that is Tesla with Powerwall and others like LG Chem are certain to play as well. Keep your eyes on resi storage, this market could grow rather quickly in the near future.
Where Should Utilities Go? The General Manager of Wartsila is asking (rhetorically I presume) what is next for the American utility. Of course Wartsila has been a giant in generator and power plant construction but more importantly they recently bought Greensmith, the storage company. In many ways, IPPs are welcoming the IOUs to the party when it comes to the risk/reward that has and should be part of the energy system. In my opinion, IOUs with ratebase, should (and in some cases have) become transmission companies. Generators and retailers need to compete in the market to give customers the product and pricing they want. Owning all parts of the value stream fails to align the interests of the company and customer, never a good thing in a free market.
The Policy That Created The Nuclear Boondoggle. Ten years ago, I met a Florida State Senator that was on a mission to eliminate a policy appropriately named “Early Cost Recovery.” This policy allowed IOUs to charge ratepayers for costs associated with developing and building nuclear power plants before and during construction. Since utilities make a return on capital deployed, you could see how cost increases may actually work in their favor if regulators grant those increases along the way. What we have seen throughout Florida, Georgia and South Carolina is that the policy has resulted in a lack of risk and cost awareness. There are greater parts at play here but the consumer seems to be universally hurt by the policy. Senator Mike Fasano is now the tax collector in Pasco County but could be so much more.
- CleanTechnica: sonnen — the utility of the future? (CleanTechnica Interview)
- GreenBiz: The rise and fall of an American utility
- Washington Post: Billions lost in nuclear power projects, with more bills due
- PV-Tech: GCL New Energy raises US$56 million in private green bond placement
- The Hill: Dirty energy’s quiet war on solar panels
- PV-Magazine: What could possibly go wrong? Senate approves ideologues for FERC posts
- Utility Dive: Con Edison approved to build solar generation for low income customers
- St Louis Dispatch: Solar panel prices jump on trade complaint, delaying projects, St. Louis companies say
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann