A few months ago, several projects in South America were announced to proceed with financing without committed energy contracts, selling energy only on the spot/wholesale markets.  With the increase of Latin American & Caribbean solar markets, how is your company managing the change in financing structures, handling the political risks and entering these markets.  There is no doubt that a lot of solar will be built here, how will you get a piece of it?

News

• RE World: Project Pitfalls: Four Red Flags that Kill Solar Deals
• Greentech Media: Why Does It Cost $0.49/Watt to Win a Customer in the US?
• Forbes: Solar-Powered Apparel May Be Coming Soon To A Store Near You
• Solar Power World: This Is One Of The Most Important Issues Facing Solar
• Ontario: Ontario introducing legislation to remove domestic content requirements
• Denver Post: Demonstrators say Xcel plan undervalues homeowners’ solar value
• NPR: Big Batteries Needed To Make Fickle Wind And Solar Power Work
• PV-Tech: Shunfeng promises Suntech brand will live on after deal

Opinions

• Mother Nature: Why solar doesn’t make sense on every roof

Have a great day!

Yann

The solar market in the US has grown.  Another record quarter and now for the first time on path to be larger than the German solar market.  The question seems to be where the market is growing and how other contractors can benefit from this larger market.  Tell me where you see the hot spots and where you still see weakness.

News

• Greentech Media: Infographic: State of US Solar 2013
• CleanTechnica:China Looking Towards Distributed Solar Over Utility-Scale
• Solar Industry:Using Distributed Architecture Inverters In Large-Scale Solar Arrays
• RE World:US Solar Industry Records Explosive Growth in Third Quarter
• Motley Fool:Solar’s 2014 Boom Is Coming
• 7News: Petition resists Xcel Energy’s plans for solar energy
• Venture Beat: 2013 is a ‘record-shattering’ year for solar power in America

Opinions

• Greentech Media: Tomorrow’s Utility in the Age of Distributed Generation
• Energy Collective: Predictions for Cleantech in 2014

Have a great day!

Yann

The White House has made quite the waves recently announcing executive orders, policy initiatives and making key staff additions to bolster the President’s record.  After putting solar on The White House, the last two weeks presented a Federal initiative to have 20% renewables by 2020 and now bringing John Podesta on to the team for Climate Change coverage.  Let’s see how these steps add up for actions impacting our market.

News

• Denver Post: Regulators approve Xcel plan to increase solar-power resources
• GigaOm: A record number of U.S. homes went solar in the third quarter
• BusinessWeek: Keystone Foe Podesta Joins Obama Inner Circle as Top Aide
• Greentech Media: Is Solar Mainstream? These 4 Factors May Provide an Answer
• Slate: U.S. Beats Germany in Solar Power for First Time in 15 Years
• Post and Courier: South Carolinians get chance to voice position on solar energy
• RE World: Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2013: Lessons Learned

Opinions

• CleanTechnica: People Don’t Go Solar “For The Environment” (+ Funny Videos)
  
• EPIA: Time for utilities to embrace solar

Have a great day!

Yann

Mosaic came up with a brilliant idea yesterday.  You can give the gift of solar for to your friends and family.  Not only will they learn a bit about solar but they will see a return on their money.  The result will mean more folks from outside of the mainstream solar sector realizing solar makes sense.

News

• Breaking Energy: How Long Before Solar Roofs Become Standard?
• RE World: SunEdison May Spin-off IPOs to Fund up to $300 Million in Solar Projects
• Greentech Media: Japanese Energy Giants Rush Into Storage as Solar Booms
• Newsday: LI lawmakers write to Cuomo on LIPA cuts
• NRDC: 100 Years of Certainty and the Future of the Energy Tax Code
• Solar Novus: Solar Development in the Dominican Republic
• KCET: Obama Administration Finally Seeing the Light on Disturbed Land Solar?
• CleanTechnica: Solar Leasing Explosion In California (Chart)

Opinions

• Energy Collective: Make Solar, Not War

Have a great day!

Yann