By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened: SEIA and GTM Research finally closed the book on 2017 with the release of their U.S. Solar Market Insight report, which indicated the following (quoting directly from the release)

• In 2017, the U.S. market installed 10.6 GW-DC of solar PV, a 30% decrease year-over-year from 2016.
• In 2017, 30% of all new electric generating capacity brought online in the U.S. came from solar, ranking second during that period only to natural gas.
• Q4 2017 saw price increases in most PV market segments stemming from increases in module costs. This was due to a global shortage of Tier 1 module supply and the uncertainty spurred by the Section 201 petition. But the price increases were mitigated by falling prices in racking and inverters, improving operating efficiencies and likely margin compression.

SolarWakeup’s View:  It’s never easy to step into a legend’s shoes. Who would want to follow in Jerry Rice’s shoes? Or be the next small forward in Cleveland after LeBron? Or trying to pitch in Los Angeles after Clayton Kershaw ends his mastery on the mound?

So let’s be real: 2017 never really had a chance.

Following a record-breaking 2016 in terms of installed solar capacity, it was inevitable that 2017 would fall short in comparison – and that’s just what the most recent SEIA/GTM Research U.S. Solar Market Insight report did show.

Installed capacity: Off 30%. Price increases. A residential market in seeming freefall, and a utility-scale sector trying to rediscover its footing in the swirling uncertainty of the tariff debate.

Based on the tumultuous and uncertain status of the solar industry last year, some industry observers said the drop in installed capacity was exactly what they expected.

“I wasn’t surprised when I saw the numbers came out,” said Mathew McGovern, CEO of Cypress Creek Renewables, a nationwide developer that has been intensely active in protecting PURPA and net metering in states across the country. “The market froze mid-year when 201 hit industry consciousness, then panel prices jumped.”

Daniel Shugar, CEO of NEXTracker, said the U.S. market fell because of the uncertainty surrounding how large the tariffs Trump seemed hellbent on imposing would be – an uncertainty that wasn’t resolved until January.

Source: GTM Research / SEIA U.S. Solar Market Insight Report

“It’s not rocket science,” Shugar said. “Until January, no one knew how much tar

iff penalty would be imposed on PV module costs. As a result, many projects were deferred.”

“Some projects died due to the added cost of modules, but fundamentals are still strong for the industry to rebound in 2019,” Shugar added.

The reduced percentage of installed capacity can’t solely be blamed on the tariffs, however. Costa Nicolaou, CEO of PanelClaw, said 2017 suffered from the hangover from the last federal policy fight over the investment tax credit (ITC).

Source: GTM Research / SEIA U.S. Solar Market Insight Report

“There was a lot of demand pull-in in utility scale at the end of 2016 because everyone assumed the ITC would end in 2016, so they moved their project timelines up significantly to make sure they could take advantage of it,” Nicolaou said. “Even despite that, 2017 had all the hallmarks of being a great year – then the Section 201 complaint was filed, and that dumped a bucket of ice water on our fire.”

But there is some good news in the report. After all, even though it doesn’t equal 2016’s incredible numbers, the industry did still install 10.6 GW last year. Furthermore, while the residential sector is cratering in many states and the utility-scale market is faltering, the commercial and community markets grew 28%, marking its fourth straight year of significant increases.

“We are excited to see commercial solar be one of the driving forces behind the continued growth of the industry,” said Tony Clifford, chief development officer for Maryland-based Standard Solar. “While no one expected last year to be as big as 2016, 10.6 GW is still a great accomplishment, especially in the face of such uncertainty.”

“This is yet more proof that the solar industry is on such solid footing that even difficult circumstances can’t hinder its growth,” Clifford said.

Jesse Grossman, CEO of Soltage, a New Jersey based developer of commercial

“We were heartened to see this report today, showing that solar continues to post strong annual build numbers even in years with stiff headwinds,” said Jesse Grossman, CEO of New Jersey-based Soltage. “2017 saw a number of challenges to the solar sector, with the uncertainty of the trade case, pending tax reform, and a rationalization of business models in some parts of the residential sector.”

“The emerging development models in the utility-scale and commercial segments continued to show strong growth, however, and I expect that growth to continue again in 2018,” Grossman added.

In all, the U.S. Solar Market Insight report is, as was likely expected, a mixed bag for the industry. But despite its struggles, the solar industry persisted. And sometimes, that’s all for which you can ask.

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened: Teslarati got hold of aerial photos of Tesla’s Gigafactory near Reno, Nevada, which show

• Significant progress in the past few weeks on constructing what Elon Musk has said will be a 70 MW system on its roof.
• Plenty of work still needs to be done to make the system operational.

SolarWakeup’s View:  Elon Musk is one of the best showmen in the world. His ability to get earned media (as opposed to media he pays for) is uncanny and (I say this jealously) brilliant. Take, for example, his Reno, Nevada, Gigafactory (GF1),

which will someday build the Model 3’s batteries and drivetrains.

Our friends over at Teslarati posted photos of the factory’s roof this morning to show…..an incomplete solar array. An array planned to be 70MW when completed. Why is that news? Who knows? But honestly, I don’t care – with Musk’s ability to generate free media, he will get more publicity for solar than anyone else in the space currently can.

(The one exception to that was last year, when two companies I won’t dignify by naming held the entire industry hostage for five months and got plenty of news coverage. Excuse me while I go get my blood pressure medicine, which I have to take every time I talk last year’s infuriating and unnecessary Section 201 fight.)

If the factory gets completed on time (it’s scheduled to be completed by 2020), it will be a shining example of what solar can do when its shackles are removed. Musk has promised the factory will be entirely powered by renewable energy. Here’s hoping that when they flip the switch on this rooftop, utility-scale power plant, Musk will ensure the world is watching.

Something tells me I don’t have to worry about that.

More 

Tesla’s solar rooftop array at Gigafactory 1 is starting to take shape

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) passed a rule by a vote of 2-3 (no, we’re not sure how that’s a thing either) that

• Tries to usurp the rights of states to set their own clean-energy goals.
• Privileges fossil fuels over renewable electricity sources by not accounting for the full value of energies like wind and solar.

SolarWakeup’s View:  For the moment, let’s set aside the issue of the Republicans’ mythical support of “states’ rights,” which they largely ignore when inconvenient on a multitude of issues, to which you can now add electricity generation.

Miles Farmer, a National Resources Defense Council lawyer, was all over the order on Monday, three days after it was issued shortly after midnight (the whole thread is worth reading, so see the link below).

Here’s why this issue is critical to the development of solar and wind. In a typical wholesale energy market, where prices are determined through a process of competitive bidding, utilities that own some production would manipulate prices by submitting artificially low bids to drive down prices. Then they would buy energy from other suppliers at those suppressed prices

FERC has prevented market manipulation by setting minimum prices for energy. In the past, however, the rule did not apply to renewable energy sources

which, in many cases, are supported by the government. The new rule, issued Friday, requires the minimum price stipulation to apply now to renewable sources.

The bottom line for renewables is that they are being penalized for being supported by state governments – but FERC deliberately ignores the state supports for traditional fossil fuel generation. So the order, instead of leveling the playing field as it purports, tips the field in the direction of fossil fuels and, in the process, usurps the states’ ability to support clean energy.

For those of you with short memories, FERC earned mad props earlier this year for rejecting a Department of Energy directive to subsidize nuclear and coal plants. The new order it issued Friday, however, essentially accomplishes the same thing without the negative publicity.

As Farmer notes, however, the rule isn’t final yet and will inevitably be appealed. So there’s still hope this odious rule won’t go into effect. But we best be vigilant because this rule could do significant damage to the renewables’ industries – and we must be ready to fight this with everything we have.

More 

Miles Farmer explains the inexplicable FERC order that kneecaps clean energy

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed a sweeping electricity bill yesterday that had been championed by the state’s largest utility, Dominion Energy.

• The bill declares 5 GW of solar and wind development as being in the public interest.
• It also discusses how adding renewable resources will also modernize the grid.

SolarWakeup’s View:  This bill shouldn’t surprise anyone. Shortly before he left office, former Governor Terry McAuliffe signed a raft of legislation to offer support for the solar industry across every segment, designed to encourage solar development in the state.

From yesterday’s signing of Senate Bill 966, dubbed the Grid Transformation and Security Act, new Governor Ralph Northam is clearly seizing the mantle of being a pro-renewables state leader.

The legislation declares wind and solar development as being in the public interest (which, of course, it is), as well as well as calling for the development of 5 GW in renewable energy. What is unclear is whether that development will only take place under the auspices of Dominion or whether it will also encourage rooftop solar.

It’s not a small matter. The biggest weakness in our current grid (as I wrote about yesterday) is the transmission wires. To truly modernize the grid,

it will require more rooftop solar and fewer utility-scale projects. Otherwise, you’re still just adhering to an outdated, centralized production model that somewhat undermines solar’s distributed-generation advantages.

Don’t get me wrong: Any bill that promotes solar in any form is good for the industry, especially in uncertain times. And Dominion Energy has shown itself to be one of the more solar-progressive utilities in the country. But what role rooftop solar plays into these ambitious plans is something that needs to be watched closely.

MDV-SEIA’s Executive Director, David Murray, gave this comment to SolarWakeup today,”Virginia has long lagged behind its neighbors in solar deployment, and no doubt this is an exciting step forward. MDV-SEIA is proud to have been a part of the “Rubin Group,” a consensus building process among energy stakeholders that led to legislation declaring over 5 GW of renewable power in the public interest of Virginians.

The Commonwealth will now be able to take greater advantage of the cost savings, fuel diversification, and economic development benefits that accompany solar power.”

More 

Governor signs sweeping utility overhaul affecting 3 million Virginia ratepayers