NREL is out with a new report on the expected benefit from the ITC extension. It is no surprise that at least 20GW of additional solar will be built by 2022 which would not have happened without the ITC. Without data on my end, I think that number may be quite light considering where the report saw LCOE for solar in 2020 ($50/Mwh). Research has a difficult time understanding the pressures of competitive markets at times and solar is quite competitive these days.
Opinion
News
1 PV-Tech:
NREL - Solar tax credits to boost US deployment by up to 20GW
2 PV-Magazine:
New report finds net metering under attack across the United States
3 Seeking Alpha:
Reports Of Solar Demise Are Exaggerated, Utilities Remain Big Buyers
4 Bloomberg:
Sunrun More Likely Solar Buyer Rather Than Seller, CEO Says
5 Solar Industry:
Trina Solar Acquires Cell Factory In The Netherlands
6 New York Times:
Bill Gates’s Clean-Energy Moon Shot
7 Arizona Central:
APS, solar group spar in testimony filed in rural utility rate case
8 The Guardian:
Nevada's solar workers and customers reel as new rules 'shut down' industry
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
Solar Showdown In The Nevada Desert - Warren Buffett Vs. Elon Musk?
Have a great day!
Yann
The data is in. 2015 was a great year for solar in the US with 7.3GW installed. Over half, 4GW, came from utility scale but residential picked up some traction exceeding 2GW for the first time. The top 10 States made up 87% of the capacity, which again shows that the US may be a single Country but made up of many different markets across the Country. After the top 10, the data is essentially negligible which means a lot of upward momentum is capable. Staffing will be a key for companies in 2016, as our growth will need new people to come work in our industry.
Opinion
News
1 PV-Tech:
US installed 7.3GW of solar power in 2015, says report
2 PV-Magazine:
City of Palo Alto considers solar power contract at under $37/MWh
3 The Hill:
Federal study - Tax credits will cut emissions, add new wind and solar power
4 EDF:
Clean Energy Can Help Tackle Rural Poverty
5 Greentech Media:
SunPower CEO - ‘Fundamentals for Solar Have Never Been Better’
6 Salt Lake Tribune:
Bill advances to allow new way to buy solar power
7 Utility Dive:
Taming the Wild West - CAISO begins study of a full regional electricity market
8 Bloomberg:
Japan Clean-Energy Panel Proposes 11% Solar Tariff Cut in 2016
Opinions:
9 Solar Power World:
Five strategies to help installers build a solar workforce
Have a great day!
Yann
The top two stories today are related. EDF has a story on the polling that continues to show that Americans favor more government support of actions that stop climate change and pushing for more renewable energy. The number is 59% of Americans are more likely to support a candidate that supports these topics versus 9% that few it negatively. That’s why it makes sense that Republican Jay Faison has started a $5million Action PAC to push GOP Congressional candidates to support common sense policies that bend down the carbon curve. Conservation is part of the GOP DNA, let’s make it part of the fundraising as well.
Opinion
News
1 Think Progress:
How Clean Energy Became A Code Word In Washington
2 EDF:
Despite Overwhelming Nationwide Support for Clean Energy, Poll Shows Personal Disconnect
3 Renew Economy:
Wind and solar replace coal in South Australia. But will the lights go out?
4 Utility Dive:
Is a national high voltage transmission system the cheapest way to cut emissions?
5 Renewable Energy World:
Now is the Wrong Time for States to Reduce Solar Incentives
6 PV-Magazine:
World’s largest coal producer to tender additional 800 MW of solar
7 Greentech Media:
Negative Prices Require Positive Changes in Community Solar
8 New York Times:
In Britain, a Green Utility Company Sees Winds of Change
Opinions:
9 USA Today:
Utilities get aggressive against solar industry
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 MIT:
Suddenly, the Solar Boom Is Starting to Look like a Bubble
2 Think Progress:
Sanders And Clinton Offer Different Solutions For Nevada’s Sabotaged Solar Industry
3 The Hill:
Sanders calls out Warren Buffett over solar energy
4 Huffington Post:
Target, Do Solar Like You Do the Grammys
5 Motley Fool:
5 Facts You Didn't Know About Solar Energy
6 Greenbiz:
Why community solar is becoming big business
7 Greentech Media:
Utilities See Distributed Generation as a Challenge—and Owning It as the Solution
8 CleanTechnica:
To Lease or To Own - Simplified Solar Calculator
9 Fortune:
Here's Why Shares of SolarCity Are Soaring
10 Bloomberg:
SunEdison Missed Deadlines on Solar Farms It Plans to Unload
The Top 10 is ranked by the number of SolarWakeup.com readers that clicked on the news article during the previous week. It is the poll of the most relevant solar news of the week as judged by your colleagues and competitors.
Have a great day!
Yann
