Two big stories of the day. The first is Sunrun leaving Nevada shortly after SolarCity announced the same thing. There is a danger for a utility overstepping its powers because more likely than not, it will be temporary. Solar will eventually overcome regulatory burdens and instead of a market where companies coexist, it will require one to win and beat the other. The other story is the Sunedison stock fall yesterday. China fell on an awful stock day, being open just 29 minutes, but SUNE also announced a capital raise which was not perceived well. Let’s see what happens next.
Opinion
News
1 Las Vegas Review Journal:
Rooftop-solar company Sunrun says it is also exiting Nevada
2 PV-Magazine:
SolarPower Europe welcomes UK's call for MIP suspension
3 Utility Dive:
Utility-backed Florida solar proposal appears headed for 2016 ballot
4 Treehugger:
High-flying solar balloons could produce clean electricity night and day
5 Forbes:
Tax Credits For Wind And Solar Will Deliver But Will Definitely Be Phased Out
6 Solar Power Portal:
MPs lambast perceived double standards in energy policy
7 NRDC:
State Renewable Energy Standards Cut Carbon, Save Consumers Billions, New Report Shows
8 Solar Industry:
New York To Participate In Solar Ready Vets Training Program
Opinions:
9 Huffington Post:
Solar - Catalyst for Economic Growth & Improved Health in the World's Most Rural Locations
Have a great day!
Yann
Pointing out an interesting fact about the growth of Google’s Project Sunroof, the rooftop PV potential tool, that doubles as a lead gen business for Google. I am happy to see a Google support an engineer’s 20% project that involves solar. My preference would have been an acquisition of one of the several companies that does this. Solar startups like this are not crazy expensive and it would have been a moonshot for startups that look at the solar market. Imagine a Google acquisition of a startup in our space, it would have turned the tide for cleanweb companies that are already involved.
Opinion
News
1 PV-Tech:
Google expands online solar calculator to more US homeowners
2 Solar Industry:
SolarCity Forced To Eliminate 550 Nevada Jobs, Following PUC Decision
3 Utility Dive:
Nevada regulators will consider delaying new net metering rates, monthly charges
4 Think Progress:
TransCanada Announces It Will Sue U.S. Over Keystone XL Denial
5 Solar Server:
New analysis finds sizable benefits from U.S. state Renewable Portfolio Standards
6 Phys.org:
New efficiency record set with dual-junction solar cell
7 Renewable Energy World:
German Solar Power Costs Drop 5.8 Percent in Government Auction
8 PV-Magazine:
Brazil doubles solar targets for utility-scale and distributed generation
Opinions:
9 EDF:
How Battery Technology and Crowd-Sourced Energy Can Save Our Aging Grid
Have a great day!
Yann
I enjoyed today’s top story, mostly because it makes too much sense. Think of the Republican party today, it’s all about free market and getting regulations out of the way. I can’t think of a sector more regulated and less free market that the electric utility monopolies. Imagine any other sector operated in this same fashion and the conservatives would be up in arms. I hope that regulators read this piece because what happened in Nevada is indicative of what could really fast track things against the system today. It’s one thing to change rules going forward like Hawaii and Arizona but Nevada went retroactive. That’s an overstep by the PUC and consumers will be up in arms about it.
Opinion
News
1 New York Times:
The Conservative Case for Solar Subsidies
2 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Top 12 Clean Energy Developments of 2015
3 BBC:
CES 2016 - Clouds over Nevada’s solar revolution
4 Solar Love:
Community Energy Programs Presented At Paris Climate Change Conference
5 PV-Tech:
Hope remains in case against Spain’s solar cuts despite court ruling
6 Clean Technica:
Congress Gets Renewable Tax Credit Extension Right
7 PV-Magazine:
Germany - Frustration over wait for new PV storage subsidy announcement
8 Utility Dive:
Ontario turns to storage for renewables integration, grid services
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
What To Expect In Energy In 2016
Have a great day!
Yann
There will be lawyers and regulators which in some cases are both. Now that the Federal policies offer some certainty for the solar market, we have to keep our attention on State matters. The first Judge in Hawaii has upheld the PUC decision which is sure to be appealed by the solar sector. Arizona is pending a compromise which sounds like a gift horse of some sorts and Nevada has several shoes to drop. In the meantime, India is making deals with Russia so things are looking up for solar all over the world.
Opinion
News
1 Utility Dive:
Hawaii court upholds PUC order ending retail rate net metering
2 PV-Tech:
India’s SECI signs MoU with Russian Energy Agency for large-scale PV and manufacturing in India
3 Greentech Media:
Australian Developer Aims to Put Entire Community Off-Grid
4 Bloomberg:
Canadian Solar Slides on Plan to Sell $100 Million in Shares
5 Renewable Energy World:
SunEdison Caps 2015 With Deals Boosting Balance Sheet
6 EDF:
A Sunny Future for Utility-Scale Solar
7 CleanTechnica:
Dubai Plans $7.3 Billion Renewable Energy Tenders
8 PV-Magazine:
India to install 4.2 GW of rooftop solar under increased budget
Opinions:
9 Arizona Central:
Forese - Why we’re reaching out to the solar industry
Have a great day!
Yann
