Chinese Solar Market Suffers Severe Setback As Government Slashes Subsidies, Projects
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent The South China Morning Post reports a Chinese solar market in freefall after the government decided it would no longer fund new solar farms and slashed subsidies to solar electricity users by almost 10%. According to the paper, the government says the move is designed to wean the Chinese solar market off of government subsidies and put it on a more “sustainable path.” The Post wrote: A joint statement put out on Friday by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance and National Energy Administration said, “The measures are aimed at “promoting the … Read More
Town of Bethel and Ameresco Celebrate Completion of Solar Farm on Capped Landfill
Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company and the Town of Bethel, are hosting a ribbon-cutting today at the Town’s capped landfill to celebrate the completion of the solar photovoltaic (“PV”) facility. The Town partnered with Ameresco to develop the solar PV project under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Ameresco will operate and maintain the system for the term of the contract to ensure optimal energy production. “For years, Town leadership, staff, and community volunteers have been working diligently to identify and implement meaningful energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. With today’s ribbon-cutting, we celebrate another … Read More
Wisconsin Utilities Agree To Add 300 MW Of Solar To Portfolios
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Get ready for 300 MW of solar projects coming your way, Badger State. Two of the state’s utilities – Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) and WEC Energy Group (WEC), through its Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) – will be partners in two projects in the state. The projects will be developed Invenergy and NextEra Energy Resources, according to applications filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) at a cost of approximately $390 million. If approved by the end of 2018, construction of both projects is expected to begin by spring 2019, with both plants … Read More
Iron Mountain Joins RE100 and Commits to Setting Science Based Targets for Carbon Reductions
Iron Mountain® Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), the global leader in storage and information management services, today announced two important environmental commitments that significantly advance the company’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and increase its usage of renewable energy around the world. Firstly, Iron Mountain is joining the RE100 initiative, a collaborative, global platform developed by The Climate Group, an independent, not-for-profit organization working internationally with government and business leaders to advance smart policies and technologies to cut global emissions and accelerate a low carbon economy. Iron Mountain joins more than 130 multinational corporations in committing to a shift to using … Read More
This is your SolarWakeup for June 4th, 2018
Solar In Illinois. The Illinois Power Agency is looking to finalize the adjustable block program which will be key to the distributed and community solar markets in the midwest’s solar market. SolarWakeup Live will start the full day looking into the market with the director of the IPA, which on June 21st will likely have the rules finalized, so that you can get on the ground and moving forward. We have a few more sponsor spots for the event (email me) and tickets are available at solarwakeuplive.com.
Coal Collusion. Looks like coal magnate, Bob Murray, got what he wanted from Trump on the 1-year anniversary of announcing the departure of the Paris agreement. The best response going around about this announcement is from the PJM twitter account. To date, PJM has not been notified by governing agencies to prop up coal plants yet but expect that to happen. The way for the government to really prop up these plants without picking winners would also cause the value of solar generation to increase which then causes the demise of coal to quicken. So here we are, throwing wind to the free market, rules be damned.
Arizona Plea Deals Rejected. This is your reminder that the original sin in fighting solar net metering is still embroiled in a federal grand jury investigation. Now there’s news that a former regulator and lobbyist are rejecting plea deals in the case. When I read this, I can’t help but to think of the many ex parte communications happening every day across the Country and we may be better off when the power isn’t concentrated to the monopolies anymore. Just a thought.
Thoughts On NV Energy. The gigawatt of solar represents the value of solar in high irradiance areas, like Nevada. Also, I’d be amazed if storage isn’t closer to 2GWh than the 400MWh outlined in the proposal. Let’s revisit this in a few years.
Slowing Chinese Solar. New rules from the Chinese government have caused a few people off guard. This is perhaps a sign of the strength of the global markets. Imagine what else would be possible with the trade wars.
Quality Of Resi Solar. Australia has been growing distributed solar in a big way and a lot of it has to do with the ease of installing solar on homes. Little delay between selling and installation means consumers are happy. With the ability to review the installs later on, gives the consumer advocate a way to make sure installers are doing a good job and there is some work to do. In the US, we need to do more to get closer to an instant solar process. We also need to do more in having the solar industry regulated by solar experts. We will be discussing this in much greater detail this summer but ponder how the solar industry could ensure that consumers are getting great solar.
News
Opinions:
Have a great day!
Yann
UPDATE: Trump Throws Free Market Principles Out Window On Behalf Of Coal, Nuke Plants
This article has been updated to reflect that President Trump has in fact given the order rather than just considering it. By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Well, that’s not very free market of him. In a move that made George Gilder do a spit take, President Donald J. Trump has ordered the Energy Department to instruct grid operators to purchase electricity from failing coal and nuclear plants in an effort to keep such faltering plants alive and well, according to the Associated Press. [wds id=”3″] Earlier today, Bloomberg indicated such a move might be imminent, citing a memo it reviewed … Read More
PPL Corporation Acquires Safari Energy
PPL Corporation announced that it acquired Safari Energy. a leading provider of solar energy solutions for commercial customers in the United States. “The Safari Energy acquisition offers PPL an attractive, low-risk opportunity to help advance a cleaner energy future; to support the growth of distributed energy resources, including energy storage; and to gain additional experience with technologies that will play a bigger role in shaping the future energy grid,” said William H. Spence, chairman, president and chief executive officer of PPL Corporation. “However, even as it provides these benefits, the acquisition will not alter PPL’s core business strategy,” Spence said. … Read More
The Energy Show: John Farrell on Why It Costs More For Utilities to Sell Power
For over a hundred years our civilization has been getting electricity from centralized generation. This utility business model relies on remote power plants fueled originally by coal, oil and gas — and now increasingly by wind and solar. But the development of inexpensive rooftop solar power over the past 20 years is changing this central generation paradigm. It is now cheaper for homes and businesses to generate their own electricity on their rooftop, and only stay connected to the utility for night time power. These Distributed Generation (DG) solar power systems are connected on the customer’s side of the meter, … Read More
Trump To Throw Free Market Principles Out Window On Behalf Of Coal, Nuke Plants
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Well, that’s not very free market of him. In a move that made George Gilder do a spit take, President Donald J. Trump may soon order grid operators to purchase electricity from failing coal and nuclear plants in an effort to keep such faltering plants alive and well, according to a Bloomberg report. [wds id=”3″] A memo reviewed by the news organization says the Energy Department is considering using its power under the Federal Power Act – Section 202 powers, to be exact – to use emergency powers to take such action. Bloomberg called the … Read More
NV Energy Unveils Massive Solar, Storage Plans
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent NV Energy, Nevada’s largest utility, unveiled plans to add more than 1 GW of solar power and at least 100 MW of battery storage in its latest Integrated Resources Plan (IRP), filed today with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN). The new projects will be evenly distributed throughout the state, with three new plants located in the north and three located in the south, pending the plan’s approval by the PUCN. [wds id=”3″] “The six new projects position NV Energy to keep its commitment to double renewable energy by 2023 and, importantly, by diversifying … Read More