These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 EcoWatch:
This One Chart Says It All for the Future of Solar Energy
2 Vox:
Donald Trump's horrifying gullibility, as revealed in his energy speech
3 Greentech Media:
Which Solar Companies Will Benefit Most From SunEdison’s Bankruptcy?
4 Think Progress:
Job Losses Expected As Maryland Governor Stuns Solar Industry With Clean Energy Veto
5 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Fannie Mae’s Financing for Solar - A Game Changer for the Solar Industry
6 Greentech Media:
SolarCity Relaunches Residential PV Loan With Simpler, Shorter-Term Plan
7 Fortune:
Why Sales of Solar Panels Could Soon Start Booming
8 GreenBiz:
The future of energy in 4 charts
9 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
In GE solar plant closing, a miscalculation of equipment demand
10 PV-Tech:
A solar industry in three parts?... Continued
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
This is your SolarWakeup for June 3rd, 2016
Securitization of solar is the current method for the most profitable spread compression. Spread compression is the ownership version of selling an asset without losing title to the long term revenue stream. The long term revenue stream is post contract period. Now that leases are losing ground to loans, solar companies like SolarCity are getting into it after smaller shops have taken market share from them by going contractor direct with fancy IT solutions. Loans are easy to securitize which generates the cash everyone is looking for to pay for the platforms.
News
1 Greentech Media:
SolarCity Relaunches Residential PV Loan With Simpler, Shorter-Term Plan
2 PV-Tech:
Concerns mount over China’s weak solar demand leading to overcapacity
3 Think Progress:
The New York Assembly Just Passed The Nation’s Most Ambitious Climate Bill
4 EDF:
New York Takes a Major Step toward Rethinking Utility Economics
5 GreenBiz:
The future of energy in 4 charts
6 Vox:
The western US grid is fragmented. Stitching it together is a no-brainer.
7 Solar Industry:
Community Solar + Demand Response - Three Steps For Utilities To Consider
8 Utility Dive:
The corporate green team - Utilities partner to meet renewables demand from large U.S. firms
Opinions:
9 Bloomberg:
Chile Has So Much Solar Energy It’s Giving It Away for Free
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 2nd, 2016
The current state of the solar industry can be explained by two numbers. $100/watt and 64GW. Those numbers are relevant because we are at a tipping point in our industry. 40 years ago, modules cost over $100/W and the market globally was 2MW, today modules are sub $0.50/watt and the market is 64GW globally. The tipping point is here because at our levels, margins now matter. Companies need to efficiently build projects, deploy capital and develop projects while keeping growth going. This year, we will shape our industry for the next 10 years. If you happen to be at the Reznick conference tomorrow, make sure to say hello and visit my panel at noon on solar M&A in the US.
News
1 EcoWatch:
This One Chart Says It All for the Future of Solar Energy
2 Think Progress:
Led By Solar And Wind, Renewable Energy Grew Like Never Before Last Year
3 CleanTechnica:
Why Energy Democracy Offers A Faster Approach To Clean Energy
4 Renewable Energy World:
Solar PV Module Recycling — Why It's Important
5 PV-Tech:
Shunfeng to sell solar manufacturing operations to property tycoon
6 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Fannie Mae’s Financing for Solar - A Game Changer for the Solar Industry
7 Greentech Media:
Subsidy Cuts Will Cause a ‘Sharp Negative Turn’ in Japan’s Solar Market Through 2020
8 AZ Daily Sun:
APS seeks 8 percent rate boost, solar changes
Opinions:
9 GreenBiz:
Why women are critical to clean energy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June1st, 2016
Stupidity strikes again, this time in the form of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. An RPS change from 20% to 25% and a move forward was passed by the legislature but vetoed by him. Public support, job gains, driving economy trumped by politics and rhetoric. Total nonsense in my opinion because Maryland was on the cusp of being a terrific market even in an SREC market that was driving prices down. All of this to prop up his reelection campaign with coal donations in my opinion and hoping for some love from the Koch Brothers at ALEC. If you feel like ranting about ALEC, enjoy this…
News
1 Think Progress:
Job Losses Expected As Maryland Governor Stuns Solar Industry With Clean Energy Veto
2 Fast Co Exist:
China Is Going Solar In A Big Way
3 CleanTechnica:
Mark Jacobson - Transitioning To A 100% Renewable Economy (Video)
4 NRDC:
In Finalizing Its Important Clean Energy Standard, NY PSC Should Focus on Getting the Details Right
5 Greentech Media:
Which Solar Companies Will Benefit Most From SunEdison’s Bankruptcy?
6 Utility Dive:
Energy storage's role in decarbonization will depend on duration, cost cuts
7 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
In GE solar plant closing, a miscalculation of equipment demand
8 Fortune:
Why Sales of Solar Panels Could Soon Start Booming
Opinions:
9 Los Angeles Times :
If L.A. wants to avoid summer blackouts, we need to reinvent our energy system.
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 31st, 2016
I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend. As we near the end of the 1st half of the year, does anyone have any guesses on the size of the US market for this year? It seems to me that we are no longer aiming for 16GW but something less, even substantially so due to a desire to shift projects forward. The manufacturers are returning from their shows in Shanghai and word has it that the US market will not live up to the hype it created from earlier this year when the ITC was expected to sunset, creating a larger than normal year.
News
1 PV-Tech:
SNEC 2016 - A solar industry in three parts?... Continued
2 PV-Magazine:
Greece to auction new PV power
3 Energy Collective:
Industrial and Electric Power Sectors Drive Projected Growth in U.S. Natural Gas Use
4 PV-Tech:
Solar advocacy groups urge California net-metering equalising bill to come out of ‘limbo’
5 NRDC:
Michigan Energy Legislation
6 Vox:
Donald Trump's horrifying gullibility, as revealed in his energy speech
7 Renew Economy:
Australia brown coal warriors switch to solar, disruptive technologies
8 Utility Dive:
Donald Trump's energy proposals echo old GOP priorities
Opinions:
9 Grist:
Brazil’s impeachment crisis is bad news for climate change
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Bloomberg:
Vegas Casinos Plan to Leave Warren Buffett’s Nevada Utility
2 The Hill:
Trump outlines ‘America First’ energy plan
3 Washington Post:
Some states may be making a big mistake about rooftop solar
4 Brookings Institute:
Rooftop solar - Net metering is a net benefit
5 Rocky Mountain Institute:
New York’s Next Steps in the REV-olution
6 Midwest Energy News:
Language in Ohio bill would ‘basically shut down’ solar
7 San Francisco Chronicle:
California’s next frontier - clean electricity for everything
8 Fortune:
Does Rooftop Solar Benefit All? That's the Debate
9 CleanTechnica:
Google’s Project Sunroof Expands To 42 US States
10 EDF:
New Hampshire Just Doubled Its Solar Net Metering Cap – And It Already Needs More
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
This is your SolarWakeup for May 27th, 2016
I thought I would be able to refrain for a bit longer but the Donald gave his first energy speech yesterday. It couldn’t have been worse and it went exactly as expected. The GOP nominee rattled off the biggest hits: more oil drilling on Federal lands, approval of Keystone XL, and ending the ‘stupid’ climate rule. He did mention solar and wind but that it would be supported at the expense of other sources. Capitalists and libertarians should love what we do, compete against the market and provide benefits to the grid’s consumers.
News
1 The Hill:
Trump outlines ‘America First’ energy plan
2 Washington Post:
Some states may be making a big mistake about rooftop solar
3 New York Post:
Solar-powered airplane makes landing after 17-hour flight
4 CleanTechnica:
More Than 8.1 Million Working For Global Renewable Energy Industry
5 Renewable Energy World:
China Expected to Outperform Germany in Solar PV Capacity
6 Advanced Energy Economy:
New York REV Order Gives Utilities Ways to Make Money in Changing Role
7 Utility Dive:
Hawaiian Electric could hit some rooftop solar caps next month, filing warns
8 The Guardian:
Shell says it will limit solar investment until it proves profitable
Opinions:
9 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Community Solar - A Cost-Effective Bridge away from Net Metering?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 26th, 2016
If there was ever a time to get into solar advocacy, now is the time to make your move. Following Rhone Resch’s resignation at SEIA, Jane Weissman from IREC and Richard Lawrence from NABCEP have also retired from their posts. Thus far only the post at IREC has been filled internally by Larry Sherwood, the current COO. Searches for SEIA and NABCEP are starting to move forward according to sources and I would love to know what your thoughts are on this topic. Next week, we can do a feedback forum on the CEOs of companies that ‘resigned’.
News
1 Solar Power World:
NABCEP starts search for new executive director
2 Fortune:
Does Rooftop Solar Benefit All? That's the Debate
3 Bloomberg:
Saudi Arabia to Revive Its Solar Power Program at Smaller Scale
4 PV-Magazine:
Foxconn commits to sustaining Sharp’s solar business
5 CleanTechnica:
Google’s Project Sunroof Expands To 42 US States
6 EDF:
Hot Topics in Clean Energy this California Legislative Session
7 Utility Dive:
Efficiency, gas plants push PJM capacity auction prices below expectations
8 Greentech Media:
Orange Button - A New Data Standard for Cheaper Solar?
Opinions:
9 Inside Climate News:
America Now Has 27.2 Gigawatts of Solar Energy - What Does That Mean?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 25th, 2016
Newsflash! Net metering is good for consumers. You don’t have to take my word for it, listen to the experts hired by utility commissions and the non-partisan Brookings Institute. Yesterday, another report was put out by SolarCity and NRDC that reiterated the benefit to Nevada consumers. That’s why I started the SolarPledge last year to push for the ITC extension and keeping full net metering in place around the Country. All this talk about rate design and cost shifting is fancy PR talk by EEI and the utilities that feel threatened by solar. Their problem is inaction however, DG solar in NV would have been a minor blip on the radar but NV Energy’s attitude caused MGM to leave and take 5% of its load with it. The other IOUs should be worried about that instead.
News
1 Brookings Institute:
Rooftop solar - Net metering is a net benefit
2 NRDC:
Customer Investments in Solar Energy Benefit All Nevadans - $7 Million–$14 Million Per Year
3 PV-Magazine:
Germany considers new taxes for renewable energy consumers
4 Renewable Energy World:
Viva La Revolución - Giving Power to the People with Distributed Generation
5 Energy Collective:
How Fast Could the Market for Electric Vehicles Grow?
6 PV-Tech:
Solar’s US$400 billion of health and environmental benefits for the US
7 Renew Economy:
Networks discover that rooftop solar is no longer the enemy
8 Utility Dive:
California boasts some of the lowest per-capita energy usage in the US, report says
Opinions:
9 Motley Fool:
2 Reasons Solar Stocks Are Smart Investments
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 24th, 2016
Time for some policy rounds ups. In Nevada, the Governor’s solar task force is meeting on Thursday to review the recommendation about grandfather net metering. Ohio continues the destruction of a solar market with great potential beyond the freeze of the RPS, thanks Kasich! New Hampshire doubled the cap from 50mw to 100mw and the cap is about to be reached; one day people will realize that society wants MORE solar. And North Korea loves itself some off-grid solar, or ungrid solar, since they don’t really have a grid or electronics or freedom. Don’t forget that you can send confidential tips anonymously through the front page of the website, it’s an important part of moving our industry forward.
News
1 Midwest Energy News:
Advocates - Language in Ohio bill would ‘basically shut down’ solar
2 EDF:
New Hampshire Just Doubled Its Solar Net Metering Cap – And It Already Needs More
3 Reno Gazette:
The solar battle on Nevada rooftops
4 Los Angeles Times:
Off the (failing) grid in North Korea, where solar energy is a hot commodity
5 PV-Magazine:
Dispute over arbitration location causes stumbling block for PV projects in Egypt
6 CleanTechnica:
Energy Storage Could Break Low Income Rooftop Solar Bottleneck
7 Renewable Energy World:
China’s Solar Prices Could Fall 38 Percent by 2020
8 PV-Tech:
SNEC 2016 - Views on global solar manufacturing
Opinions:
9 Greentech Media:
Germany’s Solar Market Returns to Growth, But Not Leadership
Have a great day!
Yann
