This is your SolarWakeup for October 30th, 2015
While there are deadlines around solar regulations, the business impact is much sooner. One such example is the SDG&E expectation to hit the net metering cap early next year, which means that ahead of the ITC cliff, sales could crater making it very risky for people looking to go solar with regard to the ITC. The same holds for the farmers in central valley, California who have to wait 9-10 months to get interconnection approvals from PG&E. Utilities are very aware and may be hoping to create enough uncertainty to kill solar companies by making their sales halt a full year before the tax credit reduces. Shame on them for nefarious corporate behavior.
News
1 San Francisco Chronicle:
Gov. Brown should take a stand on California’s solar investment
2 PV-Magazine:
San Diego utility expects to hit net metering caps in mid-2016
3 Scientific American:
Republican Frontrunners Avoid Climate Change
4 Bloomberg:
First Solar Warns of $40 Million Tax Matter as Profit Soars
5 Greentech Media:
Billionaire Tom Steyer Calls on Candidates to Push for a 50% Renewables Policy
6 Seeking Alpha:
Implications Of A Growing Distributed Solar Opposition
7 Fox News:
Taxpayer-backed solar plant actually a carbon polluter
8 Forbes:
Strong Demand Strains Solar Supply Chain, Potential Wafer Shortage In 2016
Opinions:
9 Wall Street Journal:
Solar Power Has a Role in Helping the Poor
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 29th, 2015
Big news from me today. I am officially a candidate for the Board of Directors of SEIA. I think that it is important for all of us to be part of the industry beyond our individual companies and through this daily newsletter I feel motivated to do more. So today I ask for your help to put me on the Board and help advocate for our industry. If your company is a member of SEIA, please find the designated voter as they received an email from SEIA yesterday. You get to choose 5 candidates and I hope you vote for me as well.
News
1 Solar Industry:
IREC To Introduce New Solar Career Map At Webinar
2 Utility Dive:
FERC - Renewables account for over 60% of new generation in 2015
3 PV-Magazine:
Solar wins substantial contracts in Chile's energy supply auction
4 Bloomberg:
Brazil Seeks to Boost Solar Industry to Match Wind, BNDES Says
5 Think Progress:
Lindsey Graham - No, Accepting Climate Science Doesn’t Make Me A Democrat (WATCH)
6 Grist:
Elon Musk’s solar company used cheap prison labor for a big taxpayer-subsidized project
7 24/7 Wall Street:
Trina Solar Scores $1.57 Billion in New Financing
8 Lowell Sun:
House leaders preparing new solar-industry strategy
Opinions:
9 ARS Technica:
For the future of solar, we’ve got the tech—it’s the economics, stupid
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 28th, 2015
Greetings from Mexico! One of the next emerging markets that many of us are looking towards. Clean energy and social good are synonymous in many ways. There is value in building a clean energy infrastructure or doing things like giving energy access to families for the first time. One of the groups that is leading the charge is Echoing Green which places fellowships for some of the most innovative social good endeavors around the world. They are out with their latest application round. While super competitive, I see many future solar leaders being a great fit. So if you have an intern or know a great candidate please pass long the application link (http://www.echoinggreen.org/apply) or let me know if you'd like an intro to the team.
News
1 Miami Herald:
Mystery surrounds largest donor to Florida solar power ballot initiative
2 Greentech Media:
Thinking Differently About Where to Deploy Solar-Plus-Storage
3 Treehugger:
UK government supports solar for Africa, slashes subsidies at home
4 Stat Tribune:
State is set to make a big leap into solar
5 Yale:
African Lights - Microgrids Are Bringing Power to Rural Kenya
6 Think Progress:
What Apple’s Solar Plans In China Could Mean For Tech Laborers
7 24/7 Wall Street:
Have Short Sellers Abandoned Solar, Alternative Energy Stocks?
8 PV Magazine:
Off-grid solar market worth $300 million annually
Opinions:
9 Seeking Alpha:
The End Of Investment Tax Credit For Solar Energy Will Not The Kill Solar Industry
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 27th, 2015
Yesterday we looked at how utilities influence trade associations including those with solar in the name. Just look at the top story today to see what I mean. No doubt, when the membership is made up of utilities and the board that directs the public message is mostly IOUs, you see anti net-metering publications. Always framed as an educational piece, it isn’t overtly negative but the underlying arguments are clear as day. Keep in mind that this is solar’s partner in SPI claiming several millions in revenues.
News
1 SEPA:
What's missing from media coverage of net metering
2 CNN:
Dumping fossil fuels was great move for Rockefeller Brothers Fund
3 PV-Magazine:
Canadian Solar ups Q3 revenue and profit guidance
4 Renew Economy:
Australian rooftop solar PV cheapest in world, says IEA report
5 Motley Fool:
What to Look For When Solar Energy's Big 3 Report
6 Utility Dive:
Hawaii PUC chair defends landmark decision to end retail rate net metering
7 PV-Tech:
SunEdison using Solaria IP to produce 400W module
8 Media Matters:
Anti-Solar Op-Ed Writer Claims To Speak For Poor, Actually Works With Utilities
Opinions:
9 The Hill:
GOP rep - Congress should focus more on climate change
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 26th, 2015
There are many downsides of having electric monopolies. One of the only benefits is the quasi regulatory environment that the utilities have file many documents that are viewable publicly. In a recent CPUC filing, the California utility SCE disclosed its lobbying efforts. While they are allowed to fund up to $1million in lobbying, it appears that they could have exceeded this threshold. Questions arise and it could be that SCE helped fund the net metering disfunction in Arizona through some groups. Those questions need to be answered, Californians deserve to know. Solar also deserves to know how trade associations play into the utility lobbying. While EEI is openly against solar, many of these utilities also sit on solar trade associations. Be wary about the true motives.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
New York State quietly lifts the cap on net metering
2 The Hill:
Obama turns to climate deal
3 New York Times:
Ex-Im Bank Dispute Threatens G.E. Factory That Obama Praised
4 PV-Tech:
TASC challenges decision to end Hawaii’s net metering program
5 Renewable Energy World:
MEMC and SunEdison, a Tale of Two Companies
6 Greentech Media:
The Growth Rate of Rooftop Solar in Hawaii Hangs in Limbo
7 Rutland Herald:
Solar expansion pushing Vt. to metering cap
8 Philippine Star:
Can SMEs and homeowners save by adopting solar energy now?
Opinions:
9 Motley Fool:
How Utilities Are Profiting From Solar Energy
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 The Street:
SunEdison/Vivint Solar Deal Up in Smoke, Shares Choke
2 San Diego Union Tribune:
Solar dreams unravel in San Diego
3 Think Progress:
Florida Supreme Court Clears Hurdle Out Of The Way For Solar Power To Flourish
4 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Hawaii just ended net metering for solar. Now what?
5 Civil Beat:
PUC Commissioner Applies for Rooftop Solar Days Before PUC Cut the Credits
6 PV-Magazine:
Texas grid operator predicts 50-fold increase in solar by 2030
7 NBC Sacramento:
Fight over solar heating up in California
8 Forbes:
The Electric Energy Storage Industry Feels Like Solar Did Nine Years Ago
9 Greentech Media:
How Solar, Batteries and Time-of-Use Pricing Can Add Up to Value
10 ABC:
Corporation Commission dismisses APS request to raise rooftop solar fees, votes to hold solar review
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 October 23rd, 2015
Thanks to American Airlines and Texas weather for stranding me in wonderful San Antonio. So let's talk about solar in Texas. Besides the mega deals here and in Austin where solar is breaking cost records. With the open marketplace in ERCOT, what's ahead for consumers that get to choose their energy supply. Will more unilateral deals happen or partnerships with energy retailers? How about a Chile style merchant power plant? In the meantime I will be doing my best to get back to Florida.
News
1 Think Progress:
Florida Supreme Court Clears Hurdle Out Of The Way For Solar Power To Flourish
2 NBC Sacramento:
Fight over solar heating up in California
3 Huffington Post:
The Solar Entrepreneurs Emerging From Rural Kenya's Cellphone Revolution
4 Oilprice.com:
Is Solar Without Subsidies Now Viable?
5 Bloomberg:
Mexico's Abundant Sunshine No Help for Stalled Solar Industry
6 Business Journal:
Hawaii rooftop solar program could have ended a year ago, PUC chair says
7 New York Times:
Numerous States Prepare Lawsuits Against Obama’s Climate Policy
8 Forbes:
The Electric Energy Storage Industry Feels Like Solar Did Nine Years Ago
Opinions:
9 Breaking Energy:
Trudeau’s Election Victory Could Steer North American Energy In A New Direction
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 22nd, 2015
New York is a very big State and it uses a lot of energy. Its energy system is also very complicated, congested yet rural at the same time. There are some pending power plant reauthorizations that could significantly reshape the energy landscape in New York. One thing that is already working is the NY Green Bank. A brainchild of Richard Kauffman and led by Alfred Griffin, the NY Green Bank announced three separate transactions today. A warehouse facility, a credit security supplementing private capital and a construction revolver. Good for NY and a growing solar market.
News
1 Utility Dive:
NY regulators lift solar net metering caps until REV docket sets DER values
2 PV-Magazine:
UK - solar requires 50% less subsidy than Hinkley Point C nuclear plant, STA finds
3 Renew Economy:
Origin says it won’t fight against rooftop solar and storage
4 Breaking Energy:
Energy Department Authorizes Emera CNG, LLC’s Application To Export Compressed Natural Gas
5 Knoxville News Sentinel:
Study finds value of solar power less than what TVA pays
6 Greentech Media:
How Solar, Batteries and Time-of-Use Pricing Can Add Up to Value
7 San Diego Union Tribune:
Solar dreams unravel in San Diego
8 Washington Post:
Apple just announced dramatic new solar plans in China
Opinions:
9 IEEE:
A Tower of Molten Salt Will Deliver Solar Power After Sunset
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 21st, 2015
Maybe it's time to have a PUC soap opera. The amount of drama that encircles the solar proceedings at the different filings around the country. The Arizona commission had some temporary positive news around the fees APS is looking for but the better story comes from Hawaii. Just days before the PUC (out of the blue) changed and eliminated the rules for net metering, one of the commissioners applied to put more solar on their home. The rules changed for everyone that didn't already have or apply for the install. The second is the key note here, I wonder if the commissioner's timing was pure coincidence?
News
1 ABC:
Corporation Commission dismisses APS request to raise rooftop solar fees, votes to hold solar review
2 Civil Beat:
PUC Commissioner Applies for Rooftop Solar Days Before PUC Cut the Credits
3 The Guardian:
Energy minister 'open-minded' about UK solar subsidy cuts
4 PV-Magazine:
UK - Renewables brought down wholesale cost of electricity by GBP 1.55bn in 2014
5 The Street:
SunEdison/Vivint Solar Deal Up in Smoke, Shares Choke
6 Bloomberg:
China Solar Installations Double Despite Delay in Sales to Grid
7 Utility Dive:
Amid ITC concerns, Austin Energy approved for 450 MW of solar by 2019
8 Green Biz:
How China and the U.S. became unlikely climate allies
Opinions:
9 Greentech Media:
Can Liberals Reverse Canada’s Weakened Record on Clean Energy and Climate Action?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 20th, 2015
There are several future markets in solar. You naturally think of new geographies (just look at Chile) but I am more focused on financial innovation. You can’t help but smile at the President pitching a bunch of kids about science on the White House lawn. The unknown unknowns are the reason people pursue science. So applying the same research logic to solar, I like to ask why certain markets aren’t developing, what or who is the roadblock? As community solar continues to grow in demand and popularity, I am also interested to learn about how to make solar more of an energy participant. I will be speaking about the C&I segment as it relates to Utility Scale solar tomorrow in San Diego.
News
1 Los Angeles Times:
On White House science day, Obama displays his geek-in-chief side
2 Think Progress:
How Canada’s Election Could Change The Course Of The Country’s Climate Policy
3 Forbes:
Renewable Energy Is About To Boom In Africa, And We Need To Pay Attention To It
4 Natural Gas Intelligence:
Report - Solar Could Displace Up to 5 Bcf/d for Power Generation by 2020
5 Green Biz:
How clean energy aggregation empowers neighborhoods
6 The Hill:
Biden touts climate accomplishments
7 PV-Magazine:
2.1 GW-AC of solar PV under construction in Chile
8 PV-Tech:
UK sending ‘perverse’ signals on renewables ahead of COP21, says UN scientist
Opinions:
9 Grist:
Are India’s clean energy investments slowing the march of coal?
Have a great day!
Yann
