This is your SolarWakeup for April 28th, 2015
Some of the most intriguing articles about solar come from the Wall Street trading community. Interestingly enough, there are always serious distinctions that make things appear differently than they actually are. From the S-1 filing, Vivint Solar used their position as the #2 residential installer in the US. With the reactionary environment of Wall Street, I will be interested to see how the trading community takes the SunRun addition to the public markets. #2 installer may not be what Wall Street understands it to be
News
1 Seeking Alpha:
Vivint Solar And The Coming Onslaught Of New Entrants
2 News & Observer:
Report - Many factors contribute to NC’s solar renaissance
3 Forbes:
Goldman Bets On Returns From China Solar Power; Partner's Shares Climb 16%
4 PV-Magazine:
EPIA calls for free solar market
5 Breaking Energy:
Energy Quote of the Day - ‘Solar Has Come of Age in Japan’
6 Bloomberg:
China’s Checks on Solar Quality Could Spur More Consolidation
7 Utility Dive:
Michigan Dems file bills to double renewable energy, efficiency standards
8 24/7 Wall Street:
More Declines in Solar, Alt Energy Short Interest
Opinions:
9 Huffington Post:
Household Solar Is Becoming the New Normal -- and That Makes Some Utilities Uncomfortable
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for April 27th, 2015
Every now and then, the tax credit attacks go after the valuations of solar assets. Surely, the most reviewed tax credit available, the solar ITC may also hold the distinguished place as the only tax credit that has become more cost-effective for the taxpayer over time. Appraisals today take into account many estimates of valuation and investors take the most conservative basis in most cases. I’d love to see oil and gas tax credit forms and compare them to solar just to see how lobbying affects not only policy but implementation as well.
News
1 Seeking Alpha:
The Impact Of California PUC Proposal On Solar Deployment In California
2 Grist:
Who should profit from solar energy?
3 Fortune:
Solar power will soon make it possible to fly planes continuously—but is that a good thing?
4 PV-Magazine:
German official - Bids for ground-mounted installations at 9-10 eurocents
5 RE World:
Egypt’s Renewable FIT Program Gains Traction
6 Huffington Post:
Hawaii Wants To Be The First State To Run Completely On Renewable Energy
7 Solar Power World:
Is standardized solar permitting the next industry breakthrough?
8 Oregonian:
Price Check - Why SolarCity's university solar projects cost Oregon taxpayers $12 million
Opinions:
9 AZ Central:
Solar changes don't need a rate case
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 SolarWakeup:
Breaking Down The Top Data from GTM Solar Summit 2015
2 Greentech Media:
5 Numbers That Will Shape the Future of US Solar in 2015 and 2016
3 PV-Magazine:
SEIA rejects call for ITC phase down
4 SF Chronicle:
New California proposal - Use less electricity, pay more
5 Slash Gear:
Save your solar power - Tesla to announce home batteries on April 30
6 Breitbart:
Solar Panels Start Fire at Green Party-Run Town Hall
7 Seeking Alpha:
The Massive Growth Potential Of The Solar PV Industry
8 Scientific American:
The Age of Wind and Solar Is Closer Than You Think
9 Quartz:
Solar power will soon be as cheap as coal
10 Energy Collective:
2015 State of Solar Financing, Part 2 - Solar Securitization
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 April 24th, 2015
The CPUC has come out with new proposed residential rate structures according to the bill that saved solar in California, AB 327. The plan calls for no fixed charges because customers hate them but works to shrink the tiers of users down to 2 which are separated by 20%, both of which would be in the >$0.20/kWh by 2019. The initial takeaway is that large users would save less on their high tier reduction but in general, solar adoption would grow massively. Between onsite and community solar, you get much closer to 100% solar adoption in the residential segment.
News
1 SFGate:
New California proposal - Use less electricity, pay more
2 Popular Science:
MIT Invention Turns Salt Water Into Drinking Water Using Solar Power
3 Utility Dive:
NC lawmakers extend tax credit for 'in construction' renewables one year
4 11 Alive:
Bill makes solar power a smart move for homeowners
5 24/7 Wall Street:
Analyst Says Solar Installers to Gain From California Rule Change
6 Bloomberg:
Solar Costing a Third of Retail Power Emerges in Germany
7 The Hill:
Senate Dems want to double size of solar training program for vets
8 PV Magazine:
Utilities in New Jersey pursue 80 MW of solar approvals
Opinions:
9 The National:
Solar depends on more research
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for April 23rd, 2015
In the most surprising and amazing story of the year (which I figured as a headline bait) is the news of solar making an impact on the people of North Korea. Even Kim Jong Un can't stop solar! When solar makes it to the balconies of Pyongyang, you know that solar has become the most democratized energy source around the world. So let's have a moment to thank solar for producing energy and providing freedom for those with less of it than us. When you hear the argument against solar, remember that taking your solar power is like taking your freedom!!!
News
1 Bizjournals:
Duke Energy's N.C. solar projects to employ 900 construction workers
2 Dispatch:
Solar group, AEP at odds over costs of connecting to grid
3 The Tennessean:
TVA gets input on energy plan as environmental groups seek more renewable sources
4 Greentech Media:
PV, Batteries and the Smart Home
5 Scientific American:
The Age of Wind and Solar Is Closer Than You Think
6 Clean Technica:
Updated Solar Map Tracks Output From 5500 PV Systems Australia-Wide
7 Slashgear:
Save your solar power; Tesla to announce home batteries on April 30
8 NBC Newyork:
More New Jersey Homes, Businesses Using Solar Panels
Opinions:
9 Business Insider:
North Korea's solar boom is giving power to the people for once
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for April 22nd, 2015
It’s earth day, so let’s talk about solar and it’s relationship to the climate change discussion. Most of us aren’t scientists, so let’s assume we listen to them and believe that our energy usage affects the earth. What is becoming interesting to me is the fact that solar is a vital part of the climate discussion and of the plans to combat the effects of climate change. Whether we talk about EPA regulations or carbon trading, just a few years ago, solar was not really in the mix due to cost. With solar at very low prices today, there is no reason why the two don’t become a very closely linked partnership. Happy Earth Day!
News
1 KNPR:
Extra Power - The Fight Over Solar In Nevada
2 PV-Magazine:
SEIA rejects call for ITC “phase down”
3 RE World:
How Free Solar Undermines the True Value of PV-Generated Electricity
4 PV Tech:
Deutsche Bank - Solar installs in China could top 20GW in 2015
5 Utility Dive:
New Mexico hearing examiner rejects PNM rate hike, solar fees
6 Greentech Media:
Mexico’s Solar Market in Limbo With Reforms ‘Changing the Rules Mid-Game’
7 Bloomberg:
Here’s Why Apple Is Building Solar Farms in China
8 Breitbart:
Bonfire of Insanities - Solar Panels Start Fire at Green Party-Run Hove Town Hall
Opinions:
9 Seeking Alpha:
The Long-Term Prospects Of Residential Versus Utility-Scale Solar
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for April 21st, 2015
The commercial solar nut cracking is discussed by Cory Honeyman’s 5 numbers that will shape the future. Interestingly, many of his other points stand in the way of commercial in some way, whether it is ITC, net metering values, etc. Why doesn’t commercial solar work? Lack of scale for transaction, one-off documentation, landlord/tenant split incentive, no way of doing underwriting efficiently, and mostly because small and medium private companies have no credit. Crack that nut, and you may become the next solar billionaire…
News
1 Utility Dive:
Hawaii PUC gives HECO, solar advocates until June 30 to resolve net metering dispute
2 Greentech Media:
5 Numbers That Will Shape the Future of US Solar in 2015 and 2016
3 Energy Collective:
2015 State of Solar Financing, Part 2
4 Renew Economy:
What utilities would do if they were serious about exiting coal
5 Washington Post:
Obama to press climate change agenda with trip to Everglades on Earth Day
6 Seeking Alpha:
The Massive Growth Potential Of The Solar PV Industry
7 Wall Street Journal:
China Speeds Up Solar Drive
8 Daily Finance:
How to Know If Solar Energy Is Right for Your House
Opinions:
9 New Times:
Florida's Largest Solar Project Is a Win for Utilities, Loss for Private Industry and Homeowners
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for April 20th, 2015
Greetings from Germany! This market always appears to be at the forefront of energy. Of course, Germany went to the top with solar but now it seems to be leading the energy storage market as well. Since homeowners don’t use a traditional net metering program, solar + storage is becoming much more common place. In the U.S. It is being talked about at every conference as well. So in the debate of grid defection or load defection, I have a question for you. What would a no-upfront cost, grid defection as a service, technology package look like? I.e., how would you take your house off the grid? Let me know.
News
1 SolarWakeup:
Breaking Down The Top Data from GTM Solar Summit 2015
2 NY Times:
Solar Power Battle Puts Hawaii at Forefront of Worldwide Changes
3 PV-Magazine:
Hawaiian utility bids to slash net metering payments
4 Quartz:
Solar power will soon be as cheap as coal
5 MSNBC:
Obama to head to Florida Everglades for Earth Day climate speech
6 RE World:
Mississippi Net Metering Rules Advance
7 CleanTechnica:
Australian Comedian Sums Up Idiocy Of Country’s RET Debate
8 India Times:
Rooftop solar makes sense, but slow in take-off - Experts
Opinions:
9 Greentech Media:
Will Massachusetts’ Net Metering Caps Spoil the Community Solar Party?
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Think Progress:
This Is The Most Important Tweet About Hillary’s Announcement And Everyone Pretty Much Ignored It
2 Forbes:
"Winter Is Coming" -- Preparing For A Possible Reduction Of The Solar Investment Tax Credit
3 Greentech Media:
NRG Energy Exec Questions Why Solar Is the ‘Bad Boy,’ While Efficiency Is Good
4 NRDC:
Shared renewables for all, coming soon to New York
5 Energy Collective:
2015 State of Solar Financing, Part I - What is a Yieldco?
6 Solar Love:
The Most Advanced Microgrid In North America
7 Consumerist:
Why Solar Panels Are Suddenly Sprouting On Everyone’s Roofs
8 Greentech Media:
Solar Summit Slide Show - The Evolution of Solar
9 Bloomberg:
Musk’s Cousins Battle Utilities to Make Solar Rooftops Cheap
10 Energy Collective:
And the Winner Is - Distributed Generation
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 April 17th, 2015
Thank you for everyone that made this week’s Solar Summit a blast. It was a great time meeting many of you and getting to talk solar with you. Discussing solar with panelists and seeing the crowd’s answers on the biggest question in solar was a great time, we should do that more often. So to keep on the GTMSS2015 topic, Stephen Lacey interviewed Tom Werner of SunPower but for obvious reasons (I think) couldn’t talk about the SPWR/FSLR yieldco. The question today is, where does Apple fit in? Fresh of 130MW with First Solar in California, Apple announces a 40MW with SunPower in China….
News
1 Forbes:
Apple Goes To China To Build Solar Projects With SunPower
2 PV-Tech:
EIA’s forecast of solar’s death premature, says SEIA
3 Utility Dive:
Controversial bill to open North Carolina solar markets gains traction
4 Solar Love:
Baltimore Residents Form Solar Energy Co-op
5 KTVN:
NV Energy Accused of Stifling Solar
6 CleanTechnica:
Yieldcos On Track To Become $100 Billion Market
7 CBS:
Great-Grandma Says She’s Going Solar For Her Grandchildren
8 Seeking Alpha:
How Far Can The Solar Rally Go?
Opinions:
9 Midwest Energy News:
Critics - Michigan utility aims to ‘monopolize’ community solar
Have a great day!
Yann
