This is your SolarWakeup for March 13th, 2015
We all know that solar is getting cheaper, but how cheap is it really getting. We’ve heard about the sub 6 cent PPAs in Texas and California so what does it take to get that done. Many of these projects have single axis trackers and the norm was 1000V setups. Is there a new trend happening to go above 1000V? And how much premium on the install side does single axis tracking get you? If you have some insight on this, I’d love to hear your economics analysis on going after more sun hours.
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Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 12th, 2015
Earlier this week the Washington Post published a story outlining Edison Electric Institute’s game plan to come after distributed solar. The report isn’t a surprise and the financial backing from the industry participants is something we already knew. Thus far the solar industry has done well thanks to the financial support of some (but not all *cough*). The battle was temporarily lost in two instances in Wisconsin and Arizona with both decisions being challenged in court. Looking forward, we all know how it ends, it just depends on how long it takes.
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Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 11th, 2015
We all knew that 2014 would be the best year in US solar history, the data came out yesterday at 6.2GW. The question is whether we are satisfied with status quo and keep the current state of ITC talks. Everyone talks about end of 2016 as a deadline and I am afraid that our trade associations at SEIA and SEPA aren’t doing us much favor. There is no optimism being talked about except when I get into a conversation. When I started the #SolarPledge, it was clear that America wanted and would support the ITC extension. Be optimistic, be positive and put your money on the line, because your business depends on the ITC being extended.
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Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 10th, 2015
The first day at PV America was actually better than expected. As heads of SEPA and SEIA, Julia Hamm and Rhone Resch, made the rounds at the on and offsite events to promote the growth of solar in Massachusetts. While the exhibition hall is small you see the advantage of having the show within a great solar market as the lobby of the hall is bustling with deal making. I will be here again all day tomorrow and will report back any further progress. In the meantime I wish all the best to Katie Fehrenbacher from GigaOm, an often used source of solar news as the site shuts down due to lack of continued funding. Katie, you are welcome to publish here anytime!
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Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 9th, 2015
On my way to Boston for PV America. A show that is small in scale but for once in a location where deals can get done especially for those that come with a checkbook. I’m interested to see and hear how big of a deal the Northeast markets are for the companies that aren’t getting a share of the California scale. The US marketplace continues to operate like a 50 Country market instead of one market that covers a big geography. If you are in Boston, let me know and say hello.
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Yann
Solar Asset Management: 4 Best Practices From The Experts
By Richard Matsui
By Richard Matsui With the notable exception of Intersolar North America, it’s surprisingly rare for a major solar conference to be held here in San Francisco. So when Solarplaza extended an invitation for us to speak at its 2nd annual Solar Asset Management conference here in the city, we leapt at the opportunity. I joined fellow panelists Kent Williams (VP of Asset Management, Vivint Solar), Jimmy Bergeron (Director of O&M, SolarCity), and Matt Golden (Senior Consultant, IBTS) for a discussion entitled, “Challenges in effective management of small scale portfolios.” 4 Asset Management Best Practices From The Experts Measure twice, cut … Read More
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Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 6th, 2015
Thank you to Pam Cargill of Chaolysti and Grant Draper from Browning and Associates for buying their Equinox Party Tickets. If you buy 5 tickets ($1,000) you get to write the column for a day. In today’s news you have the incoming tariffs in Canada on Chinese modules. A permanent ruling to come this summer but the preliminary numbers are rather high, Canadian Solar may be the winner here with good capacity in Ontario plus their great day on Wall Street with the pending yieldco announcement coming soon perhaps???
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Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 5th, 2015
Probably the best night in solar is Vote Solar’s Equinox Party. A star-studded affair every year and this time is no different so it is with pleasure that I ask you, the loyal readers, to do me a favor and buy a ticket to Vote Solar’s Equinox. It is happening on March 19th (in a few weeks) in San Francisco. If you can’t go, take this opportunity to make a donation to the group, they do the work to keep you in business so your salary/profits depend on them being able to do their job. If you use the link below to buy tickets, send me your receipt and I’ll give you a shoutout, if you buy or donate $1,000 or more, you get to write the column for a day. How’s that for a write-off!
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Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 4th, 2015
Another IPP goes the way of acquisition. With 60MW of assets and another 100MW under development, Main Street isn’t the biggest player on the market but significant enough to get AES’s attention. I reiterate my question from a few weeks ago when Duke took the majority of REC Solar, what is the root of all the majority investment/acquisitions of commercial development paltforms. Of note, AES CEO says the transaction size was $25million which (if accurate) seems very small so something else was part of the deal, let’s see who digs into it.
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Yann