This is your SolarWakeup for March 3rd, 2015
We often ask if solar has become mainstream and I can confidently say that it has. Wearing my daytime hat at Conergy, we proudly announced one of the best turnarounds in solar’s history this morning. With 300MW installed and nearly $500million in revenues, the team I get to work with every day brought profits back to a Company after many years of losses. The solar markets are flattening out especially for global companies reaching markets where solar is at parity and with investor’s appetite for more solar projects growing, we see a larger 2015 by continuing our partnerships with solar teams around the world.
News
1 Bloomberg:
Conergy Sees 450 Megawatts of Solar Installs in 2015, CEO Says
2 CNBC:
Solar energy's unexpected conservative backers
3 AZ Central:
Rooftop-solar billing issues far from settled
4 Seeking Alpha:
Vivint Solar - Increasing Focus On Downstream Integration
5 Utility Dive:
Beyond the substation - How 5 proactive states are transforming the grid edge
6 Ecowatch:
Solar-Powered Airplane Prepares for Groundbreaking Around-the-World Flight
7 Biz Journals:
Solar installer RGS Energy to cut 30% of staff, reorganize
8 Renew Economy:
Even at $10/barrel, oil can’t match solar on cost
Opinions:
9 Huffington Post:
Energy Technology - Deploy What We Have vs. Build Something New
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 2nd, 2015
Now that SRP has essentially killed solar through regulations, let us look at how they did it and what concessions were made. SRP always used the $50/month charge for new solar users to remove incentive for solar savings. How those numbers could make sense (they don’t) is beyond me, no way that a few kW of solar can cost SRP infrastructure $600/year. SRP board did however give a 20 year grandfather instead of 10 on existing customers though there may be a distinction for leased systems and increased the demand charge calculation to 30 minutes from 15, a small but significant change. Not to forget that SolarCity has promised a lawsuit against the new charge, so much more to come.
News
1 Think Progress:
Arizona’s New Solar Charge Is ‘Unsupportable By Any Economic Analysis,’ SolarCity Says
2 PV-Tech:
Australian audits uncover no unsafe solar panels
3 Business Spectator:
Utility-solar gets a boost in the South
4 CleanTechnica:
Despite Net Metering Veto, West Virginia’s Solar Industry Close to Collapse
5 Tampa Tribune:
Utilities, group square off on solar power
6 Wall Street Cheat Sheet:
3 Reasons Why Solar Energy Is One of America’s Hottest Industries
7 Greentech Media:
SDG&E’s James Avery on the Promise of EVs and the Pitfalls of Solar
8 Utility Dive:
NY regulators approve state's first CCA program
Opinions:
9 PV-Magazine:
PV Expo - Trina CEO says Japan key to “smart energy” rollout
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Forbes:
Solar Energy Delivers Too Little Bang For Billions Invested
2 Greentech Media:
Here Are 7 Ways the US Solar Market Will Change in 2015
3 NY Times:
Appraising Solar Energy’s Value
4 Renew Economy:
Solar at 2c/kWh – the cheapest source of electricity
5 Bloomberg:
First Solar and SunPower Plan to Form Joint-Venture Yieldco
6 CNBC:
Two industries are fighting over your power bill
7 Time:
See the World’s Largest Solar Plants From Above
8 Eco Watch:
Solar Industry Prepares for Battle Against Koch Brothers’ Front Groups
9 AZ Central:
SRP boosts solar charges amid threat of lawsuit
10 EDF:
Let’s Talk About Solar Power and Equity
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 February 27th, 2015
A municipal utility should work for its ratepayers who also happen to be shareholders which makes the news out of SRP in Arizona all the more interesting. With so much heat on solar in Arizona and given how dirty it has been, it makes me wonder who got to the leadership at SRP. So now that a $50/month solar charge is getting implemented in SRP, let the investigative reporters do some digging into who really wanted to send the message to the solar industry. So many munis have been leaders on implementing solar with innovative structures, don’t expect SRP to be the standard going forward and don’t let it stand!
News
1 AZ Central:
SRP boosts solar charges amid threat of lawsuit
2 Grist:
What will a solar eclipse mean for solar power?
3 Forbes:
The Storage Industry Learns From Solar - Third Party Financing A Growing Trend
4 Time:
See the World’s Largest Solar Plants From Above
5 Renew Economy:
Big utilities charge into distributed energy, one step at a time
6 CleanTechnica:
Are Utilities or States the Leaders in Renewable Energy & Efficiency?
7 Greentech Media:
Where’s the Solar? How Los Angeles Can Utilize All Those Empty Rooftops
8 LA Times:
Google invests $300 million in fund for residential solar power
Opinions:
9 Utility Dive:
Why utilities and solar advocates can't agree on what solar costs
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 26th, 2015
Before you send me your email being upset about today’s leading story, hear me out. First off, not everyone likes solar. It is getting way too cost effective and has no fuel cost volatility that can be traded around. Folks like the Koch brothers just can’t handle that so what do they do? They help fund the misguided few to setup a cleverly named 501(c)(4) non-profit. In this case, they are paying David Williams to run the ‘Taxpayers Protection Alliance’ $120,000 and house him in the National Taxpayer Union building in Virginia. Well here is my offer to David Williams, come talk to me or many others in solar about the facts, because you have fallen off your rocker.
News
1 Forbes:
Solar Energy Delivers Too Little Bang For Billions Invested
2 Sun Sentinel:
Women in Solar Energy - Nonprofit pushes for greater role in industry
3 PV-Magazine:
Germany launches new solar farm incentive scheme
4 Solar Industry:
Mining Companies Find Value In Solar And Wind Generation
5 Bloomberg:
By the Time You Read This, They've Slapped a Solar Panel on Your Roof
6 PV Tech:
Opinion split on First Solar and SunPower yield-co
7 Tech Crunch:
Y Combinator-Backed Bright Aims To Bring Solar Power To Mexico
8 SolarServer:
100 MW of U.K. PV projects at risk as March ROC deadline looms
Opinions:
9 Grist:
California communities seize control of their energy futures
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 25th, 2015
I have a pen, a phone and a VETO stamp. That’s the President’s message for Senate Bill 1 to try to push Keystone XL through before the full study was concluded and States still sort out a variety of local issues. That being said, this is politics and it is important not to mix up what you hear with what is really going on. Going forward, the desire to pass Keystone XL will remain, and the President has an environmental agenda he would like to leave behind. Will the President play ‘Let’s make a deal?’ with the 114th Congress and do the ITC and PTC play a role in it?
News
1 Think Progress:
Obama Just Vetoed The Keystone XL Pipeline. Now What?
2 CNBC:
Two industries are fighting over your power bill
3 PV-Magazine:
European Commission calls for 'energy union' as its seeks to break Russia's market dominance
4 Utility Dive:
Solar advocates clash with Xcel on size of community solar arrays
5 Renew Economy:
Solar at 2c/kWh – the cheapest source of electricity
6 NPR:
Solar Energy Advocates Find Unexpected Ally In Tea Party
7 Solar Industry:
First Solar And SunPower Yieldco Would Represent A Change From The Prevailing Model
8 RE World:
The Chinese Viewpoint - What Solar Manufacturers Plan To Do about the US Trade Rulings
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Clean Energy is Just Smart Business for Leaders like Apple, Google
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 24th, 2015
When growth and technology diversification get called into question then why not partner with someone that has a similar issue? That's what seems to have caused First Solar and SunPower to join forces to create a yieldco. The issue with yieldcos is growth and the drive to feed the beast. With two groups diversified globally and across value chains this move seems to make perfect sense. How much ownership will each entity keep in the fund and how they will allocate risk is a different question. A logistical feat that if accomplished could be the start of a new trend in solar.
News
1 Bloomberg:
First Solar and SunPower Plan to Form Joint-Venture Yieldco
2 PV-Magazine:
Ghana - Energy Commission to create solar power market
3 Greentech Media:
Here Are 7 Ways the US Solar Market Will Change in 2015
4 PV Tech:
Australian government orders solar install quality investigation
5 EDF:
Let’s Talk About Solar Power and Equity
6 Midwest Energy News:
Minnesota community-solar backers question utility concerns
7 CleanTechnica:
New Hackathon Aims To Crowdsource Low-Cost Solar For The 99%
8 Motley Fool:
Why India Could Be the World's Most Important Solar Market
Opinions:
9 Zacks:
Is First Solar (FSLR) Poised to Beat Earnings Estimates in Q4?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 23th, 2015
The solar buzzwords. Bankability is probably one of my favorite ones because it also tends to be the most important. At the high level, buyers focus on the bankability of the modules but I think the place where bankability is most important is with the developer and EPC. As more money drives into solar and competing for pipeline, the overall value of a project really hinges on how well it is designed, built and maintained. Some of the most important work actually happens in the procurement divisions of solar companies so if you ever wonder how bankable your partners are, ask them how they select and buy their modules.
News
1 Ecowatch:
Solar Industry Prepares for Battle Against Koch Brothers’ Front Groups
2 NY Times:
Appraising Solar Energy’s Value
3 Grist:
Why are we yelling at utilities and not their regulators?
4 Breaking Energy:
If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them
5 Washington Post:
Solar energy’s new best friend is the Christian Coalition
6 FOX News:
Florida sees strange bedfellows in fight over solar power
7 Utility Dive:
"The next shale" - How solar is poised to transform America's energy markets
8 CleanTechnica:
Your Two Cents — Apple vs Tesla Poll
Opinions:
9 Greentech Media:
We Don’t Need New Energy Storage Innovations
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Bill Walton:
My Life as a Solar Panel
2 PV-Tech:
US industry ready for ‘bare knuckle brawl’ to save solar tax credit
3 Motley Fool:
Can SolarCity's Business Survive Coming Solar Competition?
4 Giga Om:
Big growth, but also losses, for solar company SolarCity
5 Washington Post:
Solar is playing surprisingly well in conservative parts of the U.S.
6 NBC:
Solar Project Fizzles, Could Cost Taxpayers Millions
7 Business Journals:
SolarCity fills former Solyndra manufacturing facility in Fremont
8 Greentech Media:
Which Residential Solar Firms Have Raised the Most Tax Equity?
9 AZ Central:
Whistleblower alleges wrongdoing at Arizona agency
10 Nasdaq:
Solar Really Can Be Cheaper Than Coal
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 February 20th, 2015
I’ll will see your Wisconsin ex-parte communication and raise you an Arizona sandstorm which has really deteriorated into another kind of storm. A corporation commission employee has blown the whistle on the dirty methods purportedly used to try and kill solar. We will see much more on this for sure but I don’t see how this ends well for Pinnacle West company, APS. On another attack, I need to call out the bravest words that I have ever heard from SEIA. Someone let Ken Johnson speak his mind, rightfully so, and let it be known that solar has no middle ground in negotiating the ITC. And that goes out to ITC opponents outside of solar and those that claim to be in solar, you know who you are.
News
1 AZ Central:
Whistleblower alleges wrongdoing at Arizona agency
2 PV-Tech:
US industry ready for ‘bare knuckle brawl’ to save solar tax credit
3 Energy Collective:
Are Solar Farms Declining in the United States?
4 Utility Dive:
Hawaii group explores forming co-op, intervenes in NextEra-HECO docket
5 NY Times:
Utilities Push Into Fuel Stations for Electric Cars
6 Nasdaq:
Solar Really Can Be Cheaper Than Coal
7 Greentech Media:
Solar Electronics Startup SolarEdge Files for $125M IPO
8 Business Journal:
Bill that riles solar industry passes House committee
Opinions:
9 PV Solar Report:
How the Solar Industry and Climate Activists Can Realistically Work Together
Have a great day!
Yann
