This is your SolarWakeup for January 15th, 2015
Let’s elaborate on the topic of the ITC. I have a question for all of you. Do you think that the tax equity scale and profit generated to the banks makes it to the CEO level? If so, do you think that they feel that it important enough to lobby for? What about the law firms? What would project finance teams look like at the major law firms if the ITC steps down to 10%? Remember that you can always get in touch by hitting reply on the email so let me know your thoughts.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Solar and utilities can co-exist, says Elon Musk
2 NRDC:
Single-Family Solar Power Beats S&P 500 in 46 out of 50 American Cities
3 RE World:
The Year Ahead-Top Clean Energy Trends of 2015
4 Energy Collective:
Net Metering for Rooftop Solar-How to Fix the Problems
5 Bloomberg:
NRG Sees Home Solar Push as Conventional Power Unit Pressured
6 Solar Power Portal:
Energy minister tells SMEs to use the feed-in tariff rather than contracts for difference
7 Grist:
Hillary is hiring John Podesta, and that’s good for climate hawks
8 Tampa Bay Tribune:
Florida solar power proponents launch PAC in push for electricity
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
Could China Become The OPEC Of Solar Manufacturing?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 14th, 2015
It comes up a lot, from solar executives, that the ITC should not be extended. Let’s talk some facts, most courtesy of GTM. A solar project is installed every 2.5 minutes. Which means that about $11k of tax equity is invested EVERY minute. In 2017, that will go down to about $3k if the rates continue. Even more important is to look at what markets will be affected by reduction. Homeowners that BUY solar cash or take a loan get NO tax credit. Utility scale still maintains a huge cost advantage over rooftop. If you want to make the news by being glib about ITC going away, go for it but you are hurting thousands of solar jobs in the process.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Analyst interview-The rise of distributed solar
2 RE World:
Collaboration Is Key-How Innovative Solar Business Models Can Benefit All
3 PV-Tech:
US duties ‘penalised’ Trina Solar for disability programme
4 Forbes:
Utilities Push Back As Solar Industry Booms In Japan
5 Gigaom:
HelioVolt to finally auction off assets from its solar factory
6 Think Progress:
Report-Forget Stocks, Invest In Solar Panels
7 Greentech Media:
Worries About Consumers Cutting Utility Ties Are Overblown,Say Moody’s Analysts
8 AlJazeera America:
Australia’s rising solar power ‘revolution’
Opinions:
9 Newsday:
Regional thinking will help LI do solar power right
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 13th, 2015
Jam packed with trends that you need to follow in 2015. The first is another home security company (Protection 1) getting into residential solar. This is additive to their cash flow business as the race to own the homeowner continues. Any visitor to CES last week can verify the connected home trend. The second is the CPUC allowing utilities to own electric vehicle charging stations. A big win and one I support. For the first time, utilities take new market share from oil/fuel companies. Losing energy sales to solar is nothing compared to what EV charging will add to demand growth, charging stations are a key part of that infrastructure.
News
1 PV-Tech:
Morgan Stanley deal nudges 2015 US residential solar investment towards $800 million
2 Energy Collective:
Electric Vehicles-CPUC Says California Utilities Can Own Charging Infrastructure
4 Forbes:
SunEdison Plans To Build A $4B Mega Solar Factory In India
5 Greentech Media:
A Solar System Is Installed in America Every 2.5 Minutes
6 NBC News:
Who Digs Solar and Wind Power? That's Right-Miners
7 AZ Central:
SRP's proposed solar rate hikes draw ire
8 Think Progress:
Meet The New Chevy ‘Bolt'-An Electric Car For The Masses
Opinions:
9 The Hill:
Let the sun set on the solar industry subsidy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 12th, 2015
Being everything for everybody used to be a flaw for solar companies. This stems from the past issues with confusing channel strategies and undercutting along the value chain. Today solar is different, planning includes partnerships, joint ventures and trusted supplier arrangements. This is part of the natural consolidation and growing up process for solar, where every player finds where they add the most value or they lose. Read today’s original story from Haresh Patel about proper forward planning.
News
1 SolarWakeup:
Solar Investment Executives, what your New Year’s resolution should be!
2 PV-Tech:
Solar took half of all renewables investment in 2014, says BNEF
3 Boston Globe:
Deval Patrick’s efforts on green energy are a beacon for national policy
4 24/7 Wall Street:
Deutsche Bank Says 4 Cleantech Stocks Have Big 2015 Potentia
5 NY Times:
Kerry Lays Groundwork for Obama’s Visit to India
6 Forbes:
Solar Plus Batteries Unlikely To Threaten Utilities Anytime Soon, Study Says
7 Sacramento Bee:
Five ideas for California’s energy future
8 CleanTechnica:
California Solar Permitting Guidebook Released (+ Other Solar & Wind News)
Opinions:
9 Rhone Resch:
‘Shout Out For Solar’ Can Send Powerful Message to Lawmakers
Have a great day!
Yann
Top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Greentech Media:
A Setback for SolarWorld and a Trade Case Win for Chinese Solar Manufacturers
2 CNBC:
The Big Apple takes a bite out of solar energy
3 NPR:
Utilities Fight For Revenue Lost To Solar Power
4 CleanTechnica:
The Three Biggest Solar Charts of 2014
5 RE World:
How to Get Famous in the Solar Industry
6 AZ Central:
Ariz. regulator chastises rooftop-solar industry
7 Forbes:
2014 Energy Story #1 - Collapsing Oil Prices And The (Non)-Effect On U.S. Power Markets
8 Business Journals:
Solar industry welcomes order that leaves N.C. solar regs intact
9 Seeking Alpha:
The Changing Political Climate's Impact On The Solar Industry
10 RE World:
Colorado Utility Leads the Way for Community Solar
Opinions:
11 Have a great weekend:
Yann
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 9th, 2015
What does Wall Street think of solar? Just ask any of the banks and they are really looking forward to continued growth in our market. Not just in the US but across the world. Investors see it as an asset class that is definitely investable but all sorts of funds looking for yield. Let’s start a dialogue about solar versus oil (no correlation) and solar versus treasury yield (lots of correlation). We need mainstream to see solar as a finance product and not a fuel.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Deutsche Bank predicts growing solar margins in 2015, despite oil price
2 PV-Tech:
IHS remains cautious on PV market demand growth
3 RE World:
Colorado Utility Leads the Way for Community Solar
4 EDF:
2014-A Positive Sign of What’s to come in Clean Energy
5 CleanTechica:
Global Solar Investment Surged An Incredible 175% In 2014
6 The Verge:
A solar solution for 1.2 billion people without electric light
7 Business Journal:
Report-Rooftop solar already cheaper than utility rates in most major cities
8 Washington Post:
The tea party is pushing for solar power in Florida
Opinions:
9 ABC Hawaii:
Will 2015 be brighter for solar in Hawaii?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 8th, 2015
The States continue to drive the existence (or not) of solar markets. California continues to lead the Country in what States could (and should) be doing instead of those listening to the dark money groups and corporate interests that want to deliver dirty fuels and frack their ground. Governor Brown announces the plan to get to 50% renewables while Texas suffers through 6 earthquakes in 4 hours. Texas may have cheaper electricity but which path would you prefer?
News
1 PV-Magazine:
US Commerce decision welcomed in China, American downstream market to benefit
2 Bloomberg:
Cheap Solar Power Emerges From Mineral Named for Russian Count
3 LA Times:
Gov. Brown's renewable energy plan could boost solar, wind industries
4 PV-Tech:
Solar cements status as low-risk investment in 2014
5 Breaking Energy:
Will Fracking, Climate Change, Solar Reshape US Security?
6 CleanTechnica:
A Refreshing Change In The API Annual Report
7 Motley Fool:
$4.3 Billion, the Cost of Good Solar Market Research
8 Greentech Media:
Bold Cleantech Investing Predictions for 2015
Opinions:
9 RE World:
How to Get Famous in the Solar Industry
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 7th, 2015
Hope from the White House. Reduced tariffs that for solar modules this time around which is welcomes news. Also yesterday, the President issued a veto threat on the Keystone XL pipeline. Not on environmental reasons but nonetheless a bold political statement. As Congress looks to wind back EPA and other regulations, it will be interesting to see how solar with its massive job and capital creation will play in the political football arena.
News
1 Bloomberg:
U.S. Solar Tariff Review Hints at Halved Chinese Cells Rate
2 Washington Post:
White House riles new GOP-led Congress with threat to veto Keystone XL pipeline bill
3 EDF:
Why 2015 is the Year for Clean Energy in the U.S. and China
4 Greentech Media:
PV in Hawaii 2014-The Roller Coaster Ride
5 CleanTechnica:
The Three Biggest Solar Charts of 2014
6 PV-Magazine:
Solar overwhelmingly popular in US, says Harvard scientist
7 Tampa Bay Times:
Republican-led group launches ballot petition to boost solar power in Florida
8 Seeking Alpha:
Residential Solar And The Intensifying Battle Over Net Metering
Opinions:
9 RE World:
Going Solar-From the Millennials to Baby Boomers
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 6th, 2015
I love those words: “Intellectual honesty”. You often hear utility executives use this saying during their conversations with politicians, regulators and ratepayers. While I agree that solar needs to police itself with regard to sub standard sales practices, I don’t agree with the fact that solar should turn down the rhetoric with regard to policy. Solar is constantly attacked with arguments from dark money groups that are not being, shall we say, intellectually honest. So let’s be loud about our message that solar is here to stay!
News
1 AZ Central:
Ariz. regulator chastises rooftop-solar industry
2 Forbes:
2014 Energy Story #1 - Collapsing Oil Prices And The (Non)-Effect On U.S. Power Markets
3 Greentech Media:
Cleantech Venture Capital - Why Are These Investors Smiling?
4 Think Progress:
BREAKING - California Governor Calls For 50 Percent Renewable Power
5 CleanTechnica:
The Seven Most Attractive Nations For Renewable Investments
6 PV-Magazine:
Huge interest in Egyptian renewable energy tender
7 PV-Tech:
Chinese solar firms boosted by reduced 2012 US trade tariffs
8 Seeking Alpha:
The Changing Political Climate's Impact On The Solar Industry
Opinions:
9 RE World:
Six Renewable Energy Trends to Watch in 2015
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 5th, 2015
Welcome to gameday! The first Monday of business as usual for 2015, and I am excited to get to work. It’s going to be a great year for all of us and for the solar industry. A new look for us today! Start your year by sharing new content and let everyone know your outlook for the year. Remember, SolarWakeup will publish your content (for free) and connect you to the right people (investors) for your business needs. If we help each other, we all win! Let’s go!
News
1 Greentech Media:
A Setback for SolarWorld and a Trade Case Win for Chinese Solar Manufacturers
2 Breaking Energy:
Utilities Should Avoid Over-Investing When Integrating Renewable Energy Into Their Grid
3 CNBC:
The Big Apple takes a bite out of solar energy
4 PV-Magazine:
India ups solar investment pledge to $100bn by 2022
5 CleanTechnica:
Renewables Over 13% of US Electricity Production Jan–Oct 2014
6 Biz Journals:
Solar industry welcomes order that leaves N.C. solar regs intact
7 Greentech Media:
The Sol-Wind IPO - Can a Renewable YieldCo Win MLP Benefits?
8 NPR:
Utilities Fight For Revenue Lost To Solar Power
Opinions:
9 NY Times:
Playing Dumb on Climate Change
Have a great day!
Yann
