This is your SolarWakeup for September 9th, 2014
Interacting with SolarWakeup readers is the best part of doing the newsletter. So let’s try a solar community caption contest. Yesterday, Wisconsin utility We Energies was called out by the Sewage management agency that a solar fee would cause a budget gap and therefore increasing costs to users. So to get you started, here is the first caption for you, send us your best attempt!
News
1 Delaware Online:
Motech's Newark solar facility has closed, official says
2 RE World:
Sharp Putting Solar Developer Recurrent Energy Up for Sale, Again
3 Haaretz:
Israeli solar startup, Solaredge, eyeing $100m IPO
4 PV Magazine:
US, China hold close to 50% of global PV pipeline
5 RenewEconomy:
Graph of the Day
6 Energy Collective:
With New Law, South Carolina Sets a Foundation for More Solar
7 CleanTechnica:
NCES 7.0 Summary (Full Speeches From Clinton & Reid)
8 Seattle Times:
California basking in record amount of electricity from solar
Opinions:
9 HuffPost:
Promoting President Obama's Clean Energy Economy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 8th, 2014
The second quarter Solar Market Insight is out with an impressive 1,133MW of new solar in the quarter. A departure from what we have seen on year over year numbers is the increase of utility scale solar. It appears to be based on the fact that utility scale solar investors are comfortable with solar and no longer charge the solar premium. Projects like Austin and other solar RFPs are bringing the ultra large solar projects to under 6-8cents per kWh.
News
1 UT San Diego:
Solar incentives reward west-facing panels
2 PV Magazine:
Global investment creating perfect storm for growing markets
3 Journal Sentinel:
We Energies' push for fixed charges would hurt
4 RE World:
US Solar Industry Continues Rapid Growth
5 PV Tech:
SolarCity business model could flourish in China
6 CleanTechnica:
India Moves Forward With Solar Net Metering & Solar Leasing
7 Energy Collective:
EIA Says Residential Electricity Prices are Rising
8 Breaking Energy:
Training Veterans for Careers in Clean Energy
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Understanding What PG&E’s Electricity Rate Changes Mean for Solar PV
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Forbes:
Solar Energy Revolution
2 Motley Fool:
Corporate America Is Betting Big on Solar Energy
3 Newsday:
Yes, solar is booming, but ...
4 CleanTechnica:
No Solar Panel Supply Shortage Coming
5 MSNBC:
Hillary Clinton’s hard choices on energy
6 REWorld:
The Inevitability of Solar
7 Energy Collective:
Will US Utilities Offer an Electricity Triple Play?
8 Scientific American:
Solar Becomes a ‘Default’ Generation Resource
9 Yahoo:
Florida power utilities fear return of ‘Green Governor' Crist
10 Breaking Energy:
Energy Quote of the Day
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 September 5th, 2014
Today’s news are filled with solar politics, which seems to be the season for it. Much like our push for ITC extension, it is important to look at the numbers behind our industry to understand what is going on. For example, in 2012 the cost of the ITC was around $3 Billion. We have yet to see the cost impact for 2013 but agree that it will be higher but far less than what politicos make it seem to be. We also look at the Vivint IPO filing and give you all of the numbers you need to know about the company. Some great insight for everyone.
News
1 SolarWakeup:
All The Numbers Of The Vivint Solar IPO You Need To Know
2 Breaking Energy:
Energy Quote of the Day
3 Bloomberg:
China Policy Spurs Rooftop Solar in World’s Top Market
4 CleanTechnica:
Saudi Arabia Solar Jumps On Diesel-Killer Bandwagon
5 PV Magazine:
Activ Solar rejects Crimean government claims
6 MSNBC:
Hillary Clinton’s hard choices on energy
7 PV-Tech:
Brazil presidential race is solar opportunity
8 Fox:
Solar firms, Hawaii Electric blame each other for delays in connecting solar
Opinions:
9 CleanTechnica:
Utilities Scared of “Green Governor” Crist Returning in Florida
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 4th, 2014
Content matters, that is what I tell many of the readers that email me a piece that wasn't featured in the SolarWakeup rundown. Writing an article is a great first step, but spending the time writing it and then adding self promoting content is a waste of time. Don't sell yourself in an article other than establishing that you know what you are talking about, and definitely don't sell yourself by getting the facts wrong. That will backfire in a big way because not only did the article go to waste but someone is going to call you out about your mistakes.
News
1 Solar Power World:
New Solar Fire Regs Discussion Heats Up
2 NY Times:
Interest in Solar Water Heating Spreads Globally
3 Reuters:
German utilities eye solar leasing to help turnaround
4 PV Magazine:
European Council ups 2030 renewables target to 30%
5 Bloomberg:
Delhi Plans to Spur Rooftop Solar With U.S.-Style Policy
6 MW Energy:
Despite lack of deployment, solar tech thrives in Michigan
7 Energy Collective:
Will US Utilities Offer an Electricity Triple Play?
8 Solar Industry:
As Coal Dims, Solar Will Catch Fire... Eventually
Opinions:
9 Paula Mints:
The Inevitability of Solar
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 3rd, 2014
Last Friday, the Utah PSC turned down the Utility's (Rocky Mountain Power) request to charge solar homeowners $4.65 per month. This is another big win for the solar industry and the advocates that fought hard to make sure the charge would be turned down. At times it is hard to draw the line between your business and public policy, so turning down requests for help (financial and otherwise) happens, especially when times are tough. Unfortunately, policy decisions create a real impact on your business so if you can help, do. If you can and don't then you become a policy freeloader.
News
1 Think Progress:
Solar Mfg. Wants More Tariffs As Punishment For Cyber-Attacks
2 Forbes:
Solar Energy Revolution
3 Newsday:
Yes, solar is booming, but ...
4 AL.com:
When it comes to renewable energy, is Alabama closed for business?
5 CleanTechnica:
Rarely Tapped City Strategy for Boosting Local Renewable Energy
6 PV Magazine:
New UK funding scheme will hit solar hard, says industry
7 Bloomberg:
Shunfeng Talks to Banks With Aim to Become Solar Giant
8 Solar Industry:
O&M Providers Have Health Of Solar In Their Hands
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 2nd, 2014
I am a big fan of the IHS Research data in today's post in CleanTechnica. There is not going to be a shortage of panels. There probably will not even be a jump in pricing. Pricing (globally) will stabilize as manufacturers stop selling panels at little to no margins. Much of the US market is shielded from this anyways at this point. At least, I have not encountered any US based projects buying panels at sub-$0.60/watt pricing.
News
1 Salt Late Tribune:
Utah commission rejects proposed fee for solar homes
2 CleanTechnica:
No Solar Panel Supply Shortage Coming
3 PV Magazine:
Arizona, Hawaii lead the U.S. in per-capita solar
4 Yahoo:
Florida power utilities fear return of ‘Green Governor' Crist
5 PV-Tech:
LDK Solar founder and chairman steps down
6 Scientific American:
Solar Becomes a ‘Default’ Generation Resource
7 CleanTechnica:
China Could Reach 100 GW Of PV Capacity By 2018
8 Motley Fool:
Corporate America Is Betting Big on Solar Energy
Opinions:
9 USA Today:
You can't have solar without silver
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 SolarWakeup:
Oh, For God’s Sake, SolarWorld, Shut The Hell Up
2 SEC:
Vivint Solar ($VSLR) IPO S-1 Filing
3 Reuters:
Blackstone-backed Vivint Solar files for IPO
4 Forbes:
Solar Executive Tries to Intimidate Bill Gates Into Opposing Fossil Fuels
5 Energy Collective:
Finally, Good News Out of Washington
6 RE World:
Interested in Developing a 650 kW+ Solar Project in MA? Think Again
7 Forbes:
Disconnect Between Claims For Solar And Reality
8 CleanTechnica:
Most Solar Man In The World — Brilliant 1-Minute Short Films
9 Think Progress:
New Bill Could Make Residential Solar In California A Lot Cheaper
10 Think Progress:
Hawaii’s Largest Utility Announces Plan To Triple Rooftop Solar
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 August 29th, 2014
From a marketing perspective, like it or not, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has gone beyond viral. It's happening everywhere, not just in the US. And if you thought only the Oakland based SfunCube had a rooftop, you forgot about SEIA's rooftop deck. The deck hosted SEIA President's Ice Bucket Challenge. Funniest part for me was who challenge Rhone, the head of the Nuclear association! Talk about trying to ice your competitor. Rhone made a nice challenge too, by nominating the CEO of SolarWorld! Here is the video
News
1 AEE:
Iowa Ruling Shows the Way to Third Party Solar Without Legislation
2 The Hill:
US announces solar-energy deal with Myanmar
3 Bloomberg:
Solar Makers Set for Record 2014 Sales on Strong Demand
4 PV-Tech:
Utilities must rise to challenge of increasing renewable energy deployment
5 PV Magazine:
Review panel puts renewable energy target in crosshairs
6 CleanTechnica:
India Drops Proposal To Levy Anti-Dumping Duties on Modules
7 RE World:
Plunge in UK Distributed Energy Investment Forecast for 2019
8 Grist:
The mystery of huge solar plants and tiny dead birds
Opinions:
9 Fox News:
If only EPA stood for 'Enough Protection Already'
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 28th, 2014
A preliminary look at the S-1 filing (link below) from Vivint Solar gives you a microcosm of the solar industry. As you have heard me say before, solar is a financial sector, and by reading the S-1 filing or any of the SolarCity ($SCTY) or other filings, you get a sense on how the project you are working on creates value. Whether it is a cash deal, loan or 3rd party, there is a risk and market impact there. You could be a one-person shop or the CEO of Vivint's competitor, reading the S-1 filing makes sense. Hoping to give you a rundown of the look behind the curtains this week.
News
1 SEC - Vivint Solar ($VSLR) S-1 IPO Filing:
2 Energy Collective:
NY's Should Properly Value the Costs and Benefits of DG
3 PV Magazine:
South America examines challenges, promise of Brazil's market
4 Biz Journals:
Did Sharp give up its Memphis solar production too soon?
6 RE World:
Interested in Developing a 650 kW+ Solar Project in MA? Think Again
7 CleanTechnica:
How California’s AB 2188 Originated
8 Think Progress:
Hawaii’s Largest Utility Announces Plan To Triple Rooftop Solar
Opinions:
9 Tallahassee Democrat:
Attack on solar was off base
Have a great day!
Yann
