This is your SolarWakeup for May 6th, 2015
Almost every day I hear from someone looking to buy or invest in projects. It goes hand in hand with the notion that there is much more capital than developed pipeline that isn’t bragawatts. That being said, having money is not everything for a solar deal. How to get the offtaker and tax equity comfortable with the development team and installing at the right price makes all the difference as well. I have a new rule that every project can get done, the variables just need to line up with the other inputs. Next week, we can discuss the new funding source of development capital.
News
1 Bloomberg:
EU Solar-Panel Industry Wins Review of China Price Pact
2 24/7 Wall Street:
Why First Solar YieldCo Will Dominate
3 Above The Law:
Electricity War Goes To The Supreme Court
4 Renew Economy:
Australia’s big fail on climate and energy policies
5 PV-Magazine:
Solar becoming 'least-cost option' for US utilities
6 E&E News:
Clean tech seen as game changer for women in energy sector
7 Greentech Media:
Ditching Net Metering Is in the ‘Best Interest’ of Solar, Say MIT Economists
8 Forbes:
Solar Power Poll Illustrates Industry's Desperation
Opinions:
9 CleanTechnica:
Are We Sunk? The Electric Utility’s Titanic Problem
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 5th, 2015
Here we go again, the dreaded IPP earnings call. As SolarCity goes to the conference call it can speak to the various cash flow products that are now active in solar, all of which go to extend the length of the contracts. They can be in the lease, the PPA, loan, and now the Powerwall lease but it all comes together that the companies need investors to look past the earnings loss. The reason for that is you can’t be a for profit EPC and owner of SPVs at the same time. You have to pick your desired valuation metric
News
1 Investors Business Daily:
SolarCity To Announce Q1 Results Tuesday
2 Boston Globe:
Solar industry in limbo after task force’s divided report
3 Reuters:
Solar energy enjoys a glowing outlook
4 PV-Magazine:
Australia- Stars aligning for RET compromise
5 Greentech Media:
Developers Upset With Xcel’s Decision to Limit Community Solar Projects in Minnesota
6 Huffington Post:
Adding Solar Panels to Your Home
7 Solar Novus:
Nine NEC Code Updates for Solar Installations
8 Nasdaq:
Is Solar Energy Ready To Compete With Oil And Other Fossil Fuels?
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Matching Veterans with Solar Jobs
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 4th, 2015
Lots of mainstream media attention about the Powerwall energy storage system manufactured by Tesla. It has been selling through SolarCity customers for quite some time but now has an Apple like look to it as well. Next steps include a customer facing payback calculation so that reporters that are clueless don’t keep saying it doesn’t pay for itself. With solar and a time of use energy plan, peak shifting will pay for itself many times over but it will not be for everyone right off the bat. The biggest question is how Tesla goes to market, I can already see the SunRun sales team fielding questions about the Powerwall…
News
1 Bloomberg:
Musk’s SolarCity Customers First in Line for Tesla Batteries
2 Daily Beast:
The Hidden Star of Obama’s Cabinet
3 Greentech Media:
First Solar and SunPower Post ‘Transitional’ Quarters Prepping for New YieldCo
4 Tech Co:
5 of the World’s Biggest Solar Energy Plants
5 PV-Magazine:
UK renewable jobs market grows faster than average
6 US News:
Swiss pilot anxious, excited to fly solar plane from China to Hawaii for 5 days, 5 nights
7 Utility Dive:
Xcel subsidiary Northern States Power tests community solar in Wisconsin
8 NRDC:
Experts Agree - Electric Grid Will Stay Ahead of the Curve on the Clean Power Plan
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Fossil fuels haven't lost the race, yet. Here's the full story.
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Seeking Alpha:
Vivint Solar And The Coming Onslaught Of New Entrants
2 Gizmodo:
California Farmers Without Water Are Installing Solar Panels Instead
3 Seeking Alpha:
The Impact Of California PUC Proposal On Solar Deployment In California
4 Vox:
A solar future isn't just likely — it's inevitable
5 Bloomberg:
Los Angeles Power Prices at Record April Low on Trapped Solar
6 Seeking Alpha:
The Solar Module Supply Shortage Trend Is Gaining Traction
7 Fox:
Tesla wants to reshape electric grid with combination of rooftop solar panels, home batteries
8 Grist:
Who should profit from solar energy?
9 Huffington Post:
Household Solar Is Becoming the New Normal -- and That Makes Some Utilities Uncomfortable
10 Oregonian:
Why SolarCity's university solar projects cost Oregon taxpayers $12 million
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 May 1st, 2015
The long awaited (not so surprise) announcement from Tesla came out yesterday that it will be entering distributed and utility scale energy storage helped with solar. Of course there is a strong perceived partnership with SolarCity but surely Tesla will also be going out on its own as it expands its stationary power division in addition to its mobile power units it has already been selling for a few years. Let’s see what other solar companies do as some have already come out with partnerships, but I want to see who figures out how to sell solar + storage most effectively, a not so easy task.
News
1 Fox:
Tesla wants to reshape electric grid with combination of rooftop solar panels, home batteries
2 AZ Central:
SolarCity relocating 85 Arizona workers, cites solar fees
3 PV-Magazine:
Institutional investors increasingly target solar assets
4 Bloomberg:
First Solar, SunPower Yieldco Drives Losses at Top Panel Makers
5 Solar Industry:
SEPA Unveils Rankings Of Top Solar Utilities In The U.S.
6 Utility Dive:
Why community shared solar is ready to be the 'great equalizer'
7 ABC:
North Carolina solar tax credit expanded for 1 year
8 Greentech Media:
4 Ways to Blunt the Solar Tax Cliff
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Electricity Pricing - The Times, they Might be A-Changing
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for April 30th, 2015
A new poll in Nevada is not surprising at all and most likely represents similar sentiment if the poll were national. Voters in Nevada are less likely to vote for a politician that does not support solar policies such as raising the cap on net metering. Republicans were 69% less likely and Democrats 80% less likely. This kind of voter support for solar is the continued result from home and business owners looking to lower their energy costs and create energy freedom by installing solar.
News
1 Las Vegas Journal:
Solar energy poll results called warning for Nevada legislators
2 Investor’s Business Daily:
First Solar, SunPower Yieldco Plan May Impact Q1
3 Bloomberg:
Solar Yieldcos Hit a Bump as $242 Million IPO Pulled in France
4 Grist:
California sets fancy new climate goal, makes other states look bad
5 Utility Dive:
Louisiana lawmakers propose new limits on solar tax credits
6 Business Journal:
Xcel proposal could quash corporate solar garden projects
7 PV-Magazine:
Costa Rican regulator proposes solar FIT
8 Gizmodo:
The Cockpit of Solar Impulse Is Not For the Faint-Hearted
Opinions:
9 Seeking Alpha:
The Solar Module Supply Shortage Trend Is Gaining Traction
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for April 29th, 2015
What group is more resource efficient than the American Farmer? From hedging feedstock pricing and forward selling production of dairy, meat, nuts, etc, the American Farmer knows how to make their business work every year. If you ever wanted to learn about water management, commodity option pricing and revenue forecasting, just talk to your local farmer. That’s what is so interesting about the amount of solar that is installed on American Farms throughout the Country, especially in Central Valley, California.
News
1 Gizmodo:
California Farmers Without Water Are Installing Solar Panels Instead
2 Vox:
A solar future isn't just likely — it's inevitable
3 Bloomberg:
Los Angeles Power Prices at Record April Low on Trapped Solar
4 Renew Economy:
Renewables at ‘pinch point’ as hard economics trumps green idealism
5 Solar Industry:
NREL Says Shared Solar Represents A Potential 11 GW Market Through 2020
6 Utility Dive:
Utility buy-in fuels a boom in Colorado community solar
7 American Spectator:
SOLAR AMENDMENT GOES TO COURT
8 The Guardian:
UK installed more solar power than any other European country in 2014
Opinions:
9 PV-Magazine:
EU Prosun blasts EPIA, plans new steps in PV trade dispute
Have a great day!
Yann
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
