This is your SolarWakeup for August 27th, 2014
News of the day include the public IPO filing by Vivint Solar. The preliminary release has the raise at $200million for the SolarCity and SunRun competitor. This also represents a big win for Blackstone which bought Vivint Security and Solar for around $2billion. We will see how the IPO plays out but if the retained values receive similar treatment as SolarCity and Vivint has about a 3rd of the SCTY market share, well you do the math. Blackstone is doing well.
News
1 Reuters:
Blackstone-backed Vivint Solar files for IPO
2 PV Magazine:
Latin America
3 Cleantechnica:
Chinese PV Module Suppliers Dominate Market Again
4 AZ Central:
APS plan to offer free solar faces critics
5 SolarServer:
Global solar PV Market will grow to 65.6 GW in 2019
6 PV-Tech:
Trina Solar looking at sites for first overseas manufacturing base
7 RE World:
Six Reasons Solar Needs to Learn to Live with the Tariffs
8 Think Progress:
New Bill Could Make Residential Solar In California A Lot Cheaper
Opinions:
9 Solar Power World:
What Will Be The Best Way In 2015 To Fund Solar Projects?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 26th, 2014
Today is voting day! Make sure to get your vote counted, your next Governor may decide the PSC commissioners and therefore the future of solar in your State. A public service announcement for anyone that lives in Arizona, or if you have a parent or grandparent that decided to retire to Arizona. GO VOTE! Vote for Lucy Mason and Vernon Parker for the Arizona Corporation Commission. Tomorrow in Arizona we see the future of solar advocacy and how utilities behave in solar politics. On Wednesday, call your friend that works in advocacy and say thank you.
News
1 Renew Economy:
Solar riddle
2 RE World:
Can Open Standards Accelerate Community Shared Solar?
3 PV Magazine:
New York merges solar programs under NY-Sun initiative
4 CleanTechnica:
The Most Solar Man In The World — Brilliant 1-Minute Short Films
5 Forbes:
Disconnect Between Claims For Solar And Reality
6 Bloomberg:
Why Verizon Is Ramping Up Solar Investment (Video)
7 CS Monitor:
In race for solar power, China is winning
8 Solar Power World:
Which Generating Technology Has The Greatest Advantage?
Opinions:
9 Energy Collective:
Who Says Solar Energy Doesn't Make Sense in Virginia?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 25th, 2014
It's a testy Monday. As we grow, there are more partnerships and acquisitions but also some elbows. I have no problem with elbows as long as they come with facts and opinions that are well reasoned and measured. Feel free to have a disagreement with 'experts' and share it with the class anytime. To lead off tonight, our good friend Chip Martin gives us his view of the ongoing SolarWorld trade cases.
News
1 SolarWakeup:
Oh, For God’s Sake, SolarWorld, Shut The Hell Up
2 Solarlove:
Sunpower CEO Says Grid Independence Is Naive
3 PV-Tech:
SolarCity expects Silevo 1GW fab to cost up to US$450 million
4 Energy Collective:
Finally, Good News Out of Washington
5 PV Magazine:
SolarWorld points to installation errors in product recall
6 Forbes:
Why Countervailing Trade Duties And Tariffs Are Immoral
7 LA Times:
DWP is still slow to turn on home solar energy systems
8 Motley Fool:
What You Need to Know Before You Invest in Solar Energy
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
Solar Executive Tries to Intimidate Bill Gates Into Opposing Fossil Fuels
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Fast Company:
America's Great Solar Boom--In 6 Encouraging Charts
2 Bloomberg:
Solar Boom Driving First Global Panel Shortage Since 2006
3 Seeking Alpha:
SolarCity
4 CleanTechnica:
How One Wonky Court Decision Could Unlock Our Energy Future
5 PV-Tech:
1.5 million SolarWorld modules affected by ‘recall’
6 Scientific American:
Booming Rooftop Solar Power Suffers Growing Pains
7 NY Times:
Easy on the Environment, but Not Necessarily the Eyes
8 CBS:
Solar plant's downside? Birds igniting in midair
9 Slate:
America is making lots of solar. What’s holding it back from making panels?
10 Think Progress:
Businesses Are Getting Hit With A $500 Fee Designed To Kill 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 22nd, 2014
Legislatures and public service commissions in Wisconsin and Nevada are debating the fight against solar. A message to remember that solar is still being viewed as a threat by the status quo. Let's help support the teams at work in those States in any way possible. Make sure to follow their progress on Facebook or Twitter and make sure to sign the #SolarPledge.
News
1 FastCo:
America's Great Solar Boom--In 6 Encouraging Charts
2 PV Magazine:
Bill to streamline solar permitting passes the California legislature
4 Reno Journal:
Rooftop-solar advocates lobby against possible higher rate class
5 PV-Tech:
1.5 million SolarWorld systems affected by ‘recall’
6 CleanTechnica:
Americans & Australians May Disagree On Solar Leasing
7 Bloomberg:
Sunrun to Buy Up to 100 Megawatts of REC Solar Panels
8 Solar Industry:
New York Launches Revamped Solar Incentive Program
Opinions:
9 Think Progress:
Homeowners Fight Rules Saying Solar Is Too Ugly To Install
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 21st, 2014
Less than a week to primaries across the Country, including Arizona. The Tucson electric article clearly points out what is at stake here. The Arizona electric utilities want the ratepayers to pay for solar while giving no more than 15% savings to the customers that host solar on their roofs. The key is that the utilities across the Country want to control the fuel hedge that solar gives them, paid for by the consumers.
News
1 PV Magazine:
U.S. lowers anti-dumping tariffs on Taiwanese solar cells, modules
2 Utility Dive:
Tucson Electric Power proposes new utility-owned rooftop solar program
3 WREG Memphis:
Mississippi Public Service Commission
4 Bloomberg:
Solar Energy Less Dangerous to Birds Than Cats or Cars
5 CleanTechnica:
How One Wonky Decision Could Unlock Our Renewable Future
6 RE World:
NRG Just Purchased a Consumer Solar Gadget Company
7 MW Energy News:
Advocates
8 AZ Central:
Corporation Commission must force APS to come clean
Opinions:
9 Vote Solar:
Florida Power & Light’s Half-Baked Solar Program Moves Forward
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 20th, 2014
My dismay yesterday about product scarcity was with the potential comeback of take or pay contracts. These contracts pray on the positive hopes of companies assuming all things go well, but the take or pay also killed a solid amount of good solar companies. Let's be clear about something. Solar markets in the US will not have a product scarcity issue. Top tier products are getting the best price globally in the US and therefore will always move product Stateside if the demand is there. Don't be fooled by sensationalized headlines.
News
1 PV-Tech:
Beijing officially asks US to begin talks on solar trade suspension deal
2 Seeking Alpha:
SolarCity
4 PV Magazine:
California's utility-scale solar generation hits new peak of 4.8 GW
5 Renew Economy:
Australia's new attack may spark another solar boom
6 Solar Industry:
China Set To Reform DG Solar Policies To Boost Installations
7 MW Energy News:
After a slow start, PACE getting off the ground in Missouri
8 NASDAQ:
Unlikely Bedfellows
Opinions:
9 Dallas Morning News:
The Stupidity of Stopping Solar in Plano
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 19th, 2014
The Bloomberg headline gives me chills. Over the past decade, every time there is a panel 'shortage' it begins the talk of the "take-or-pay" contract. Doubtful that it will come up again but having seen it take down giant companies, the discussion is frightening by itself. That being said, panels are cause for delayed projects as we are already seeing this. How far the suppliers push deposits to lock in a shipment is another question.
News
1 Bloomberg:
Solar Boom Driving First Global Panel Shortage Since 2006
2 CBS:
Solar plant's downside? Birds igniting in midair
3 Wash. Post:
Old car batteries could make cheaper, more efficient solar panels
4 NRDC:
Order 1000 Upheld on Appeal
5 RE World:
The Power of Collective Energy Purchasing
6 Bloomberg:
Obama’s Green Dilemma
7 CleanTechnica:
Explosive US Solar Power Growth & Jobs
8 Scientific American:
Booming Rooftop Solar Power Suffers Growing Pains
Opinions:
9 NY Times:
Easy on the Environment, but Not Necessarily Neighbors’ Eyes
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 18th, 2014
Without data to back it up, it seems to me that the global solar industry is flattening. Globalization is becoming more and more apparent to me. Companies going overseas, expanding into new markets seems to be happening. However, the glory market remains the US, where residential rules the day but commercial remains an elusive goldmine waiting for someone to clear out.
News
1 Dallas News:
Texas law lets developers ban solar while subdivisions are growing
2 PV-Tech:
China to close polysilicon import loophole from end of month
3 Star Tribune:
Power surge in Minnesota's solar industry
4 Energy Collective:
New Report Finds California Solar Nearly Doubled in 2013
5 Think Progress:
Businesses Are Getting Hit With A $500 Fee To Kill Solar
6 RE World:
Utilities Should Take Advantage of the Transformation
7 Grist:
Meet the Wisconsin Republicans who love solar
8 Slate:
America is making lots of solar. What’s holding it back from making panels?
Opinions:
9 PV-Tech:
Trade spats continue but yield cos make everything better
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Gigaom:
SolarCity lays out its path to make a profit
2 Wall Street 4/7:
Merrill Lynch Says Solar Demand to Soar Over Next 3 Years
3 Motley Fool:
Why Are These U.S. States Fighting Solar Power?
4 Motley Fool:
SolarCity Is Eyeing a New Solar Energy Market
5 Biz Journals:
Chevron putting solar projects at its Hawaii refinery on hold
6 Nation Swell:
These 10 States Are Leading the Way in Solar. What's Their Secret?
7 Grist:
No solar, please — we’re Florida
8 LA Times:
Rules prevent solar panels in many states with abundant sunlight
9 RE World:
The Massachusetts Solar Carve-Out
10 Solar Industry:
Own Or Lease? Think Of Rooftop Solar As A Car That Makes Money
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
