This is your SolarWakeup for November 12th, 2014
Solar has 143,000 jobs in the US currently and probably 190k or more in 2016. I like the position that Vivint CEO is taking in the interview and it’s great to have solar in the Term Sheet. That being said, I would like solar to be more political because playing the “market condition” is silly. No industry in America sits back and watches Congress do whatever they think is best without lobbying their best interest. On the other hand, some industry players tend to take a back seat on some political discussions.
News
1 PV Tech:
Expanded US solar trade case could cost American jobs, congressman warns
2 Fortune:
Vivint Solar CEO
3 RE World:
The Rise of Retail Clean Energy Investing
4 Jsonline:
Solar executive says We Energies case could cost jobs
6 Solarindustrymag:
Getting Solar Customer Data From Utilities Should Not Be Hide & Seek
8 Theguardian:
Drawing back the panel
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
Thermal Solar Energy - Some Technologies Really Are Dumb
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 11th, 2014
Congrats to the team at Solarbridge, with the very deserved good news and acquisition of the company by Sunpower. I was asked why Sunpower may be interested in integrated inverters for their modules. Couple of reasons come to mind. 1. Sunpower needs a tech platform for their high efficiency modules so they can compete. 2. Sunpower dealers do really well in residential and micro inverters do well in residential. 3. You can foresee a sell, install and commission scenario for residential systems with this package. My 2 cents.
News
1 Gigaom:
SunPower snaps up microinverter startup SolarBridge
2 Greentechmedia:
Are Housing Regulators Quietly Dropping Their Opposition to PACE?
4 Huffingtonpost:
How Solar Permitting Reform Can Help in the Fight Against Climate Change
5 Theenergycollective:
Can Buildings Help Regulate the Power Grid and Integrate Renewable Energy?
6 PV Magazine:
French PV market grows during Q3 2014, but new applications slow
7 Berkeley:
Study says California solar boom makes the state a national leader
8 NY Times:
A Tricky Transition From Fossil Fuel
Opinions:
9 Sacbee:
Next PUC chief must be independent advocate for clean energy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 10th, 2014
Solar freakin roadways are making it, at least in Amsterdam on the newest bike path. I know there are plenty of solar as paver haters around, including some SolarWakeup readers but I think it’s awesome. Even if it doesn’t work, people are going to look down and see solar panels. A lot of you have solar tables in your conference room and as wall partitions. I have them on the side of my office building. Solar is awesome and it should be everywhere.
News
1 Boldride:
Amsterdam Gets World’s First Solar Bike Path
2 Gigaom:
Is it boom time ahead (again) for solar panel manufacturing?
3 Greentechmedia:
Arizona Regulatory Staff Give Mixed Reviews to Utility Plans for Owning Rooftop Solar
5 Reneweconomy:
Solar shocker – the network defence against solar PV
6 Latimes:
Will renewable energy ruin an 'irreplaceable' Mojave desert oasis?
7 Bloomberg:
First Solar Slides on Decision to Avoid Forming Yieldco
8 Foxnews:
World's largest solar plant applying for federal grant to pay off federal loan
Opinions:
9 Sandiegofreepress:
Wind and Solar Create More Jobs When They’re Locally Owned, Report Finds
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 PV Magazine:
5 SPI takeaways
2 Bloomberg:
He Ripped Their House Off the Grid
3 Breaking Energy:
5 Reasons Virtual Net Metering is Better than Plain Ol’ Net Metering
4 Forbes:
Can SolarCity Crack The Code Of Boosting Business Beyond Solar Homes?
5 PV Magazine:
Republican wins in the US Senate bode ill for renewable energy
6 Think Progress:
How The Governor’s Race Could Unleash Solar In The Sunshine State
7 RE World:
6 Renewable Energy Trends to Watch for in 2015
8 GTM:
End of a Solar Era
9 Investopedia:
Solar Is Starting To Win The Price War
10 Grist:
Texas lobbying group busted for phony anti-solar campaign
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 November 7th, 2014
Every day in my car I hear a commercial for 1-800-my-solar (with a jingle). Not so odd if I lived in California but I live in South Florida so I finally cracked and called. I feel a little bit bad because I already have solar on my house but I am intrigued at the concept given that solar isn’t the best financial return in South Florida. I did find out that the company rep was in Oregon so if you know anyone there, let them know that my lead isn’t all too serious but a job well done.
News
1 Forbes:
Can SolarCity Crack The Code Of Boosting Business Beyond Solar Homes?
2 RE World:
US Midyear Elections Offer Opportunities and Challenges for Renewable Energy
3 PV Magazine:
Aussie farmer sends message to G20 attendees
4 Pvsolarreport:
What Will Net Metering Look Like Next Year?
5 Solarindustrymag:
U.K. Utility-Scale Solar Boom On Tap For 2015
6 Cleantechnica:
Solar Manufacturers Doing More Business In-House
7 Reuters:
UPDATE 1-First Solar won't spin off solar assets, stock drops
8 Wwltv:
PSC race pits opposing views on solar power
Opinions:
9 Huffingtonpost:
Tom Steyer Claims Success In Very Expensive Effort To Make Climate Change A 'Wedge Issue'
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 6th, 2014
Sitting in a utility executives shoes for a moment I think of two values that I would pitch to my regulators regarding solar. Diversity and Water. As an executive I may (or may not) be able to hedge my fuel costs but one surefire way to pitch the value of solar is to lessen the impact of fuel cost increases. At the same time I would build a coalition with farmers, environmentalists and others worried about water supply.
News
1 RE World:
6 Trends to Watch for in 2015
2 PV Magazine:
Republican wins in the U.S. Senate bode ill for renewable energy
3 Huffingtonpost:
Peak Water
4 Techcrunch:
The Department Of Energy Needs Your Help To Cut The Soft Costs Of Solar
5 Utilitydive:
How solar power spreads among neighbors 'like a contagion'
7 Theguardian:
German solar ambitions at risk from cuts to subsidies
8 Startribune:
Solar panel maker to open Minneapolis plant
Opinions:
9 Solarindustrymag:
Too Much Information? California Wrestles With Solar Data Collection Responsibilities
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 5th, 2014
Elections Matter, Democracy is not a spectator sports, and politics are full contact are some of my favorite election clichés. When people don't vote, good things tend to go wrong and that is what we, as a solar industry, need to make sure doesn't happen as we work to extend the ITC. That is our singular focus on the Federal level for the next two years. Strap in, contribute and make a difference as we continue to grow solar.
News
1 Greentechmedia:
The End of a Solar Era
2 RE World:
Despite Everything, 2014 Is Another Growth Year for Solar PV
3 PV Magazine:
World's largest merchant solar project goes online in Chile
4 PV Solar Report:
Solar Is for Everyone in Massachusetts!
5 The Energy Collective:
Achieving DoE's SunShot Goals Could Reduce the Costs and Benefits of EPA's
6 Clean Technica:
Same Price, More Renewables – San Diego’s Fight for Community Controlled Energy
7 Khon2:
Hawaiian Electric announces plans for approval of pending solar applications
8 Investopedia:
Solar Is Starting To Win The Price War
Opinions:
9 Sltrib:
Bloomberg View Op-ed
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 4th, 2014
Today is an important and potentially a very sad day. As Americans get to the ballot box, and many don’t, Governors and State legislatures will change and enhance power centers. The U.S. Senate could possible flip and be controlled by the Republican party which could create an urgency to do a tax extender bill during the lame duck session this fall/winter. Let’s see how today plays out.
News
1 Think Progress:
How The Florida Governor’s Race Could Unleash Solar Power In The Sunshine State
2 Breaking Energy:
Utilities Agree On Tough Times Ahead (But Disagree On The Future Of Transmission)
3 PV magazine:
Inside ABB's Power-One acquisition
4 Solar Power Portal:
Warning of fraudulently acquired solar modules on sale in UK
5 Bloomberg:
Solatio, Renova and Enel Biggest Winners in Brazil Solar Auction
6 Solar Love:
$15,000 Is Average Cost Of Home Solar Power In Massachusetts
7 Utility Dive:
The fight over solar moves from net metering to rate design
8 Renewable Energy World:
UN Sees Irreversible Damage to Climate Caused by Fossil Fuels
Opinions:
9 Huffingtonpost:
DiCaprio
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 3rd, 2014
Solar is cheap and that’s a fact across borders, regardless of policy, how big the local market is or currency risk. If you haven’t read yet, solar in Brazil came in at under 9 cents per kWh for about 900MW of capacity. At some point, in the near future (I hope), we will stop hearing from consumers and politicians that solar is too expensive.
News
1 Bloomberg:
He Ripped Their House Off the Grid and He's No Hippie
2 Breaking Energy:
5 Reasons Virtual Net Metering is Better than Plain Ol’ Net Metering
3 PV Magazine:
5 SPI takeaways
4 Grist:
Texas lobbying group busted for phony anti-solar campaign
5 Recharge News:
Brazil contracts 890MW solar PV
6 Boston Globe:
Massachusetts lights the way on solar energy policy
8 Dispatch:
Utilities feel burned by solar-energy users
Opinions:
9 Pv Solar Report:
Remember the Alamo! Embracing Solar’s Inevitability
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Entrepreneur:
This Elon Musk-Backed Startup's Rocky Road to Solar 'Grand Slam'
2 Bloomberg:
While You Were Getting Worked Up Over Oil, This Happened to Solar
3 RE World:
SolarWorld To US Solar Developers
4 Denver Post:
Solar companies seek new ways to sell panels
5 HuffPost:
Utility Group Tries To Rally Black Caucus Against Solar Incentives
6 RE World:
A Tale of Two Booths
7 RenewEconomy:
How Coalition proposes to kill $20 billion renewables industry
8 Gizmodo:
Solar Energy Will Be as Cheap as Fossil Fuel Energy by 2016
9 NPR:
Solar Advocates Fight Utilities Over Grid Access
10 PV-Tech:
New twist in EU-China trade row could spread tariffs to new countries
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
