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
This is your SolarWakeup for January 2nd, 2015
Welcome to 2015! Time to dust off the old and kickstart the new year. On Monday, the homepage of SolarWakeup will have an all new look and an easier access to the news stories. What is your solar resolution for 2015? Let me know, I want to hear from you.
News
1 Seeking Alpha:
Will Chinese Solar Companies Be Able To Overcome The U.S. Tariffs?
2 CleanTechnica:
17.3 GW Of Approved FiT Solar PV Projects In Japan Being Canceled
3 RE World:
Goodbye to 2014 and 10 Things to Look Out for in 2015
4 NY Times:
Tracing the Roots of Pope Francis’s Climate Plans for 2015
5 Breaking Energy:
10 Renewable Energy Questions for 2015
6 Huffington Post:
States Work To Meet New Renewable Energy Standards
7 Greentech Media:
Grading Rob Day’s 2014 Cleantech Investing Predictions
8 Forbes:
What You Should Know
Opinions:
9 American Thinker:
Obama's Energiewende
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 31st, 2014
Welcome to the beginning of the last day of 2014. It’s been a pleasure spending a few minutes of our days together for the past year once again. Today’s top news are actually the top articles of 2014, they represent the collection of trends you found particularly interesting any given day. Expect the ITC to keep up the a trending topic in 2015 and the utility transition to prosumerism (Thank you RWE for the term). I wish each of you a happy and prosperous 2015, see you on the other side on Friday the 2nd!
News
1 SolarServer:
Obama Administration proposes increased energy R&D spending, big changes to solar tax credits
2 Forbes:
3 Utilities Most Likely To Fall In Death Spiral, According To Morningstar
3 Motley Fool:
SolarCity Is in for a Giant Solar Fight
4 News 12:
Solar panels collapse under heavy snow, ice at Bryant Elementary School in Teaneck
5 Washington Post:
Elon Musk’s five insights into solar energy
6 Grist:
The high cost of the solar middleman
7 Forbes:
Jimmy Fallon Makes the World's Best Argument Against Solar and Wind Energy
8 Motley Fool:
SolarCity Is Eyeing a New Solar Energy Market
Opinions:
9 CleanTechnica:
Solar Storage Scandal In California (In Depth)
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 30th, 2014
There is no shortage of irony in solar news. Transcanada, the company behind the desire to export an enormous amount of oil, bought a solar farm in Canada. Don’t get me wrong, solar farms with OPA contracts are great, but another oil conglomerate creating long term revenue through solar assets is ironic. Everyone sees it and is doing something about it but continues to see the business as usual scenario as the most hopeful outcome. Of course, NRG comes to mind as a US based contrarian to that statement.
News
1 EDF:
Amid Global Efforts, New York Plants Seeds for Energy Reform in 2014 That Will Bloom in 2015
2 Gigaom:
My 14 favorite energy stories of 2014
3 Solar Industry:
Utah's Solar Sector Showing Strong Gains
4 NY Times:
Why the US Will Power the World Economy in 2015
5 PV Magazine:
Motech to merge with Topcell forming 3 GW cell giant
6 Seeking Alpha:
Why Lower Oil Prices Are Positive For The Solar Industry
7 Huffington Post:
Transcanada Buys Ontario Solar Power Plant, Its 8th One In The Province
8 KTUU:
In rainy Southeast Alaska, a village experiments with solar power
Opinions:
9 CleanTechnica:
Tariffs-Smariffs, We Can Already Make the World’s Lowest Cost Solar Modules — Here In The US
Have a great day!
Yann
