This is your SolarWakeup for October 20th, 2014
The Las Vegas migration has begun. Surely the majority of you are heading to Las Vegas for our annual gathering at Solar Power International. Few notes this year. It’s in Vegas, so pace yourself. Don’t have too much solar fun the first day/night. Second, the hashtag is #SPIcon for your Facebook and twitter feeds. Third, if you see me, say hi. I always enjoy meeting readers in person. See you in Vegas!
News
1 Fortune:
Can solar bonds transform America's energy infrastructure?
2 Forbes:
Thanks To Solar Power, Georgia Utilities Find There's Life After Coal
3 Fool:
2 Ways You Can Profit From Saudi Arabia's $109 Billion Solar Boom
4 PV magazine:
Austin utility tries to water down solar commitment
5 Gigaom:
This startup is putting solar cells on a diet, because thinner is better
6 Renewable Energy World:
It’s Time to Ask the Wallflower Solar Markets to the Dance
7 Nasdaq:
Why Solar Panels Are More Important Than Ever
8 Ocregister:
Cheaper tech, changing rules drive solar gold rush
Opinions:
9 Sltrib:
Bloomberg Op-ed
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Blue chip companies in US increase PV deployment by 28%
2 io9:
Has America Been Installing Its Solar Panels Sideways For Years?
3 CBS:
Solar power is casting a bigger shadow
4 Vox:
Solar keeps getting cheaper — but not for the reasons you'd expect
5 NASDAQ:
The 2 Best Solar Stocks to Buy Today
6 PV-Magazine:
SCE launches solicitation for mid-sized behind-the-meter solar PV
7 Forbes:
SolarCity Offers Bonds, Wants Everybody To Invest In Solar
8 USA Today:
Can you go solar? Leases, loans make it possible
9 LA Times:
PUC President Peevey makes the right call, will step down
10 Next City:
Five Reasons Solar Will Power the Future
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 October 17th, 2014
As you all know, we have more fun in Florida. Even the debate for the Governor’s office had some fun over a fan. It gets hot in Florida, it’s the Sunshine State, and Charlie Crist loves his fan, always has and always will. If you wonder if Florida will have a future solar industry, it comes down to Charlie Crist winning. They even spoke about solar, take a look!
News
1 Vox:
Solar power keeps getting cheaper - but not for the reasons you'd expect
2 Nasdaq:
The 2 Best Solar Stocks to Buy Today
3 REneweconomy:
Regulator says Australia facing “prosumer” energy revolution
4 PV magazine:
Solar Energy UK examines adequacy of British grid
5 Bloomberg:
Europe’s Biggest Solar Bonds Downgraded on Italy’s Policy
6 Renewable Energy World:
Action in India
7 Solar Industry Mag:
After Massachusetts' 'Godfather Of Solar' Exits, Will The New Gov. Step Up?
Opinions:
8 Grist:
In Florida, it’s billionaire climate hawk vs. climate-denying governor. Who will win?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 16th, 2014
Yesterday was an interesting day in the market. The day started with a drop in 10 year bond yields to under 2% and the market reacted drastically. This means that you can get a 30 year mortgage for under 4% fixed interest which would be enticing for solar developers and probably expand more markets. At the same time, SolarCity released their crowd funding program, marketing their loans for between 2%-4%, that’s mass market if they can get it!
News
1 Forbes:
SolarCity Offers Bonds, Wants Everybody To Invest In Solar
2 PV magazine:
Blue chip companies in US increase PV deployment by 28%
3 Clean Technica:
Global Corporate Funding In Solar Power Jumps 55% To $9.8 Billion In Q3 2014
4 RE New Economy:
The guerrilla tactics allowing solar, storage to beat utilities
5 Breaking Energy:
Please! No More Solar! Japanese Utilities Want To Slow The Rush To Renewables
6 The Energy Collective:
Wisconsin
7 Renewable Energy World:
Germany’s Clean Electricity Costs Decline for First Time
8 PLATTS:
Georgia Power solar RFP yields 515 MW in power purchase agreements
Opinions:
9 Huffingtonpost:
The Sun Shines Brightly on Solar Energy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 15th, 2014
Tell me your secrets! Okay, I am just kidding, tell all of us your secrets. Preferably in the form of data or a lesson you learned on a deal where you lost money. Help us, in turn we help you by sharing our lesson. Don’t worry about the competition because that will help all of us. The market is enormous and we need people to shop for solar not just get sold solar. If you are considering writing a blog and don’t know where to start, let me know and I’ll help you.
News
1 CBSNews:
Solar power is casting a bigger shadow
2 PV tech:
US duties prompt Chinese PV shipment surge - Solarbuzz
4 REneweconomy:
Nine out of 10 Australian households consider switch to solar
5 TheEnergyCollective:
Arizona Poised to Open New Market for Energy Storage
6 PV magazine:
Desertec consortium dissolves, morphs into service company
7 PVSolarReport:
Which Solar Loan is Right for You?
8 EEtimes:
Solar Rising in Village Microgrids
Opinions:
9 Grist:
Why are utilities trying to disconnect communities of color from solar?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 14th, 2014
Sometimes I get confused why it takes so long to find good solar content for you to read. Then it becomes quite apparent that so few solar companies publish good content from their experiences. I don’t mean blog posts that promote your latest technical feat or the new project you were a part of. Solar is beyond the first, largest, greatest, most innovative solar project that was installed. They want to learn from your mistakes, victories and market insights. Feel free to pass them along if you don’t know where to post them, we have a pretty cool new original stories page.
News
1 Forbes:
China Raises Taxes On Oil & Gas
2 LV Sun:
Net metering is fair, benefits all communities
3 Solar Server:
New analysis shows willingness to pay for renewables
4 PV Magazine:
UK solar and renewable energy associations go separate ways
5 Bloomberg:
China to Promote Utility-Scale Solar Power Projects
6 io9:
Has America Been Installing Its Solar Panels Sideways For Years?
7 Next City:
Five Reasons Solar Will Power the Future
8 Grist:
Why are black lawmakers fighting clean energy?
Opinions:
9 Tallahassee Dem:
Stu Dalheim
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 13th, 2014
What happens when the lines between regulators and regulated companies turns grey? Editorial boards chime in and this weekend they sure did. The LA Times goes after the CPUC Chairman and his actions that led to the resignation of the leader of the commission. Regulatory commissions have long been in the background where monopolies go to get what they want. They are also a political retirement home that leads to lucrative private sector jobs after a short stint. (I am looking at you, Florida)
News
1 LA Times:
Editorial PUC President Peevey makes the right call, will step down
2 USA Today:
Can you go solar? Leases, loans make it possible
3 Renew Economy:
Germany’s KfW issues largest ever $US green bond - $1.5 billion
4 HuffPost:
Saving the Planet With Solar, One Community at a Time
5 RE World:
Lessons from the Cell Phone Phenomenon
6 PV-Magazine:
Southern California Edison launches solicitation for mid-sized behind-the-meter solar PV
7 Clean Technica:
North Carolina’s Renewable Energy Boom Being Driven By Solar, According To New Report
8 Mark Tauscher:
Give solar energy a chance to compete
Opinions:
9 RG&B:
Burying Solar Not A Noble Cause
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Seeking Alpha:
10 Reasons Why SolarCity, Vivint Solar, Are Destined To Fail
2 Slate:
Knocked Out - How do you sell customers on solar energy?
3 RE World:
A Deeper Look into Yieldco Structuring
4 Citizen Times:
Solar push a massive hit in North Carolina
5 Reason:
Unlimited Free Solar Power?
6 Vice:
Walmart Owners Backing Campaigns to Limit Rooftop Solar Power
7 Fortune:
Mr. Sunshine - Lyndon Rive thinks solar can overtake fossil fuels
8 Forbes:
A Light Bulb Shows How Solar And Wind Beat Coal
9 PV-Magazine:
GT Advanced Technologies files for chapter 11 bankruptcy
10 Think Progress:
Why Solar Power Is Taking Off At Airports Across The Country
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 October 10th, 2014
SolarCity has 7,500 employees! More than Facebook apparently, which is incredible. In a tale of two economies, SolarCity is growing and helping fight against the likes of ALEC and AFP while Walmart sits stagnant and continues to fight against solar (while being the largest corporate user of distributed solar to offset costs). So be clear, change is coming, solar can’t borrow at the same rates as utilities and take corporate monopolies but it can be a growth sector for employment while doing good for society. I’ll take the next generation of status quo over the clinging to the past.
News
1 Fortune:
Lyndon Rive thinks solar can overtake fossil fuels, one rooftop at a time
3 RE World:
Local, Lower Prices, 33% Renewable - Sonoma Power Has Launched
4 PV tech:
Battle lines drawn over Colorado net metering dispute
5 Solar Industry:
Volatility Creeping Into MA Solar, Shakes Up Larger Developers
6 Renew Economy:
China tariffs on coal could rebound on Australian solar industry
7 Bloomberg:
Solar’s $30 Billion Splurge Proves Too Much for Japan
8 PV magazine:
Russian solar expansion picks up speed
Opinions:
9 The Boston Globe:
Smart energy policy is a win for the world
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 9th, 2014
The lease the loan, it all comes down to a contract of ongoing cash flow. PPAs and power agreements on the commercial and utility scale are the same thing much like how developers always look for the “minority participation” so they can have long term reoccuring revenues. Yieldcos, securitizations and enterprise value also value this income and not so much the structure that allowed an entity to control that revenue. Clearly, residential solar isn’t focused so much on what the structure but that customers don’t pay cash!
News
1 Solar Love:
Vivint Solar IPO And CEO Interview
2 Mercury News:
SolarCity to offer loans to homeowners, which could juice market
3 PV tech:
Proposed US solar trade tariff changes ‘illegal’
4 RE World:
Electrifying Kenya
6 PV Magazine:
Ontario reduces feed-in tariffs 1-5% for solar PV
7 EDF:
North Carolina is well positioned for EPA’s Clean Power Plan
8 The Desert Sun:
California utilities crafting rooftop solar plans
Opinions:
9 Grist:
Hey, Paul Krugman
Have a great day!
Yann
