This is your SolarWakeup for September 3rd, 2014
Last Friday, the Utah PSC turned down the Utility's (Rocky Mountain Power) request to charge solar homeowners $4.65 per month. This is another big win for the solar industry and the advocates that fought hard to make sure the charge would be turned down. At times it is hard to draw the line between your business and public policy, so turning down requests for help (financial and otherwise) happens, especially when times are tough. Unfortunately, policy decisions create a real impact on your business so if you can help, do. If you can and don't then you become a policy freeloader.
News
1 Think Progress:
Solar Mfg. Wants More Tariffs As Punishment For Cyber-Attacks
2 Forbes:
Solar Energy Revolution
3 Newsday:
Yes, solar is booming, but ...
4 AL.com:
When it comes to renewable energy, is Alabama closed for business?
5 CleanTechnica:
Rarely Tapped City Strategy for Boosting Local Renewable Energy
6 PV Magazine:
New UK funding scheme will hit solar hard, says industry
7 Bloomberg:
Shunfeng Talks to Banks With Aim to Become Solar Giant
8 Solar Industry:
O&M Providers Have Health Of Solar In Their Hands
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 2nd, 2014
I am a big fan of the IHS Research data in today's post in CleanTechnica. There is not going to be a shortage of panels. There probably will not even be a jump in pricing. Pricing (globally) will stabilize as manufacturers stop selling panels at little to no margins. Much of the US market is shielded from this anyways at this point. At least, I have not encountered any US based projects buying panels at sub-$0.60/watt pricing.
News
1 Salt Late Tribune:
Utah commission rejects proposed fee for solar homes
2 CleanTechnica:
No Solar Panel Supply Shortage Coming
3 PV Magazine:
Arizona, Hawaii lead the U.S. in per-capita solar
4 Yahoo:
Florida power utilities fear return of ‘Green Governor' Crist
5 PV-Tech:
LDK Solar founder and chairman steps down
6 Scientific American:
Solar Becomes a ‘Default’ Generation Resource
7 CleanTechnica:
China Could Reach 100 GW Of PV Capacity By 2018
8 Motley Fool:
Corporate America Is Betting Big on Solar Energy
Opinions:
9 USA Today:
You can't have solar without silver
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 SolarWakeup:
Oh, For God’s Sake, SolarWorld, Shut The Hell Up
2 SEC:
Vivint Solar ($VSLR) IPO S-1 Filing
3 Reuters:
Blackstone-backed Vivint Solar files for IPO
4 Forbes:
Solar Executive Tries to Intimidate Bill Gates Into Opposing Fossil Fuels
5 Energy Collective:
Finally, Good News Out of Washington
6 RE World:
Interested in Developing a 650 kW+ Solar Project in MA? Think Again
7 Forbes:
Disconnect Between Claims For Solar And Reality
8 CleanTechnica:
Most Solar Man In The World — Brilliant 1-Minute Short Films
9 Think Progress:
New Bill Could Make Residential Solar In California A Lot Cheaper
10 Think Progress:
Hawaii’s Largest Utility Announces Plan To Triple Rooftop 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 29th, 2014
From a marketing perspective, like it or not, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has gone beyond viral. It's happening everywhere, not just in the US. And if you thought only the Oakland based SfunCube had a rooftop, you forgot about SEIA's rooftop deck. The deck hosted SEIA President's Ice Bucket Challenge. Funniest part for me was who challenge Rhone, the head of the Nuclear association! Talk about trying to ice your competitor. Rhone made a nice challenge too, by nominating the CEO of SolarWorld! Here is the video
News
1 AEE:
Iowa Ruling Shows the Way to Third Party Solar Without Legislation
2 The Hill:
US announces solar-energy deal with Myanmar
3 Bloomberg:
Solar Makers Set for Record 2014 Sales on Strong Demand
4 PV-Tech:
Utilities must rise to challenge of increasing renewable energy deployment
5 PV Magazine:
Review panel puts renewable energy target in crosshairs
6 CleanTechnica:
India Drops Proposal To Levy Anti-Dumping Duties on Modules
7 RE World:
Plunge in UK Distributed Energy Investment Forecast for 2019
8 Grist:
The mystery of huge solar plants and tiny dead birds
Opinions:
9 Fox News:
If only EPA stood for 'Enough Protection Already'
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 28th, 2014
A preliminary look at the S-1 filing (link below) from Vivint Solar gives you a microcosm of the solar industry. As you have heard me say before, solar is a financial sector, and by reading the S-1 filing or any of the SolarCity ($SCTY) or other filings, you get a sense on how the project you are working on creates value. Whether it is a cash deal, loan or 3rd party, there is a risk and market impact there. You could be a one-person shop or the CEO of Vivint's competitor, reading the S-1 filing makes sense. Hoping to give you a rundown of the look behind the curtains this week.
News
1 SEC - Vivint Solar ($VSLR) S-1 IPO Filing:
2 Energy Collective:
NY's Should Properly Value the Costs and Benefits of DG
3 PV Magazine:
South America examines challenges, promise of Brazil's market
4 Biz Journals:
Did Sharp give up its Memphis solar production too soon?
6 RE World:
Interested in Developing a 650 kW+ Solar Project in MA? Think Again
7 CleanTechnica:
How California’s AB 2188 Originated
8 Think Progress:
Hawaii’s Largest Utility Announces Plan To Triple Rooftop Solar
Opinions:
9 Tallahassee Democrat:
Attack on solar was off base
Have a great day!
Yann
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
