This is your SolarWakeup for September 26th, 2023
Hot And Cold Cause Problems. Heat waves spike demand but it’s the cold that is showing stressers on generation that the grid withstood on the heat opposite this summer. FERC is concerned about the resilience of generation in multiple ISOs, with the latest PJM report from Winter Storm Elliot sparking new questions. 90GW of generation failed to deliver its dispatches which has a ripple effect on the rest of the stability. Speaking of stability, ERCOT underestimated the grid demand by 4GW this weekend, which almost sparked another emergency as that operator has been running a rather lean reserve.
News
1 Utility Dive:
Record 13% of Eastern Interconnect capacity failed in Winter Storm Elliott - FERC, NERC
2 Bloomberg:
US Says It Can’t Cut China Out of Critical-Minerals Supply Chain
3 Washington Post:
As disasters spike, superpowers face mounting calls to forge climate deal
4 Renew Economy:
Rooftop solar meets all of South Australia demand in major new milestone
5 PV-Tech:
Maxeon buys shingled solar cell IP from Complete Solaria for US production
6 Energy Storage News:
Record growth for US BESS industry, but ‘2GW impacted by supply chain, interconnection challenges’
7 Canary Media:
Long-duration storage gets big boost with $325M from DOE
8 PV-Magazine:
U.S. and Canada to spend $12 trillion on renewables and grid by 2050
Opinions:
9 Axios:
Feds urged by Biden to widen use of "social cost" on climate change
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 22nd, 2023
Climate Week Thoughts. It’s climate week in NYC, an event I’ve never attended but it’s always full of news for those of us interested in the headlines. The arguments have changed a bit, early days centered around what’s possible, what technology is ready for primetime and how much subsidy would be available. Today, we’re arguing what date of impact we should target, i.e. shifting the EV requirement from 2030 to 2035 in the UK. Without much debate, I would say that progress has manifested a real transition to electrification. Now, the collective we, need to focus on making it all work within the grid and keep the grid operational. We’ll talk about how NERC feels about some of that next week.
News
1 Axios:
In a shift, fossil fuels take center stage at UN Climate Summit
2 New York Times:
Climate Forward Live Event -Discussing the Threats of a Rapidly Warming Planet
3 Bloomberg:
The US Wants a Piece of China’s Solar Business
4 Utility Dive:
NERC wants smaller renewables, batteries to register as bulk-power assets over reliability concerns
5 Reuters:
Exclusive - Tesla proposes building battery storage factory in India -sources
6 PV-Tech:
“More lines, more digitalisation, more climate resilience” - Grids must be priority for Europe’s net zero plans
7 Renewable Energy World:
Biden uses executive power to create a New Deal-style American Climate Corps
8 Energy Storage News:
Lithium supply chain much improved but transformers and other components a headache for BESS industry
9 PV-Magazine:
HVDC transmission serves mostly wind and hydro power, not solar
Opinions:
10 Canary Media:
Four advocates share how to make electrification more equitable in cities
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 21st, 2023
Opinion
News
1 Reuters:
Europe's power industry warns ageing grids risk green goals
2 PV-Tech:
Utility says California needs US$370 billion for grids and generation to meet net zero
3 Axios:
Biden's new "American Climate Corps" aims to enlist 20,000 young people
4 Utility Dive:
Rising electrification requires a dramatic shift to integrated planning of DER, bulk resources
5 Renewable Energy World:
NEM 3.0 - What’s next for solar and storage in California?
6 Energy Storage News:
Texas utility CPS issues 500MW energy storage RFP
7 Canary Media:
Major steel users band together to place first big ‘green steel’ order
8 PV-Magazine:
The top 10 states for residential solar
9 Bloomberg:
Sunak Was Told Diluting Green Policies Would Risk Net Zero
Opinions:
10 New York Times:
Climate Experts Weigh In on Obstacles, Priorities and Hope
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 20th, 2023
Opinion
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Silfab Solar announces U.S. cell manufacturing, new line of TOPCon panels
2 Axios:
Lowercarbon raises $550 million, blasts VC rivals for taking "blood money"
3 Reuters:
US Treasury - Financiers' 'net zero' pledges must align with temperature limits
4 PV-Tech:
“A deeply precarious situation” - SolarPower Europe calls for reversal in falling European solar prices
5 Energy Storage News:
Kore Power, Nidec in multi-year agreement for up to 2.2GWh battery cells, racks and modules
6 Renew Economy:
Rooftop solar smashes records, sends coal and demand to new lows as it reshapes the grid
7 Bloomberg:
What Is COP28 and Why Is It Important?
Opinions:
8 Canary Media:
What do EVs have to do with the autoworker strike? A lot, it turns out
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 19th, 2023
SPI Was Big, Really Big. Over 40,000 people ended up walking through the doors at RE+ and even more crowded the halls outside. You walked many steps, I’ve heard over 100,000 for some, less for those of us that booked our hotels earlier. Hats off to the organizers and everyone that made the trip to move our industries forward. Thank you to many of you that stopped by to say hello.
One, Two Or More Trillions. Why was RE+ a record? It’s the money. The investments going into the businesses to grow them, the money being made at record levels and the capital flowing into the infrastructure that is shaping the growing need for electricity around the world. Trillions of dollars will be deployed into our ecosystems for the improvement of society and an overall energy transition that will both enhance how electricity is used and how clean the ultimate product is.
News
1 Solar Power World:
Solar contractors among first to respond to Lahaina wildfire recovery
2 Bloomberg:
Inside the Trillion-Dollar Climate Solutions Industry
3 Utility Dive:
Xcel to supply United Power with excess energy after co-op’s exit from Tri-State
4 Axios:
Climate Week NYC
5 Reuters:
Germany likely to pass 50% mark for renewable power this year - minister
6 Solar Builder:
Record-setting RE+ 2023 shows how U.S. solar industry is going mainstream
7 PV-Tech:
SolarEdge unveils new C&I energy optimisation software at RE+
8 Renewable Energy World:
DOE launches $10M program to speed up large-scale renewables permitting
9 Energy Storage News:
Volvo Group and Connected Energy to develop second life BESS
10 PV-Magazine:
“The times of supply shortage are over,” solar giants bet big on U.S. manufacturing
Opinions:
11 Canary Media:
The US is building power lines faster, but not fast enough
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 18th, 2023
Opinion
News
1 NPR:
Puerto Rico hopes solar project will secure electric grid for future hurricanes
2 Politico:
Newsom says he’ll sign major corporate climate disclosure bill
3 Bloomberg:
Texas Monitor Says New Grid Rules Raised Costs by $8 Billion
4 Axios:
How EV worries are helping fuel the historic UAW strike
5 Reuters:
Exclusive - EU may become as hooked on China batteries as it was on Russian energy
6 PV-Tech:
US$2.7 trillion annual investment required for global net-zero by 2050
7 Energy Storage News:
IRA tax equity benefits ‘not yet fully captured’ by US energy storage industry one year on
8 Renew Economy:
Rooftop solar sends coal to record low, and peaks at nearly half of all grid demand
9 Canary Media:
Florida is now adding more solar power than any other state
Opinions:
10 PV-Magazine:
How long do residential solar batteries last?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 15th, 2023
Opinion
News
1 Axios:
Hurricane Lee churns north, prompts warnings in New England
2 Utility Dive:
Moody’s warns of potential power price volatility from renewables oversupply
3 Bloomberg:
Home Power Devices Are Key to Solving US Power Woes, US Energy Official Says
4 New York Times:
Biden’s Climate Law Is Reshaping Private Investment in the United States
5 Reuters:
Global climate protests demand world leaders phase out fossil fuels
6 PV-Tech:
Array Technologies signs two new deals to strengthen domestic supply chain
7 Energy Storage News:
Germany
8 San Diego Union Tribune:
California appeals court will hear lawsuit seeking to overturn rooftop solar decision
9 Canary Media:
Utilities in New Hampshire unexpectedly back solar net metering
Opinions:
10 PV-Magazine:
Unraveling the IRA’s domestic content rules
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 13th, 2023
Opinion
News
1 Energy Storage News:
IRA tax equity benefits ‘not yet fully captured’ by US energy storage industry one year on
2 Axios:
Global climate ambition gets fresh boost, as world lags on Paris Agreement goals
3 Reuters:
EU Parliament passes bill hiking renewable energy targets
4 PV-Tech:
Igneo acquires majority stake in Soltage, aims to grow solar portfolio to 1.9GW
5 Utility Dive:
Taking Charge
6 PV-Magazine:
Storage, inverters, design tools and more at RE+ 2023
7 Renewable Energy World:
Nextracker opens new Las Vegas facility for steel solar components
Opinions:
8 Bloomberg:
Chevron Buys Into World’s Biggest Hydrogen-Storage Plant in Utah
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 11th, 2023
Welcome To Vegas. Like many of you will today, I have arrived in Las Vegas. Beyond the expo and the parties, it’s all about the people and the relationships you get to expand on while we’re in the same room. Congrats to everyone launching new ideas and products this week, these are fun moments.
News
1 Axios:
UN - Countries need dramatic course correction to meet Paris climate goals
2 Utility Dive:
As Google, Meta eye clean energy buys, researchers find widely used strategy has scant carbon benefits
3 PV-Magazine:
How developers can capitalize on IRA support for community solar financing
4 Tampa Bay Times:
Florida tops all US states for solar installations so far in 2023
5 Solar Power World:
Silfab Solar agrees to buy silicon wafers from NorSun’s planned U.S. factory
6 New York Times:
No Bidders in British Offshore Wind Auction
7 Reuters:
India makes clean energy push at G20 with global biofuel alliance
8 Energy Storage News:
Enervenue to mass produce newest ‘30,000 cycle’ metal-hydrogen batteries in Kentucky
Opinions:
9 Bloomberg:
Climate Hacks Are What the World Needs Now
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 8th, 2023
Nice RE+ Lead. Heading into SPI (sorry, but I had to get it out of my system), I mean RE+, the solar industry shows where it can go this year with a projection of 28 GW for the year. That includes a soft start to the year with IRA implementation efforts and guidance slowing down what will be a sprint for the foreseeable future. See you all in Vegas! Stop by the FlexGen booth to say hi and of course learn about the leading operating system software for your battery projects.
News
1 Utility Dive:
US solar installations expected to jump 52% to nearly 32 GW in 2023 - SEIA
2 Bloomberg:
Triple Threat to Texas Power Grid Will Keep It Vulnerable
3 Axios:
How Biden's climate law is fueling the U.S. battery boom
4 Reuters:
Repsol enters U.S. onshore wind market with $768 mln ConnectGen buy
5 PV-Tech:
Enfinity Global secures US$428 million to fund 17GW portfolio
6 Energy Storage News:
Shell putting residential storage and VPP firm sonnen up for sale – reports
7 Canary Media:
Boston Metal gets big funding boost to make green steel
Opinions:
8 PV-magazine:
EnerVenue launches new metal-hydrogen battery variant
Have a great day!
Yann
