This is your SolarWakeup for October 14th, 2013
CSI has effectively ended in California. The growth is continuing with high residential rates and cost effective utility solar. In the meantime, it appears that there is a constraint in the growth of commercial solar, an area where utilities make a lot of money and CSI may have had the biggest impact.
News
1 NREL:
Securitization Debt Fit with Tax Equity in the Solar Landscape? Pt. II
2 Greentech Media:
PV Growth Continues Even Without the California Solar Initiative
3 RE World:
Which Chinese Solar Companies Will Survive?
4 Examiner:
California solar users will subsidize non-solar residents by 2020
5 Discovery News:
Stunning Solar Homes Can Actually Be Affordable
6 USA Today:
Solar and wind innovation reflected in booming patents
7 St. Louis Post:
St. Louis energy savings program gets rolling
8 Charlotte Observer:
Solar farms not welcome in every neighborhood
Opinions:
9 Energy Collective:
Energy Truth
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 11th, 2013
Energy storage and advanced inverters will increase the value of distributed generation, make it safer and reduce the need to invest in transmission infrastructure. The question, as rightly posed by a writer, is who should bear the additional cost, or will a value of solar be the answer? How does this look in your opinion?
News
1 RE World:
SolarCity Buys Zep
2 NREL SACP:
How Securitization Debt Fit with Tax Equity in the Solar?
3 Greentech Media:
Selling Solar Door-to-Door Can Be Effective—Is It Efficient?
4 RE World:
The “Other” Type of Commercial Financing
5 Forbes:
Google The Power Player Invests In Another Giant Solar Farm
6 Energy Collective:
Who Should Bear the Costs of Advanced Inverters?
7 Guardian:
Is solar power facing a dim future?
8 Tor Valenza:
Watch This SEIA Video Roundtable on Solar Social Marketing
Opinions:
9 Breaking Energy:
Utility of the Future in an Evolving US Power Market
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 10th, 2013
VC Funding is picking up, at least the data points are pointing that out. We have seen some manufacturing deals but mostly smaller, downstream value chain companies raising capital. It makes sense, its more efficient from a capital standpoint and the rise of the "My company is built to be acquired by SCTY, Elon Musk will love this" is the new pitch! Congrats to the ZEP team for the acquisition.
News
1 Solar Power World:
Virginia’s PPA Bill Could Jumpstart The State’s Industry
2 Greentech Media:
AB 327 Signed Into Law in California, Warning From Brown
3 RE World:
Solar VC Funding
4 TreeHugger:
Could Mexico be at the start of a solar boom?
5 Chicago Tribune:
Solar panels gives electric cars another path
6 CleanTechnica:
Three Ways Automation Can Smash Interconnection Costs
7 Forbes:
SolarCity Buys Zep To Cut Labor Time For Rooftop Solar
8 Bloomberg:
U.K. Plans to Increase Solar Power Eight-Fold by 2020
Opinions:
9 Grist:
California utilities say, “No batteries for you!”
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 9th, 2013
A repeat of a mention from last week but IREC is doing some of the most important work behind the scenes. Today IREC announced the plan for valuing distributed solar generation, which will be a key for the net metering and utility impact studies that are continuing to come. Be sure to catch IREC's series and 3iAwards during #SPICon this year.
News
1 Solar Server:
IREC issues report for valuing distributed solar
2 Greentech Media:
3 Models That Could Help Utilities Make Money From Solar
3 Solar Industry:
Solar Sector Draws $207 Million From Venture Capital In Q3
4 Solar Power World:
First Australian Since 2002 Wins Solar Decathlon In China
5 Earth Techling:
On Lowering The Costs Of Solar PV (Part 2)
6 CleanTechnica:
Advantages & Disadvantages Of Solar Power
7 National Journal:
Oakland's Bid to Become a Solar-Power Hub
8 Bloomberg:
Battery-Stored Solar Power Sparks Backlash From Utilities
Opinions:
9 CleanTechnica:
America’s Net Metering War
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 8th, 2013
AB 327 is now law in CA, let the CPUC wrangling commence (in case you think it hasn't already). Now the discussions continue in other States including how energy storage will impact net metering/interconnection. At some point the conversation will be about the utility business model and its adaptation.
News
1 LA Times:
Gov. Brown OKs overhaul of California residential electricity rates
2 Greentech Media:
Is Utility-Scale Solar Really Cheaper Than Rooftop Solar?
3 RE World:
US Conservative Voices Grow Louder in Support of Renewables
4 Bloomberg:
Battery-Stored Solar Power Sparks Backlash From Utilities
5 Fox News:
Bankrupt Solar Firm Will Cost $3.7 Million to Clean-Up Site
6 HuffPost:
Solar Non-Profit Delivers Alternative Energy To Low-Income Homes
7 Solar Power World:
Reliability
8 USA Today:
Solar Decathlon showcases 19 hi-tech homes of the future
Opinions:
9 CleanTechnica:
What Does A Solar Future Without Rebates Look Like?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 7th, 2013
The focus of our news coverage is the US but sometimes news come out of other markets that may give our markets a look into the future. An interesting view at what is happening to Australian utilities with regard to the decrease of baseload. Of course, we have already seen the impacts of distributed generation and efficiency here but the future will continue the trend in a hockey stick trend.
News
1 National Journal:
As Sun Shines on Solar Industry, Power Companies Fret
3 Providence Journal:
R.I. tries to play catch-up with law that boosts solar arrays
4 LA Times:
Ikea to sell solar panels in British stores, but U.S. must wait
5 Energy Collective:
Could Solar Heating and Cooling Catch Up With PV?
6 REnew Economy:
The decline of base-load
7 CleanTechnica:
An Island (Tokelau) Powered 100% By Solar Energy
8 Solar Industry:
Threats and Protection to Solar PV Industry Growth
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
Should Nations Follow Germany's Lead On Promoting Solar Power?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 4th, 2013
Two more weeks to get ready for SPI. Make sure you get prepared for the show, it is always a bit busier than expected with meetings and good times seeing old friends. Make sure to catch the great events IREC is putting on, a group that has quietly become the standard bearer for ... standards. And if you plan to wear a suit, make sure you know why!
News
1 PV-Tech:
PV investment potential still largely untapped, says Citigroup head
2 CleanTechnica:
50,250 New American Jobs From These Solar Guidelines
3 Greentech Media:
Rooftop Solar Scores a Crucial Win Against Arizona’s Utility
4 Solar Industry:
Despite Efforts, Shadow Remains Over U.S./China Solar Trade
5 Energy Collective:
Will the SEIA Settle the US-China Solar Energy Dispute?
6 Sustainable Business:
California Moves to Protect Solar Systems During Fires
7 Breaking Energy:
US on a Path to Clean Energy, One City at a Time
8 RE World:
Behind the Scenes at the US Solar Decathlon
Opinions:
9 Rod Adams:
How Painful Will the Coming Spike in Natural Gas Prices Be?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 3rd, 2013
I recall helping a solar decathlon team a few years ago and thinking how far out all of those ideas were. Today, in what seems to be a leap into the future, the homes seems so realistic for everyday life. Congrats to the students exhibiting at this year's event. Please support them by seeing their work and helping future competitors.
News
1 Greentech Media:
Tracking the Billions Invested in Residential Solar Finance
2 Solar Industry:
Global Solar Growth Set To Hit Three-Year High In 2014
3 CleanTechnica:
Path To A Brighter Future
4 RE World:
Five Reasons Why China's Solar Demand Could Surprise You
5 Greentech Media:
NEM Battle Rages On
6 Marietta Journal:
Georgia Power wants to add fee to solar-powered customers
7 Denver Post:
Who killed US solar makers? Chinese aren’t the only culprits
8 Fox News:
Firefighters alarmed by latest rescue risk
Opinions:
9 AZ Central:
Don't leave rooftop solar hanging until 2015
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 2nd, 2013
Disappointing news from D.C., and it isn't about the shutdown. The Senate (or K Street) has pushed hard enough on Ron Binz to get him to withdraw from being considered as Chair of FERC. It is becoming apparent that the battles will be fought at utility commissions, with the key players being the commissioners. Ron Binz was widely known for his work on Colorado's solar policies which also led to his demise. The solar industry was unable and lacked activism to push for his confirmation, a lesson learned for us all.
News
1 USA Today:
Nominee for energy regulatory post withdraw
2 Bloomberg:
AZ Regulators Recommend Rejecting Cut to APS’s Solar Rates
3 Ventura Star:
Utilities commission to take up solar power issues
4 Greentech Media:
6 Perspectives on the Fate of Utilities
5 RE World:
What the US Government Shutdown Means for Renewable Energy
6 Greentech Media:
Solar Module Industry Leery of SEIA’s China Trade Plan
7 ABC:
Utilities, Solar Companies in Fight Over Rates
8 Bloomberg:
Exploding Fuel Tankers Driving U.S. Army to Solar Power
Opinions:
9 Solar Power World:
California Solar Initiative For PV Succeeds
Have a great day!
Yann
