This is your SolarWakeup for February 17th, 2022
Faster Approvals Equals More Deals. Installers asked CommonBond to create the fastest approval process in the market and they delivered. To add CommonBond’s fintech DNA to your solar sales process, apply here.
News
1 The Verge:
Renewable energy growth in the US lags far behind Biden’s climate ambitions
2 Bloomberg:
China’s Clean Energy Dominance May Face Challenge in Batteries
3 Axios:
Biden to reverse Trump-era California auto emissions rollback
4 Reuters:
Australia's biggest coal-fired power plant to shut in 2025
5 RMI:
Reality Check - The Green Inflation Myth
6 Solar Power World:
Trade policy, supply chain pains postponed 11.4 GW of utility-scale renewables in 2021
7 Energy Storage News:
California Public Utilities Commission approves
Opinions:
8 PV-Magazine:
Crossing EV barriers with microgrids and managed charging
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 16th, 2022
Merchant Solar? Not The Whole Story. From here on out, merchant solar doesn’t mean the same thing as it did in the past. It used to mean that the solar project had a secondary revenue stream like SRECs, carbon credits or production based incentive that drove the financial model and the energy value was secondary and not really relied upon. The reason that merchant solar doesn’t work without the control of generation is that a market would adapt to a solar farm that has no ability to control when it produces and exports, i.e. the marginal cost of producing the second electron is zero dollars. When an IPP says they are doing merchant solar, they mean that they are doing solar plus storage, producing when possible and exporting when valuable. Merchant solar isn’t about taking whatever they can, it means building a generating asset without adding a contracted buyer to the project before building the project.
Recasting The Forecast. It’s a reoccurring theme on SolarWakeup, forecasts come up short. Solar forecasts have been notoriously understated and energy storage is even worse. There are market segments where storage and solar are contemplating major growth, that have a zero GWh forecast in the major analyst reports. So take those with a grain of thought and look at your own market, pipeline and sentiment to guide your investments. In other words, believe in yourself and your market.
Installers First, Always. Over the past year, the team as CommonBond has worked to understand how to make lending for solar installers easier, faster and cheaper. That culminated in the public announcement that CommonBond has started serving the solar market and wants you, the installer, to learn more about the offerings that are available. To learn more about the CommonBond platform and products, contact them here.
News
1 PV-Tech:
Photon Energy posts record revenue, eyes merchant solar opportunities
2 Washington Post:
Sea level to rise one foot along U.S. coastlines by 2050, government report finds
3 Vox:
Why electric vehicles are so hot in the 2022 Super Bowl ads
4 Bloomberg:
Wind and Solar Power Demand Expected to Soar
5 Solar Power World:
Clean energy trade groups ask FERC to reform interconnection process
6 Energy Storage News:
‘Supply chain constraints, logistical challenges’ but Enphase battery sales still drive increased revenues
7 Canary Media:
Green steel without green hydrogen — can it work?
8 PV-Magazine:
CleanCapital acquires 65MW solar portfolio spanning 12 states
Opinions:
9 RMI:
Are We Ready for Another Uri?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 15th, 2022
Faster Approvals Equals More Deals. Installers asked CommonBond to create the fastest approval process in the market and they delivered. To add CommonBond’s fintech DNA to your solar sales process, apply here.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
CommonBond enters the solar finance market, looking to help installers grow their business
2 The Atlantic:
Biden’s Biggest Idea on Climate Change Is Remarkably Cheap
3 Utility Dive:
Dominion to expand net zero carbon reduction goals to Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions
4 Axios:
Energy Department makes moves on infrastructure law
5 Reuters:
UK's National Grid to get grid stability services from renewables for first time
6 Energy Storage News:
US government’s US$3 billion support for battery value chain up for grabs in Q2 2022
7 Canary Media:
People power - Hawaii utility wants to pay households to share clean energy
Opinions:
8 GreenBiz:
Here's an overlooked option for long-term energy storage for renewables
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 14th, 2022
Faster Approvals Equals More Deals. Installers asked CommonBond to create the fastest approval process in the market and they delivered. To add CommonBond’s fintech DNA to your solar sales process, apply here.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Solar in the NFL
2 Grist:
Biden’s 500,000 EV charging stations get a $5 billion start
3 Energy Storage News:
Asia-Pacific overtake of North America delayed as energy storage market tops 30GW by 2030, Guidehouse says
4 PV-Tech:
US trade bodies slam ‘self-interested’ solar tariff investigation request
5 Utility Dive:
US senators express bipartisan support for hydrogen as states vie to become hydrogen 'hubs'
6 Bloomberg:
Germany Opens Farmland to Solar Power to Quadruple Capacity
7 Reuters:
California approves plan for more renewable power, batteries
8 Solar Builder:
SunPower’s majority shareholder, TotalEnergies, to acquire its commercial solar business
9 Solar Power World:
DOE pledges $2.91 billion to boost U.S. production of advanced battery technology
Opinions:
10 Canary Media:
This California startup wants to be the Pony Express of electric trucking
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 10th, 2022
Installers First, Always. Over the past year, the team as CommonBond has worked to understand how to make lending for solar installers easier, faster and cheaper. That culminated in the public announcement that CommonBond has started serving the solar market and wants you, the installer, to learn more about the offerings that are available. To learn more about the CommonBond platform and products, contact us here.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Another anti-circumvention case filed against Southeast Asian countries, said ROTH
2 Bloomberg:
Solar Giant Enphase to Add Europe Manufacturing to Meet Demand
3 Politico:
World to China - Time to step up on climate
4 ABC News:
Charlie Crist unveils campaign trail promise of solar power for Florida
5 Utility Dive:
ISO-NE plan to extend MOPR through 2024 faces uncertain fate at FERC, experts say
6 PV-Tech:
US community solar sector boosted by policy support from states
7 Solar Power World:
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission requires solar be included in future Xcel Energy resource plans
8 Canary Media:
US coal communities get historic $11B to clean up abandoned mines
Opinions:
9 Axios:
A busy stretch in climate litigation
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 9th, 2022
Installers First, Always. Over the past year, the team as CommonBond has worked to understand how to make lending for solar installers easier, faster and cheaper. That culminated in the public announcement that CommonBond has started serving the solar market and wants you, the installer, to learn more about the offerings that are available. To learn more about the CommonBond platform and products, contact us here.
News
1 Bloomberg:
Biden Is Set to Meet With Utilities in New Push for Climate Spending
2 Reuters:
Oil and gas bankers confront their own energy transition
3 Wall Street Journal:
Where Is There More Lithium to Power Cars and Phones? Beneath a California Lake.
4 Utility Dive:
As states ramp up storage targets, policy maneuvering becomes key
5 CNN:
US Army releases first climate strategy with goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
6 Axios:
Climate insurance startup kWh raises $20M
7 Energy Storage News:
GE Renewable Energy opens renewables, energy storage, integration tech factory in Chennai, India
8 Canary Media:
Biggest solar farm in Louisiana gets warm welcome from local community
9 PV-Magazine:
OhmConnect now selling electricity in Texas, not just saving it
Opinions:
10 Solar Builder:
Community solar forecasts increase, but interconnection challenges loom
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 8th, 2022
Installers First, Always. Over the past year, the team as CommonBond has worked to understand how to make lending for solar installers easier, faster and cheaper. That culminated in the public announcement that CommonBond has started serving the solar market and wants you, the installer, to learn more about the offerings that are available. To learn more about the CommonBond platform and products, contact us here.
News
1 Axios:
Corporate net-zero pledges have a long way to go
2 Utility Dive:
Microsoft, Google, other corporate buyers get creative as demand for renewable energy spikes
3 Energy Storage News:
‘Frequency response revenues hit all-time-highs,’ UK battery storage investor Gore Street says
4 Canary Media:
Adding solar to California apartments could get easier — if regulators go along
5 PV-Magazine:
Recycled silicon used in 19.7% efficient PERC solar cells
6 Solar Power World:
IREC helps small Puerto Rican community procure 75-kW solar microgrid
Opinions:
7 RMI:
Funding Our Future - The EV Transition Requires Infrastructure that Inspires Confidence and Powers All Communities
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 7th, 2022
Installers First, Always. Over the past year, the team as CommonBond has worked to understand how to make lending for solar installers easier, faster and cheaper. That culminated in the public announcement that CommonBond has started serving the solar market and wants you, the installer, to learn more about the offerings that are available. To learn more about the CommonBond platform and products, contact us here.
News
1 Reuters:
China says U.S. tariff extension on solar products hurts new energy trade
2 Axios:
A roadway will charge your EV while you're driving
3 Solar Builder:
CPUC delays NEM 3.0 decision indefinitely
4 Solar Power World:
DTE Energy soliciting 500 MW of RFPs for renewable energy projects
5 Canary Media:
What you need to know about minerals and the clean energy transition
6 Utility Dive:
Distributed energy is poised to take center stage in 2022, but policymakers and regulators must step up
7 WFSU:
Legislation that would change Florida’s rooftop solar industry gets pushback
Opinions:
8 Bloomberg:
Jay Powell May Be the Most Important Climate Decision-Maker
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 4th, 2022
Installers First, Always. Over the past year, the team as CommonBond has worked to understand how to make lending for solar installers easier, faster and cheaper. That culminated in the public announcement that CommonBond has started serving the solar market and wants you, the installer, to learn more about the offerings that are available. To learn more about the CommonBond platform and products, contact us here.
News
1 Reuters:
California delays decision on rooftop solar policy reform
2 Solar Builder:
CommonBond, best known for student lending, launches solar financing business
3 PV-Magazine:
SolarAPP+ permitting software reduces project times by 12 days on average in pilot
4 Tampa Bay:
Florida House offers compromise to more rooftop solar users
5 Utility Dive:
Appeals court decision opens door to sue public power utilities for rooftop solar fees under antitrust law
6 Bloomberg:
Airstream’s Electric Trailer Concept Can Run Off-Grid for Weeks
7 Axios:
Winter storms test Texas' electrical grid
8 RMI:
The Hidden Costs of Keeping Gas Plants Online in Texas and Beyond
Opinions:
9 Canary Media:
Will California finally fix its community solar programs?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 3rd, 2022
New Fintech In Solar. Today’s top story is a great one, it signifies another leap in the maturity of the solar market. CommonBond, a leading fintech company in consumer lending, is coming into solar and bringing their technology prowess to solar installers. Having a diversified lending platform leveraging their existing investments pays off for installers because of their knowledge on how to get deals done quickly and efficiently, resulting in more volume and margins for installers. SolarWakeup is happy to play a role in connecting this opportunity for the solar community, you can check them out on their launch site here.
Nextracker To Spin Off. Almost a year ago, right here on SolarWakeup we told you that Nextracker should look at the strategic opportunity to become a standalone public company. With a new investment from a major private equity firm, Dan Shugar and his team will do just that. Put me into the unsurprised column, though the public market timing isn’t fantastic at the moment which means they may hold off for a better time in the market.
News
1 Solar Power World:
Loan company CommonBond now offering solar financing options
2 Seeking Alpha:
Flex to sell $500M of convertible preferred equity in Nextracker to TPG Rise Climate
3 PV-Magazine:
Distributed solar and storage owners face one more hurdle before participating in wholesale markets
4 Energy Storage News:
CAISO drafts 20-year plan to get California on-track for 100% renewables
5 Canary Media:
The Texas energy system faces a winter reckoning — again
6 Axios:
Taking stock of the global electric vehicle race
Opinions:
7 Vox:
Dirty energy pays more than clean energy. That’s a problem.
Have a great day!
Yann
