Tag Archives: Daily Rundown

This is your SolarWakeup for June 16th, 2020

Solar Conference Call. My next call with Phil Shen from Roth Capital will cover market updates and current events and takes place on June 18th at 10am EST. You can RSVP for that call here free of charge.

May Survey. Did you fill out your response for May?  You can see the full results of previous surveys here

SPI Planning Announced. Yesterday I asked the question about SPI and later in the day we got our answer. SPI will take place in Las Vegas in an outdoor exhibit at the Las Vegas Convention Center in October. SETS lists the precautions that will be put in place to make it a safe event for all to enjoy. Will you attend?

FERC Responses. Yesterday was the deadline for the docket that covers net metering. In reality the docket is an attempt to federalize basically all State level energy and rate regulations which has raised concerns from well known conservative State regulators as well as NARUC which tweeted out its comments to the docket. We shall see how this plays out.

Words Are Not Enough. GreenBiz’s Joel Makower makes a great point that I want to expand about. We’ve seen, over the past few weeks, comments from most companies are within a mold to attempt to be public but not actually make any news. Part of that comes from companies that wish they had actually done something before recent events made it clear that they are falling short. Some of you are thinking back and perhaps regretting past actions or looking around your board room and see a lack of diversity. Especially on past actions, there is no hiding from it, you have to decide how to manage your image because reporters are looking at how CEOs and executives have behaved because actions speak louder than words. Now that you have published a comment, write the comment that answers this question in 6 months. What have you done as a company since spring 2020 to bring about more diversity and equality in solar?

Presented by Adani Green Energy. Adani is a fully integrated renewables company, from solar cell and module manufacturing to ownership and operation. The company has a top global operating and contracted pipeline of over 14 GW. Adani is the recipient of the largest solar award ever of 8 GW, which includes a single site project of 2 GW – tied for the world’s largest. No one knows mega-scale projects like Adani. 

Opinion

Best, Yann

This is your SolarWakeup for June 15th, 2020

Drives And Podcasts. I have made it across the Country. If you were to do the drive as well, I recommend finding a different route than I-10 for 2,500 miles. I did see one big solar farm and a nuclear power plant but that ends the highlights. Thanks for the many listening recommendations and some of you asked for a list of those which I’ll put together on a list for you.

Market Updates. The next Roth conference call to cover the updates in the market will take place on June 18th at 10am EST. You can RSVP for that call here.

May Survey. Did you fill out your response for May?  You can see the full results of previous surveys here

2020. No doubt that this year, at the start of the solar decade, is an expert level solar coaster. With another cliff of ITC at the end of the year, the pandemic is throwing major chaos into the gears that keep the market wheels moving. While the fundamentals are strong again, the solar industry is likely going to have major issues inside the policy shops. SPI is the single biggest funding source for SEIA and even if it isn’t canceled, it will be much smaller than anticipated and put a hole in the budget for this year and next. Much more discussion on this topic and how to make sure solar is well positioned going into the election and budget season.

Save Solar. FERC is still planning on reviewing the awful petition by NERA to dismantle net metering. You can sign up to send your letter in support of solar here.

Presented by Adani Green Energy. Adani is a fully integrated renewables company, from solar cell and module manufacturing to ownership and operation. The company has a top global operating and contracted pipeline of over 14 GW. Adani is the recipient of the largest solar award ever of 8 GW, which includes a single site project of 2 GW – tied for the world’s largest. No one knows mega-scale projects like Adani.


 Opinion

Best, Yann

This is your SolarWakeup for June 12th, 2020

Weekend. Thank you for the great feedback on what to listen to on my drive cross-country. Always a great reminder of the community that SolarWakeup has become. Tomorrow will take me through most of Texas! Here is your Friday rundown.

Q1 Reports. Solar did well in Q1 which was obviously hampered by coronavirus during March. Look for more detail in the story and check out the survey for your personal experiences. 

Going Upstream. An upstream deal between software and manufacturer that helps installer and homeowner is the type of dealmaking that enables larger markets and bigger margins for installers.

PG&E Board. Without much notice for most California ratepayers, the utility alumni club is convening for high priced reunions on the newly formed PG&E board. Dynegy, National Grid and Sempra to name a few resume fillers.

Next Week, Lookout. CPUC has approved two items that will hit your inbox next week. First is allowing PG&E to use diesel generators. Second, more importantly, is a new change to the resource adequacy market that is drawing universal ire.

May Survey. Did you fill out your response for May?  You can see the full results of previous surveys here

Presented by Adani Green Energy. Adani is a fully integrated renewables company, from solar cell and module manufacturing to ownership and operation. The company has a top global operating and contracted pipeline of over 14 GW. Adani is the recipient of the largest solar award ever of 8 GW, which includes a single site project of 2 GW – tied for the world’s largest. No one knows mega-scale projects like Adani. 

Opinion

Best, Yann

This is your SolarWakeup for June 11th, 2020

May Survey. Did you fill out your response for May?  You can see the full results of previous surveys here

Your Listening Recommendations. In a few hours I am starting my drive cross-country. In the next 45 hours, what should I listen to in podcast or video format? Send your episode recommendations to my inbox please

Solarize My House. I got plenty of feedback yesterday about my home system, I appreciate that. So here’s the follow up question. I have space for up to 40 panels on the roof, a transfer switch and pre-plumbed for a gas generator. Obviously I want solar but do I also want a generator and battery? Or just a generator? Keep in mind that we plan for up to two weeks of no power post-hurricane and it would be an interesting concept to maximize the gas in the tank with solar/battery/generator if such a complete system that self-managed were on the market. Send your product/design suggestions and I’ll answer any follow up questions here.

All Quiet In Energy News. If you haven’t seen it, you should know that mainstream media (i.e. non trade news) have almost eliminated clean energy and solar coverage over the past month. I know that other issues are more prominent but I also worry about layoffs and reassignments of energy writers. For example, Vox has published 1 article with the word solar in it over the past month. It is also important that you get your stories out there, if you can afford it, hire a PR rep. Feel free to ask me for recommendations if you’d like but we need everyone to be out there pitching.

Nuclear Boondoggles. In case you missed it, the Georgia nuclear plant will miss deadlines and budgets once again. Regulators are surprisingly still publicly supporting the ratepayers subsidizing poor corporate execution however.

WSJ Covers Energy Market. This summed up how the market is saying that renewables work, in a tweet thread by WSJ reporter Russell Gold. 

Tesla Impact Report. Tesla published their impact report. I have not read it but thought you would find it interesting.

Solar Farms And More. My favorite solar farms do dual and triple use cases. Top of the list are those that blend agriculture and pollinator friendly landscaping. If you’ve never had solar powered honey brews and honeys from solar farms, you’re missing out and need to visit the midwest.

Presented by Adani Green Energy. Adani is a fully integrated renewables company, from solar cell and module manufacturing to ownership and operation. The company has a top global operating and contracted pipeline of over 14 GW. Adani is the recipient of the largest solar award ever of 8 GW, which includes a single site project of 2 GW – tied for the world’s largest. No one knows mega-scale projects like Adani. 

Opinion

Best, Yann