Smart Grid Observer


Solar Energy

FPL Installs First Battery Components at World's Largest Solar-Powered Battery Storage Facility
August 16, 2021
Located in Parrish, Fla., the FPL Manatee Energy Storage Center is expected to begin serving customers later this year and will be the largest solar-powered battery storage facility in the world. With 409 MW of output and 900 MWh of capacity, the energy storage system will be able to power the equivalent of 329,000 homes for more than 2 hours. more

DOE Awards $45 Million to Advance Solar Manufacturing and Grid Technologies
August 12, 2021
As part of the funding, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the University of Washington, and the Electric Power Research Institute will co-lead an industry-wide consortium to advance research on grid-forming inverters -- an emerging technology that allows solar and other inverter-based energy sources to restart the grid without a spinning turbine, typically a oil or coal-fired power plant. more

NREL Methods Assist Maui in Approaching 100% Renewable Operations
August 3, 2021
Through 2024, Maui is scheduled to bring online more than 175 MW of new solar-storage hybrid power plants. This, in addition to the almost 200 MW of wind and solar presently on the grid, will be enough renewable power to supply Maui's roughly 70,000 customers without using conventional generation for many hours of the year. But managing such a high proportion of resources that are inherently uncertain is a first for any grid of Maui's size, so the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is developing and validating multi-timescale tools that will bring Maui and other systems closer to 100% clean and stable energy futures. more

SunPower and Wallbox Team Up to Integrate Solar and Home Electric Vehicle Charging
August 1, 2021
Through the strategic alliance, new SunPower customers can opt to install a Wallbox home EV charger at the same time as their solar and/or storage system installation. SunPower will also act as a preferred solar and storage provider and EV charger installation provider for Wallbox customers. more


New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) Approves 3,750 MW Successor Solar Incentive Program
July 29, 2021
The Successor Solar Incentive Program (or “SuSI” Program) is the culmination of a nearly three-year Solar Transition process mandated by the Clean Energy Act of 2018 to replace the State’s Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) program with new incentives that encourage solar development while minimizing ratepayer cost. Solar energy is expected to generate approximately 10 percent of New Jersey’s total electricity needs once the program is fully implemented. more

Hawaiian Electric Encourages Customers to Add Energy Storage to Rooftop Solar Systems
July 20, 2021
Hawaiian Electric is accepting applications for Battery Bonus, a new program that will pay a cash incentive for residential and commercial customers on Oahu to add energy storage (a battery) to an existing or new rooftop solar system. This one-time incentive will help move Hawaii toward the company's goal of 100% clean energy by 2045 and add more renewable resources to the grid in the short-term when the AES coal-fired plant is retired in September 2022. more

LG Electronics And Sense Announce Collaboration On AI-Driven Home Solar And Usage Monitoring
May 31, 2021
Consumers have little visibility into their day-to-day electricity consumption and how using various appliances can influence their bills. Complex utility rate structures that charge different prices for electricity consumed at different times of the day make it even more challenging. With the combination of LG Solar and Sense Solar, consumers can access how much power their solar array is generating, how much energy their home is consuming and what the value of that power is in real time. This information helps empower consumers to make smarter choices about their energy usage and consumption behavior.    more

Hawaiian Electric Develops Plan to Ramp Up Rooftop Solar, Other Customer Resources to Meet 100% Clean Energy Goals
May 11, 2021
"We simply do not have enough open land to sustainably balance renewable energy with other vital needs such as housing and local food supply. It's critical that all customers participate in this energy transformation in a fair and equitable way, even if they're unable to install rooftop solar," said Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president for customer service and public affairs.    more

San Diego Community Power and RAI Energy International Announce Integrated 100 MW Solar Energy and 150 MW Storage Project
May 5, 2021
San Diego Community Power was formed in Fall 2019 and launched electricity supply services last month for municipal customers in the five-member cities of Chula Vista, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, and San Diego. The program provides local control and consumer choice regarding energy decisions on a large scale for the first time in the region's history.    more

Tucson Electric Power's Largest Solar Plus Storage System is Now in Service
May 4, 2021
Tucson Electric Power's newest and largest solar power system is now online. The Wilmot Energy Center (WEC), located on 1,130 acres southeast of Tucson International Airport, includes a 100-megawatt solar array and 30-MW battery energy storage system -- each the largest of their kind on TEP's local energy grid. TEP will purchase power from the WEC under a long-term agreement with an affiliate of NextEra Energy Resources, its owner and operator.    more

We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service Announce State's Largest Renewable Energy Project
May 3, 2021
We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, the largest utilities in WEC Energy Group, are proposing to purchase the Koshkonong Solar Energy Center, a planned 465-megawatt solar and battery storage project in south-central Wisconsin. If approved, the project would be the largest renewable energy project in the state.    more

Oriden Helps Blue Ridge Energy Reduce Carbon Emissions and Stabilize Rates with Utility-Scale Solar Project
April 7, 2021
Blue Ridge Energy, a member-owned electric cooperative serving northwest North Carolina, has selected Oriden LLC to develop a utility-scale solar project as part of its Brighter Future initiative. This project will provide a local generation source and allow Blue Ridge Energy to work towards their low cost, low carbon future with two significant carbon reduction targets: to achieve 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.    more

Counting on the Sun for Another 400+ Megawatts of Energy In Wisconsin
April 5, 2021
Alliant Energy recently announced plans to add another 414 megawatts of solar in Wisconsin. This rounds out the company's previously announced plan to accelerate its transition to clean energy by adding more than 1,000 MW of solar while helping customers avoid more than $2 billion in long-term costs. Upon completion of their more than 1,000 MW of solar, Alliant Energy will own and operate the most solar energy in the state of Wisconsin.    more

Atlas of 100% Renewable Energy
April 1, 2021 | Wärtsilä Energy
Wärtsilä has modelled 145 countries and regions to find the optimal way to produce electricity from 100% renewable energy sources. The interactive map illustrates how the power system of each of these regions would look like if they were to be optimally built from scratch, not considering the burden of existing power plants.    view map


WEC Energy Group Announces Plan for Wisconsin's First Large-Scale Solar and Battery Storage Project
February 17, 2021
WEC Energy Group this week proposed plans for a new 310-megawatt (solar and battery storage project. If approved, the Paris Solar-Battery Park in Kenosha County would be the largest facility of its kind in Wisconsin. The facility features 200 MW of solar generation which is equal to powering 60,000 homes, and 110 MW of battery storage.    more

Duke Energy Solar Generation Flourishes for Florida
February 17, 2021
Duke Energy Florida reports that it is investing an estimated $1 billion to construct or acquire a total of 700 megawatts of cost-effective solar power facilities from 2018 through 2022 in Florida and will more than quadruple the amount of in-service solar on the system over the next four years. With the new year, the company has broken ground on two new solar sites, and it expects to complete both by the end of 2021.    more

First-of-its-Kind New York State Initiative Pays Residents in Communities Hosting Wind or Solar Farms to Combat Climate Change
February 16, 2021
The New York State Public Service Commission recently (Feb 11) approved a Host Community Benefit Program that provides bill credits directly to residential electric customers in municipalities in which major renewable energy facilities are located, thus incentivizing more clean energy projects to be developed across the state to support the combatting of climate change. The program will provide bill credits that vary based on the size and type of the renewable energy facility.    more

Hawaiian Electric Hits Nearly 35% Renewable Energy, Exceeding State Mandate
February 16, 2021
The 34.5 percent is the consolidated RPS for O'ahu, Hawai'i Island and Maui County, up from 28.4 percent in 2019. Hawaiian Electric exceeded the state requirement to reach 30 percent by 2020 and has more than tripled the amount of renewable energy on its electric grids in 10 years, up from just under 10 percent in 2010.    more

TVA Increases Contracted Solar Capacity by 60 Percent
February 9, 2021
More renewable energy is on its way as the Tennessee Valley Authority announced a 60% increase in contracted solar capacity since October 2020 - maintaining TVA's green energy leadership with the highest amount of renewable generation in the Southeast. TVA's 2020 Request for Proposals for solar capacity and its nationally recognized Green Invest program added 964 megawatts of contracted solar and 130 megawatts of battery storage to the TVA system, pending environmental review.    more

FPL Begins Construction of World's Largest Integrated Solar-Powered Battery System
February 1, 2021
Florida Power & Light Company announced recently (Jan 28) that construction has begun on the FPL Manatee Energy Storage Center, which is expected to shatter industry records as the world's largest integrated solar-powered battery system. FPL remains on track to meet it's "30-by-30" goal to install 30 million solar panels by 2030, which is making Florida a global leader in solar energy production.    more

Canadian Solar Subsidiary Recurrent Energy Breaks Ground on One of the Largest PV + Battery Storage Projects in the U.S.
January 14, 2021
The Slate project is a 300 MWac solar plus 140.25 MW / 561 MWh storage project located in Kings County, California, and has commenced construction. Canadian Solar's majority-owned energy storage subsidiary, System Solutions and Energy Storage (SSES), will provide the battery storage integration solution for the project.    more

Expanding Local Solar And Storage Could Save Ratepayers Nearly A Half A Trillion Dollars
December 2, 2020
Developing 247 GW of local rooftop and community solar and 160 GW of local energy storage is the most cost-effective way for the United States to transition to a clean energy system by 2050, while saving consumers up to $473 billion on electricity. This is enough local solar to power over 25% of all U.S. homes. These are among the core findings of a new report -- Why Local Solar for All Costs Less: A New Roadmap for the Lowest Cost Grid -- issued by Vote Solar, the Coalition for Community Solar Access, and Sunrun.    more

DHYBRID Introduces Technology to Lower Costs and Increase Proportion of Solar Power in Microgrids
December 1, 2020
By improving system management, the recently patented inverter control system can increase the proportion of solar power by more than 10%, with corresponding reductions in the amount of power required from diesel generators or other connected power grids. The Maximum Inverter Power Tracking (MIPT) system achieves these results by continuously adjusting the output of individual inverters or groups of inverters in accordance with the needs of the microgrid.    more

Sunrun Signs Virtual Power Plant Agreement With Southern California Edison
November 24, 2020
By bundling the energy from solar-powered home batteries together to create a "virtual power plant", Sunrun will release stored solar energy to the grid when it's needed most, lowering the overall cost of power and reducing critical strain on the energy system.    more


Invenergy Powers Daily Life with Largest Solar Project in the U.S.
November 19, 2020
Invenergy this week announced a 1,310-megawatt solar energy generation facility that will be the largest in the United States upon completion. Currently under construction in northeast Texas, the Samson Solar Energy Center will support the sustainability objectives of five major consumer brands and supply power to three Texas municipalities.    more

Mississippi Power, Southern Company Announce Smart Neighborhood Collaboration in Lauderdale County
November 18, 2020
Mississippi Power and Southern Company announced this week a partnership to build the first smart neighborhood in the world exclusively featuring the Tesla Solar Roof in Lauderdale County. Enzor Place homes will also feature Powerwall batteries, energy efficient equipment and appliances, and smart home automation.    more

Domaine Carneros Winery Selects EDF Renewables North America for Solar and Storage Resilient Microgrid
November 16, 2020
The 250-kilowatt solar PV system will be a combination of carport and ground-mount installations integrated with a 280 kW / 540-kilowatt hour onsite behind-the-meter battery storage solution. The system will allow the solar and storage to power the facility and maintain 100% of its operations during a power outage, reducing diesel fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions as well as extend fuel reserves up to an entire week.    more

PSC Approves Tampa Electric's Newest Solar Project
November 4, 2020
"Tampa Electric Company's expanded use of solar power benefits its customers now and also protects Florida's future fuel supply and environment," PSC Chairman Gary Clark. "This fourth solar project phase brings TECO's solar generation total to 600 megawatts, boosting Florida's renewable energy portfolio."    more

sonnen Collaborates with Stanford on Intelligent Energy Storage Hardware and Load Management Software
November 2, 2020
sonnen recently announced a research collaboration with Stanford University's Sustainable Systems Lab (S3L) within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to deploy sonnen's intelligent energy storage hardware and load management software in 15 Fremont-area solar-powered homes and in a commercial agricultural facility in El Nido, California.    more

Rethinking Energy 2020-2030: 100% Solar, Wind and Batteries is Just the Beginning
October 27, 2020
By 2030 electricity systems comprised entirely of solar, wind and batteries (SWB) can provide both the cheapest power available and two to three times more total energy than the existing grid in the continental United States, and most populated regions globally, bankrupting coal, gas and nuclear power companies and slashing consumer costs dramatically, according to a new report by RethinkX.    more

Schneider Electric and SolarEdge Partner to Accelerate Residential Solar Market with Smart Home Energy Solution
October 23, 2020
In banding together, the two leading names in residential power distribution and solar seek to serve new market needs in California initially, where solar is now required on all new home construction as part of California Energy Commission updates to Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards.    more

Installation Completed of the World's Most Powerful Solar Roof
October 14, 2020
PVH Europe, the global headquarters of Tommy Hilfiger and the European offices of Calvin Klein, both owned by PVH Corp., recently announced the installation of what is believed to be the world's most powerful currently operational solar roof at its Warehouse and Logistics Center in Venlo, the Netherlands. Generated by more than 48,000 solar panels, the solar roof covers the Center's electricity footprint, as well as indirectly providing 100% of all energy for PVH Europe's warehouses, offices and stores in the Netherlands via the Dutch public power network.    more

Enel Green Power Starts Construction of Its Second Solar + Storage Project in North America
October 14, 2020
Enel, through its US renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power North America, started construction of the 284 MW1 Azure Sky solar + storage project, its second hybrid project in North America that integrates a renewable energy plant with utility-scale battery storage. The Home Depot will procure the electricity generated from a 75 MW portion of the Azure Sky solar project through a power purchase agreement.    more

U.S. Corporate Solar Investments Swell to 8300 Megawatts, Grow 20-Fold Over Last Decade
October 7, 2020 | Solar Energy Industries Association
Apple and Amazon remain in first and second place when it comes to the top corporate solar users, followed by Walmart, which installed the most solar in 2019 and increased its solar use by 35%. This year was also the largest year yet for onsite commercial solar installations with 845 MW installed, according to SEIA's Solar Means Business report.    more

Australian Startup Leading the Way on Next Generation Solar Cells
October 6, 2020
SunDrive's technology replaces the use of silver in solar cell structures with copper, which is significantly cheaper and more abundant. In addition to lowering production costs, SunDrive is aiming to further improve efficiencies with a simpler manufacturing process and a thinner solar cell that will require less silicon to produce.    more

Entergy New Orleans Completes Louisiana's Largest Commercial Rooftop Solar Project
September 30, 2020
"This project demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering clean, reliable and safe energy to New Orleans while simultaneously achieving our customer's sustainability goals. Projects like this create value to the local community through job creation, and to the environment through carbon reduction," said David Ellis, President and CEO of Entergy New Orleans.    more

Ameren Establishes Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Goal and A Transformative Expansion of Wind and Solar Energy
September 29, 2020
"This is a step change in renewable energy investments and carbon emission reductions from the plan we presented three years ago," said Marty Lyons, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri. "Under our plan, customers will receive significant benefits from advances in technology and falling renewable energy costs, as well as from robust energy efficiency programs to help keep their energy costs affordable."    more

Duke Energy Reaches Deal to Modernize, Expand Rooftop Solar in South Carolina
September 17, 2020
The proposed plan - Solar Choice Net Metering - could be the next generation of net energy metering for the Carolinas, a billing process that credits small customers with rooftop solar arrays for excess electricity they generate and provide to Duke Energy via the grid.    more


DTE Energy Files Plan to Add Enough Solar Energy Generation to Power 120,000 Homes by 2022
September 2, 2020
If the MPSC approves this plan, DTE will significantly increase its generation capacity from renewables, ending 2022 with enough solar and wind energy capacity to power 900,000 homes. The company's clean energy generation will offset approximately 4.7 million tons of CO2e - equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 938,000 passenger cars driven for a year.    more

Hunt Military Communities Expands On Leading Solar Initiatives In Hawaii
August 26, 2020
Hunt Military Communities (HMC), the largest U.S. military housing owner, this week announced its plans to expand on its leading initiatives to integrate additional solar rooftop photovoltaic systems across its facilities in Hawaii. HMC communities in Hawaii include more than 7,000 homes across 38 communities at Ohana Military Communities (OMC) in Wheeler Army Airfield, Barking Sands, Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.    more

First Solar Power Plant in Chile is World's First to Deliver Grid Services
August 24, 2020
First Solar, Inc. recently announced that its 141-megawatt (MW)AC Luz del Norte photovoltaic power plant is the world's first known utility-scale solar facility licensed to deliver ancillary grid services commercially. Chile's independent system operator (ISO), Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional, recently added Luz del Norte to its portfolio of large-scale power generators that are approved to deliver a range of grid services, including automatic generation control (AGC).    more

Canadian Solar to Construct One of the Largest C&I Solar Rooftop Projects in Malaysia
August 18, 2020
The project will be powered by 13,000 of Canadian Solar's high-efficiency KuMax modules. Once in operation, the plant is expected to generate approximately 6,700 MWh of solar electricity each year for 25 years. The company expects the project to reach commercial operation by the end 2020.    more


Masdar and EDF Renewables Agree to Partner in Eight Renewable Energy Projects in United States
August 14, 2020
Under the terms of the agreement, Masdar has acquired a 50 percent interest in three utility-scale wind farms in Nebraska and Texas totaling 815 megawatts (MW), and five photovoltaic (PV) solar projects in California - two of which include battery energy storage systems - totaling 689 MW of solar and 75 MW of lithium-ion battery energy storage.    more

Schneider Electric Solar Unveils Insight, a Smart Digital Platform for Solar & Storage Energy Management
July 30, 2020
Schneider Electric Solar has announced the launch of Insight, its new energy management platform for residential and commercial users. Homeowners and property managers can leverage Insight as a single platform for energy management. It is designed to provide more accurate and complete data on solar system performance, including the money-saving and environmental impacts that have been made. In addition to system performance data, Insight will offer scalable load management features in the future.    more

Enel Green Power Starts Construction of Its First Renewables + Storage Project in North America
July 22, 2020
The project's 421,400 PV bifacial panels are expected to generate over 367 GWh each year, which will be delivered to the grid and will charge the co-located battery, equivalent to avoiding the annual emission of over 242,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The battery storage system is capable of storing up to 75 MWh at a time to be dispatched when solar power generation is low, while also providing the grid access to a clean supply of electricity during periods of high demand.    more

Solar Surge Set to Drive Much of Remaining Texas Coal-Fired Fleet Offline
July 14, 2020
The report describes the increasing vulnerability of coal plants across the power-generation market managed by the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), an area that covers most of the state. It sees upward of 70% of daytime coal-fired generation in ERCOT being at risk by 2022.    more

Smarter Grid Solutions Selected for Future Grid Challenge Demonstration Project
July 9, 2020
Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS) recently announced its ANM Strata distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) was awarded a contract to run a demonstration program as part of New York State Energy Research & Development Authority's (NYSERDA) Future Grid Challenge.    more


Stem Launches Front of Meter Solar+Storage Project in Massachusetts
June 24, 2020
The Blandford, Mass., site, northwest of Springfield, is the first 8MWh of 28MWh portfolio of large-scale solar plus storage projects that Stem is operating for Syncarpha throughout Massachusetts. Over the next year, Stem and Syncarpha will deploy four additional Massachusetts projects in Halifax, Leicester, Millbury and Westminster.    more

Orange & Rockland and Sunrun To Bring Innovative Rooftop Solar and Battery Network To New York
June 18, 2020
Beginning this year, Sunrun will bundle rooftop solar energy stored in more than 300 Brightbox battery systems and deliver it to the electricity grid when called upon by O&R. O&R and Sunrun's implementation plans were accepted by the New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC) last Friday. By bundling and coordinating the energy stored in Sunrun's Brightbox home battery systems, Sunrun will form a virtual power plant to partially offset demand on O&R's electricity grid in key areas, while providing clean, reliable, locally-generated solar power to residents in Orange and Rockland counties.    more

Nautilus Solar Energy Acquires 10.4 Mw Community Solar Portfolio in Minnesota From Renesola Energy
June 4, 2020
The portfolio is comprised of eight single axis tracker solar installations, each commonly referred to as a solar garden. Located in counties across the southern half of Minnesota, they are designed to produce enough energy to power over 1450 homes. The solar gardens' subscriber base is estimated to benefit from over $1.8M in electricity savings during the lifespan of the project.    more

Duke Energy Florida Announces 3 New Solar Power Plants to Complete 700-Megawatt Commitment
June 1, 2020
Duke Energy Florida currently has more than 500 MW of solar generation under construction or in operation, excluding the sites announced last week. The company is investing an estimated $1 billion to construct or acquire a total of 700 MW of solar power facilities from 2018 through 2022 in Florida and is planning to reach a total of almost 1,700 MW of solar generation over the next 10 years.    more

Smarter Grid Solutions Finalizes Five Solutions for Flexible Solar Interconnection to Utility Grids
May 20, 2020
Using the company's ANM Element software product, utility companies can monitor the amount of power generated by solar photovoltaics (PVs), wind turbines and other renewable energy devices connected to their substations in real-time and react to spikes in output and network loading.    more


America Has Lost 594,300 Clean Energy Jobs; 850,000 Expected by June 30
May 18, 2020
Nearly 600,000 U.S. clean energy workers have lost their jobs since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic after 447,208 new workers filed unemployment claims in April- tripling the claims filed in March. That's according to a new analysis of unemployment data released last week by E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), E4TheFuture, and BW Research Partnership.    more

Further European Solar Records to Follow in 2020
May 13, 2020
Following solar production records set in the UK, Germany and Spain in March and April, the European solar market is set to break further records in 2020. This is according to data and software architects for bankable solar investments, Solargis, whose solar irradiation maps show the impact relatively small fluctuations in global horizontal irradiation (GHI) are having on production during the current lockdown.    more

Sunverge Selected for Proposed Virtual Power Plant in Maryland
May 13, 2020
The project is expected to increase overall grid reliability, distributed energy resource integration, and allow for potential participation in the PJM wholesale electricity market. The VPP will enable additional grid services, including peak shaving and Reactive Power support, as well. The project is planned to have .55 MW / 2.2 MWh capacity and is projected to create $2 million in value over a 15-year period.    more

DuPont Publishes 2020 Global PV Reliability Report
May 13, 2020
DuPont this week released its latest Global Photovoltaic Reliability Report, with results from its highly developed field inspection and analysis program that monitors material degradation and its impact on module performance. The report is intended to help buyers and investors understand the breadth of component degradation issues and module failures that can occur in the field.    more

Interior Approves Plan for the Largest Solar Project in U.S. History
May 12, 2020
U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt has signed the Record of Decision for Solar Partners XI, LLC to construct a 690-MW photovoltaic solar electric generating facility and ancillary facilities about 30 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The estimated $1 billion Gemini Solar Project (Project) could be the eighth-largest solar power facility in the world when finished and is expected to generate enough electricity to power 260,000 homes in the Las Vegas area and potential energy markets in Southern California.    more

REC Solar and DHX-Dependable Hawaiian Express Announce Completion of Solar Microgrid Project
May 7, 2020
The solar generation is combined with 222 kWh of battery energy storage, a microgrid controller and other equipment. The result is a zero-emissions energy system that protects DHX's sensitive electronic equipment and provides up to four hours of backup power during outages. The microgrid enables a graceful shutdown and smooth transition from grid power during electric outages.    more

SunPower Secures $1 Billion in Solar + Storage Financing Through New Partnership with Tech CU
May 6, 2020
SunPower Corp. recently announced that a new $1 billion partnership with Technology Credit Union (Tech CU) will increase financing options for qualified U.S. residential solar customers. This financing commitment is expected to also allow for tens of thousands of SunPower solar systems to be funded over the course of the next four years.    more

NREL Helps Found Consortium to Boost Solar Perovskite Commercialization
April 30, 2020
"Perovskites have the potential to become a game-changer for solar and many other fields," said Martin Keller, director of NREL. While perovskite cells have shown promise in the lab, more work remains to be done to ensure that the technology is ready for commercial success. Manufacturing, durability, and sustainability remain challenges and will be the consortium's research focus.    more


QualityLogic + SunSpec Alliance Partner to Expand the Testing and Certification of Smart Energy Resources
April 29, 2020
The SunSpec Alliance and QualityLogic recently announced the approval of QualityLogic, Inc., as the first SunSpec Authorized Test Software Provider. QualityLogic has been working closely with SunSpec on its CA Rule 21 CSIP certification program since 2018.    more


Record Solar Outputs Help UK To Reach Longest Coal-Free Period Since Pre-Industrial Times
April 29, 2020
Maximized levels of solar generation have ensured the delivery of a new coal-free record period for the UK grid. Coal power plants have been offline since 00:00 on Friday 10 April 2020, and since then the UK has seen more than 1 terawatt hour of solar power put on the grid in that period 2 - enough to boil water for over 25 billion cups of tea or drive 6.7 billion kilometres in a Nissan Leaf.    more

Webinar: The World's Solar Industry Can Play a Critical Role in Post-COVID-19 Recovery, Creating Growth, Jobs and a Greener Future
April 27, 2020
The social and economic disruption brought about by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are having serious impacts on the solar PV industry globally - both in terms of day-to-day operations and investments - but the sector stands ready to resume its long-term growth trend and contribute to a green economic recovery that protects the climate, creates jobs and ensures inclusive growth.    more

Hawaiian Electric Preparing New Phase of Community Solar
April 24, 2020
Unlike the first phase, which was limited to 8 megawatts, this phase will be open to 235 MW of renewable generation across Hawaiian Electric's five-island service territory, including Molokai and Lanai. The second phase places special emphasis on opportunities for low-and-middle-income residential customers to participate.    more

8minute Solar Energy Expands Development Pipeline to 18 Gigawatts with New Solar-Plus-Storage Power Plants
April 24, 2020
8minute was the first to beat the cost of fossil fuels with solar photovoltaics (PV) and late last year received approval for the Eland Solar & Storage Center, the lowest-cost solar and energy storage project in the country. 8minute plans to replicate this model across its pipeline to provide a reliable alternative for baseload power plants.    more

Mississippi Public Service Commission Gives Green Light to 1,000-Acre Solar Farm
April 15, 2020
Recurrent Energy, a solar facility manufacturer, will build the project on behalf of Entergy Mississippi, LLC. The project should be complete by no later than mid-2022 and will be a single-axis tracking photovoltaic power generator. Its 350,000 PV modules will be able to generate 100 MW of clean energy, enough to power more than 16,000 homes.    more

Clean Energy Sector Emphasizes Its Role in Repowering America in Light of COVID-19 Crisis
March 26, 2020
"If federal and state lawmakers want to get America back to work, one of the most proven ways is with policies that expand America's fastest-growing job sector - clean energy - and support the nearly 3.4 million workers employed in every state and county across the country," says Bob Keefe, executive director of the national, nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs).    more

Huawei Predicts 10 Trends in Smart PV for 2025
March 19, 2020
Among the predicitions: More than 90% of global PV plants will be digitalized, over 70% PV plants will apply AI techniques, and PV plants will shift from grid-adapting to grid-supporting by 2025. Additionally, the proportion of PV systems coupled with energy storage will exceed 30%, and more than 80% of residential systems will connect to Virtual Power Plant (VPP) networks.    more

Solar Accounts for 40% of U.S. Electric Generating Capacity Additions in 2019, Adds 13.3 GW
March 17, 2020
Solar accounted for 40% of all new electric generating capacity in the U.S. in 2019, its highest share ever and more than any other source of electricity, with 13.3 gigawatts installed, according to a new report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie. Despite policy challenges and a second year of the Section 201 tariffs, the U.S. solar market grew by 23% from 2018.    more

FPL Receives Approval to Launch the Largest Community Solar Program in the U.S.
March 4, 2020
Florida Power & Light Company recently received approval from the Florida Public Service Commission to launch the largest community solar program in the United States. FPL SolarTogether will more than double the amount of community solar currently available in the U.S. and allow FPL customers to cost-effectively support the growth of solar in Florida.    more

Latest NREL Grid Data Book Reveals Key Trends in Renewable Integration.htm
March 4, 2020
Produced by NREL's Strategic Energy Analysis Center and LBNL's Electricity Markets and Policy Group, the Renewable Energy Grid Integration Data Book is intended to provide an overview of selected grid integration metrics that reflect recent changes to the operation and composition of the power system as variable renewable energy sources increase their shares of electricity supply.    more

California Energy Commission Approves First Community Solar Proposal Under 2019 Energy Code
February 27, 2020
The Energy Code took effect January 1, 2020, and requires a solar photovoltaic (PV) system on new single-family and low-rise residential homes. When adopted, the updated Energy Code included community solar as an alternative option to rooftop PV systems.    more


Duke Energy Florida Announces Installation of One-Millionth Solar Panel in State
February 25, 2020
The company is investing an estimated $1 billion to construct or acquire a total of 700 MW of solar power facilities from 2018 through 2022 in Florida. It is projecting to more than double its solar investments, and plans to potentially install more than 1,500 MW of solar generation by 2028.    more

EU Market Outlook for Solar Power 2019-2023
February 18, 2020 | SolarPower Europe
Since a successful energy transition must be renewable, efficient and smart, the digital transition and the energy transition should go hand-in-hand. Solar is the most distributed of all energy resources and thus solar solutions are a perfect match for digitalisation and the application of distributed ledger technologies such as blockchain.    view report (registration required)

20 New Competitors for the American-Made Solar Prize Announced
February 13, 2020
Each round of the prize brings new technologies to pre-commercial readiness in less than a year, ensuring new ideas enter the marketplace. As part of the competition, teams will have access to a network of U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories, technology incubators and accelerators, venture capital firms, angel investors, and industry.    more

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $125.5 Million in New Funding for Solar Technologies
February 6, 2020
DOE’s  Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2020 Funding Program (SETO 2020) will help to continue the steady decline in solar costs. In addition, projects will tackle key emerging challenges facing the solar industry, including enabling solar and storage, enhancing cybersecurity protections, manufacturing, developing solar-powered microgrids, and siting solar with agriculture.    more

Capital Dynamics and 8minute Solar Energy Partner on Breakthrough 400MWac Eland Solar & Storage Center
January 24, 2020
The project features a 300MW/1200 MWh energy storage facility, making it one of the largest in the world and the record low-cost for this type of facility. Initial construction, which has commenced, will proceed in two phases with the goal of starting operations in 2022 and will reach full operational capabilities in 2023.    more

Vivint Solar's 'Guilt Report' Finds That 70% Of Americans Feel Guilty About Wasting Energy
January 17, 2020
The company surveyed a group of 2,500 participants of varying age and gender throughout the United States. The report included questions about climate change headlines causing stress, whether or not participants felt guilty about not recycling, guilt about water usage, and whether participants felt more guilty about wasting energy due to environmental impact or cost.    more

Solar Installations to Grow by Additional 142 GW in 2020 - Seven Times the World's Total Solar Installations a Decade Ago
January 9, 2020 | IHS Markit
"Another year of double-digit global demand growth in 2020 is proof of the continued and exponential growth of solar PV installations in the last decade," said Edurne Zoco, director, Clean Technology & Renewables, IHS Markit. "If the 2010s were the decade of technology innovation, steep cost reductions, large subsidies and dominance by a few markets then 2020 marks the decade of emerging unsubsidized solar, diversification and expansion of solar installation demand across the globe, new corporate entry players and increasing competitiveness versus conventional energy sources."    more

SEIA: Solar Industry to Lead Power Generation in the 2020s
January 7, 2020
Late last year, SEIA announced an aggressive goal for solar power to reach 20% of all U.S. electricity generation by 2030, naming the 2020s the Solar+ Decade. By 2030, the industry expects to double the U.S. solar workforce, add $345 billion in private investment, and offset electricity sector emissions by 35%.    more


EDPR Installs a New Energy Storage System Connected to a Solar PV Plant
December 11, 2019
The energy storage system at the Bailesti plant is particularly relevant due to its DC coupling installation, reducing energy loss in the charging process and adding new functions that enhance performance, including the recovery from power cuts and the capture of energy at low voltages or on cloudy days.    more

Nevada PUCN Approves PPA for $1 Billion Gemini Solar and Battery Storage Project
December 9, 2019
Gemini is believed to be one of the largest projects of its kind globally, with plans to host 690MW of solar PV arrays located on up to 7,100 acres, coupled with battery storage infrastructure. The Gemini project, expected to exceed $1 billion in capital expenditure, will capture and store solar energy during the day and dispatch it during the early evening peak period when power demand surges in Nevada.    more

PUCN Approves 1,190 Megawatts of New Solar Energy, 590 Megawatts of Additional Energy Storage
December 5, 2019
In April, Senate Bill 358 was signed into law by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak requiring Nevada energy providers to achieve a 50 percent renewable energy portfolio standard by 2030 - a change that NV Energy fully supported and is one step closer to satisfying with these projects.    more

Heliogen Achieves Breakthrough Temperatures from Concentrated Sunlight for Industrial Processes
December 3, 2019
Heliogen, the clean energy company that is transforming sunlight to create and replace fuels, recently announced its launch and that it has - for the first time commercially - concentrated solar energy to exceed temperatures greater than 1,000 degrees Celsius. At that temperature, Heliogen can replace the use of fossil fuels in critical industrial processes, including the production of cement, steel, and petrochemicals, dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions from these activities.    more

Global New Power Capacity Additions of Utility-Scale Energy Storage Are Expected to Experience a 35% Compound Annual Growth Rate
November 27, 2019
"A key trend seen around the world is that the early stages of a market's development typically include projects that are smaller and focused on single applications, often grid stability services such as frequency regulation," says Alex Eller, senior research analyst at Navigant Research. "As markets mature, such as the US, Germany, and Australia, new projects tend to shift to target more substantial multi-revenue stream opportunities for capacity and reserve services, including combined renewables plus storage plants."    more

Ørsted to Build Landmark Solar & Storage Project
November 14, 2019
The Permian Energy Center will comprise 420MWac of solar PV and 40MWac of battery storage located on a 3,600-acre site alongside existing oil and gas installations and will supply growing West Texas demand for electricity. In a region synonymous with traditional energy production, the project underscores the increasing cost competitiveness of renewable energy.    more

SMA America and EnergyHub Partner to Deliver Solar Inverter Management For Utilities
November 13, 2019
SMA and EnergyHub are launching the SEP 2.0/IEEE 2030.5 protocol-based integration with Arizona Public Service (APS) to enable the utility's innovative APS Solar Communities program. APS will use the Mercury DERMS to control SMA inverters at multi-family and commercial-sited solar PV systems throughout its service territory.    more

How Solar-Based Electrification Can Accelerate European Decarbonization
November 11, 2019
SolarPower Europe's new report 'Solar Electrification: solutions for a decarbonized energy system', illustrates the multifaceted benefits of solar-based electrification, revealing the potential of solar electricity to power transport, agriculture, smart buildings, and difficult-to-decarbonize industries.    more

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $128 Million in New Projects to Advance Solar Technologies
November 7, 2019
Through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office, DOE will fund 75 innovative research projects that are intended to lower solar electricity costs, while working to boost solar manufacturing, reduce red tape, and make solar systems more resilient to cyberattacks.    more

City of Los Angeles Taps 8minute Solar for Game-Changing Clean Energy Project
November 7, 2019
"Utilizing existing transmission infrastructure to an extent never before seen for solar power plants, allows for the rapid expansion of clean energy projects while saving the ratepayer money. It's a huge win -- for the city of Los Angeles, the people of California, and workers as well as a game-changer for the renewable energy industry," said Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, President and CEO of 8minute Solar Energy.    more

SaskPower Set to Launch Revamped Net Metering Program
October 28, 2019
Changes from the previous program include no limit on program capacity, no program end date, and no specified contract length. With the relaunch of the Net Metering program, there will no longer be a Government of Saskatchewan rebate on capital equipment and installations across the province.    more


Green Light for Germany's Largest Solar Park
October 23, 2019
The Supervisory Board and Board of Management of EnBW have agreed to construct the largest solar park in Germany. EnBW will build its "Weesow-Willmersdorf" solar park on an area covering 164 hectares near to Werneuchen in Brandenburg. The energy generated will be able to supply around 50,000 households in an environmentally friendly way.    more

Iron Mountain Announces the Largest Rooftop Solar Installation of Any Data Center in the U.S.
October 22, 2019
Developed in collaboration with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, a leading clean energy company with approximately 21,000 MW of net generating capacity, and Black Bear Energy, which facilitated the project acting as the owner's representative to Iron Mountain, the project is slated for completion at the end of 2019. It will be the largest rooftop solar installation of any data center in the USA.    more

FPL Announces Plans for the Largest Community Solar Program in the U.S.
October 10, 2019
Through this voluntary program, participating customers will help accelerate the cost-effective growth of solar in Florida by subscribing to a portion of new solar power capacity, and in return, they will receive credits that are expected to reduce their monthly bills over time.    more

Ameren Missouri Bringing Solar Generation to Neighborhoods Across the State
October 3, 2019
As part of the Neighborhood Solar program made possible by a law passed by the Missouri General Assembly in 2018, Ameren Missouri will install solar generation facilities in parking lots, on roofs and in available open spaces across the state.    more

The Future of Solar is Utility-Scale
March 4, 2019
According to recent analysis by DNV GL, powerful economies of scale are pushing down the cost of solar photovoltaic power to such an extent that utility-scale projects will be 3 times more cost efficient than smaller microgrids by 2020.    more

Entergy New Orleans Pilots Residential Rooftop Solar Program
March 4, 2019
Entergy New Orleans is piloting a new program that puts solar panels on the rooftops of low-income customers' homes and gives them a $30 credit on their energy bills every month, rain or shine.    more

APS Announces One of the Largest Battery Storage Initiatives in the United States
February 22, 2019
The recently announced initiatives will add 850 megawatts of battery storage and at least 100 megawatts of new solar generation by 2025, for a total of 950 megawatts of new clean-energy technology. The battery storage will come from two projects: a 100-megawatt battery provided by AES, and a 50-megawatt battery by Invenergy.    more

Entergy New Orleans Puts Commercial Rooftop Solar Generation on the Grid
February 5, 2019
Entergy New Orleans has made significant progress in constructing its 5 megawatt commercial-scale rooftop solar pilot project, which was approved by the New Orleans City Council in June 2018. In fact, the company recently completed the installation of panels that provide approximately 2.5 MW of solar-generating capacity on a series of warehouse rooftops near the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal.    more

Sunworks to Construct 1.5 Megawatt (mW) Solar and Storage Project for Kingston Technology
February 5, 2019
Sunworks will integrate a NantEnergy energy storage system that is comprised of 10-30 kW inverters, 10-40 kWh battery banks and control management software. The new system is an integral component of Kingston's plans to reduce its electrical footprint by 20 percent as well as advance its corporate sustainability initiatives.    more

Hybrid Electricity System Would Reduce Rates, Improve Service
February 1, 2019
A new distribution system designed by researchers at the University of Waterloo would reduce electricity prices by more than five per cent while also improving service reliability. "Minimizing power conversion requirements creates a simpler system with greater efficiency and less loss," said Haytham Ahmed, a postdoctoral fellow who led the research with electrical engineering colleagues at Waterloo. "As you reduce the number of converters, you also reduce the chances of service interruptions due to breakdowns."    more

New Primer Helps Regulators, Stakeholders Adopt New IEEE Standard for Distributed Energy Resources
February 1, 2019
This week, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) published Making the Grid Smarter: State Primer on Adopting the New IEEE Standard 1547-2018 for Distributed Energy Resources. IREC's new resource will help states, regulators and other stakeholders navigate the related technical and policy issues they will need to address in the next few years.    more

Black & Veatch: Renewable Energy, Technology Spur Utility Modernization Push
January 30, 2019
Black & Veatch's 2019 Strategic Directions: Smart Utilities Report, released recently, found after surveying hundreds of utility operators that utility business models are changing to accommodate the growing volume of renewable energy coming onto the grid: "Similar to the way that music services like Spotify and YouTube give artists a platform to share and monetize their product without the oversight of a record company, a DER marketplace can have the same impact on our electric grid."    more

Consumers Energy Dedicates First Ever Solar, Battery Storage Systems on Grand Rapids' West Side
January 25, 2019
Nearly 1,800 solar panels atop the Bridge Street Market and adjoining buildings between Bridge and First Streets within the Circuit West district are accompanied nearby by a 500-kilowatt battery. It's the first such energy distribution setup in Michigan and one of the first in the country intended to make renewable energy increasingly reliable and cost effective.    more

DNV GL: Middle East Electricity Demand To Triple by 2050, Powered by Rapid Growth of Wind and Solar
January 25, 2019
Electricity demand in the Middle East will triple by 2050, accelerating the growth of renewable energy and triggering the diversification of economies away from fossil fuels.These are some of the findings of DNV GL's Energy Transition Outlook 2018, which provides an outlook of the global energy landscape up to 2050.    more

NREL Research Proves Switchable Solar Window Works, Now Focus Moves to Making it Work Better
January 21, 2019
A year after Lance Wheeler attracted international attention for his research detailing a window that could both darken and generate electricity, he's starting over almost from scratch.    more