This is your SolarWakeup for January 6th, 2025
Station Identification. Welcome to 2025, the 13th year running SolarWakeup for me. For those of that joined us in the past year, you may not know what this is all about or who I am. My name is Yann Brandt and for the better part of my solar career I have started my day by publishing this newsletter. The first newsletter went out to 37 people, and today’s will go to nearly 8,000. In the world of email newsletters that’s not a big number but the SolarWakeup community has grown to be its own phenomenon for which I’m grateful. While I love doing this, I have a day job and get to interact with many of you and help each other find successes. That job today is as CEO of FTC Solar, the tracker manufacturer serving many utility scale solar farms, so if there’s a way for me to be helpful to you, just hit reply on any of these emails and it comes directly to me. Cheers to an amazing 2025 and keep cleaning up that solar spill!
The 2025 Outlook. As I think about 2025 and what it brings, I can only think of some version of uncertainty. Don’t view that as a negative sentiment, on the positive side there is lots to do with regulation and bureaucracy in interconnections, permitting and development approvals that would provide more projects. The President’s desire to lower the cost of capital could also play a big role in solar’s year. On the other hand we don’t know what we will see with the solar portion of the IRA, I say we don’t know because solar is incredibly popular and the margins in DC are razor thin. Solar was a $60billion market last year and the appetite for solar energy is at an all-time high especially with the Silicon Valley execs that are running many portions of the DC ecosystem now. Microsoft wants to build $80billion worth of data centers and I’d assume that most of their energy will come from solar. Of course the solar and now the battery market will have to deal with trade issues, how those play out is to be determined as well, hence uncertain what it means for us. So at the end of the day, I’m optimistic that there are known risks on the horizon that are being advocated thoroughly by well funded trade associations so as along as the solar industry works intelligently and focuses on smart business decisions, we’ll be in a good spot come the end of the year.
News
1 Axios:
Polar vortex poised to spin into U.S., leading to frigid January
2 New York Times:
After Fierce Lobbying, Treasury Sets Rules for Billions in Hydrogen Subsidies
3 Bloomberg:
What to Watch in Climate This Year
4 UTility Dive:
Pennsylvania asks FERC to lower PJM capacity price cap to prevent ‘runaway’ costs
5 Reuters:
Exclusive - TPG in talks to acquire solar firm Altus Power, sources say
6 Solar Builder:
NEMA establishing BESS standards for data centers
7 PV-Tech:
REC Silicon abandons US polysilicon production at Moses Lake
8 Energy Storage News:
Aypa Power secures US$190 million financing for 200MW/400MWh Texas BESS
9 Canary Media:
Lots of demand, too little grid
Opinions:
10 PV-Magazine:
‘High electricity prices in California have nothing to do with renewables’
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 18th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Reuters:
Half US at high risk of power shortfall in next decade, regulator says
2 CNBC:
Goldman Sachs double upgrades this solar stock, says 2025 will mark a major turnaround
3 Bloomberg:
Cybersecurity Risks Rise With Growth of Rooftop Solar
4 Utility Dive:
Cambridge, Massachusetts, inks record 50 MW virtual PPA deal with MN8 Energy
5 New York Times:
PG&E Secures $15 Billion Loan From U.S. Energy Department
6 Axios:
2023, 2024 climate change records defy scientific explanation
7 Energy Storage News:
Boralex closes financing for Canada’s largest BESS at 300MW/1,200MWh
8 PV-Magazine:
$10 billion in government loans announced for EV companies
Opinions:
9 Canary Media:
Rooftop solar keeps getting more accessible. Here’s why.
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 17th, 2024
Safe Harboring. If you’re looking at safe harboring materials for your projects, the team at FTC Solar is happy to help ensure that you get the right solution in place for you. Happy to connect you with the right people on our team to get you setup in advance of the deadlines, definitely running out of days for that.
News
1 Reuters:
US power deals down 36% in last year due to political uncertainty, PwC says
2 Utility Dive:
NERC adopts 2 new standards to boost extreme weather reliability
3 New York Times:
‘Unfettered’ Gas Exports Would Harm U.S. Economy, Energy Secretary Warns
4 Axios:
U.S. and Europe look to break China's grip on key minerals
5 PV-Tech:
Transatlantic interconnection could stabilise electricity prices and reduce curtailments – Ember
6 Renewable Energy World:
US says $365 million is available to install solar and battery storage systems in Puerto Rico
7 Solar Power World:
New HJT player NuVision Solar plans cell and panel manufacturing in Florida
8 Canary Media:
A new way to fix grid bottlenecks for EV charging
9 PV-Magazine:
Phillips 66 to power oil refinery with solar
Opinions:
10 Bloomberg:
Fervo CEO Tim Latimer on Ramping Up Advanced Geothermal Enegy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 13th, 2024
Safe Harboring. If you’re looking at safe harboring materials for your projects, the team at FTC Solar is happy to help ensure that you get the right solution in place for you. Happy to connect you with the right people on our team to get you setup in advance of the deadlines, definitely running out of days for that.
Virtuous Or Profitable. I agree with incoming Secretary of Energy Wright, energy is virtuous. But it’s not how we make the electron that is virtuous, it’s the electron itself that allows for a child to read by a light, a kitchen to cook a warm meal or a factory to operate. That is why energy is the core ingredient for economic growth. And growth is virtuous. If America is going to lead in AI and data centers, it will build all of the energy possible and prioritize what is ready to build and cheapest.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
The solar industry’s top 10 priorities for Trump
2 New York Times:
Trump’s Choice to Run Energy Says Fossil Fuels Are Virtuous
3 Reuters:
US power deals down 36% in last year due to political uncertainty, PwC says
4 PV-Tech:
NREL says thinner, taller solar modules contributing to increased rate of breakages
5 Utility DIve:
Major US energy buyers projected to acquire 17 TWh of hourly renewable energy certificates by 2026
6 Bloomberg:
Climate Tech Funds See Cash Pile Rise to $86 Billion as Investing Slows
7 Renewable energy World:
Storage is booming and batteries are cheaper than ever. Can it stay this way?
8 Energy Storage News:
US solar and storage project progress for Pine Gate, Avantus, Arevon in Western states
Opinions:
9 Canary Media:
The cleantech companies that didn’t make it through 2024
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 12th, 2024
Good Energy, A VlogCast. During the SEIA Board of Directors meeting last week I had the pleasure of spending some time with SEIA’s Chief Communications and Chief Content Officers on their amazing Good Energy podcast. We chatted about the solar market and how it’s changed over the years and where we go from here. Check it out on YouTube and drop a comment to help SEIA broaden their listener base.
News
1 Utility Dive:
Treasury finalizes ITC rules, providing clarity to solar, storage, other clean energy sectors
2 Reuters:
US solar industry downplays climate in strategy for Trump era
3 The Hill:
Biden doubles tariffs on Chinese solar panel components
4 Renewable Energy World:
Now with more domestic content! Enphase rolls out new microinverters with bonus tax credits in mind
5 Bloomberg:
Hacking Rooftop Solar Is a Way to Break Europe’s Power Grid
6 PV-Tech:
Australia awards 2.8GW of solar in first CIS tender round
7 Energy Storage News:
Lithium-ion battery pack prices fall 20% in 2024 amidst ‘fight for market share’
Opinions:
8 PV-Magazine:
California Public Utilities Commission kicks community solar deadline to 2026
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 11th, 2024
Good Energy, A VlogCast. During the SEIA Board of Directors meeting last week I had the pleasure of spending some time with SEIA’s Chief Communications and Chief Content Officers on their amazing Good Energy podcast. We chatted about the solar market and how it’s changed over the years and where we go from here. Check it out on YouTube and drop a comment to help SEIA broaden their listener base.
News
1 The Verge:
Google’s future data centers will be built next to solar and wind farms
2 Time:
Community Solar Is Filling an Important Gap in the Clean Energy Transition
3 Fortune:
Elon Musk and Google’s CEO want to cover the desert with solar panels. Will Donald Trump agree?
4 Utility Dive:
The AI paradox - energy-hungry technology could speed clean energy transition
5 New York Times:
Here’s How Much Cleaner Energy Could Save America, in Lives and Money
6 Reuters:
France is losing renewable investment due to slow permits, say Total and EDF CEOs
7 PV-Tech:
Recurrent Energy signs Spanish PPA with ‘major’ US tech firm
8 Renewable Energy World:
How utilities are working to meet AI data centers’ voracious appetite for electricity
9 Energy Storage News:
Georgia Power receives unanimous approval on 500MW BESS projects across the state
10 PV-Magazine:
Boston doctors prescribe solar energy
Opinions:
11 Bloomberg:
There's an Electric Way for Democrats to Rebrand Climate Action
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 10th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Data For Progress:
Voters Are Interested in Rooftop Solar, but See Barriers to Personal Adoption
2 Reuters:
BP forms offshore wind joint venture in renewables retreat
3 CleanTechnica:
The Sunshine State Projected to Take Over as Top-Ranked Residential Solar State in 2028
4 Bloomberg:
How a Hedge Fund Is Using Compute Power to Invest in AI
5 Energy Storage News:
Australia
6 Canary Media:
Data centers are driving US power demand to hard-to-reach heights
7 PV-Magazine:
DOE seeks experts in renewables siting to advise 13 state collaboratives
Opinions:
8 Utility Dive:
Electrons vs. molecules
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 9th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Utility Dive:
Five-year US load growth forecast surges 456%, to 128 GW
2 Bloomberg:
California Popularized Solar, But It's Behind Other States on Panels for Renters
3 Reuters:
India's Tata Power prefers domestic market over lucrative solar exports, CEO says
4 PV-Tech:
Maxeon posts US$179 million Q3 losses, plans to ‘re-create’ company
5 Solar Power World:
Dimension Energy completes 44-MW community solar project in California
7 PV-Magazine:
Largest solar and energy storage project in U.S. achieves regulatory approval
8 Renewable Energy World:
As data centers proliferate, conflict with local communities follows
Opinions:
9 New York Times:
Climate Activists Need to Radically Change Their Approach Under Trump
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 6th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 PV-Tech:
SolarEdge appoints new CEO, effective immediately
2 Reuters:
Meta buys credits from four big US solar projects
3 UTility Dive:
BlackRock, Temasek venture leads $35M funding round for ConnectDER
4 Solar Power World:
Treasury releases final rules on Sec. 48 ITC
5 Energy Storage News:
US DOE clean energy loan and grant activity soars after Trump election, data shows
6 Canary Media:
Xcel Energy says data centers won’t delay Minnesota clean energy target
7 PV-Magazine:
Ten reasons why small-scale, non-utility solar is important
Opinions:
8 Bloomberg:
Is This the Start of a Clean Energy Investment Supercycle?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 5th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 PV-Tech:
Enphase launches residential power control product amid shifting inverter market
2 Bloomberg:
UK Nuclear Plants to Stay Online Longer in Clean-Power Boost
3 PV-Magazine:
A record third quarter for U.S. clean energy installations
4 Reuters:
Exclusive - Shell slows offshore wind spending, splits power business in CEO review
5 Utility Dive:
When TOU rates aren’t enough
6 Axios:
Meta joins the nuclear-powered AI fray
7 Energy Storage News:
German TSO Amprion launches tender for ‘decentralised grid booster’ projects
Opinions:
8 Renewable Energy World:
Duke Energy data access rules poised to help North Carolina communities meet climate goals
Have a great day!
Yann
