201 Woes. SunPower is cutting jobs. As a premium, high efficiency module, SunPower took a disproportionate hit from the 201 tariffs. Premium modules, with higher prices, get a 30% tariff that is more $/watt than a mass-market poly module. There are business impacts affecting the company as well, given that its utility scale segment was suffering from low margins and First Solar’s series 6 is taking a bite out of the efficiency advantage. SunPower must be talking internally about focusing on the C&I and residential markets by owning the dominant market share in those markets. That’s what I would do if I were them, great supply chains into dealers with a suite of financing options that make deals go forward. Solar is hard enough and being all things to all segments is too difficult.
Improving Conferences. I want to take you behind the scenes for a moment. SolarWakeup Live is a concept that comes out of 10 years attending and speaking at conferences and conventions. It’s true that there is a solar conference every single week of the year now and adding more seems odd but we have to change the way we’re doing it. Starting with the $1,000 entry fees and the 3-4 speakers per panel. Getting more than 3 answers into a panel is considered a good panel and I doubt that the attendees get much out of them. My goal is to get 1,000 folks into an auditorium for a day of 1 on 1 discussions for an entry fee under $100. We’re on track for that. After three events, SolarWakeup Live! has grown into a half day of discussions with 150 people in the room at sub $100. I’ve done interviews with one or two panelists with varying degrees of feedback and kept production costs low in order to make it work. Thus far the reviews speak highly of the content and networking with desire for more traditional venue amenities. San Francisco is the next location because it’s the most dense geography of SolarWakeup readership and our first event on the West Coast.
Community Solar. Nice reporting from Frank Andorka on the changes in New York on the size of community solar within the regulations. Moving the plants from 2mw to 5mw is a big move, allows for some fixed costs to be spread over bigger sites and greater cost efficiencies.
Reducing Pollution. I sense a shift in California. The energy rates, even when demand charges make up a large part, customer demands and environmental requirements mean corporations are looking for ways to re-tool their energy supply. With the cost of solar, solar carports, and energy storage dropping, it makes sense for every business to look for ways to execute a change in this. Financing options are also more apparent for them. PPAs remain available if the balance sheets work, PACE is almost everywhere in the State and new portfolio approaches are making the merge of efficiency and generation possible.
Big Week At SolarWakeup. I’ll be in San Francisco on Wednesday talking energy storage development, contracts and business models and ending the day at the CalSSA reception in Sacramento. On Thursday, I head to Walnut Creek for a special screening of Solar Roots – The Pioneers of PV at the QuickMount PV, the leader of residential solar mounts and rails.
- PV-Tech: SunPower to reduce workforce by 3% in new restructuring round
- SolarWakeup Podcast: Alfred Griffin – President NY Green Bank at SolarWakeup Live! New York
- PV-Magazine: New York sanctions larger community solar projects
- Think Progress: California’s attorney general puts polluters on notice with new environmental justice unit
- Michigan Radio: Does requiring utilities to buy renewable energy help or hurt ratepayers?
- Renewable Energy World: Are There New Tariff Shocks Coming Soon for Solar?
- Bloomberg: Why Charging Your Electric Car at Night Could Save the World
- Greentech Media: Fire-Torn Northern California Becomes ‘Living Lab’ for Microgrids
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann