This is your SolarWakeup for August 12th, 2020

It’s Kamala. The VP pick is out and as predicted here last week, Senator Harris is joining the Biden ticket. The legislative headline right now is her environmental justice bill with AOC that is right down the fairway of solar advocates and our industries broader mission to do good. This opens the Senate seat in California and an interesting pick (though many say unlikely) is Kevin de Leon, former Senate Pro Tem and 100% RPS advocate. The Biden Harris ticket definitely sends a message to our industry that they view environmental issues as top of the to do list and our work is to hold them to it. That being said, you need to be elected before you can govern, which includes raising money. On behalf of the SolarWakeup family, you can show your support to the campaign here. This isn’t an election to sit out.

Time Of Big Modules. SNEC took place in China and PV-Tech visited the show. The story coming from the show is the increase in scale of modules, some doubling the standard 60cell modules in use in the market today. 500w, 600w, and even 700watt modules were exhibited as well as the expansion to 78 cells.

Everywhere You Land. Every person in solar has looked at the giant roofs without solar when they land at major airports, naked roofs. These naked roofs are a major dilemma for solar pros because putting solar on them is much harder than you think. Energy consumption is generally lower than potential output, tenants have leases less than the life of the solar plant, energy rates are low and many are owned by SPV holdcos. The market development needed to target this market is to view these roofs as land where the plant does not typically serve the consumer below. So we can talk about the 145GW market potential but reality is more complicated than technical potential.

Free Solar For Everyone. The lead generation ads are largely annoying, my friends send me the latest government program guaranteeing free solar all the time. But reality and lead gen is getting closer together with the latest loan product from Mosaic that is no payment for 12 months, not much different from other consumer products. Here is something you wouldn’t see though, the loan is provided by Webbank (per press release) which is owned by Steel Partners, which also owns roofing/solar player OMG. There is no market impact of that relationship but I thought it was interesting that a industrial public holding company is in solar with two portfolio companies and most executives wouldn’t even realize it.

Duke Earning Call, Tweet. Goldman Sachs analyst asked Duke executives a solar question, hat tip to Ben Inskeep for catching this tweet.

Tweet Of The Day. From Dave Pomerantz, it involves utilities, CEOs, private jets and safety.

Buyer’s Group. Your competition is joining the SolarWakeup Buyer’s Group, ask them if you don’t believe me. The market is maturing and this is a big part. 

Opinion

Best, Yann