This is your SolarWakeup for April 7th, 2021

Defining ClimateTech. ClimateTech is the nexus where technology meets software to aid in the fight to reverse climate change. The ‘tech’ sector is largely software and at some point it meant having a photo sharing app to become a billionaire but it also brings us to what I’m learning about energy storage. Batteries systems are a set of hardware parts which include the battery racks, power electronics, inverters and transformers but they are complemented by controls run by software. In reality, no battery project is complete without that software component meeting the need of your project, i.e. what do you plan on doing with the battery post install, and qualifying that software with the ISO/RTO and potentially meeting the NERC regulations depending on how big the project is or your portfolio is. For solar plus storage projects, you need to install the site software, beyond the battery EMS, to coordinate the generation on site and plan, sometimes daily based on forecast, when to charge and discharge the system. My point is that we, as a solar industry, have jumped into the deep end of the ClimateTech sector. But that’s a good thing because we will become key market makers instead of constantly being at the mercy of whatever the market price for energy is. More to come…

Infra Bill Path. Biden’s infrastructure proposal includes a corporate tax rate increase to 28% which Joe Manchin has said no to. He did open the door for a 25% tax rate which is a preview to how Biden could get his vote. A tax increase means that this is unlikely to be bipartisan but Schumer got the green light for a third reconciliation this year thus creating the path for the infrastructure bill. Wait and see…

Canary In The CleanTech Mine. It wasn’t long since GTM shut down the news site for the team to get back together. Supported by RMI, the one and only Eric Wesoff is leading the team as Managing Editor and is joined by former GTMers Emma Foehringer Merchant, Jeff St. John, and Julian Spector. Additionally, former Grist/Vox climate journalist, David Roberts, is added to the group as Editor at Large. Canary Media will be a new name you see most days on the SolarWakeup, a rather poorly edited newsletter which I’ve known since Eric told me I need an editor 8 years ago. Great to see this effort get off the ground and hats off to RMI for their continued leadership in the sector. Between this and SolarApp, RMI is at the center of the more important efforts in our industry. Eric writes their mission here.

Electric Pick Ups. I’m all in on the EV Silverado and F150 face off. The Rivian and Cybertruck are due to hit the streets before Detroit’s OEMs do but pick up trucks are the key to America’s hearts.

Back To Court. PG&E has been charged criminally for their role in 2019 wildfires.

It’s Official. Forbes billionaire list was released this week and we have our first US billionaire from solar on the list. Shoals’s Dean Solon hits the list at #1444. Congrats Dean!

 Opinion

Best, Yann