This is your SolarWakeup for September 9th, 2024
Welcome To Anaheim. The solar industry comes back to Anaheim today some of you attending RE+ while others attend SPI. This show is bigger than any before, you’ll see when you walk around and realize you still have more to see. As solar leaders come together, you’ll find the topic of politics, the election, trade rules and state policies will be at the top of mind for many. Here’s what the top story tells me, solar is is good for everyone. California and Texas are about as far apart politically as it gets at scale and they are at the top of all things solar and energy storage. Ultimately, solar wants an environment to be able to develop, build and generate solar; across all market segments. America is at a crossroads for energy demand and we need to build all the generation we possibly can.
We’re Turning 12. The first day of SPI also serves as the official birthday of SolarWakeup. Fun fact, the first newsletter was sent to 37 subscribers and I got up at 5am to write it. Neither of which is the case anymore! Thank you for the thousands of you that read this digest (in its many iterations) most days and creating so many relationships that have spanned years. I will be in the Hilton area for the majority of RE+, but I always love to say hi if you see me.
News
1 Axios:
Solar is bigger in Texas
2 Reuters:
High fossil fuel use highlights US power transition challenge
3 Utility Dive:
US energy storage installations rise 62% in Q2 to 2.9 GW
4 WY Daily:
Solar Developers Take Another Swing at Dominion’s Rules for Mid-size Projects
5 Bloomberg:
Germany Ready to Help Fund $22 Billion South African Grid Revamp
6 PV-Tech:
Tigo Energy files lawsuit against Zhejiang Benyi for rapid shutdown copyright infringement
7 Renewable Energy World:
Yellen says ending Biden tax incentives would be ‘historic mistake’ for states like North Carolina
8 Canary Media:
Chart - The UK is about to stop using coal to produce electricity
9 PV-Magazine:
Startup offers AI-based software solution to predict component failure in utility-scale inverters
Opinions:
10 New York Times:
Solar Farms Have a Superpower Beyond Clean Energy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 6th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Renewable Energy World:
RE+ is right around the corner, here’s some stuff to look out for
2 Bloomberg:
Netflix and Chill the Planet? The Streamer Wants to Be Greener
3 New York Times:
U.S. Election Looms Over Climate Talks with China
4 Reuters:
Yellen warns that ending US clean energy tax credits would raise consumer costs
5 Utility Dive:
PJM considers fast-track review for shovel-ready generating projects
6 PV-Tech:
Oxford PV ships first commercial perovskite tandem modules
7 Energy Storage News:
UBS Asset Management’s 1GWh BESS portfolio in Texas gets financing through major banks
8 PV-Magazine:
Enphase product enables California solar upgrades without bump to NEM 3.0
Opinions:
9 Canary Media:
California lawmakers punt on chances to deal with utility bill crisis
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 5th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Economist:
Clean energy’s next trillion-dollar business
2 UTility Dive:
Reregulation? How utilities and states are responding to PJM’s record capacity prices
3 HEatmap News:
This IRA Program Spawned 50,000 Solar Projects In Low-Income Communities. Who Benefited?
4 BLoomberg:
Reliance Wins Bid for Battery Storage Gigafactory in India
5 Reuters:
Clouds gather over China’s needed solar mergers
6 PV-Tech:
US residential solar installer Lumio files Chapter 11 bankruptcy
7 Energy storage News:
Capacity Investment Scheme sees 3,626MWh of energy storage awarded in South Australia and Victoria
8 Canary Media:
EV sales are growing. So why are automakers getting cold feet?
9 PV-Magazine:
Scientists estimate material demand for all silicon PV module technologies by 2050
Opinions:
10 Axios:
Oil prices slide under multiple pressures
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 4th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Solar Power World:
ITC says Voltage did infringe on Shoals solar PV connector patents
2 Renewable Energy World:
TVA system hits its summer peak
3 Utility Dive:
Lithium battery oversupply, low prices seen through 2028 despite energy storage boom
4 Bloomberg:
Coal Generates Less Than Half of Australian Power for First Time
5 Axios:
Heat wave to scorch Southwest, West as wildfire concerns increase
6 PV-Magazine:
Global solar manufacturing reaches 1.2 TW, said Bloomberg NEF
7 Reuters:
Record UK renewables auction gives boost to offshore wind
8 PV-Tech:
Maxeon reports losses of US$7.8 million as CBP detains Mexican module imports to the US
9 Canary Media:
The country’s biggest electric school-bus fleet will also feed the grid
Opinions:
10 Energy Storage News:
‘US perhaps the most exciting market’
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 3rd, 2024
In One Week. The annual trek to RE+ (or SPI for the old guard) happens a week from now. You’re going to find an enormous show, far bigger than previous Anaheim variations, so don’t be shocked by the shear scale of it all. I look forward to seeing you there and possibly sharing a cheers with some of you as well. For the sake of everyone’s schedule, let’s all try to be on time to our meetings (I am smiling as I write that because of how crazy this is going to be). Of course, for those of you in the market for some trackers, you know where to find me!
News
1 Tomorrow’s World Today:
Over 6,000 Sheep Will Graze Around More Than 10,000 Acres of Solar Panels
2 Utility Dive:
BLM proposes opening 31M acres of public land to solar development
3 Bloomberg:
TotalEnergies to Invest $444 Million in New JV with Adani Green
4 PV-Magazine:
Maxeon to offer warranty support for bankrupt SunPower
5 Reuters:
Maxeon says will seek to block SunPower asset sale
6 PV-Tech:
BNEF expects 592GW of solar PV installs globally in 2024
7 Energy Storage News:
India’s Reliance Industries on track with solar PV, battery storage gigafactory plans
8 Canary Media:
Chart - Solar power is shattering global records
Opinions:
9 Axios:
A utility giant confronts the demand surge
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 30th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Bloomberg:
Bankrupt Solar Firm SunPower Gets Nod to Sell Assets to Rival
2 Reuters:
US bankruptcy court approves stalking horse bid for SunPower assets
3 The Hill:
Biden administration releases plan to expand US West solar development
4 New York Times:
Top Biden Aide Holds Rare Talks With Chinese Military General
5 Heatmap:
Americans Say ‘Okay, Whatever’ to Permitting Reform
6 Utility Dive:
PJM capacity prices could jump 157% in next auction
7 Renewable Energy World:
White House takes action to speed up federal solar permitting
8 Energy Storage News:
Michigan regulator approves PPA between IOU and NextEra Energy Resources for 800MWh BESS
9 PV-Magazine:
U.S. DOE allocates funding for community solar, battery storage in Puerto Rico
Opinions:
10 Canary Media:
California electric bill relief plan would gut low-income energy programs
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 29th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Bloomberg:
Podesta Heads to Beijing for New Round of US-China Climate Talks
2 Energy Storage News:
California PUC authorises centralised procurement for long-duration energy storage
3 Utility Dive:
Better grid edge visibility is key for load forecasting, cost control - Heatmap Labs panel
4 Reuters:
Robust US power & electricity use likely peaked in July for 2024
5 Renewable Energy World:
Clean energy jobs grew at double the rate of overall US employment in 2023 - report
6 Solar Power World:
VPPs are transforming energy markets in the U.S.
7 Canary Media:
Solar and batteries are helping Texas weather heat waves. Here’s how
8 PV-Magazine:
Grid Strategies and The Brattle Group propose “urgent” interconnection fixes
Opinions:
9 New York Times:
What Will We Do With Our Free Power?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 28th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Canary Media:
Midwest grid operators submit $1.7B plan to build cross-border power lines
2 Reuters:
Indian solar panels face US scrutiny for possible links to China forced labor
3 Utility Dive:
DOT awards $521M in EV charging grants amid slowing sales growth
4 Renewable Energy World:
Virtual power plant company Swell is reportedly closing its doors
5 Solar Power World:
Enphase begins accepting pre-orders for U.S.-made batteries
6 Energy Storage News:
UK BESS investor Harmony Energy Income Trust ‘close to receiving offers’ in portfolio sale
7 PV-Magazine:
Clearway closes $550 million financing for solar-plus-storage project in Kern County
Opinions:
8 PV-Tech:
SolarEdge CEO steps down to aid company’s ‘full recovery’
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 27th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Utility Dive:
ERCOT successfully navigates heat wave, new peak demand record
2 Bloomberg:
Norway’s Wealth Fund Marks €900 Million for CIP Renewables Fund
3 Axios:
Energy Department's advisers call for agency's own AI data center testbed
4 Yahoo:
Meyer Burger halts solar plant in Colorado, plans restructuring
5 PV-Magazine:
Existing California solar customers may get blindsided with net metering cuts
6 Reuters:
SPP issues Energy Emergency Alert 1 due to high temperatures
7 Renewable Energy World:
In Minnesota, Xcel Energy looks to mimic power plant with solar and storage networks
8 Solar Power World:
BlueWave announces nearly-20-MW agrivoltaic portfolio across Massachusetts
Opinions:
9 Heatmap News:
School Is Back in Session, But Summer’s Not Over Yet
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 26th, 2024
Your IRA Talking Points. Every single one of us is asked about the political risk around the IRA and the election so let me give you my two cents, which is a consolidation of some of the ideas that I’ve heard. The IRA serves two purposes for the republican majority, assuming that remains post election. The first is political, meaning the IRA is a great argument to make that democrats are on a spending frenzy while killing oil and gas or forcing EVs through a mandate. (Neither of which is actually the case but you get the point). The second is more nuanced and important for you to use in a discussion. The IRA is incredibly popular in parts, tax credits for solar, wind and energy storage etc. But there are many sections of the IRA that have not gotten the pull through, which happens with tax credits. With the Trump tax credits expiring next year, Congress will look for areas to ‘pay for’ those tax credits and pulling from the IRA, in parts, will be the argument.
The Bottom Line. It is politically unlikely that the republican majority would gut the IRA, just look at where the hundreds of billions of factories are located. They will argue against it publicly and then pull some unused sections as pay fors in the attempt to extend tax cuts. Ultimately this assumption will be tested based on how November plays out.
Thank You. It’s been a great first week at FTC Solar, I appreciate all of your support and notes. With RE+ coming up, I hope to see you there and of course I look forward to touching base with those of you that are in the market for trackers. It’s amazing to be back on the solar coaster!
News
1 Politico:
Republican fight over green subsidies heads toward a boiling point
2 Utility Dive:
CAISO interconnection reform plan draws support from SoCal Ed, PG&E, PUC
3 Bloomberg:
China’s Top Solar Firm Reports Profit Jump on Clean Energy Boom
4 Axios:
Exclusive - Harris target of swing-state EV attack
5 PV-Tech:
Generate and KeyState close investment fund for 53.5MW of New York community solar
6 Renewable Energy World:
Blackouts in extreme weather drive demand for cleaner backup power
7 Energy Storage News:
TCC ups valuation of NHOA shares ahead of takeover
9 PV-Magazine:
TMEIC announces 9 GW utility-scale solar inverter factory in Texas
Opinions:
10 New York Times:
Harris’s New Strategy - Equate Fighting Climate Change With ‘Freedom’
Have a great day!
Yann
