This is your SolarWakeup for June 14th, 2024
The 50 Years of Solar. Last night the solar industry filled the atrium of the National Portrait Gallery and celebrated via a Gala the 50-year anniversary of this industry. Some of the founders were there and we’ll include the almost founder Tony Clifford of Standard Solar. It’s always great to see him. I doubt that anyone in 1974 would have imagined 5 million solar installations, 200GW, and $60B of deployment per year in the half century that would follow. SEIA was founded 5 years before President Carter installed solar on the pool house at the White House (Reagan didn’t love them). Congrats and thank you to the 50+ tables at the event, I love seeing the progress.
Trip Down Memory Lane. Some (maybe many) of you have been following this newsletter long enough to know that in some ways we’re the unofficial chronicle of the solar market, both external and internal. In the early days, I recognized that SolarWakeup may have been a thorn in the sides of those who were running SEIA. Things were messy and it wasn’t clear which direction solar should go but like a strong family, we kind of figured it out. Yes, there was a time when we debated whether SEIA should advocate for the ITC or let it go, I was called a welfare queen when I (along with some support) launched the Solar Pledge. Those of you who remember me as a PIA, I’m sorry, I’m glad I consider you friends today. So here's the message for the next 50 years of SEIA leaders. Let’s take our rightful place to build a better grid, cleaner grid, more equitable and cheaper grid, and ultimately a grid where solar power shines at night. Here’s to the Solar Century!
News
1 Bloomberg:
Solar Power’s Giants Are Providing More Energy Than Big Oil
2 New York Times:
What to Know About Europe’s Extra Tariffs on Chinese Electric Cars
3 Axios:
Drenched South Florida faces fresh flood threats
4 Reuters:
Bound by rules and economics, EU trails U.S. on China tariffs
5 PV-Tech:
Swift Solar bags US$27 million for US perovskite development
6 Renewable Energy World:
Senate approves all three of Biden’s FERC nominees
7 Energy Storage News:
VIDEO - Energy-Storage.news meets… FlexGen
8 Canary Media:
This coal-heavy rural co-op utility is buying its first solar plants
9 PV-Magazine:
Solar represents over 80 % of U.S. electric capacity additions in 2024
Opinions:
10 Utility Dive:
How can more companies use 24/7 clean energy? Hourly matching is ‘not the hard part,’ analysts say
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 11th, 2024
50th Anniversary Gala. I’m heading to DC today to join many of you and industry leaders for the SEIA board of directors meeting and SEIA’s Golden Gala! It’s impressive what the industry has been able to achieve since President Carter installed solar thermal panels on the White House, promptly removed by the successor resident. If not for the massive trade fights that have plagued solar for a decade plus, the industry has been able to drive solar panel costs to single digit pennies per watt and installed panels on millions of rooftops across the Country. See you all in DC!
News
1 Canary Media:
A Western US energy market would boost clean energy. Will it happen?
2 Bloomberg:
South Africa’s Eskom Seeks Executive to Lead Renewables Division
3 Renewable Energy World:
Why Texas is uniquely equipped for rapid growth in utility-scale battery storage
4 VT Digger:
iSun, a major Vermont solar installer and the parent company of SunCommon, files for bankruptcy
5 Reuters:
Eku Energy aims to expand its global battery storage to 9 GWh by 2028
6 Energy Storage News:
Volkswagen’s Elli plans large-scale BESS projects, first in Germany
7 Utility Dive:
Volkswagen’s Elli plans large-scale BESS projects, first in Germany
Opinions:
8 PV-Magazine:
More states now require smart inverters, enabling more distributed solar
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 10th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Utility Dive:
ITC allows solar tariff petition from First Solar, 6 others to advance with positive injury determination
2 Axios:
Orange juice falls prey to inflation
3 Bloomberg:
Swiss Back More Green Energy, Reject Health-Insurance Cap
4 New York Times:
Trump’s Energy Guy Talked a Green Game but Now Sells Big Oil Priorities
5 Renewable Energy World:
CAISO issues final revised addendum to interconnection process enhancements proposal
6 Energy storage News:
‘Energy storage can meet Europe’s energy challenges’ - Trade group EASE issues ‘manifesto’
7 Canary Media:
Chart - US sets new record with $71B in clean energy investment
Opinions:
8 PV-Magazine:
Walking the hazardous line of qualifying for the brownfield energy tax credit
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 7th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 New York Times:
U.S. Adds Tariffs to Shield Struggling Solar Industry
2 Bloomberg:
US Rooftop Solar Installs Hit Two-Year Low in First Quarter
3 Utility Dive:
llinois renewables plan encouraging grid-enhancing technologies could be national model, group says
4 Reuters:
California set to crank gas power and emissions to keep cool
5 PV-Tech:
US breaks Q1 record to add 11.8GWdc solar capacity in previous quarter
6 Renewable Energy World:
National Grid Renewables expands ERCOT portfolio with solar + storage project
7 PV-Magazine:
Solar panel import tariffs are affecting the industry by increasing prices by up to 286%
Opinions:
8 Canary Media:
This CEO is finding win-win scenarios for clean energy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 6th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Heatmap News:
The Dealmakers Aren’t Fretting About the IRA’s Future
2 Utility Dive:
Energy Capital Partners secures $6.7B to invest in clean energy industry
3 Bloomberg:
China Solar Firms Halt Output in Southeast Asia on US Curbs
4 Axios:
Survey - Americans ready to take climate action
5 PV-Tech:
LCOE ranges tighten in Lazard’s latest financial report
6 Renewable Energy World:
NERC - Poor models, studies to blame for renewable energy reliability issues
7 Energy Storage News:
‘Industry still learning about cost, complexity of BESS projects’
8 Canary Media:
California budget cuts could decimate key virtual power plant programs
Opinions:
9 Politico:
Biden’s climate chief warns against ‘U-turn agenda’
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 5th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 New York Times:
As Solar Power Surges, U.S. Wind Is in Trouble
2 Reuters:
China's Longi says it will adjust production amid 'complex' environment
3 PV-Tech:
Domestic manufacturing ‘changes the whole supply chain,’ says Finlay Colville at UK Solar Summit
4 Solar Power World:
DOE to study public attitudes toward siting large-scale solar projects
5 Axios:
Colombia aims high to curb fossil fuels, enhance biodiversity
6 Energy Storage News:
East Point Energy submits planning review for Virginia BESS, moratorium could impact New York project
7 Canary Media:
Can AI help community solar projects hold onto their customers?
8 PV-Magazine:
A new federal transmission rule won’t help renewables projects anytime soon
Opinions:
9 Bloomberg:
Slapping Tariffs on China Will Delay Green Shift, Ex-Volkswagen CEO Says
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 3rd, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Bloomberg:
Increasingly Wild Weather Worries California’s Grid Operator
2 New York Times:
Electricity From Coal Is Pricey. Should Consumers Have to Pay?
3 Utility Dive:
FERC Order 2023 implementation exposes gaps in interconnection process
4 PV-Tech:
‘No energy transition without transmission’ - tackling the grid connection bottleneck in solar
5 Heatmap:
Can Electric Cars Escape Identity Politics?
6 PV-Magazine:
Alliant Energy completes 200 MW solar project in Wisconsin
Opinions:
7 Canary Media:
Will new tariffs on EVs, solar, and other cleantech help Americans?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 31st, 2024
Opinion
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Research shows wind and solar produce tens of billions in U.S. health benefits per year
2 Utility Dive:
US data center electricity demand could double by 2030, driven by artificial intelligence - EPRI
3 Bloomberg:
SoftBank-Backed SB Energy Seeks at Least $500 Million
4 Axios:
Industrialized countries meet $100B climate finance pledge, two years late
5 Reuters:
Brookfield enters deal to buy France's Neoen for $6.6 billion
6 PV-Tech:
Maxeon posts US$14.9 million losses in delayed Q1 ’24 results
7 Renewable Energy World:
No, clean energy isn’t driving up power costs
8 Energy Storage News:
Europe passes Net-Zero Industry Act amidst mixed fortunes for local battery gigafactories
9 Canary Media:
California regulators torpedo popular plan to boost community solar
Opinions:
10 Los Angeles Times:
Column - Gavin Newsom is a climate champion. Why did he just crush community solar?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 30th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Utility Dive:
New Colorado law requires Xcel VPP program by February with performance-based tariff
2 Bloomberg:
The US Can't Be Protectionist and World Leader
3 Axios:
Biden pushes to tame — and expand — carbon credit markets
4 Reuters:
Texas set to smash clean and dirty power output records in 2024
5 PV-Tech:
Michigan Public Service Commission to retain control over renewable energy permitting
6 Canary Media:
School districts receive $900M from EPA to fund electric school buses
7 PV-Magazine:
DOE funding available for distributed energy resource operations software
Opinions:
8 Renewable Energy World:
How batteries help keep Texas lights on during extreme weather
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 29th, 2024
Opinion
News
1 Heatmap:
Tom Steyer Is Baffled By Warren Buffett’s Oil Bets
2 Reuters:
Energy Capital Partners to acquire Atlantica for $2.56 bln
3 Utility Dive:
As storage interconnection requests jump 540 GW, DOE and other experts weigh how to get things moving
4 San Francisco Chronicle:
California is about to side with PG&E — again — this time to kill community solar projects
5 Bloomberg:
Omers Said to Explore Selling Stake in Texas Renewable Energy Firm
6 PV-Tech:
Italy - Utility-scale solar grows 373% in Q1 2024
7 Energy Storage News:
National Battery Strategy - Australia targets ‘globally competitive producer’ status by 2035
8 Canary Media:
Better real-time data for the country’s congested transmission lines
9 PV-Magazine:
Battery energy storage tariffs tripled; domestic content rules updated
Opinions:
10 Renewable Energy World:
Advocates see missed opportunities as Virginia lags its neighbors in clean energy manufacturing
Have a great day!
Yann
