This is your SolarWakeup for March 30th, 2023
The Lender You Can Depend On. In a market that is full of uncertainty, you can rely on Dividend Finance to bring you white glove service to help you reach your long-term goals. Apply Here
News
1 Bloomberg:
UK Infrastructure Bank to Invest £200 Million for Energy Storage
2 Politico:
Canada’s C$80B response to U.S. clean energy push - ‘We will not be left behind’
3 Utility Dive:
New Jersey seeks up to 4 GW of offshore wind in latest solicitation
4 PV-Magazine:
Giving women support to engineer the renewable energy future
5 Reuters:
US battery sourcing guidance to cut some EV tax credits -official
6 PV-Tech:
Investment of US$35 trillion needed for energy transition by 2030 – IRENA
7 Energy Storage News:
Developer Agilitas to expand from Northeast US base with US$75 million Texas BESS portfolio acquisition
Opinions:
8 New York Times:
In Rare Show of Force, House Democrats Pressure Hochul on Climate Bill
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 29th, 2023
The Lender You Can Depend On. In a market that is full of uncertainty, you can rely on Dividend Finance to bring you white glove service to help you reach your long-term goals. Apply Here
News
1 Utility Dive:
Global energy transition investments must quadruple to $5T to reach climate targets - IRENA
2 Bloomberg:
China Takes Its Climate Fight to the Rooftops
3 Reuters:
Home battery sales in Germany may surge 59% this year -study
4 Solar Builder:
OYA Renewables secures $27 million loan from City National Bank to support community solar
5 Renewable Energy World:
Dan Shugar is just getting started
6 PV-Tech:
Brookfield Renewable buys Australian Origin Energy with 14GW renewables addition target
7 Energy Storage News:
US energy storage industry grapples complexity, cost of ITC tax equity transactions
8 PV-Magazine:
EnerVenue announces non-lithium battery gigafactory in Kentucky
Opinions:
9 Canary Media:
The great ‘green hydrogen’ battle
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 28th, 2023
TVA ‘Leading’. For the government’s test bed on utility innovation, TVA could be doing so much with solar and storage but instead is choosing to embark on a pilot mission to nowhere with small reactor technologies. Let’s kick it off with collocating storage at every TVA power plant and then work on next decade’s projects.
News
1 Utility Dive:
TVA, GE Hitachi, 2 others commit to $400M international small modular reactor project
2 GreenBiz:
The White House's 2024 budget proposal prioritizes climate tech
3 Bloomberg:
The White House's 2024 budget proposal prioritizes climate tech
4 Reuters:
Exclusive - US plans ultimatum in Mexico energy dispute, raising threat of tariffs
5 Energy Storage News:
Global energy storage market to experience 23% CAGR until 2030 – BNEF
6 Canary Media:
New York has a new plan to get all the grid batteries it needs
Opinions:
7 PV-Magazine:
Spruce Power acquires residential solar portfolio across 10 states
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 27th, 2023
Living While Global Change Happens. It takes a step back for all of us to realize how much change is actually happening in real time for our energy infrastructure. I watch as my neighbors habits on commuting to work changes every day, sometimes at the last minute deciding whether to go in or not. We never think, but expect, electricity to be available in either location with no advance notice. Is it uncommon for homes to have two 50A breakers for EV charging? Does the office you go to have fast charging or other means of fueling your car? Now quick, how many EVs are available for purchase today in the US? (It’s 40 made by 12 OEMs). My point is that we’re using more energy than ever before but the way and location we use them has never been more volatile. We have zero tolerance for the lightswitch to not cause the light to turn on, the grid must be 100% reliable or consumers, regulators and politicians take it out on grid operators. (Also, don’t raise the rates) This is monumental change and has a tremendous task ahead, just read the headlines from PJM and ISO-NE over the past month. More resilience is needed in order for things to keep working the way we want, and that’s assuming that the rate of change does not accelerate further. (which it will, thanks to the IRA)
Change Means Opportunity. Goldman Sachs now sees the IRA creating over 1.2Trillion dollars in new investments and that could be assuming current circumstances. I’ll add one very likely scenario for the auto sector. Cars that lose demand, don’t get discontinued when demand goes to zero, they get discontinued when they hit a non-profitable volume. This year will be the last one of America’s muscle cars, the Chevrolet Camaro. While it used to sell 70k plus units per year, last year it did just over 20k. That means 20k would be buyers next year will go elsewhere and the likelihood that a thrill seeking, muscle car driver goes electric is very high, especially with juicy tax credits.
The Lender You Can Depend On. In a market that is full of uncertainty, you can rely on Dividend Finance to bring you white glove service to help you reach your long-term goals. Apply Here
News
1 Utility Dive:
DOE cyber chief gets bipartisan grilling as senators question US reliance on China for grid equipment
2 Bloomberg:
Biden Reaches Moment of Truth for Electric Vehicle Tax Credits
3 Axios:
Tiny island nation takes climate change to The Hague
4 Reuters:
Berlin votes on tighter climate goals in test of Germans commitment to change
5 PV-Tech:
Spruce Power improves financial results in 2022, sets out growth plan
6 Solar Power World:
Solar panel players still squabbling over AD/CVD circumvention case
7 Energy Storage News:
Nova Scotia electricity law changes give ‘new momentum’ to energy storage projects
8 PV-Magazine:
SolSmart technical assistance program targets 1,000 leading solar communities by 2027
Opinions:
9 Canary Media:
Chart - How much clean energy has been added globally since 2017?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 24th, 2023
The Lender You Can Depend On. In a market that is full of uncertainty, you can rely on Dividend Finance to bring you white glove service to help you reach your long-term goals. Apply Here
News
1 PV-Tech:
US residential solar to boom amidst homeowner energy concerns and IRA tailwinds – Aurora Solar
2 Utility Dive:
Sen. Rosen urges fellow Democrats to keep solar tariff pause in place, citing low US production capacity
3 Energy Storage News:
Canadian Solar doubles storage shipments in 2022 but expects just c.5% growth in 2023 ‘transition year’
4 PV-Magazine:
North America represents 21% of global energy storage market by 2030
5 Bloomberg:
US Solar Capacity Gets Boost From $147 Million Hanwha Plant
6 Canary Media:
New South Carolina plant could process enough lithium for 2.4M EVs a year
7 BLM:
BLM To Offer 1,064 Acres For Solar Lease Auction
Opinions:
8 Reuters:
Bitcoin mining booms in Texas
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 23rd, 2023
The Carter Solar Legacy. Everyone knows about the Jimmy Carter White House solar install that then was then removed by the next administration. But in many ways it kick started the dialogue that solar is possible, starting with solar thermal. The solar pioneers, as they are called, brought all versions of solar to early adopters as part of that example. It’s incredible how the market has progressed over the past 45 years.
The Lender You Can Depend On. In a market that is full of uncertainty, you can rely on Dividend Finance to bring you white glove service to help you reach your long-term goals. Apply Here
News
1 Washington Post:
How did one of Jimmy Carter’s solar panels wind up in Takoma Park?
2 Bloomberg:
Solar Boom in Asia Pressures US Factories, Undermining Biden Law
3 Politico:
Treasury guidance on electric vehicle tax credit due next week
4 PV-Magazine:
Bill Gates funds advocacy for siting new transmission along highways
5 Axios:
The one UN climate report graphic you need to see
6 Energy Storage News:
DOE Loan Programs Office chief Jigar Shah on US’ ‘more aggressive’ climate change stance
7 Utility Dive:
Global renewable growth broke records in 2022, adding almost 295 GW - IRENA
Opinions:
8 CNN:
How solar power is supplying reliable electricity across Africa
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 22nd, 2023
The Lender You Can Depend On. In a market that is full of uncertainty, you can rely on Dividend Finance to bring you white glove service to help you reach your long-term goals. Apply Here
News
1 Axios:
Biden to establish new national monuments in Nevada and Texas
2 PV-Magazine:
Transferability, or selling tax credits, top of mind at SEIA Finance
3 PV-Tech:
Brookfield Renewable has full control of X-Elio after acquisition from partner
4 Energy Storage News:
Europe deployed 1.9GW of battery storage in 2022, 3.7GW expected in 2023 – LCP Delta
5 Bloomberg:
Biden’s Made-in-USA Mandate for Tax Credit Sparks Solar Dispute
6 Canary Media:
Sunnova seeks $3.3B DOE loan guarantee to expand virtual power plants
7 Reuters:
Italy's Edison to invest 5 bln euros to boost renewable growth
Opinions:
8 Utility Dive:
Democrats press Interior secretary to direct more money to BOEM to reach US offshore wind goals
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 21st, 2023
The Lender You Can Depend On. In a market that is full of uncertainty, you can rely on Dividend Finance to bring you white glove service to help you reach your long-term goals. Apply Here
News
1 Time:
In Puerto Rico, a Small Town Takes Climate Action Into Its Own Hands
2 Axios:
UN report - Window for limiting global warming is closing
3 Energy Storage News:
DOE Loan Programs Office chief Jigar Shah on US’ ‘more aggressive’ climate change stance
4 PV-Magazine:
U.S. on track to make it only halfway towards 2030 Paris Agreement targets
5 Utility Dive:
ISO-NE overvalues fossil fuel plants, reducing grid reliability, Sierra Club says, citing Synapse report
6 Reuters:
EU proposes extending energy crisis measure to curb gas demand
7 PV-Tech:
Dialogues with global PV buyers
8 Canary Media:
Here’s video proof that solar panels can be recycled
Opinions:
9 Bloomberg:
California's Terrible Deluge Hides a Silver Lining
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 20th, 2023
Recycling Means Repowering. For the past decade, recycling processes and startups looked to create traction in a limited market and this post isn’t about recycling it’s about what is causing solar panels to need it. Some 15 years ago, I bid on a project in Central Florida, a PPA with a municipal utility that ended up going to SunEdison for ~14cents per kWh. That project and many like them were built with ~220watt modules and are now on path to be repowered with new modules. More importantly, the entire installed solar base is an opportunity to increase the value to the grid, including adding storage in addition to the repowering. Stay tuned to this market…
News
1 Utility Dive:
FERC works ‘feverishly’ on transmission reform, with near-term focus on interconnection rule
2 PV-Magazine:
Potential savings from new electric transmission reached decade peak in 2022
3 PV-Tech:
MGE and WEC Energy Group’s subsidiaries purchase 465MW solar and battery storage centre in Wisconsin
4 Grist:
As millions of solar panels age out, recyclers hope to cash in
5 Washington Post:
Inside the impending fight over solar tariffs on Capitol Hill
6 Solar Power World:
New California bill aims for more solar over parking lots and along highways
7 Energy Storage News:
EU greenlights BCI’s investment in new BESS platform Eku Energy
Opinions:
8 Bloomberg:
Europe’s Green Protectionism Will Worsen its Energy Security
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 17th, 2023
For Real This Time. LAST DAY March Madness Bracket. Games kick off today at noon. There is no cost to enter and you can know as much about NCAA as me to make your picks, i.e. no knowledge required. Login to your ESPN account or click here and find the SolarWakeup group. The winner gets to write this column about the topic of your choice. Feel free to forward this to your colleagues and friends in the industry as well. (If you want proper shout outs while leading, make sure to pick a name that identifies you)
The Lender You Can Depend On. In a market that is full of uncertainty, you can rely on Dividend Finance to bring you white glove service to help you reach your long-term goals. Apply Here
News
1 Bloomberg:
Big Solar Boom Is Coming for State That Doesn’t Have Much of It
2 NPR:
Activists spread misleading information to fight solar
3 Utility Dive:
Renewables industry could address commodities squeeze with vertical integration - McKinsey
4 Reuters:
Factbox - What's in the EU's green industrial plan?
5 PV-Tech:
Solar module recycling firm Solarcycle bags US$30 million to expand capacity
6 Axios:
BlackRock CEO "walks tightrope" on climate risk investing
7 Canary Media:
California incubator aims to raise $30M to back climate startups
8 PV-Magazine:
Californians continue to actively oppose NEM 3.0
Opinions:
9 Energy Storage News:
Two-thirds of European gigafactory projects at risk of delay or cancellation – study
Have a great day!
Yann
