Solar

  • POWER Digest [May 2023]

    European Grid Operator Secures 22 GW of HVDC Projects. European transmission system operator (TSO) TenneT will lead a charge to install 11 2-GW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems by 2031. A long-term

  • Effects of Evolving NatCat Risks on Reliability and Insurability of Renewable Assets

    News on extreme weather events in the U.S. report an increase in both frequency and size over the last couple of years, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, convective storms, flash floods, hurricanes, and winter storms. This has a massive impact on a renewable energy asset’s reliability and insurability; there have even been cases where lenders won’t approve […]

  • Overcoming Green Hydrogen’s Major Operational Cost: Electricity

    There are many ways to create hydrogen from renewable energy resources. The challenge is to reduce the cost of such fuel production, in order to position green hydrogen as a viable option to support

  • Floating PV System Provides Smart Energy and Savings for Wastewater Plant

    Installing floating photovoltaic solar panels on a water reservoir provides Kelseyville Wastewater Treatment Plant with low-cost, clean energy, reduces algae growth, minimizes bank erosion, and lessens

  • Winter Demand for Coal, Gas Falls Across EU Despite Energy Concerns

    An analysis from an energy research group shows European Union (EU) countries burned less coal and natural gas for power generation than in prior years, despite an ongoing energy crisis driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A study from Ember, a think-tank based in the UK, said coal-fired generation in the EU dropped 27 TWh […]

  • Google and EDPR Partner on 500 MW AC Environmental Justice Program, Marking the Largest Corporate Backing of Distributed Solar in the U.S.

    New York, New York, April 25, 2023 — Google and EDPR NA Distributed Generation LLC (EDPR NA DG), the distributed generation (DG) business unit of EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA), are pleased to announce the signing of a framework agreement supporting more than 80 distributed solar PV projects totaling 500 MWAC. The deal aligns […]

  • DOE Offers $3B Conditional Loan Guarantee to Virtual Power Plant Initiative

    Sunnova Energy Corp., an energy-as-a-service (EaaS) provider, has snagged a first-of-its-kind conditional federal loan guarantee commitment of up to $3 billion for a project that could further future virtual power plant (VPP) deployment. The Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) on April 20 said it would provide a partial loan guarantee for up […]

  • Peninsula Clean Energy Reaches Innovative Solar Agreements With County, Cities

    REDWOOD CITY, CA – April 18, 2023 –  As one of the first public agencies nationwide to utilize newly expanded federal renewable energy incentives, Peninsula Clean Energy has reached innovative agreements with nine cities and the County of San Mateo to install solar and future battery storage on public buildings. Peninsula Clean Energy is executing […]

  • Renewable Properties and Sonoma Clean Power Sign PPAs for Local Solar and Storage Projects for 24/7 Renewable Energy

    SAN FRANCISCO — April 17, 2023 — Renewable Properties, a developer and investor in small-scale utility and community solar projects, and Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), a community choice aggregator (CCA), have signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for two solar projects. One of the projects, located in Ukiah, will include energy storage. Both projects will contribute to SCP’s local resource plan […]

  • Vanderbilt University, Silicon Ranch, NES, and TVA Flip the Switch on the Vanderbilt I Solar Farm

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 11, 2023) – Silicon Ranch Corporation, one of the nation’s largest independent power producers and a community-focused renewable energy company, joined Vanderbilt University, Nashville Electric Service (NES), and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) today to “flip the switch” on the Vanderbilt I Solar Farm, a 35-megawatt (MWAC) solar facility located in Bedford County, […]

  • Canadian Solar Rebrands as Recurrent Energy

    GUELPH, ON, April 10, 2023 — Canadian Solar Inc. (the “Company” or “Canadian Solar”) (NASDAQ: CSIQ) today announces the rebranding of its wholly owned Global Energy subsidiary as Recurrent Energy. Recurrent Energy, previously the Company’s North American utility-scale solar and energy storage project developer, will now encompass all its global development and services businesses. As a global development and […]

  • Summit Ridge Energy and Qcells Announce Largest Community Solar Partnership in the U.S.

    Dalton, GA, April 6, 2023 – Summit Ridge Energy (SRE), the nation’s largest commercial solar company, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Qcells, a leading provider of complete energy solutions, to purchase 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of solar panels to support its development pipeline. This marks the largest equipment purchase in history within […]

  • POWER Digest [April 2023]

    New Natural Gas–Fired Plant Approved for Philippines. San Miguel Consolidated Power Corp. (SMCPC), a wholly owned subsidiary of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., said it received environmental approval to

  • Working with EPC Contractors: Guidance for Utilities Embarking on Solar Development

    Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors deliver many benefits to power projects. Besides the experience they bring that can help keep schedules on track, they often have longstanding

  • Swift Current Energy Ramps Up Construction of 800 MW Double Black Diamond Solar Project with McCarthy Building Companies

    BOSTON and HOUSTON, March 29, 2023 – Swift Current Energy (“Swift Current”) is ramping up construction this spring for its Double Black Diamond solar project in central Illinois. The company has contracted St. Louis-based McCarthy Building Companies (“McCarthy”) as the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor. Swift Current has also selected American-based First Solar to […]

  • Duke Energy Begins Floating Solar Pilot Project in Florida

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Duke Energy Florida on March 16 announced that its first floating solar array pilot will begin construction later this month in Polk County. The almost 1-megawatt floating solar array will feature more than 1,800 floating solar modules and occupy approximately 2 acres of water surface on an existing cooling pond at […]

  • AVANGRID Will Support Meta’s Operations in Texas with New 240-MW Solar Farm

    March 21, 2023 — AVANGRID,  a leading sustainable energy company and part of the Iberdrola Group, has announced the signing of a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Meta to procure renewable energy from True North, a 240 MW solar farm under development in Falls County, Texas, and AVANGRID’s first solar facility in the state. “We […]

  • Sampling Procedures for Inspection and Sampling Plans for Lot Inspection Using ISO 2859

    Sampling is a technique in which samples are drawn at random (without any favor or bias). For this, suitable measures or procedures may be laid down and adopted according to the nature and configuration of parts under inspection for ensuring complete randomness in sample selection. The term sample implies a subset chosen from the population. […]

  • Microgrids Provide Reliable Power During Emergencies and Help Decarbonize the Grid

    Microgrids are localized power grids that can be disconnected from the traditional grid to operate autonomously. Because they are able to operate while the main grid is down, microgrids can strengthen resilience and help prevent grid disturbances. They also function as a reliable resource for faster system response and recovery. Microgrids enable the integration of […]

  • Hitachi Astemo Hanshin Installs Photovoltaic Power Generation System

    TOKYO, March 15, 2023 — Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. (“Hitachi Astemo”) Group company Hitachi Astemo Hanshin, Ltd. (“Hitachi Astemo Hanshin”) has installed and begun operating a solar power generation system at its Sanda Plant in Hyogo Prefecture as part of its efforts to become carbon neutral. As a member of the Hitachi Group, Hitachi Astemo is promoting […]

  • Emerson Selected by Lodestone Energy to Automate New Zealand’s First Large-Scale Photovoltaic Solar Power Project

    Unique renewable energy project will support the national effort to decarbonize New Zealand’s energy sector AUSTIN, Texas (March 14, 2023) – Global technology and software leader Emerson (NYSE: EMR) will provide advanced automation solutions to help ensure the safety and reliability of New Zealand’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power project. Emerson’s renewable power generation […]

  • Solar Energy Caught in Crosshairs of New Legislation

    The solar power industry seems to be caught in the crosshairs of competing legislative agendas. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created incentives to increase solar capacity via tax credits, but the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) limits the effectiveness of those credits by restricting the importation of any goods that were mined, produced, […]

  • The POWER Interview: IRA, Economics Support Solar-Plus-Storage Market

    Several executives in the energy industry have spoken with POWER in recent months about how utility-scale solar power projects benefit from the addition of energy storage. Many have noted how installing storage systems alongside solar arrays supports the integration of renewable energy to the power grid, and also enhances the economic potential of any such […]

  • Duke Energy Group Brings Texas Solar Farm Online

    Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions (DESS), an arm of major U.S. utility Duke Energy, said commercial operation has begun on the group’s largest solar power plant. DESS on March 8 said the 250-MW Pisgah Ridge Solar farm in Navarro County, Texas, is online, supplying power to at least three groups as part of virtual power purchase […]

  • The POWER Interview: DC-Coupled Storage Optimizing Solar PV Systems

    Asset owners want to get the most out of their solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which is why many today are adding energy storage to an installation or upgrading a project through repowering. Companies working in the space recognize that both new and older solar power systems can be optimized, thanks to innovative technologies and new […]

  • Solar Power/Hydrogen Project Underway in DRC

    Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) has entered into a partnership with the government of Kinshasa, a city-province and capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Africa, for construction and operation

  • POWER Digest [March 2023]

    Pakistan Begins Commercial Operation of 1.3-GW Coal Plant. Pakistan on Feb. 7 began commercial operation of a 1.3-GW coal-fired power plant in the Thar Desert in Sindh province, southern Pakistan. The project

  • A Double Landmark for Green Hydrogen and (Made in America) Solar Panels

    Redmond, WA and New York, NY (Feb. 22, 2023): Clean Energy Holdings (CEH) is pleased to announce the purchase from Philadelphia Solar USA Inc. of solar modules for a total nameplate capacity of 380 MWdc. The panels are Philadelphia Solar’s high efficiency “Made in America” 540W Phenex half-cell 10BB solar photovoltaic bifacial modules, to be manufactured at […]

  • DOE Breaks Ground on Next-Generation Concentrating Solar Power Pilot

    The Department of Energy (DOE) has broken ground on the Generation 3 Particle Pilot Plant (G3P3), a novel concentrating solar power (CSP) facility at Sandia National Laboratory that will use sand-like ceramic particles instead of molten salt to produce and store high-temperature energy. When completed in 2024, the “multi-megawatt” solar thermal pilot project will utilize an existing […]

  • Major Solar and Storage Projects, EVs and More Featured at California Event

    A diverse mix of companies and experts in the solar power and energy storage sectors are in Long Beach, California, this week for the annual Intersolar North America (ISNA) and Energy Storage North America (ESNA) conference. The event, which is supported and attended by POWER, provides a look at the latest innovations in solar and […]