Solar

  • Adani Green Energy wins the world’s largest solar award

    DALLAS, Texas (June 9, 2020) — Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL, NSE: ADANIGREEN) has won the first of its kind manufacturing linked solar agreement from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). As a part of the award, AGEL will build 8 GW of solar projects along with a commitment that will see Adani Solar […]

  • LG, OpenSolar Team to Improve Customer Experience in U.S. Solar Market

    LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., June 11, 2020 — LG Business Solutions USA is working with leading solar software provider OpenSolar to provide a new level of support to LG solar installers migrating to digital processes and remote sales. OpenSolar provides system design, sales quotes and installation information at no charge to solar professionals around the world. Through […]

  • Developers Make Progress on Solar-Powered Hydrogen Projects

    Two projects focused on solar-powered hydrogen production made notable steps forward recently. One project, supported by Ricardo plc and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), will investigate “using existing solar capacity to produce hydrogen as an alternative to high-carbon fossil fuels.” While the other, developed by HyperSolar Inc., will begin the manufacturing process for its […]

  • World’s First Integrated Hydrogen Power-to-Power Demonstration Launched

    A consortium of European companies, research institutes, and universities have launched the world’s first demonstration of a fully integrated power-to-hydrogen-to-power project, at industrial scale and in a real-world power plant application. The four-year project to demonstrate HYFLEXPOWER, which has achieved a technology readiness level of 7, will convert a 12-MWe combined heat and power (CHP) […]

  • Reduced Cost for Renewables Supports Sector Growth

    A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows costs for renewable power are increasingly cheaper than those for generation from coal, reinforcing the trend of increased investment in solar and wind power and away from fossil fuel-powered electricity production. The IRENA report—Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2019—showed that more than half of […]

  • Smart Neighborhood Wins Smart Grid Award

    Alabama Power’s Smart Neighborhood integrates a microgrid into a community filled with high-performance homes containing energy-efficient systems and connected appliances. The innovative initiative, which

  • Power Project Provides Shelter from the Storm

    Dozens of microgrids are deployed at schools across Puerto Rico, bringing reliable, resilient power to the island. The project, featuring solar plus storage, is an important part of the region’s recovery

  • Renewables Gain Investors as Some Flee Oil, Gas, and Coal

    The global crash of prices for crude oil, on top of a prolonged slump in the price of natural gas, is taking a toll on the oil and gas sector. The coal industry also continues to suffer, as the supply of

  • Record-Low Solar Prices Drive Middle East Projects

    Abu Dhabi Power Corp. (ADPower) in late April announced what it called the lowest-ever cost-competitive tariff for a solar photovoltaic (PV) project, a few months after a project in Dubai made that claim for

  • POWER Digest [June 2020]

    SGRE Signs Deal for O&M on Wind Turbines. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has secured a long-term, 20-year contract to provide full-scope operation and maintenance (O&M) services for a 135-MW

  • IRS Grants Wind and Solar Sectors Critical COVID-19 Reprieves

    The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has granted a one-year extension of the continuity safe harbor, providing much-needed relief for many wind developers, which, crippled by pandemic-related delays, were racing to complete projects before crucial tax incentives expired at the end of this year.  In its May 27–issued Notice 2020-41, the IRS essentially modified prior […]

  • With Vogtle Completion in Sight, Southern Company Targets Net-Zero Carbon Emissions

    Fresh off the announcement that the final module for Vogtle Unit 3 was placed at the nuclear expansion project in Georgia, Southern Company said on May 27 that it was setting “a long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.” The announcement was made during Southern Company’s annual stockholders meeting, which […]

  • Energy Impact Partners Enters Infrastructure Market With 100-MW Portfolio of Community Solar Projects

    NEW YORK —May 27, 2020 — Energy Impact Partners (EIP), one of the world’s leading investment firms focused on the sustainable energy transition, and NextPower III, an international fund managed by NextEnergy Capital Group (NEC), today announced the closing of an agreement for the acquisition of an 102 megawatt (MW) portfolio of community solar projects […]

  • Sharp launches new stylish black half-cut cell PV panel

    London, 26th May 2020 – Sharp today announces the addition of a new all black design monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) panel to its half-cut cell portfolio, the NU-JC320B. The new stylish half-cut cell PERC module offers a 2-3% higher module performance compared to standard full cell panels, providing design-oriented customers with an efficient and reliable […]

  • Largest Public Power System in Pennsylvania Partners with Sun Tribe for Solar

    CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. (May 21, 2020) – The Borough of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, a “clean, green, safe, and healthy community” which serves as the County Seat of Franklin County and is home to the largest municipal electric utility in the state, and Sun Tribe, a Charlottesville-based company which today serves as one of the most experienced public […]

  • The Economic Case for Solar Energy in South Africa

    South Africa has the largest carbon footprint in Africa and contributes 40% of the total CO2 emissions in the continent. As the world evolves in response to climate change concerns, the way business is done in South Africa will need to change. In addition to the critical need for every business to contribute to broadly […]

  • Quinbrook Launches Primergy Solar to Develop Solar and Battery Storage across North America

    OAKLAND, Calif. (May 18, 2020) — Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (‘Quinbrook’), a specialist investor in lower carbon and renewable energy infrastructure, today announced the launch of a new portfolio company, Primergy Solar, LLC (‘Primergy’). Primergy acquires, develops and operates distributed and utility scale solar PV and battery storage projects across North America. David Scaysbrook, co-founder and […]

  • IEA: Renewables Showing Resiliency Despite Serious COVID Disruptions

    Renewable power sources will mark their first annual decline in new additions in 20 years, owing to delays in construction activity, supply chain disruptions, lockdown and social distancing measures, and emerging financing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the sector has showed “impressive” resilience, said the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a new […]

  • ConnectGen Closes Financing with CoBank ACB and NORD/LB for Solar Projects

    May 19, 2020 (Houston, TX) – ConnectGen LLC (“ConnectGen”) has closed a 14.5-year term loan for its 50% interest in a portfolio of 278 megawatts (MW) of operating solar projects. CoBank ACB (“CoBank”) and Norddeutsche Landesbank (“NORD/LB”) served as Joint Lead Arrangers on the financing. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ConnectGen develops renewable energy and energy […]

  • New Columbia Solar and Franklin Park Infrastructure Partner to Forge Largest Ever Tax Equity Partnership Dedicated to Washington, DC-Based Solar Projects

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 14, 2020) – New Columbia Solar, Washington, D.C.’s leading solar energy independent power producer, announced that the company closed a $40 million tax equity partnership with Franklin Park Infrastructure that will be used to finance DC-based solar projects throughout 2020 and 2021. This investment is the largest known tax equity investment dedicated […]

  • Feds Approve Largest U.S. Solar Project

    A Nevada installation that would be the largest solar power project in U.S. history was approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior on May 11. The estimated $1 billion, 690-MW Gemini solar photovoltaic electric generating facility is sited on 7,000 acres about 30 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Interior Secretary David L. Bernhardt signed […]

  • Dominion Energy Virginia Quadruples Renewable Energy and Energy Storage in Long-Term Integrated Resource Plan

    More than 300% increase in projected solar and wind generation development as compared to last year’s integrated resource plan update filing; Energy storage grows by more than 700% Reflects targets mandated in Virginia Clean Economy Act Diverse fuel mix provides reliability, affordability and regional emissions reductions Expansion of renewable and energy storage resources will put […]

  • Nautilus Solar Energy Closes Debt Financing With National Bank of Canada and Royal Bank of Canada

    SUMMIT, N.J., April 29, 2020 — Nautilus Solar Energy, LLC (“Nautilus”), a leading owner-operator of distributed generation and community solar projects located throughout North America closed a $90 million debt financing agreement led by National Bank of Canada “NBC” and including Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) as lender. The financing consists of a $75 million […]

  • THE BIG PICTURE (Infographic): Capital Costs

    The Energy Information Administration (EIA) in February 2020 published capital costs and performance characteristic estimates for 25 new electric power generating technologies. These estimates come from global engineering and design firm Sargent & Lundy (S&L), which the EIA commissioned to help accurately reflect the changing cost of new power generation technologies for the Annual Energy […]

  • A Protocol for Making Renewable Energy Sizing and Selection Decisions

    Much has been written about renewable energy, but few stories have focused on the complexity of determining the optimal mix of solar and wind generation, and the kind and amount of energy storage, that

  • What’s the Cheapest New-Build Power Technology?

    Onshore wind and photovoltaic (PV) solar power are the cheapest forms of new-build power generation for at least two-thirds of the world’s population, according to analysis published by research company BloombergNEF (BNEF). Meanwhile, battery storage has become the lowest-cost new-build technology for peaking purposes in gas-importing regions, such as Europe, China, and Japan. BNEF reported […]

  • Construction of Power Facilities Is ‘Essential’ in California

    Ahead of most of the U.S., California state and local officials in the first weeks of March adopted some of the earliest and strongest steps to restrict movement and close non-essential businesses in order to fight the spread of the COVID-19 disease. One of the key challenges in implementing these “shelter-in-place” orders was how to […]

  • HyperSolar Enters Into Technical Services Agreement With Global Engineering Corporation Fluor

    SANTA BARBARA, CA , April 28, 2020 — HyperSolar, Inc. (OTC:HYSR), the developer of a breakthrough technology to produce renewable hydrogen using sunlight and water, today announced that it has executed a Technical Services Agreement with engineering giant, Fluor,  in preparation for engineering required for a future pilot plant and other projects. “We believe that […]

  • Natural Gas and Renewables as Natural Partners, Especially in Challenging Times

    Earth Day is normally when we honor the headway made in advancing environmental and climate goals, while also reflecting on the challenges that remain before us. However, this year our society was caught up in a pandemic-induced economic downturn that has left Americans focused squarely on sensible preservation of ourselves, our families, and our way of […]

  • Solar Power Is Cheap and Getting Cheaper

    In many locations, solar power is already the lowest-cost renewable energy alternative available. Some of the advantage stems from advancements made in manufacturing processes and economies of scale that solar companies have captured. Operating costs also factor into the equation—solar’s operating costs are minimal while operating expenses for wind power are more substantial. Still, Brendan […]