solar

  • Renewable Properties Signs Nearly 30 MW of PPAs with PG&E for Community Solar Projects in Disadvantaged Communities

    San Francisco, January 31, 2023 — Renewable Properties, a developer and investor in small-scale utility and community solar projects based in San Francisco, has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for five projects with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), California’s largest investor-owned utility. The projects will bring the benefits of clean solar energy to households that can’t […]

  • Duke Energy begins operation of Idaho’s largest solar plant

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 26, 2023) – Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, a non-regulated commercial brand of Duke Energy, today announced it has placed into commercial operation the 120-MW Jackpot Solar project in Twin Falls County, Idaho. This is the organization’s first utility-scale renewable energy project in the state and is the largest solar facility in operation […]

  • The POWER Interview: Benefits of Adding Storage to Solar Power Systems

    Utilizing energy storage with a solar power system is a way for power generators to help balance the supply of energy with demand for electricity. Energy storage can be used during periods when the sun isn’t shining, and it also help support periods of high demand for power along the grid. Many residential and commercial […]

  • Antora Energy Begins Production of Highly-Efficient Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) Cells in New 2MW Manufacturing Facility

    SUNNYVALE, Calif. (January 24, 2023) — Antora Energy, a leader in zero-carbon heat and power for the industrial sector, has built the world’s first dedicated manufacturing line for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells, achieving a major milestone in the production and scalability of TPV technology. The company has also demonstrated an efficiency rate greater than 40% for […]

  • The POWER Interview: Abu Dhabi’s Plan for Renewable Energy in the UAE

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is in the midst of an energy transition, moving away from its nearly exclusive use of natural gas-fired power generation to a strategy based on renewable energy resources. The country has an abundance of natural gas, and it also has significant solar power potential. The UAE also is adding nuclear […]

  • Texas Utility Will Close Remaining Coal-Fired Units

    The largest municipally-owned electric and gas utility in the U.S. will close its remaining coal-fired power units by 2030. The board of trustees for San Antonio, Texas-based CPS Energy on Jan. 23 voted 4-1 to approve a plan to shutter the last two coal-burning units at the J.K. Spruce power plant. The plan, known as […]

  • Group Says China Will Add 70 GW of Coal- and Gas-Fired Generation in 2023

    A lobbying group for China’s power generation sector said the country will add about 70 GW of fossil fuel-powered capacity this year, even as renewable energy is set to provide more than half of China’s electricity production in 2023. The China Electricity Council in a report published Jan. 19 said the 70 GW of new […]

  • Ørsted Buys PSEG Stake in Offshore Wind Project, Announces Major Texas Solar Farm

    Danish energy developer Ørsted continues to expand its presence in the U.S. market, with the company on Jan. 18 announcing it has signed a deal to acquire Public Service Enterprise Group’s (PSEG’s) 25% stake in the 1.1-GW Ocean Wind 1 project about 15 miles off the coast of New Jersey. The move will give Ørsted […]

  • California City Now Home to World’s Largest Multicampus Solar & Energy Storage Installation

    San Ramon, Calif. (Jan. 17, 2023) – San Ramon is now home to the world’s largest multicampus solar and energy storage installation, equating to nearly 25 megawatts (MW), as Sunset Development Company and DSD Renewables (DSD) again partner for phase two of its renewable energy solution and solar installation at Bishop Ranch, the thriving 600-acre, […]

  • Burns & McDonnell Completes 250 MWac of Solar Projects for Alliant Energy in Wisconsin

    Company Now Mobilized on Six Additional Wisconsin Solar Sites Totaling 414 MWac of Capacity KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Burns & McDonnell has completed engineer-procure-construct (EPC) services for three Alliant Energy solar projects in Wisconsin. The projects are part of Alliant Energy’s Clean Energy Blueprint. These projects are now energized: Bear Creek — 50-MWac North Rock — 50-MWac […]

  • Energy Storage Being Added to California Gas-Fired Peaker Plants

    A North Carolina-based group that provides battery energy storage and software technology is set to co-locate 420 MWh of storage at four natural gas-fired facilities in California. Durham-headquartered FlexGen Power Systems on Jan. 17 said it would provide energy storage to Middle River Power (MRP), a Chicago, Illinois-based independent power company. MRP was created in […]

  • Virtual Power Plant Partnership Launched With Support from General Motors, Ford, Google Nest

    JANUARY 10, 2023 — RMI, a leading nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the global energy transformation, announced the formation of the Virtual Power Plant Partnership (VP3) Tuesday. In recognition of the critical work needed to tackle scaling the market for virtual power plants, initial funding of the VP3 effort was made possible by General Motors and Google […]

  • bp brings green energy and jobs to Ohio with construction of new utility-scale solar project

    JANUARY 10, 2023 — bp announced today its 134-MWdc (107-MWac) Arche Solar project in Fulton County, Ohio, is beginning construction, helping support the global transition to lower carbon energy. Arche is expected to create around 200 U.S. jobs across the supply chain during construction and provide more than $30 million in revenue to benefit local […]

  • Construction Underway on South Dakota’s Largest Solar Project

    A 128-MW solar energy project that will serve customers of a regional electric power cooperative is under construction in South Dakota, with the facility expected to enter commercial operation later this year. National Grid Renewables on Jan. 10 said work has begun on the company’s Wild Springs Solar Project in Pennington County. The array will […]

  • The POWER Interview: Sphera Exec Talks Supply Chain Solutions

    Several executives in the power generation space weighed in for POWER’s recent report on supply chain issues in the sector. Sourcing of equipment also was a hot topic in POWER’s 2023 forecast for the industry. It’s no surprise. The power sector is not exempt from the problems that have impacted business and industry worldwide, from […]

  • SolarEdge to Acquire Hark Systems, a European-Based Energy Analytics and IoT Company

    LEEDS, United Kingdom and MILPITAS, California – January 3, 2023 – SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (“SolarEdge”) (NASDAQ: SEDG), a global leader in smart energy technology, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the entire share capital of Hark Systems Ltd. (“Hark”). Founded in 2016 and based in Leeds, UK. Hark offers […]

  • Power Sector Seeks Solutions for Supply Chain Issues

    The pandemic exposed issues with the global supply chain that provides resources for power generation. The pressure of having enough equipment to meet industry needs has spurred an emphasis on domestic

  • Egypt Uses COP27 to Announce Large-Scale Renewable, Hydrogen Projects

    The recent United Nations (UN) COP27 climate conference in Egypt was host to several announcements of large-scale renewable energy projects, including one of the world’s largest wind farms, along with an

  • Global Market for PPAs Supports Renewable Energy Projects

    Large global corporate groups continue to buy stakes in major renewable energy projects and sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) designed to provide long-term electricity for their operations. Some

  • Identifying State-Focused Renewable Energy Tax Exemptions

    President Joe Biden last year signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that, in addition to a number of other actions, extended and enhanced a number of green energy tax opportunities. Notably, it extended the

  • China Breaks Ground on Massive 16-GW Solar, Wind, Coal Project

    A massive, multibillion-dollar renewable and fossil-fuel energy project is underway in China. The installation, being built by China Three Gorges (CTG), includes wind, solar, energy storage and coal-fired power generation. Ground was broken for the first pilot of the Kubuqi Base project in Dalate Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia on Dec. 28, 2022, according to Chinese […]

  • The 12 Most-Read POWER Global Monitor Articles of 2022

    Every month, POWER magazine publishes several articles in its Global Monitor section covering topics important to the electric power generation industry. The articles typically feature interesting updates on progress made at notable projects around the world, big policy changes, or promising research and development (R&D) news. Short notes about major contracts are also touched on […]

  • World Bank Group Financing West Africa Power Project

    An agency associated with the World Bank will finance installation of solar and hydropower systems, and support related transmission and distribution infrastructure, to provide more electricity to areas of West Africa. The World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA) is investing $311 million into the Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project (RESPITE), an initiative designed […]

  • New Report Shows EU Solar Installations Rise Nearly 50%

    A new report from industry group SolarPower Europe shows that solar installations in the European Union increased by almost 50% year-over-year in 2022, to a record 41.4 GW of generation capacity. “The numbers are clear. Solar is offering a lifeline amid energy and climate crises,” said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe. “No other energy […]

  • The POWER Interview: Emerson Exec Talks Hybrid Facilities

    More companies are providing software and automation technology to the power generation sector, particularly as newer forms of electricity production increase their market share. Emerson is among those groups, with its technology providing a single, integrated, secure platform that is independent of plant type or the equipment originally installed at a generation facility. James Fraser, […]

  • Renewable Properties Acquires Over 40 MW of Maine Community Solar Projects from NextGrid

    San Francisco, California (Dec. 5, 2022) — Renewable Properties, a developer and investor in small-scale utility and community solar projects, is expanding its portfolio in the Maine market, adding a third tranche of projects to the portfolio of Maine community solar projects acquired from NextGrid, a renewable energy company that develops and operates distributed solar energy […]

  • Hybrids Combine Technologies to Enhance Electricity Production

    Solar + wind, solar + storage, wind + storage—even fossil fuels combined with renewable energy—are supporting the growth of hybrid power plants that are breaking the norms of traditional power generation

  • Projects Underway as Part of UK’s Hydrogen Plan

    The UK has a broad plan to develop a hydrogen economy as a feature of its commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Energy analysts have said hydrogen not only could fuel the country’s

  • POWER Digest [December 2022]

    Qatar Inaugurates the Country’s First Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant. With Essa bin Hilal Al-Kuwari, president of Qatar General Electricity & Water Corp. (Kahramaa); Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi

  • Tracker Configurations for Bifacial Modules Support Distributed Generation Sites

    Industry trends toward bigger and heavier modules, along with greater adoption of bifacial technology, are changing the way designers of solar power sites are thinking about tracking systems. Distributed