Texas – pv magazine USA

Nestlé invests in 326 MW Texas solar project

Ryan Kennedy — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 17:56:36 +0000

The Stampede solar project also includes 86 MW of battery energy storage.

Large corporation Nestlé announced it has invested in a 326 MW solar project owned and developed by Enel North America.

The project, called Stampede, is planned to be installed on 2,600 acres in Hopkins County, Texas. The solar facility also includes plans for an 86 MW battery energy storage system.

Nestlé will purchase 100% of the renewable electricity attributes generated by the project’s energy production, estimated to be an average of over 522,000 MWh per year for 15 years. The annual carbon emission reduction is expected to be an estimated 279,000 metric tons of CO2, equivalent to the emissions of removing about 66,000 cars from the road per year.

“Our investment in Stampede brings us within striking distance of meeting our ambition to source 100% renewable electricity at all our manufacturing sites by 2025,” said Kate Short, chief procurement officer, Nestlé North America. “Building on our previous solar investments, Stampede helps further reduce carbon emissions in our operations and expands the availability of renewable energy—the project adds enough solar electricity to the U.S. grid to power the equivalent of approximately 49,000 households each year.”

The 326 MW Stampede project is the company’s third large scale solar project investment in the U.S., adding to 2023 investment in solar project Ganado and its 2020 investment in solar project Taygete I.

TMEIC announces 9 GW utility-scale solar inverter factory in Texas

Ryan Kennedy — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 17:51:02 +0000

The Japan-headquartered manufacturer plans a 144,000 square foot U.S. facility.

TMEIC Corporation Americas announced it will relocate its headquarters to Houston, Texas in March 2025. The headquarters move will coincide with the establishment of a new 144,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Brookshire, Texas.

TMEIC will manufacture utility-scale solar inverters at the facility. The company said the site is large enough to scale up to an annual production capacity of 9 GW of inverters and will scale based on demand.

The company has over 50 GW of its product installed and operational worldwide, with 28 GW installed in North America alone.

TMEIC is moving its headquarters from Roanoke, Virginia to Texas for the site expansion. TMEIC will maintain its office in Roanoke, Virginia, remaining devoted to designing, developing, and engineering advanced automation systems, large AC motors, and variable frequency drive systems for various industrial sectors worldwide.

The new Texas facility expansion is expected to create up to 300 local full-time jobs.

The Brookshire, Texas facility is scheduled to commence operations in October 2024. The facility will be situated near TMEIC’s existing uninterruptible power supply and medium voltage drive manufacturing plant in Katy, Texas.

“This strategic expansion underscores TMEIC’s dedication to the renewable energy industry, advancing clean energy technology, maintaining strong client relationships, and competing on a global basis while proudly manufacturing in the United States,” said Manmeet S. Bhatia, president and chief executive officer, TMEIC Corporation Americas.

TMEIC manufactures centralized PV inverters ranging from 600 V to 1500 V.

TMEIC joins a small but growing number of solar inverter makers who are manufacturing in the U.S., thus filling what has long been a void in the U.S. solar supply chain.

Nevados trackers to qualify as domestic content in 2025

Anne Fischer — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 14:00:47 +0000

Nevados reports that it will soon be taking orders for its domestic content All Terrain Trackers that it says will fully comply with both Treasury’s new elective safe harbor and pre-existing direct cost requirements, helping developers qualify for a 10% domestic content tax credit, which is in addition to the 30% base investment tax credit.

Nevados announced that its all-terrain solar solar trackers will qualify for domestic content with delivery by Q2 2025.

Nevados is known for its All Terrain Tracker, a single-axis tracker that is designed to fit undulating terrain by integrating the driveline and articulating capability into the same components. Last November the company announced a manufacturing partnership with Priefert Manufacturing, an East Texas family-owned business that has long supplied the ranch and rodeo markets.

Priefert has begun manufacturing torque tubes, structural fasteners, controllers, and rails from American-made steel at its 23-acre factory and expects to expand as a result.

“Nevados was already working on a domestic supply chain before the inflation Reduction Act. We had set the groundwork before the IRA was released,” said Scott Troy, vice president of operations & global supply chain at Nevados. “Our partnership with Priefert has allowed more reliable production, shorter shipping times, and a lower overall carbon footprint for our customers.”

Domestic content enables developers to qualify for the 10% additional tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. According to guidance released in May by the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, to receive the bonus, all manufacturing processes for steel and iron components and 40% of manufactured products must take place in the United States..

Nevados reports that its domestic content trackers will fully comply with both Treasury’s new elective safe harbor and pre-existing direct cost requirements, helping developers qualify for a 10% domestic content tax credit, which is in addition to the 30% base investment tax credit.

“We’ve found partners who believe in the same things that we do. We have helped our customers get the details they need to file,” said Yezin Taha, CEO and founder of Nevados. “As a result we’re proud to be able to launch an American-made solar tracker so early, and we have an industry-leading product.”

By the close of 2024, Nevados reports that it will have shipped enough trackers to supply more than a gigawatt of solar generating capacity in the U.S., of 1.3 GW total contracted with client partners such as Ampliform, Cupertino Electric Inc., BlueWave, Cogent Renewables, CS Energy, Cupertino Electric, Inc., D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), Energix Renewables, Nexamp, Primoris Services Corporation, and SOLV Energy.

The company plans to begin taking orders for domestic content trackers in Q4 2024 and to ship them by Q2 2025. For developers not seeking domestic content incentives, Nevados will continue to offer non-domestic supplies.

Most states with renewables targets are meeting them

William Driscoll — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 13:18:07 +0000

Nearly all states with a renewable portfolio standard have met or nearly met their current standard. Four states have yet to meet their solar carve-out requirements.

All but three of the 29 states plus DC that have a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) are meeting their current targets, according to an analysis by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Vermont’s current RPS target of nearly 60% is the highest of any state, as shown in the featured image above, provided in the analysis. Every bar in the image without a light blue segment at the top means that state has met its current RPS.

The study says that “large shortfalls” in New York and Illinois are “expected to close” as contracted projects come online.

The study counts a state as meeting its RPS if the state’s utilities have retired renewable energy credits (RECs) equal to the amount of the RPS requirement. States award RECs for renewable power generation.

A state may also permit utilities to comply with its RPS by submitting “alternative compliance payments.”

Delaware’s “large shortfall,” the study says, is due to its low cost for alternative compliance payments compared to other states in the region.

Puerto Rico is not included in the analysis but also has a large shortfall in meeting its renewables target. The territory stands at 12% renewables, compared to its current target of 20% by 2022.

Solar carve-outs

Of the 15 states plus DC that have RPS carve-outs that require a certain amount of solar and/or distributed generation, all but four have met or nearly met the goals, as shown in the nearby image.

Drivers

While the study says that “parsing out the incremental impact of individual drivers” for the growth in renewables generation is “challenging,” it observes that RPS policies have been a “larger driver” of renewables deployment in three regions:

The Northeast, where almost all renewable capacity additions—mostly onsite and community solar in recent years—are serving RPS demand
The Mid-Atlantic, thanks to solar carve-out capacity and RPS-certified projects with corporate power purchase agreements, which “potentially sell RECs into compliance markets”
The West, where added renewables are driven by “aggressive” long-term RPS and clean energy standard (CES) targets throughout the region, and where non-RPS additions are mostly onsite solar.

Regions where RPS standards have been a “smaller driver” are:

Texas, which achieved its final RPS target in 2008, so that all renewables growth since then is not influenced by the RPS
The Midwest, where there is “lots of wind development,” some of which is contracted to utilities with RPS needs
The Southeast, where renewables growth is primarily driven by utility procurement and qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA).

In all but two regions, renewable generation well exceeds the combined RPS targets for the states in the region, as shown in this graph from the study:

Ultimate targets

Across the 29 states plus DC with an RPS, 16 have ultimate RPS targets of at least 50% of retail electricity sales, and 4 have a 100% RPS. Sixteen states have adopted a 100% clean energy standard, which can be met by renewables and typically also nuclear and hydroelectric generation as well.

RPS and CES policies will require 900 TWh of new clean electricity by 2050, the study says, “equivalent to roughly 3x the historical rate of RPS buildout.”

Berkeley Lab is hosting a webinar on August 28 to present the study’s complete findings. The study is titled “U.S. State Renewables Portfolio & Clean Electricity Standards: 2024 Status Update.”

Sage Geosystems begins construction of 3 MW geothermal storage facility for ERCOT grid

Michael Puttré — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 14:00:23 +0000

Company draws on oil and gas drilling tech to get renewable energy from dry rock formations.

Houston-based Sage Geosystems has started construction on a 3 MW geo-pressurized geothermal energy storage system in Christine, Texas. The announcement follows a land-use agreement signed with the San Miguel Electric Cooperative Inc. (SMECI) enabling the location of the facility near an existing coal-fueled power plant. Sage will serve as merchant, buying and selling electricity to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid.

The storage system, dubbed EarthStore, is based on Sage’s dry rock geothermal technology, which consists of a drilled well into which water is pumped and kept at ambient heat and pressure in subsurface rock formations. When electricity is needed, the naturally heated and pressurized water is released to run a Pelton-type hydroelectric turbine generator. The storage facility is expected to have six to 10 hours of capacity.

The SMECI project will be the company’s first commercial storage facility. Sage CEO Cindy Taff said the coal plant will not have any bearing on storage operations, except as a source of water, and that the idea is to buy electricity from ERCOT to run pumps when demand and prices are low. When ERCOT experiences high demand Sage will run its turbine and sell the power.

“We’ll be drilling the well in September and building the facility,” Taff told pv magazine USA. “We’ll have everything done by the end of December this year.”

Ideally, Taff says, the EarthStore system would serve as a long duration energy storage companion to solar and wind generation, where surplus energy is used to run the pumps. The amount of storage depends on the number of wells available: more may be drilled to increase capacity on site. The pumped water may be stored indefinitely and when released delivers a round-trip efficiency of 70-75% with a water loss of less than 2%, she said.

The EarthStore system is one of family of geothermal storage and baseload energy systems Sage is developing. A more ambitious geothermal generation technology drills a series of wells to depths of 9,000 to 20,000 feel, where ambient temperatures range from 218- to 485-degrees Fahrenheit. In such systems, pressurized steam is liberated to run Rankin-cycle turbines to generate electricity. A more advanced version will heat pressurized, supercritical CO2 to drive a specialized turbine with greater efficiency.

Sage has contracts with the Department of Defense to develop geothermal baseload generators and microgrids for its facilities. It is conducting feasibility studies at the Army’s Ft. Bliss and Air Force’s Ellington Field bases, both in Texas. A prototype geothermal plant is under construction at the latter site. In addition, Sage has a test site of its own in Starr County.

According to Taff, the primary advantage of Sage’s approach to geothermal storage and generation is that it uses existing drilling techniques from the oil and gas industry to produce renewable energy from rock formations that exist essentially everywhere. All of the 16 GW of existent geothermal energy is produced from hydrothermal locations linked to volcanic activity – relatively rare occurrences.

“If you look at the continental U.S., we can put storage even in the East, where the geothermal potential is a little bit more challenge,” Taff said. “We can do it in the West, where you have good geothermal potential. So, we can pair with wind or solar just about anywhere. We are actually looking at pairing with solar to provide off-grid, 24/7 power for data centers and other customers who need tons of power.”

SEG Solar opens 2 GW module factory in Houston

Michael Puttré — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:19:08 +0000

Ribbon-cutting event marks $60 million investment in U.S. solar manufacturing.

SEG Solar officially opened its new photovoltaic module manufacturing facility in Houston on August 8 with a gala event featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony and live country music. The automated factory line has an initial capacity of 2 GW of n-type panels per year with plans to expand to 5 GW by 2030.

“You see this facility?” said Jun Zhuge, SEG’s founder and chief operating officer, addressing an audience of mostly customers, partners and local officials gathered for the opening. “We have invested $60 million right here in Houston. We’re not just talk.”

The new factory and headquarters complex features 145,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space and 16,000 square feet of office space. The fully automated production line – SEG claims it’s the longest PV line in the world – takes in glass and cells and runs through production stages over conveyor belts all the way through framing and packaging. There are numerous stations for various inspection and quality assurance processes. The hands-off line requires 12 technicians to attend the machinery, although more were on hand for training purposes.

“We don’t just want to make money,” Zhuge said. “We want to build solar manufacturing in this country. We want to bring all of the supply chain to this country.”

Conceived by co-founders Zhuge and Jim Wood, who serves as chief executive officer, SEG Solar was launched in California in 2016. Through 2021 the company established cell and module factories in Southeast Asia and China. The photovoltaic cells that feed the Houston operation are sourced from Indonesia, but the company says it is committed to producing cells in the U.S.

A veteran of investment banking and solar installation businesses, Wood eventually went to work for a large Chinese solar manufacturer. He teamed up with Zhuge and other partners with industry experience, and they decided there was a real opportunity to establish a successful American module producer under the right circumstances.

“We looked at a lot of the lessons that we’ve learned from myself and other folks here working at other manufacturers and we said, we’re going to lean heavily into automation,” Wood told pv magazine USA, adding that the production machines are the largest of their types available. “Those stringers are 1.3 times faster than any other stringers in the world. So because we’re fully automated, because the capacity of those lines are larger, because the machines run faster, we’re able to be as competitive here as we would be in Southeast Asia.”

According to Wood, the company looked at other regions to establish its U.S. manufacturing base but decided that Houston offered a number of key advantages for SEG Solar’s strategic development plans. He cited Houston as having one of the best ports in the country, a large and educated labor force with many skills and a very friendly business atmosphere. Moreover, Texas is already the second largest solar market in the U.S. with 42 GW installed as of Q2 2024, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, and is poised to become number one next year.

Wood stresses that SEG Solar’s purpose is not to satisfy domestic content requirements or circumvent tariffs. It is a 100% U.S.-owned company, with the principals assuming financial as well as managerial responsibility for its operations.

“SEG is financed internally,” he said. “We don’t have private equity. There are no external owners. We haven’t taken any outside debt. We’re a true American company where we’ve taken our profits, recycled them and grown this business organically.”

New discovery paves the way for more efficient perovskite solar cells

Patrick Jowett — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 14:31:29 +0000

Researchers from University of Texas have used computational methods to study the formation of polarons in halide perovskites. The findings revealed topological vortices in polaron quasiparticles.

From pv magazine Global

Researchers at the University of Texas in Austin have explored the formation of polarons by examining the properties of halide perovskites.

Halide perovskites are used in applications such as photovoltaics due to their optoelectric properties. In the research paper “Topological polarons in halide pervoskites,” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists used supercomputers Lonestar6 and Frontera from the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) to analyze these properties at the individual atom level.

The team developed EPW, an open-source Fortran and message-passing interface code that calculates properties related to electron-phonon interaction. The EPW code specializes in studying how electrons interact with vibrations in the lattice of a solid, which causes the formation of polarons.

“We found that electrons form localized, narrow wave packets, which are known as polarons,” Feliciano Giustino, one of the paper’s lead authors, told TACC. “These ‘lumps of charge’ – the quasiparticle polarons – endow perovskites with peculiar properties.”

“These polarons show very intriguing patterns. The atoms rotate around the electron and form vortices that had never been observed before. We suspect that this strange vortex structure prevents the electron from going back to the unexcited energy level,” Giustino explained. “This vortex is a protected topological structure in the halide perovskite lattice material that remains in place for a long time and allows the electrons to flow without losing energy.”

In the research paper, the scientists add that polarons take many different forms in halide perovskites, including small polarons, large polarons and charge density waves.

“We find that these emergent quasiparticles support topologically nontrivial phonon fields with quantized topological charge, making them nonmagnetic analog of the helical Bloch points found in magnetic skyrmion lattices,” the researchers said. “Our findings suggest that halide perovskites may be regarded as a class of quantum materials where electron-phonon couplings replace the traditional electron–electron interactions of correlated electron systems.”

In case you missed it: Five big solar stories in the news this week

pv magazine — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 21:00:42 +0000

pv magazine USA spotlights news of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more.

The evolving art and science of agrivoltaics At Bluewave, integrating solar technology with traditional farming practices isn’t just a concept, it’s the new standard. Jesse Robertson-DuBois, director of sustainable solar development, shares insights on the transformative journey of agrivoltaics within the industry.

Renewables “cheaper and faster” than methane, says nation’s largest utility NextEra’s Q2 2024 quarterly earnings report shows significant growth in the company’s renewable pipeline. However, the group, which is typically exacting, refused to put a hard number on their future demand growth expectations.

Battery fire shuts down California highway A utility-scale battery delivery overturned on a highway after the truck carrying the batteries collided with a car, overcorrected, tipped to the side and dumped its cargo, leading to a fire that lasted more than 24 hours.

Bill aims to cut 45X tax credits for Chinese solar makers While the lucrative tax credits has attracted clean energy manufacturers from around the world to build factories in the U.S., the fact that many of the new manufacturing facilities are from Chinese companies has created a controversy that this new bill aims to solve.

Massive 900 MW solar project designed to preserve agricultural land Brookfield Renewable Partners filed a notice of intent for a 900 MW solar project in Oregon that will be installed in ribbons along the edge of a field to allow for continued agricultural use of the land

In case you missed it: Five big solar stories in the news this week

pv magazine — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:03:15 +0000

pv magazine USA spotlights news of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more.

Residential solar company SunPower stock crashes 70% The company’s share price fell below $1 as it announced it is halting some operations and ending its lease and power purchase agreement offerings, among other actions.

SunPower crew

Image: SunPower

How long do residential solar panels last? Multiple factors affect the productive lifespan of a residential solar panel. In the first part of this series, we look at the solar panels themselves.

U.S. Senators introduce comprehensive energy permitting reform act Joe Manchin (I-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY) released the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, promising to accelerate the permitting processes for energy and mineral projects of all types in the U.S.

WoodMac says global solar tracker shipments grew by 28% in 2023 Global tracker shipments reached 92 GWdc last year, according to WoodMackenzies’ latest report. The US accounted for the majority of the global market, with three US-based manufacturers, Nextracker, Array Technologies and GameChange Solar, ranking as the three largest shippers in the world.

Interview: My experience as a battery energy storage homeowner What is it like being a residential solar and energy storage prosumer living in California? Ahmad Faruqui, economist-at-large, shares his perspective with pv magazine USA .

In case you missed it: Five big solar stories in the news this week

pv magazine — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 22:00:14 +0000

pv magazine USA spotlights news of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more.

Tesla lands huge 15.3 GWh Megapack supply contract with Intersect The Tesla order is equal to around 165% of the total battery energy storage systems the company deployed in Q2 2024, which saw the highest quarterly deployment in the company’s history to date.

Utility-scale agrivoltaic installation in Ohio is now operational Savion developed the 180 MW solar power plant located in Madison County, one of the first operating utility-scale solar sites to integrate soybeans, alfalfa and forage crop production within the array.

U.S. residential solar down 20% in 2024A webinar hosted by Roth Capital Partners looked at the health of the residential solar market and forecasts for next year.

Elastocalorics could replace heat pumps, air conditioning systems Elastocalorics have the potential to replace current air conditioning and heating systems, offering significant energy savings when paired with technologies such as photovoltaics.

First Solar probes potential infringement of TOPCon patents First Solar says it is evaluating potential infringement of its patents for its TOPCon tech, secured through the acquisition of TetraSun in 2013. The U.S. thin-film solar module manufacturer has not named the companies involved or given a timeline for the investigation.

Sunrise brief: First Solar commissions 1.3 million square-foot R&D facility

pv magazine — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 12:00:11 +0000

Also on the rise: North American solar power purchase agreements rise 3% in Q2 Intersect Power closes $837 million in financing for three Tesla battery systems in Texas. And more.

Solar corporate funding drops to $16.6 billion in H1 High interest rates, an uncertain rate trajectory and timeline, increasing trade barriers, supply chain challenges, concerns about the presidential election’s impact on the sector, and constantly evolving trade policies have created a climate of uncertainty.

First Solar commissions 1.3 million square-foot R&D facility The Jim Nolan Center for Solar Innovation in Lake Township, Ohio includes a high-tech pilot manufacturing line allowing for the production of full-sized prototypes of thin film and tandem PV modules.

Intersect Power closes $837 million in financing for three battery systems in Texas Each project comprises 86 Tesla Megapacks and will provide a capacity of 320 MWh of battery storage with a two-hour duration.

S&P Global launches daily spot market price assessment for solar panels The tool has been billed as the world’s first independent daily spot market price assessment for solar panels. S&P Global says it has been launched to aid transparency in technology pricing as solar modules become increasingly commoditized.

Generac awarded up to $200 million from DOE for solar and storage in Puerto Rico The funds seek to build energy resilience in Puerto Rico, where hurricanes and other extreme weather frequently leave residents without power.

North American solar power purchase agreements rise 3% in Q2 LevelTen Energy released its quarterly PPA Price Index Report, showing an increase in prices following a modest drop in Q1.

Intersect Power closes $837 million in financing for three battery systems in Texas

Anne Fischer — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 16:53:36 +0000

Each project comprises 86 Tesla Megapacks and will provide a capacity of 320 MWh of battery storage with a two-hour duration.

Intersect Power announced the closing of two separate transactions representing an aggregate of $837 million of financing commitments for the construction and operation of three standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Texas.

The transactions cover portfolio-level construction debt, tax equity and term debt financing for three large-scale projects, Lumina I, Lumina II, and Radian, all of which are expected to be operational in 2024.

Each project comprises 86 Tesla Megapacks. Lumina II and Radian will be operated by Autobidder, Tesla’s real-time trading platform. The three sites will each provide a capacity of 320 MWh of battery storage with a two-hour duration.

“Batteries will be a vital part of the energy transition and are the perfect complement to the billions of dollars of solar generation that we are building in California and Texas,” said Sheldon Kimber, CEO and founder of Intersect Power. “These assets should allow us to provide more consistent financial performance from a diversified fleet of renewable generation and storage, benefiting from increasing market volatility and periods of high prices while protecting us from periods of low market prices. This stability will be critical as we expect to triple the size of our portfolio over the next three years.”

Morgan Stanley will provide tax equity, and funds and accounts managed by HPS Investment Partners will be making construction debt and term debt investments. Deutsche Bank is partnering in the construction debt facility and providing the operational letters of credit to the projects.

“These standalone batteries are much-needed infrastructure that will increase grid reliability and improve energy security as the U.S. transitions to a low-carbon economy,” said Jorge Iragorri, Managing Director and Head of Renewable Energy Investments at Morgan Stanley.

Intersect reports that the projects qualify for investment tax credits (ITC) under the Inflation Reduction Act. The ITC allows a federal tax credit of 30% of installed system costs for clean energy technologies like solar, wind and energy storage. The credit is offered as a base 6%, and the 30% credit is only offered to projects that satisfy prevailing wage requirements.

Intersect has a base portfolio of 2.2 GW of operating solar PV and 2.4 GWh of storage in operation or construction. The company states that its business plan includes growth in grid-tied renewables, as well as large-scale clean energy assets, including battery storage, data centers, and green hydrogen.

Mission Solar introduces modules for C&I and utility-scale

Ryan Kennedy — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:25:10 +0000

The residential solar panel manufacturer introduced large format bifacial solar modules for larger projects.

Mission Solar Energy, a solar panel manufacturer that recently has focused on the residential market, announced it has expanded its offerings with a new series of solar modules designed for commercial and industrial (C&I) and utility-scale project applications.

“Mission Solar Energy is excited to re-enter the C&I/Utility segment,” said Sam Martens, president of Mission Solar Energy. “We have a history in this space having launched our company by supplying to utility scale projects in 2014.”

The new modules include:

545-555 W PERC Transparent Backsheet Bifacial
540-550 W PERC Dual Glass Bifacial

Data sheet here

144 Half Cut, M10/182mm cells

9 busbars

2278mm x 1134mm x 30mm (89.69″ x 44.65″ x 1.38″)

580-590 W TOPCon Bifacial

Data sheet here

Dual-glass bifacial

144 Half Cut, M10/182mm cells

16 Multiwire busbars

2278mm x 1134mm x 30mm (89.69″ x 44.65″ x 1.18″)

Mission Solar said its new line of solar modules are UFLPA-compliant and AD/CVD risk free. Mission Solar’s parent company is OCI Holdings, which owns a major supplier of fully ULFPA compliant, high-purity solar-grade polysilicon.

Both the TOPCon and PERC module lines are tested to UL 61730 & IEC Standards, the company reports. Hail tests results exceeded 25 mm at 23 m/s, while wind resistance tested at 5,400 Pa front load and 2,400 Pa back load. The modules are also resistant to potential induced degradation (PID) and have resistance to salt mist corrosion, said the company.

The modules are fit with Staübli EVO2 MC4 connectors, while the junction box is rated as protection class IP68 with 3 bypass-diodes.

A Mission Solar PERC module.
Image: Mission Solar

“With more than ten years of solar manufacturing experience, we have a very loyal customer base that trusts the quality and reliability of Mission Solar products,” said Martens. “These new products are a direct response to customers who have been asking us to serve this industry segment.”

Mission Solar is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, and its parent company OCI Holdings is based in Seoul, South Korea.

Sunrise brief: Protecting smart inverters from cyberattack

pv magazine — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 12:00:58 +0000

Also on the rise: Texas solar shines through Tropical Storm Beryl. Generac and Enphase release new EV chargers. And more.

Enphase Energy releases EV charger for commercial fleets The CS-100 provides up to 19.2 kW of continuous power output and enables the fleet operator to set up charging schedules using the Enphase proprietary COSMOS interface.

SolarEdge aims to qualify for U.S. domestic content incentive The company has brought over 1,500 new jobs to the U.S. through contract manufacturing facilities.

Protecting smart inverters from cyberattack The National Institute of Standards and Technology has flagged a cybersecurity risk for smart inverters, and is developing guidelines to prevent cyberattacks.

Generac introduces residential EV charger The Level 2 charger offers between 25 and 30 miles of charge per hour.

Texas solar shines through Tropical Storm Beryl In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that the Tropical Storm Beryl caused a large but temporary dip in solar generation potential across Texas on July 8. However, cross-referencing with grid operator reports revealed that very little production went offline due to the storm, showing the resilience of Texas’ solar infrastructure.

IEA-PVPS identifies 456 patents in PV module recycling The IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme’s (IEA-PVPS) latest report on solar panel recycling offers a comprehensive review of all existing technologies in this market segment, from pure mechanical recycling to innovative techniques such as as light pulse treatment, water-jet cleaning, pyrolysis, and chemical treatments.

Volytica, Sinovoltaics launch new analysis service for 100% battery pack review at factory The newly launched BESSential analysis goes deeper than traditional Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), which is performed at the container level. The service evaluates each battery energy storage system pack down to the cell level and detects and corrects thermal, electrical, and capacity imbalance issues.

Texas solar shines through Tropical Storm Beryl

Ryan Kennedy — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:33:11 +0000

In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that the Tropical Storm Beryl caused a large but temporary dip in solar generation potential across Texas on July 8. However, cross-referencing with grid operator reports revealed that very little production went offline due to the storm, showing the resilience of Texas’ solar infrastructure.

Despite Tropical Storm Beryl making landfall on the morning of Monday, July 8, relatively sunny conditions returned as the remnants of the system moved north-eastward, according to analysis using the Solcast API. Although southeast Texas was most affected by damaging winds and flooding, the cloud cover from the inclement weather system did see a large but temporary dip in solar generation potential across the state.

Solcast’s analysis of potential utility-scale solar generation in the ERCOT electricity grid region indicates that the cloud cover associated with Beryl significantly dampened solar generation on the morning of Monday the 8th. Cross-referencing with grid operator reports reveals that very little production went offline due to the storm, showing the resilience of Texas’ solar infrastructure.

By Tuesday, skies over Texas were relatively clear, with only isolated convective storms as Beryl moved northeast. Forecast thunderstorms for the coming weekend are likely to only put a mild dampener on solar generation in the ERCOT electricity region, with the southeast the most impacted, according to forecasts from the Solcast API.

When comparing the second week of July to previous years, overall ERCOT production this week is expected to be only 3% below typical generation levels. However, the southeast and Far East sub-regions of ERCOT were more significantly impacted by the cloud cover from Beryl, with generation more than 15% below average for the week, showing the localized nature of the storm’s impact on solar generation.

Tracking Beryl’s impact on daily irradiance shows a relatively small, well-structured storm on Sunday the 7th, just before landfall. As the storm moved northeast and rapidly weakened, the peak severe weather near its core diminished, but the spatial impact on irradiance increased as the system lost structure and spread out. This pattern shows how the storm’s dissipation affected solar generation potential across a broader area.

Solcast produces these figures by tracking clouds and aerosols at 1-2km resolution globally, using satellite data and proprietary AI/ML algorithms. This data is used to drive irradiance models, enabling Solcast to calculate irradiance at high resolution, with typical bias of less than 2%, and also cloud-tracking forecasts. This data is used by more than 300 companies managing over 150GW of solar assets globally.

Enphase begins shipping U.S.-made microinverters for commercial applications

Anne Fischer — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 17:37:24 +0000

The IQ8P-3P commercial microinverters support up to 480 W of peak output power for three-phase commercial installations, and they're compatible with a wide range of solar modules up to 640 W.

Enphase Energy announced it is shipping U.S.-made IQ8P-3P microinverters designed for small-scale commercial installations.

The Inflation Reduction Act incentivized many manufacturers, including Enphase Energy, to manufacture in the United States. In April the company reported it had shipped about 506,000 microinverters from its contract manufacturing facilities in the United States, making them eligible for the 45X production tax credit.

“We are pleased to begin shipments of our IQ8 Commercial Microinverters from our contract manufacturing facility in Texas,” said Ron Swenson, senior vice president of operations at Enphase Energy. “Expanding our list of U.S.-supplied products has been a key objective, helping to ensure superior service with quicker delivery times for local customers in our top market.”

Each IQ8P-3P commercial microinverter supports up to 480 W of peak output power for three-phase commercial installations. The new microinverters are compatible with a wide range of solar panels including 54, 60, 66, 72, and 144-cell panels with full or split cells, supporting panels ranging 320 W to 640 W. Full specifications sheet and accessories can be found here.

The commercial Enphase Energy System includes the new IQ Gateway Commercial 2, which when connected to the internet enables over-the-air updates and to the Enphase App monitoring platform. The IQ Gateway and IQ Microinverters provide Fleet View for portfolio monitoring and management and Enphase Kiosk software that publicly displays system performance in real-time. The microinverters also feature Enphase Burst Mode technology that Enphase reports enables systems to start producing earlier and stop producing later in the day compared to other systems.

The microinverters are backed by an industry leading 25-year warranty for projects in the U.S. and Canada and 12-year warranties for projects in Mexico.

To celebrate the launch, Enphase is hosting an event at its Arlington, Texas manufacturing facility on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Enphase encourages any installers and distributors interested in learning more about its commercial solution to reserve a spot on the event here.

Sunrise brief: Looking to Texas as model of speedy interconnection

pv magazine — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 12:22:49 +0000

Also on the rise: UL Solutions introduces new testing protocol for residential battery storage systems. Trina Solar begins mass production of 430-455 W full-black modules. And more.

Trina Solar begins mass production of 430-455 W full-black modules Trina Solar says it has launched mass production of 430 W to 455 W full-black PV modules. The Vertex S+ panels have efficiencies of up to 22.8% and weigh 21 kg, with a 1.6 mm x 1.6 mm dual-glass design.

UL Solutions introduces new testing protocol for residential battery storage systems The latest test method addresses the fire propagation behavior of a residential battery energy storage system if a thermal runaway propagation event leading to an internal fire were to occur during the system’s lifetime.

Rutgers University studies co-locating solar energy with crop production The university is working with SolarEdge to study the practices of agrivoltaics, or co-located solar and farming.

Experts consider speedy utility-scale interconnection in Texas going nationwide Some experts shared data to back up their praise for the “connect and manage” approach used by Texas grid operator ERCOT, while others speaking on an industry panel explained their reservations.

Yotta Energy launches ‘panel-level storage’ package for C&I solar U.S. storage and inverter specialist Yotta Energy says its new package has several advantages compared to conventional C&I solar storage solutions.

Tunisian solar module maker Ifrisol targeting U.S. manufacturing Ifrisol, a Tunisian PV module maker, is targeting the US market by producing solar panels with cells sourced from unspecified “non-Chinese” Asian manufacturers.

Experts consider speedy utility-scale interconnection in Texas going nationwide

William Driscoll — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 19:02:13 +0000

Some experts shared data to back up their praise for the “connect and manage” approach used by Texas grid operator ERCOT, while others speaking on an industry panel explained their reservations.

National goals for utility-scale interconnection for the rest of the country are already being met in the ERCOT grid region in Texas, which uses a “connect and manage” approach, said Mario Hayden, director, transmission at Enel North America, at the Transmission and Interconnection Summit held outside Washington, DC.

It takes just a year, Hayden said, for a solar or storage developer that has filed an interconnection request with ERCOT to progress through the full interconnection study process and reach an interconnection agreement.

Noting a key downside of the “connect and manage” approach, namely the risk of curtailment if transmission capacity is inadequate, Mike Tabrizi, founder and president of Zero Emission Grid, said that although a project developer in the ERCOT region can interconnect to transmission at their own risk, and not be responsible for transmission costs upfront, once the project becomes operational, “then you are fully exposed what’s going to happen with transmission.”

ERCOT says it takes three to six years to energize transmission lines in Texas, said panel moderator Tom Kleckner in his introductory statement. Kleckner, the ERCOT/SPP correspondent for RTO Insider, related that ERCOT says energizing transmission elsewhere in the U.S. takes seven to 13 years. As a single-state entity, ERCOT is not subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules, Kleckner said, “so it saves some four years in federal compliance and two years in signing and construction.”

Regan Fink, manager, transmission & interconnection policy for Pine Gate Renewables, described two issues related to managing the need for more transmission, which she called the “manage” aspect of “connect and manage.” First, ERCOT lacks proactive transmission planning, she said, adding that while “it’s really hard” to do, “some of it needs to be done.”

Second, she said that as a generator, “there’s no formal process to sponsor your own upgrades. If you’re facing a lot of curtailment and congestion, but it’s not enough” for ERCOT as a system to decide whether to build upgrades, “then we might be stuck with that. While we’ve been told by ERCOT that we can coordinate with the transmission service providers” in the grid region about sponsoring upgrades, “we would like to see a more formal process.”

Pranay Reminisetty, team lead for resource integration at the consultancy DNV, said that because of ERCOT’s “big backlog in transmission,” interconnecting a project to ERCOT’s grid without knowing how much production will be curtailed presents a financial risk for developers. “So we need more transmission in order to go into energy-only resources,” he said.

Yet in the nation’s other grid regions, he said the financial risks come from uncertainty over both the network upgrade costs that will be assigned to a project to interconnect, and the grid operator’s affected system study cost for a project, which he called a “surprise cost” for the developer.

Tyler Norris, a former Cypress Creek Renewables executive and current Ph.D. candidate, said that “it’s no secret” that staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) “are quite interested in the topic of flexible interconnection options,” such as ERCOT’s approach.

Flexible interconnection was “really front and center in the U.S. Department of Energy’s interconnection roadmap,” he said, “and I think that really caught the attention of FERC staff.” FERC will hold a workshop on innovations and efficiencies in generator interconnection on September 10 and 11, he noted.

With electric loads projected to increase, creating “more pressure to get more generation on the system,” Norris predicted that “we’re going to see a significant increase in demand for more flexible interconnection options in the years ahead, including energy-only interconnection, ”such as ERCOT’s approach, as well as “provisional service, and potentially other fast track options.”

Norris said his team’s ongoing analysis of 3500 interconnection studies for solar projects shows that upgrade costs for energy-only interconnection have been nearly equivalent to upgrade costs for network resource interconnection. The lack of cost savings for energy-only interconnection, he suggested, shows that energy-only interconnection is “not living up to (FERC’s) original intent,” when FERC created that service option in its Order 2003, as a “credible alternative to network resource interconnection service that would be faster and cheaper.”

“There’s a lot we can do to improve energy-only interconnection service and provisional service,” he said.

Regan said in the question period that “we don’t expect a major order” from FERC to result from its September workshop.

DNV Principal Consultant Morgan Putnam said in a comment posted in the question-ranking app that “Our collective desire for 0% curtailment has greatly misled the industry.“

The panel discussion’s theme was “Can the ERCOT ‘connect and manage’ approach lead to faster and cheaper grid interconnection nationwide?”

The conference was produced by Infocast and supported by 15 sponsors.

Origami Solar sets up regional fabrication of steel solar panel frames

Anne Fischer — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:25:25 +0000

Partnerships with steel equipment producers in Ohio and two locations in Texas will enable Origami to have its steel solar module frames shipped from fabricator to module manufacturer in one to two days, the company says.

Origami Solar announced partnerships with three steel fabricators who will domestically produce steel solar module frames. The fabricators include with Welser Profile of Valley City, Ohio; Priefert, of Mt. Pleasant, Texas; and Unimacts of Houston, Texas. Origami expects to be able to ship steel frames to customers in the first quarter of 2025, and by producing regionally says that frames will get from the fabricator to the module manufacturer in one to two days.

“America has one of the world’s strongest steel industries” said Origami Solar CEO Gregg Patterson. “We have the energy efficient steel mills and the world-class fabricators that can produce every solar frame America will ever need.”

Origami Solar, founded in 2019 and based in Bend, Oregon, is a pv magazine 2023 award winner for manufacturing. The company produces patented, steel solar module frames that are said to lower cost and improve module performance. The company reports that the frames are made of “green” recycled steel, thereby reducing greenhouse gases by up to 93%, representing a reduction of 80 kg per module or 200 metric tons per MW.

A recent report by Wood Mackenzie and Origami Solar notes that while the U.S. is working toward building up its domestic module manufacturing, thanks for the IRA, a less well-known problem is U.S. dependence on aluminum module frames. The majority of these are currently imported from East and Southeast Asia, and the report says that they are all made from carbon-intensive aluminum.

Origami sees an opportunity to supply module manufacturers in the U.S. market who are switching from imported aluminum frames to domestically made steel frames. Its use of recycled steel from suppliers in the U.S. and Europe in its frames give it a competitive edge when it comes to greenhouse gas scoring as assessed by Boundless Impact

Patterson points out that by having regional fabrication centers in the U.S., customers will avoid “shipping issues, labor strife, or impoundments delaying the arrival of the frames they need.” He added that by procuring domestically produced steel frames customers won’t have the worry of “geopolitical tensions” or “ever-increasing tariffs.” In light of recent news about fragile solar panels, he noted that steel frames may alleviate the risk of frames failing to support ever-larger solar panels.

Switching to domestically produced products across the solar supply chain has the further benefit of supporting good-paying jobs.

“Thanks to our partnership with Origami, we were able to expand our investments in the solar industry, keep our Benton, Arkansas facility open, keep our current employees hard at work and expand to up to 70 additional skilled workers over the next three years,” said Rocky Christenberry, Priefert’s executive vice president

Long-duration stability of perovskite solar cells

Patrick Jowett — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:53:42 +0000

US scientists have analyzed the impact of “seasoning” a formamidinium lead iodide solution with two-dimensional (2D) perovskites. They have found that the template improved the efficiency and durability of their solar cells.

From pv magazine Global

Scientists from Rice University in Houston, Texas, have improved the stability of pervoskite solar cells by distributing 2D perovskites.

The scientists synthesized formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) into ultrastable, high-quality photovoltaic films for high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. They hypothesized that using more stable 2D perovskites as a template could impart their stability to FAPbI3 during growth.

They fabricated four types of 2D perovskites to test the idea, two closely matching FAPbI3’s surface structure and two less well-matched, and used them to make different FAPbI3 film formulations. They found that the 2D crystal template improved both the efficiency and durability of FAPbI3 solar cells. Solar cells with 2D templates didn’t degrade after 20 days of generating electricity in air, while those without 2D crystals degraded significantly after two days.

“The addition of well-matched 2D crystals made it easier for FAPbI3 crystals to form, while poorly matched 2D crystals actually made it harder to form, validating our hypothesis,” said Isaac Metcalf, the lead author of the study. “FAPbI3 films templated with 2D crystals were higher quality, showing less internal disorder and exhibiting a stronger response to illumination, which translated as higher efficiency.”

The research team then found that by adding an encapsulation layer to the 2D-templated solar cells, stability was further improved to timescales approaching commercial relevance. According to their research paper – “Two-dimensional perovskite templates for durable, efficient formamidinium perovskite solar cells,” recently published in Science – the fabricated cell had a power conversion efficiency of 24.1% for a 0.5-square-centimeter active area and maintained 97% of their efficiency for 1,000 hours at 85 C under maximum power point tracking.

“Right now, we think that this is state of the art in terms of stability,” said Rice University engineer Aditya Mohite, “Perovskite solar cells have the potential to revolutionize energy production, but achieving long-duration stability has been a significant challenge.”

The team said that the findings could have an impact on light-harvesting, reduce manufacturing costs, and enable development of solar panels with that are lighter and more flexible than silicon solar panels.

“Perovskites are soluble in solution, so you can take an ink of a perovskite precursor and spread it across a piece of glass, then heat it up and you have the absorber layer for a solar cell,” Metcalf said. “Since you don’t need very high temperatures – perovskite films can be processed at temperatures below 150 C – in theory, that also means perovskite solar panels can be made on plastic or even flexible substrates, which could further reduce costs.”

Texas gas station to save on costs with solar installation

Ryan Kennedy — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 15:10:43 +0000

A Shell gas station is expected to save over $150,000 from a solar array installed on the roof of its pumping station.

A gas station in Crandall, Texas is among the first in the state to install solar panels on the roof of its pumping station.

DynamicSLR installed the 49 kW array for the Tri Gaz 5 station, The project is equipped with Enphase IQ8-3P microinverters. Microinverters are placed under each solar module, ensuring optimized production for each individual module.

The project is estimated to offset 17% of the station’s electricity needs, producing approximately 66,359 kWh per year. The project is interconnected with utility Oncor’s transmission grid.

The on-site solar array is expected to offset 1,920 lbs of carbon dioxide emissions per year, equivalent to 4,365,231 miles driven by cars, or 28,799 trees planted.

“Our commitment to sustainability drives us to be pioneers in our field,” said Zak Kassem, president, Tri Gaz 5. “We take pride in being the first gas station in Texas to embrace solar energy, thereby reducing our carbon footprint.”

Ahmed Barakat, head of operations for commercial and industrial solar, DyanmicSLR said the installer was concerned about the potential risks of arc faults and selected a solution that made safety a top priority.

“We choose Enphase microinverters to provide clients with the safest solution, and the Enphase App allows us to implement module-level monitoring,” said Barakat. “This not only addresses their safety concerns, but also enhances their overall experience by providing detailed monitoring and analysis at the individual module level.”

Enphase IQ8 3P inverters were selected to provide the station a three-phase solution. The high-powered microinverter is designed for 208Y VAC three-phase small commercial solution. It has a peak power output of 480 W and comes equipped with a limited warranty of up to 25 years.

The gas station is expected to save about $3,752 per year, or about $154,685 over the expected life of the system.

Total U.S. solar module manufacturing capacity grows by 71% in Q1 2024

Anne Fischer — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 17:19:24 +0000

According to the U.S. Solar Market Insight Q2 2024 report, solar module manufacturing production capacity increased by over 11 GW.

The U.S. Solar Market Insight Q2 2024 report says 11 GW of new solar module manufacturing capacity came online in the United States during Q1 2024, the largest quarter of solar manufacturing growth in American history.

The report, released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, estimates that total U.S. solar module manufacturing capacity now exceeds 26 GW annually.

In addition to solar manufacturing, the U.S. is also quickly ramping up solar installations. With 11.8 GW of new solar capacity installed thus far in 2024, total capacity now stands at 200 GW in the United States. The utility-scale segment alone accounts for nearly 10 GW of the new capacity added.

The report shows that the U.S. added over 40 GW of new solar capacity last year, and Wood Mackenzie now projects that the U.S. is on target to achieve the same goal in 2024.

“This quarter proves that new federal investments in clean energy are revitalizing American manufacturing and strengthening our nation’s energy economy,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “Whether it’s a billion-dollar investment in a nearby solar project or a new manufacturing plant employing hundreds of local workers, the solar and storage industry is uplifting communities in every state across this country.”

The report points to Florida and Texas as leaders in new solar capacity in Q1. Florida installed 2.7 GW in Q1 and Texas 2.6 GW. California, historically a solar leader, falls into third place with 1.4 GW of new installs; however, it is notable that in 2023, Texas installed nearly 12 GW, while California was about 6.4 GW. New Mexico is another leading market with 686 MW installed in Q1, with Ohio following close behind at 546 MW. Bringing up the bottom is North Dakota, Alabama and Alaska.

“The U.S. solar industry continues to show strength in terms of deployments,” said Michelle Davis, head of global solar at Wood Mackenzie and lead author of the report. “At the same time, the solar industry faces a number of challenges to its continued growth including availability of labor, high voltage equipment constraints, and continued trade policy uncertainty.”

The residential solar segment has been hard hit by high interest rates and unsupportive state policies. California, where the highly controversial NEM 3.0 went into effect, experienced its worst quarter in two years. Overall the residential sector installed 1.3 GWdc in Q1, reflecting a 25% decline year-over-year and 18% quarter-over-quarter but going forward residential solar is expected to be steady.

Commercial solar showed 23% growth in 2023 and expected to grow by another 14% in 2024. This sector is somewhat buoyed by California projects that were submitted under NEM 2.0 still being in the interconnection queue.

Looking at community solar, installations resulted in 279 MWdc of new capacity in Q1, with New York topping the charts at 17% year-over-year in Q1 2024, making up 46% of national installed capacity.

Again, state policy changes in California are punching holes in a previously growing market. As a result of the CPUC’s vote on AB 2316, the report authors revised their five-year outlook for California and now expects just 200 MW rather than the 1.5 GW—an 87% decline. Overall the community solar market is expected to grow 4% in 2024, exceeding 1.3 GWdc of annual capacity.

Questions and challenges

With many unanswered questions about tariffs on imported solar modules and other components, the report contends that a tariff increase will not have a significant direct impact on the U.S. solar industry, given that the U.S. is importing less than 0.1% from China at the present time.

Moving forward, the report’s five-year outlooks expects the U.S. industry to install around 40 GWdc a year for the next five years. Trade policy uncertainty coupled with shortages in workers as well as high-voltage equipment, will keep overall growth in the single digits through 2029. The five year projection, however, is for U.S. solar capacity to grow to 438 GW by 2029.

Texas to host 300 MW of geomechanical energy storage projects

Marija Maisch — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 17:12:27 +0000

Quidnet Energy, a provider of geomechanical energy storage (GES) technology, has joined hands with distributed energy resources developer Hunt Energy Network to deliver 300 MW of storage projects in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid operating region.

From pv magazine ESS News site

Houston-based long-duration energy storage developer Quidnet Energy has announced a major deal that could see hundreds of megawatts of its innovative technology deployed in Texas to help address ERCOT’s urgent need for energy storage.

The company has announced a strategic partnership with a $10 million investment from Hunt Energy Network (HEN), a distributed energy resources developer with experience in subsurface development.

The two Texas-based companies will collaborate on a build-transfer program for 300 MW of projects utilizing Quidnet Energy’s GES technology, which relies on well-sealed underground reservoirs for energy storage.

The partnership will pair Quidnet’s solution with HEN’s similar subsurface technologies and its capabilities in developing energy storage projects, the companies said in a release.

“Quidnet Energy’s GES technology presents a unique opportunity to revolutionize energy storage, and we’re excited to invest in a solution that purposefully transforms existing resources to expand access to long-duration storage,” said Pat Wood, III, Chief Executive Officer for Hunt Energy Network.

To continue reading, please visit our ESS News website.

In case you missed it: Five big solar stories in the news this week

pv magazine — Fri, 31 May 2024 22:00:02 +0000

pv magazine USA spotlights news of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more.

Texas is uniquely suited to adopt virtual power plant technology A panel of experts at the RE+ Texas conference in Houston, spoke on VPP progress in the state, which already has 16 MW of energy resources and 7 MW of non-spin flexible demand enrolled in VPP programs.

California Public Utilities Commission ‘misguided’ vote may derail state’s community solar potential Coalition for Community Solar Access says the 3-1 vote ignored the will of the California Legislature and the broad coalition of ratepayer, equity, environmental, labor, agricultural, and business groups who have demanded a functional community solar program for more than a decade.

REC introduces 640 W commercial solar panel The new product contains heterojunction cell technology (HJT) with up to 22.5% efficiency.

Cowboy Solar, largest solar project in Wyoming moves forward The $1.2 billion project will be built by Enbridge, with 771 MW expected to be fully operational by 2027.

Battery energy storage tariffs tripled; domestic content rules updated Breaking down U.S. market impacts on energy storage from recent policy changes with insights from Clean Energy Associates.

Texas is the proving ground for a new way of electric grid operation

Ryan Kennedy — Tue, 28 May 2024 21:07:44 +0000

Texas is uniquely suited to adopt virtual power plant technology due to its competitive, deregulated market. Its success highlights the "perverse incentive" of vertically integrated utilities in other states to make capital expenditures without discretion to raise profits.

Texas has a unique electric grid. Its grid operation organization, ERCOT, is independent of other states and deregulated, making the state open for business for a market-based approach toward energy generation and transmission.

Texas has been a favorite among utility-scale solar PV developers for a long time, thanks to its business-friendly environment and its lack of substantial local permitting regimes. The state is also operating as a proving ground for the buildout of a more nascent industry: virtual power plants (VPP).

VPPs are defined by their distributed and connected nature. Rather than transmitting power over long distances from a centralized power plant, VPPs use smart software to control a variety of connected energy assets like rooftop residential solar, battery energy storage, smart heating and cooling, and appliances. Homeowners with eligible VPP assets are compensated for exporting power or reducing use at electricity demand events throughout the year.

A panel of experts at the RE+ Texas conference in Houston, spoke on VPP progress in the state. The discussion opened with Stuart Page, senior consultant, Department of Energy (DOE) Loans Program Office asking the audience whether they were currently enrolled in a VPP program. Only two people in a room of hundreds raised their hands. Page then asked how many in the audience had heard of VPP, and most conference attendees raised their hands.

“I bet every single one of you has an energy resource or utilization than can be controlled by an app,” said Page. “Yet none of you are enrolled, despite the fact that there are discounts with your electric bill associated with it.”

Page said that part of the issue with VPP participation is the complexity of programs. Often, they require an opt-in, where the customer must choose to join the VPP program. Page said that VPP providers should instead choose an opt-out model, where customers are automatically enrolled in the program when they buy a smart device like a thermostat or a home battery. He cited a DOE experiment where an automatic enrollment model with an opt-out option increased participation by 400%.

So why are virtual power plants important? VPPs enable intelligent, local distribution of power, sending what is needed when it is needed. VPPs typically support reducing electricity use during times of peak demand, providing a critical service that may be one of the most important low-hanging fruits to pick in the nation’s progress towards decarbonizing energy and lowering energy costs.

VPP technology has shown immediate promise in replacing natural gas “peaker plants” on grids, replacing or preventing the buildout of new resources that are among the dirtiest, most expensive, and least efficient on the grid today.

The virtual power plant commercial liftoff report released by the Department of Energy said that between 2023 and 2030, coincident peak demand on the grid will rise by about 60 GW, from roughly 740 GW to 800 GW of demand.

“At the same time, fossil assets are retiring,” said the report. “Roughly 200 GW of peak-coincident demand must be served with new resources coming online by 2030. Tripling the current scale of VPPs could address 10-20% of this peak demand. This could avoid about $10 billion in annual grid costs, and much of the money that is spent on VPPs would flow back to participating consumers.”

Texas proving ground

Even in a room full of energy industry members and experts, almost nobody attending the RE+ Texas panel session admitted to being enrolled in a VPP. The biggest barrier to adoption has been the creation and implementation of a standardized VPP program, which many states lack.

To automatically enroll customers at the point of purchase as Page suggested, a program needs to be in place to enable it. Sterling Clifford, director of government affairs, Sunnova Energy, a VPP provider shared that many state utility regulators have said VPP technology is a “long way off.”

“But it doesn’t have to be,” said Clifford. “The beginning of the process to the launch of the product was 12 months (in Texas).”

Texas already has 16 MW of energy resources and 7 MW of non-spin flexible demand enrolled in VPP programs.

Part of what enabled such a quick launch of the program was necessity. Ryan King, manager, market design, for the ERCOT said the catastrophic Winter Storm Uri in early 2021 forced the grid operator to look for new sources of reliable, dispatchable supply at the distribution level, while reducing transmission and distribution costs and increasing grid resiliency. ERCOT landed on VPPs as a solution.

Another aspect of Texas’ readiness to adopt VPP programs are its electricity-savvy customers. Texas homeowners and renters are already used to making energy decisions at home, as frequently have to shop for new electricity contracts via a Retail Electricity Provider (REP). Contracts typically last a year or two, similar to how a VPP program enables short-term enrollment.

Texas was also already uniquely well-suited to integrate a VPP program, said King, as ERCOT is already able to value an avoided kWh of electricity, or a dispatched one. This type of valuation is enabled by Texas’ deregulated market, which allow various resources to participate in the market more freely than utilities in other major markets.

Texas has only just begun its VPP enrollment and already has a combined 23 MW of flexible capacity online. King said that VPP compensation for homeowners is “the closest thing to a free lunch,” and that once further program requirements are ironed out, growth will be “exponential.”

As for other states, it may prove more difficult to roll out VPPs. While ERCOT has a transparent market where avoided costs of demand reduction and the value of distributed electricity can be directly understood, other states, like California, have a highly vertical electricity market, where cost allocation reporting is murky.

“A vertically integrated utility – we should just call it a monopoly because that is what they are – don’t always tell the truth about what the exact costs are,” said Clifford.

For Texas, a highly competitive free market have opened the door for adoption of new technologies like VPP. In vertical markets like California, “perverse incentives” may close that door.

DOE’s Stuart Page explained how VPPs lower costs both for grid operators and for ratepayers, but that investor-owned utilities have a disincentive to properly manage their spending habits.

“We have a rate-based system, which means, instead of shaving the peak of my load, we can just build out new stuff,” said Page. “If I can spend $10 billion on that, I get a rate-based profit margin on it. So, I want to spend tons of money. If I use a VPP approach or any other ‘smart’ approach, I don’t get an increase in my profits. So, there’s a perverse incentive for utilities to participate, and we have to change that.”

Guaranteed and transferable tax benefits will make the PV industry too big to fail

Michael Puttré — Tue, 28 May 2024 16:37:04 +0000

Trina Solar executive says policies in the Inflation Reduction Act will make or break the future of solar in the U.S.

Robert Gibbons, Strategic Development Manager at Trina Solar US, entered the world of photovoltaics about three years ago, coming from the oil and gas industry. Fossil fuel projects were becoming less common and a new universe seemed to be opening for renewable energy with the pending Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Despite its rather misleading name, the IRA is a massive federal support mechanism for renewable energy.

“One of the biggest benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act has been raising the visibility of tax policy on prospective solar projects,” Gibbons told pv magazine USA. “When’s the last time you’ve had a 10 -year time frame where you feel pretty good that these tax credits are going to be there, right?”

The federal solar tax credit of the 2010s, which along with inexpensive China-source PV panels, energized the solar industry in the U.S. With that tax credit set to expire, Congress increased it from 26% to 30% and extended it through 2032.

Gibbons added that the IRA has come along at a time when just putting projects together has become that much more difficult because of a combination of rising interest rates and what he calls the structural constraints of longer interconnection queues. He said his 30 years in financing, mainly of infrastructure projects, a lot of which were for the oil and gas industry, has given him a good understanding of what is needed to move projects forward, especially during difficult economic times.

While critics point to the money being set aside under the IRA as being itself inflationary, Gibbons is more sanguine on the law’s positive effects, which he said helps enable effective and profitable solar projects to get the green light. He pointed out that an important element of the IRA is its provision for the transferability of tax credits.

In the proposal stage, solar projects may seem like a house of cards. A successful project needs a developer to oversee the design, engineering, land acquisition, legal issues and financing. Financers, in particular, want to know there are going to be guaranteed off-takers for the electricity generated. In addition, there has to be a dependable supply chain to equipment manufacturers and possibly resellers. Today, the availability of tax credits can make the difference in whether a proposed solar project is viable or not.

“We do not advise clients on how to manage a project to get the various tax credit adders,” Gibbons said, emphasizing that this was not Trina’s role. “However, with the transferability of tax credits under the IRA, we and our partners can buy these and provide clients with confidence in a project’s economics.”

Recent guidance from the Internal Revenue Service outlines the domestic content credit a clean energy project may receive for incorporating equipment manufactured in the United States. Because of the surge in interest in U.S. manufactured solar modules, Trina Solar US is building a 5 GW capacity solar module manufacturing facility in Wilmer, Texas. Gibbons said Trina moved quickly on the opportunity to develop the facility, which will produce PV components as well as assemble modules from components produced in China.

“We had a lot of interest on behalf of our clients in using modules from that facility,” Gibbons said. “Not only because of domestic content benefits, but wanting to also support the development of solar manufacturing in the U.S.”

As much as Gibbons appreciates the tangible benefits of the IRA and IRS rules to the U.S. solar industry, he is also cognizant that politics cannot be counted on forever to support PV and other renewable energy projects. The recent laws and rules have been key, he asserts, but at some point the industry will have to stand on its own. Yet at the same time, it may be too big to fail.

“The IRA starts to phase out and it’s gone by 2032,” Gibbons said. “At that point, we should have a large, sustainable solar generation and manufacturing industry, right? And if it needs more help after that, what politician is going to want to get in front of that and put an end to it?”

J.P. Morgan commits $680 million tax equity financing for solar and storage

Ryan Kennedy — Fri, 24 May 2024 20:23:40 +0000

The funds support project developer Ørsted’s portfolio in Texas and Arizona.

Renewable energy developer Ørsted announced it has secured a $680 million tax equity financing for a portfolio of solar and storage assets in Texas and Arizona.

The project portfolio includes Eleven Mile Solar Center, a 300 MW solar and 300 MW /1200 MWh storage project in Pinal County, Arizona and Sparta Solar, a 250 MW solar project in Mineral, Texas.

J.P. Morgan made the tax equity investment, comprised of production tax credit (PTC) and investment tax credit (ITC) assets available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Over 1.8 GW of Ørsted’s 5.7 GW portfolio is now supported by the investment bank.

The Eleven Mile Solar Center will receive a one-time investment tax credit for its battery storage system while the solar farm will generate production tax credits over a ten-year period.

The tax equity partnership includes options for tax credit transferability, a new option created by IRA. Tax credit transfers opened a new market for any corporate buyer to support clean energy projects and optimize their federal tax bill through purchasing tax credits.

“With this new market unlocked by the IRA, we’re excited to continue our tax equity partnership with J.P. Morgan and bring on new entities looking to advance the U.S. renewable energy industry, support job growth, and promote local economic development,” said James Giamarino, chief commercial officer for the Americas, Ørsted.

Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel for Ørsted and Milbank LLP served as legal counsel for J.P. Morgan.

The tax equity investment is expected to help complete the two projects which total 550 MW solar capacity and 300 MW, 4-hour duration energy storage. Commercial operations for both projects are expected for 2024. The solar projects are expected to contribute a combined $125 million in tax revenue over the life of the projects for public services in the local communities.

Solar industry panel cautions about 2025 Texas Legislature

Eckhart Gouras — Fri, 24 May 2024 16:44:01 +0000

According to BloombergNEF’s just released 1H 2024 US Clean Energy Market Outlook, Texas promises to top the charts in terms of solar, wind and battery storage deployments in the period from 2024 to 2035. But it’s position as the number one U.S. state for renewable energy is not a given, as panelists made clear at last week’s RE+ Texas conference in Houston, Texas.

Earlier this week BloombergNEF released its 1H 2024 US Clean Energy Market Outlook, which forecasts almost 1 TW of new solar and wind capacity in the U.S. between this year and 2035. A staggering 221 GW of grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) are also forecast for this period. Texas tops the list in terms of overall build with California taking the lead in terms of BESS deployments. These will come close to matching the solar PV deployments in the Golden State.

Texas has been a favorite among utility-scale solar PV developers for a long time, thanks to its business-friendly environment and its lack of substantial local permitting regimes.

In the RE+ Texas session entitled “Don’t Mess with Texas: Opportunities and Challenges in Local Policy”, leading utility-scale solar developers were well represented with Barb Jacobs of Lightsource bp and Susan Williams Sloan of Orsted. Rounding out the panel were Mundo de la Fuente, partner at the law firm K&L Gates, and Luke Metzger from the non-profit Environment Texas. The session was moderated by Michael Lewis of the law firm Jewell & Associates, PLLC.

While the pro-business environment and regulatory regime have attracted many renewable energy developers to Texas, the industry almost fell off a cliff in 2023, the last time the Texas legislature convened. (The Texas legislature meets only every other year for a period of 140 days. Accordingly, its next session will be in 2025.)

As the “Don’t Mess with Texas” session in Houston made clear, a number of proposals were launched in 2023 to undercut the further development of renewables in Texas. This despite the fact that Texas has historically been very friendly to oil and gas development and commercial property development. So the initiatives in the Texas legislature caught many in the solar industry off guard. There is a good chance that this will happen again in 2025.

The most problematic initiative was Senate Bill 624. Susan Sloan, Head of Government Affairs & Marketing Strategy at Orsted North America, described this proposal as follows:

“This would have the effect of putting all of the operating [renewable energy] projects on notice and to have to go through a process of getting a permit from the PUC that doesn’t even regulate renewable energy development right now. So we would be not in compliance right off the bat if the law had been passed. We would not be able to operate until we get a permit. The permitting process was not yet established and if you’re in a session where reliability is the number one issue that the legislature wants to talk about and the PUC, ERCOT are all wrestling with right now, this would be a colossal unreliability creator.”

In 2023 the Texas legislature, Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Texas grid operator ERCOT were still reeling from the aftermath of a devastating freeze that had blanketed Texas in February 2021. The historic freeze exposed the frailty of the ERCOT system and other energy infrastructure in the state.

Barb Jacobs of Lightsource bp, a joint venture between Lightsource Renewable Energy and the energy giant BP, called SB 624 “by far the worst siting bill I have ever seen in any state.” And at Lightsource bp Jacobs used to oversee 24 states, so she had a rather comprehensive overview of what was happening on the regulatory and permitting front across the U.S.

Jacobs cautioned the audience that the political situation in Texas has not improved since 2023. In fact, it has probably worsened. According to Jacobs, “There’s been such a dramatic shift in the political winds here for renewables. It is very alarming.”

Sloan urged the solar industry to be more proactive and communicative about what the industry is already doing: “There’s a lot of good that our companies are doing, but is not understood and not recognized. And we need to explain those things. I think that squashes a good chunk of the specific issues that the opposition has brought up.”

Measures that solar developers are already taking include measures to avoid soil erosion, to protect wildlife and the landscape, or to do specialized studies, for example if wetlands are involved. As Sloan pointed out as well, buyers of renewable energy increasingly want to know that “you have good standards of development, construction and operations.”

Clearly, there is also more the industry can do. Mundo de la Fuente called for a greater engagement with landowners. He cited a celebratory dinner involving a new utility-scale solar project in Texas, where the developer invited dozens of landowners owning thousands of acres of land. De la Fuente is an experienced renewable energy attorney, but this kind of engagement was a novelty for him. As he pointed out, these landowners are “getting substantially more from their land than they would, for example, from grazing.” For de la Fuente, these are the “true stakeholders” of a ground-mounted renewable energy project and they need to be brought into the conversation.

Luke Metzger of the environmental organization Environment Texas also called on the industry to take the Solar Uncommon Dialogue seriously and adopt the recommendations that will come out of SUD. SUD is a cooperation between SEIA and various environmental groups to develop best practices to, in the words of Metzger, “facilitate the rapid growth of renewables while minimizing the impact on the environment.” Metzger also pointed to The Nature Conservancy, one of the groups supporting SUD, and their “Site Renewables Right” map of the U.S. The SRR map identifies the most ecologically sensitive parts of the country, so these areas should not be targeted by renewable energy developers.

Metzger also noted a University of Texas study that compared the land used for oil and gas developments in Texas to the land used for solar. Back in 2014, so before the most recent oil and gas boom in Texas, oil and gas took up 514,000 acres in the state. ERCOT forecasts that solar PV will hit 27 GW of installed capacity in Texas this year, which will take up only 162,000 acres. And the environmental impact of the latter can hardly be compared to the impact these fossil fuel projects are having.

As the 2025 Texas legislature begins its work, it will be interesting to see what proposals emerge and whether 2025 will bring the same nasty surprises as the most recent legislative session in 2023. The “Don’t Mess with Texas” session certainly provided some useful recommendations on how to better position the industry ahead of this 2025 session.

Acciona completes Texas-size solar project near Houston

Anne Fischer — Wed, 22 May 2024 19:26:54 +0000

The 458 MW Red-Tailed Hawk solar plant is the company’s largest solar plant to date.

Acciona Energía, a renewable energy company headquartered in Spain, announced that the 458 MW Red-Tailed Hawk solar plant near Houston, Texas is now operational. The project is the company’s largest solar plant to date.

Acciona acquired the solar project in 2022 from Avondale Solar and Solar Plus Development. It is Acciona’s fifth investment in Texas, joining the Fort Bend Solar Farm and three operational wind farms in Cameron County.

Expected to generate clean energy equivalent to the consumption of 66,500 homes and avoid the emission of 430,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year, Red-Tailed Hawk created approximately 400 jobs during the peak construction phase, and will sustain up to 15 permanent positions.

The new facility features solar panels affixed to solar trackers that follow the sun’s path, maximizing sunlight exposure and production. It is expected to generate 742 GWh of clean electricity per year, equivalent to the consumption of around 66,500 Texas households. The solar generated will avoid the emission of approximately 430,000 tons of CO2 annually.

The project falls under Acciona Energía’s Social Impact Management program, which reallocates a portion of its annual revenue to support local community initiatives in education, wellness and environmental stewardship.

Texas is the number two solar state in the U.S., according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, with nearly 23 GW installed or enough to power 2.7 million homes. SEIA says that with supporting policy that removes market barriers, Texas can expect to see over 4 GW of solar capacity installed in the next five years. The Red-Tailed Hawk installation moves the state closer to that milestone.

Red-Tailed Hawk joins Acciona Energía’s existing portfolio of renewable energy projects in North America, which it reports now stands at 2.7 GW installed. The company currently has a 325 MW photovoltaic plant under construction in in Ohio. Worldwide the company reports it has 13.5 GW in renewable energy capacity.

Enel, Energy Vault build 18 MW/36 MWh of U.S. gravity storage

Pilar Sánchez Molina — Wed, 22 May 2024 16:57:36 +0000

Energy Vault and Enel have revealed plans to build 18 MW/36 MWh of gravity storage in the United States. They say that the project will be the first large-scale gravity energy storage in a Western country.

From pv magazine Global

Enel Green Power, the renewable energy unit of Italian utility Enel, and UK-based gravity storage specialist Energy Vault have jointly announced plans to build a large-scale gravity storage facility in the United States.

The system will operate in the ERCOT market. It will also serve the Solutions Excellence Center in Texas, a research facility for innovative storage technologies that is currently under construction.

“The plant is one of the first of its kind in the world and the first in the West,” Enel Green Power said in a statement. “The validation of the technology, which has been tested on the US market, will provide our group with the basis for future projects that could employ gravitational technology for long-term storage applications.”

In March, Energy Vault completed a 25 MW/100 MWh gravity-based storage facility in China.

EVx, the Energy Vault system, demonstrated round-trip efficiency of about 75% in a pilot project installed in Switzerland in 2020. The company said it expects that to be improved to about 80%, placing it in a similar range as pumped hydro storage and even grid-scale batteries.

Energy Vault’s storage device lifts composite blocks with an electric (solar-powered) motor. The lifted blocks are stacked, which creates potential energy. As the blocks are lowered, the energy is harvested and dispatched for use.

It said the tower’s design is based on the physics of pumped hydroelectric energy storage. However, as a solid “mobile mass,” the composite blocks do not lose storage capacity over time. The composite blocks can be made cheaply, said the company, using excavated soil from the construction site, waste materials like mine tailings and coal ash, and even fiberglass from decommissioned wind turbines.

The tower is controlled by computer systems and machine vision software that orchestrate the charging and discharging cycles. A range of storage durations from two to 12 hours or longer is achievable, said the company.

U.S. solar industry week in review

pv magazine — Fri, 10 May 2024 21:00:51 +0000

pv magazine USA spotlights news stories of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more.

California approves uncapped fixed charges on electricity bills The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to approve a controversial electricity rate rule called the Income-Graduated Fixed Charge, enabling utilities to assess an average $24 monthly fixed charge on residential bills.–roughly double the national average in the United States. It applies to all customers, regardless of how much electricity they consume.

Passive solar tracker wind stowing boosts energy production Array Technologies, provider of solar tracker systems, worked with independent engineering and design firm DNV to study an alternative method to active stowing called passive stowing. The analysis focused on evaluating the energy losses associated with various tracker wind stow methods and considered multiple variables.

Array Technologies single-axis tracker and bifacial PV modules.

Image: Array Technologies

DOE proposes ten “national interest” transmission corridors Eight of the ten transmission corridors proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy would facilitate transmission between grid regions; One would expand transmission within the Mid-Atlantic’s PJM grid region; and one would expand transmission in the Northern Plains.

DOE potential NIETC geographic areas.

Image: DOE

Solar to contribute over 60% of new U.S. electricity generation in 2024 Despite this growth, fossil fuels dominate U.S. electricity. A 3% increase in total electricity generation across the U.S. is expected to be served primarily with solar, said a report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Cypress Creek Renewables constructs 208 MW / 80 MWh solar-plus-storage facility in Texas The site reached commercial operation on May 2, adding enough capacity to the grid to serve the equivalent of 41,600 homes in the Brackettville, Texas area. Over $11.5 million in tax revenues are expected to be generated for the county by the project, along with $11.7 million earmarked for the Bracket Independent School District.

Cypress Creek Renewables constructs 208 MW solar facility in Texas

Ryan Kennedy — Mon, 06 May 2024 16:47:04 +0000

The completed project includes 80 MWh of battery energy storage.

Cypress Creek Renewables announced it has completed construction of a 208 MW solar facility in Texas. The facility includes 80 MWh of short-duration energy storage that has already served the ERCOT grid during times of peak electricity demand, showing the ability of hybrid solar-storage plants to flexibly serve electricity demand oscillations.

The site reached commercial operation on May 2, adding enough capacity to the grid to serve the equivalent of 41,600 homes in the Brackettville, Texas area. Over $11.5 million in tax revenues are expected to be generated for the county by the project, along with $11.7 million earmarked for the Bracket Independent School District.

“Texas needs every available megawatt, and low-cost renewable energy has proven critical as it continues to reach new production heights in ERCOT,” said Judd Messer, Texas vice –president, Advanced Power Alliance. “Solar energy is ensuring sufficient capacity during day-time peak, setting records nearly every month, and quick-responding energy storage delivers a substantial reliability benefit when demand soars or when dispatchable energy unexpectedly falls offline.”

Cypress Creek is backed by EQT Partners, a global investment corporation. EQT said the project, called the Zier Hybrid Solar Site, is a critical step towards supporting Texas’ expanding power demands “driven by a growing population, ever increasing data center demand with the rise of AI, and electrification.”

The project was financed by several partners including the North American Development Bank (NADBank), a binational financial institution established to provide support for projects that preserve, protect or enhance the environment to advance the well-being of the people of the United States and Mexico.

“Combined solar and battery storage projects, like this one, are vital for ERCOT’s grid reliability and energy availability to power our great state,” said John Beckham, managing director of the NADBank.

Cypress Creek, founded in 2014, operates nearly 1 GW of solar and storage assets across Texas, including 18 Cypress Creek-owned projects. The company has a 6 GW pipeline of 24 utility-scale projects in construction or development, including a 100 MWh standalone battery project planned to reach operations in the Houston area next month.

Texas is a leading solar market in the United States, driven forward largely by utility-scale installations like the Zier Hybrid project by Cypress Creek. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) said nearly 23 GW of solar has been installed in the state, or enough to power about 2.6 million homes. Over the next five years, SEIA expects nearly 41 GW of solar to be installed in Texas.

Meet the pv magazine USA team at the RE+ Texas conference at the George R. Brown Convention Center, May 14 to 15 in Houston Texas.

Habitat Energy chosen to optimize 730 MW ERCOT battery storage portfolio

Anne Fischer — Thu, 02 May 2024 17:09:53 +0000

To help manage battery storage and renewable energy assets, Habitat Energy signed an agreement with UBS Asset Management’s Real Estate & Private Markets business to optimize battery storage assets in four standalone projects in Texas.

Energy storage is ramping up at the grid scale both to meet an energy mix increasingly dominated by renewables and to meet U.S. federal and state net zero goals in the next two decades. Wood Mackenzie grid-storage analyst Vanessa Witte recently forecast 65 GW of energy storage projects will be necessary through 2026 to meet these goals.

Texas, which is growing tremendous solar capacity is also installing a Texas-size share of energy storage. BloombergNEF analyst Helen Kou forecasts that 8.9 GW/35.6 GWh of storage will be installed in the ERCOT region through 2030.

To help manage battery storage and renewable energy assets, Habitat Energy signed an agreement with UBS Asset Management’s Real Estate & Private Markets business to optimize 730 MW of battery storage assets in four standalone projects in the ERCOT market.

The four projects, scheduled to begin operations from August to December of 2024, are part of UBS Asset Management’s energy storage investment strategy. UBS reports it chose Habitat Energy to optimize this portfolio following a comprehensive review of optimization service providers in the market.

Habitat Energy, a UK company founded in 2017, is a portfolio company of Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners. Habitat specializes in the optimization of battery storage and renewable energy assets. Today the company has 2 GW of contracted assets under management across Australia, the UK and the U.S. UBS says it chose Habitat for its EVOLVE optimization service, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithmic forecasting. By signing the deal with UBS, Habitat’s portfolio of assets will grow to more than 2 GW.

The deal makes Habitat Energy one of the largest optimizers of battery storage in ERCOT with 1 GW contracted, the company reports.

Major defense company plans to reduce emissions 46% by 2030

Michael Puttré — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 20:34:04 +0000

RTX, formerly Raytheon, signs an agreement with Engie North America to buy 1.5 million MWh of renewable energy over the next ten years, spurring further growth of Texas solar development.

Tier 1 defense industry contractor RTX (formerly Raytheon) signed a deal with Engie North America to purchase 100% renewable energy in its quest to reduce emissions 46% by 2030 from 2019 levels.

The deal involves buying a mix of wind and solar sources through renewable energy certificates as well as direct energy purchases, all originating in the state. The clean energy will reportedly power 12 of its facilities in Texas.

While the companies did not report the dollar value of the deal, they did say RTX would receive 1.5 million MWh of renewable electricity over the next 10 years, reducing the company’s carbon emissions in Texas by 560,000 metric tons of CO2 over the lifetime of the agreement, which is scheduled to run through 2033. RTX’s Raytheon facility in McKinney, Texas is expected to consume more than 55% of the total clean energy procured.

Initially, the deal includes RECs from Engie’s existing Priddy Wind Project for a portion of RTX’s forecast load in 2024. The remainder of its load for 2024 and beyond reportedly will be sourced with electricity and RECs from several Engie renewable electricity projects in Texas, primarily new projects.

California-based Trio (formerly Edison Energy) is RTX’s energy advisor on the Engie deal. Joey Lange, senior managing director at Trio, said the agreement is notable for a number of reasons, including its size and the fact that it involves RECs and direct purchases of electricity. Also important is the fact that it will spur future development of renewable energy projects.

“This specific engagement is a little unique because it’s going to be a mix of already built assets and projects that are not online yet,” Lange told pv magazine USA. “The use of existing generation is going to allow RTX to hit its goals of a 10% reduction in carbon by 2025. The ramping up of new projects will enable it to reach 46% by 2028 and then extend through 2033.”

Lange said Trio’s role is to help its client, always the energy buyer, to achieve its corporate goals with regard to renewable energy and CO2 emissions reductions. He explained that the deal with Engie in Texas worked because of the concentration of RTX facilities there and the fact Engie has a nice combination of a deep bench of projects available and in the development pipeline.

The deal with RTX means that many projects will now go forward sooner rather than later. “Without that off-taker, the developer is not going to get the hundreds of millions of dollars they need to actually build the project,” Lange said.

Although Engie already has many projects both built and in development in Texas. For example, late last year, Engie inaugurated its 250 MW Sun Valley Solar project in Hill County, Texas, which incorporates 100 MWh of battery storage. It also has the 260 MW Sypert Branch solar project under development in Milam County, Texas. In 2022 the company acquired a 6 GW portfolio of late-stage projects across ERCOT, PJM, MISO, and WECC regions. The acquisition included 33 projects, comprised of about 2.7 GW of solar with 700 MW paired storage, and 2.6 GW of standalone battery energy storage.

People on the move: PivotGen, Spearmint Energy, PlugPV and more.

pv magazine — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:45:29 +0000

Job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.

Renewable energy developer PivotGen hired Robert Dewchter as senior vice president of asset management. With over 35 years of industry experience, Robert’s expertise will optimize the performance and longevity of PivotGen’s renewable energy projects.

Prior to joining PivotGen, Robert served as the Regional Vice President for Carlyle Power Partners’ Cogentrix Energy, where he oversaw assets across the northeast (PJM) and Texas (ERCOT). Before that, he held key positions at LS Power and Brookfield Renewable Energy Group, managing assets in diverse energy investment fund portfolios and in the generation portfolios of hydroelectric and wind energy facilities.

Spearmint Energy made four senior-level hires, bringing a diverse mix of project finance, capital markets, regulatory affairs, and commercial operations experience to its team. Hires include Michael Gray, managing director of project finance, Rafia Merchant, managing director of capital markets, Jack Clark III, director of regulatory, ERCOT & SP, Omar Longou, director of commercial operations.

The Solar and Storage Industries Institute announced market research expert Shawn Rumery will join as senior program director. Rumery will lead the organization’s programmatic work, including areas related to solar siting and permitting, interconnection, and agrivoltaics, as well as the organization’s external affairs activities.

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Additional job moves provided by EnergeiaWorks:

Virginia Cook started a new position as Vice President Development at SolAmerica Energy
Anni Nowhitney started a new position as Vice Preisdent of Business Development at PlugPV
Roger Wrigley started a new position as Director of Construction at Birch Creek Energy
Christopher Matthews started a new position as Vice President of Development at Arevon Energy, Inc.

Job of the Week

Utility & ESS Account Manager | Phoenix, AZ

Job Description

As the Utility & ESS Account Manager, you will focus on large-scale solar applications including 3-phase string inverters and accompanying ESS solutions as well. You will handle a variety of responsibilities relating to customer needs and providing excellent service, while sourcing and securing new large-scale accounts.

Responsibilities:

To grow existing utility scale business and develop new buying accounts
Build, develop and manage relationships with clients to maintain and grow existing business while simultaneously fostering new accounts
Collecting and analyzing data concerning consumer behavior to understand changing needs
Communicating with clients by phone, through email and face-to-face to ensure their needs are understood and addressed
Collaborating with various internal departments to ensure they fulfill all customer requests
Successfully quote and drive revenue generation for the organization

Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in business/sales and or an Engineering background
5-8 years experience in Utility and ESS solar sales and applications
Willingness to travel majority of the time, persistent in visiting customers and following up with them
Understanding of the solar landscape and market
Strong customer service and interpersonal skills for dealing with different types of customers and clients
Time management and multitasking skills to handle multiple tasks and clients at once
Advanced negotiation skills to close contracts
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Excellent verbal and written communication skills to communicate product ideas to clients

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Turkish solar module manufacturer begins production in Texas

Anne Fischer — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:34:47 +0000

Elin has an agreement with key U.S. distributors and will begin with 1 GW annual production, intending to increase to 2 GW within 18 months, the company reports.

Elin Energy, a Turkish module manufacturer is now manufacturing solar modules in Texas.

Founded in 1981, Elin has been supplying solar modules to the European solar market, and since passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, now plans to do the same in the U.S. market.

Under the name Sirius PV USA, the company opened a 225,000 square foot module manufacturing plant in Waller County, near Houston, Texas, where it began production last month. Elin is leasing the facility which was previously used as a distribution center.

The company said it has an agreement with key U.S. distributors and it will begin with 1 GW annual production, intending to increase to 2 GW within 18 months. Sirius PV USA currently employs more than 100 associates locally in Texas, and reported plans to scale up to 500 associates as the company increases production.

While Elin is producing TOPCon modules in its facility in Turkey, Ercan Kalafat, CEO, Sirius PV USA told pv magazine USA that it will initially use PERC technology in the U.S. with plans to shift to TOPCon beginning in July. Its PERC modules are bifacial and range from 410 to 580 Watts, catering to residential, commercial and utility-scale markets.

In Turkey Elin’s main product is the 580W TOPCon (bifacial, silver-framed) module, and the company also makes other types of modules including glass-to-glass. Elin reports that its combined manufacturing capacity in Turkey, across three factories, is 3.5 GW per year.

Kalafat told pv magazine USA that the company views the U.S. market as pivotal in its strategy to become a global brand, noting that the U.S. presents significant opportunities for the company to establish itself as a global player alongside its Chinese-origin competitors.

Elin joins a raft of other solar module makers who have set up production–or plan to–in Texas, including Trina Solar, Canadian Solar and SEG Solar.

Trina announced it will invest about $200 million in a Texas manufacturing plant with an annual manufacturing capacity of 5 GW. Trina’s new factory is expected to begin producing its Vertex line of modules with 210 mm wafers in 2024. The company expects to bring 1,500 jobs to Texas.

Last June, Canadian Solar announced an investment of $250 million in a factory in Mesquite, bringing 5 GW of TOPCon module manufacturing capacity, and also creating about 1,500 jobs.

SEG Solar, maker of TOPCon solar modules, announced last September that it is setting up a module manufacturing facility in Houston with plans for production to begin in March 2024. Future plans include manufacturing both cell and ingots in the U.S.

Mission Solar has been manufacturing solar modules in Texas for over ten years. Last year the company announced intention of expanding production by 1 GW.

People on the move: Affordable Wire Management, Generac, Infinity Power and more

pv magazine — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 13:15:30 +0000

Job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.

Affordable Wire Management (AWM), a provider of solar cable management systems (CMS), announced that Linda Merritt has joined the company’s senior leadership as the Head of Quality. Merritt brings over twenty years of experience in positions including Director of Projects at PI Berlin, Director of Quality at Signal Energy, Solar Quality Manager at McCarthy Building Companies, and Construction Systems Manager at First Solar.

Generac appoints Jennifer Anderson as Executive Vice President of Global Corporate Strategy & Development. Anderson will also lead Generac’s Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) efforts.

Jobs provided by EnergeiaWorks:

Gregory Gangelhoff started a new position as Director at Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc.
Saul Muskin started a new position as Principal at MKB & Co.
Muhammed Senay started a new position as Senior Pre-Construction Manager at EDF Renewables North America
Stephen Molden started a new position as Director of Execution and Delivery at Infinity Power

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VP of Project Construction | Austin, TX

Job DescriptionAs a VP of Project construction, you will manage rooftop and ground mount solar projects for C&I and utility installations. You will oversee these projects from initial development through construction, including: design, contractor and subcontractor management, and project management.Why You Should Apply:

Inc 500 list organization
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Generous benefits package
401k matching

Responsibilities:

Manage all technical aspects of the project, including scope development, savings analysis, and constructability
Assign responsibilities to project team; manage and supervise subcontractors and self-performing teams throughout project duration
Work with cross-functional teams to develop sales, negotiate contracts, and manage project associated budgeting
Provide support to contractors and subcontractors to solve construction issues or improve results of the project. Identify and resolve potential issues in a timely fashion.
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7+ years of progressive engineering experience in complex energy projects such as microgrids, solar energy, and combined energy projects
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Solar electric plus thermal systems to be manufactured in Texas

John Fitzgerald Weaver — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:00:18 +0000

Naked Energy signed a deal with ELM Solar to manufacture its VirtuPVT and VirtuHOT systems in Dallas, with units available for purchase in 2025.

Naked Energy has announced plans to manufacture its combined solar photovoltaic and solar thermal units in Texas. The new facility will be located in Dallas, with ELM Solar, a subsidiary of ELM companies, overseeing the manufacturing of components.

ELM Companies will invest $3 million in the new facility, which is expected to manufacture all products destined for the North American market by 2025. The partners anticipate producing 150,000 “Virtu tubes” by 2028. ELM Solar currently serves as Naked Solar’s North American distribution partner.

Naked Energy’s product lineup includes the VirtuHot and the VirtuPVT units. The VirtuHOT unit can heat water up to 120°C (248°F) using solar thermal energy. These thermally isolated tubes can heat water even in sub-zero temperatures by allowing sunlight in while keeping the cold out.

Recently, Naked Energy deployed a project at Creighton University in Nebraska (see Featured Image), deploying 69.9 kW of VirtuHOT HD units. The installation consists of 240 systems, each featuring an absorber plate, a borosilicate glass tube, and an integrated mounting system. These units are designed to provide hot water for a dormitory housing approximately 400 students.

The VirtuPVT generates electricity and heat up to 75°C (167°F). The system integrates a heat absorber plate, conventional silicon solar cells, a borosilicate glass tube, and an integrated reflector placed in between the individual tubes to capture extra sunlight.

The hardware is sold in five tube subunits. Each tube measures 2,165 mm (7.1 feet) in length, while a complete set of five tubes measures 1,500 mm (4.9 feet) in width. The system is designed to accommodate standard-sized 6-inch monoPERC solar cells, with each tube capable of generating 74 watts of power, resulting in a cumulative output of 370 watts across an area of 3.2 square meters.

When vertically mounted, the electricity generating units have higher electricity production in the spring and fall, as the sun tends to be higher overhead during summer months, shading the solar cells as shown by an installation in the United Kingdom.

In comparison, a conventional residential solar panel dedicated solely to electricity generation typically provides around 400 watts within a 2 square meter area.

Naked Energy told pv magazine USA that right now, Naked Energy is shipping all parts to ELM Solar. However, they said the entire value chain for Naked Energy’s products in the U.S. will be sourced from U.S. companies by the end of 2025, meaning customers of ELM will benefit from IRA incentives by then. By default, the solar thermal and solar electric hardware currently qualify for the 30% tax credit.

Livestream shows how eclipse impacts solar power production across the U.S.

Anne Fischer — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 16:46:20 +0000

The 2024 solar eclipse will bring a few minutes of total darkness to twelve states as it cuts its path from Texas to Maine, and interest in how it will affect solar production brings to light the importance of solar energy on today’s grid.

How much solar will be impacted by the solar eclipse points out how far solar has grown in the U.S. since the last eclipse in 2017. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that a combined 6.5 GW of solar capacity lies in the path of the full solar eclipse, also called the path of totality, with 84.8 GW that will experience the partial eclipse

“Total solar installations in the U.S. have increased threefold in the last seven years,” explained Guohui Yuan of the Solar Energy Technologies Office, which sponsors this study. “On a typical spring sunny day, solar photovoltaics will generate about 30% of the electricity used in Texas.”

The 2017 eclipse didn’t have much effect on solar energy production, however, solar contributed only 1.3% to the electrical grid at that time, according to the EIA. The EIA estimates that solar will provide 6% of U.S. electricity generation this year—a significant increase over 2017, and enough to cause some concern about the eclipse effect.

NREL researchers have calculated the following maximum power reduction from solar photovoltaics in the three interconnection regions:

East: 71%
West: 45%
Texas: 93%

While Texas will experience the greatest overall reduction during the eclipse, the Eastern region’s power grid will be most affected due to the number of power plants on that region’s grid.

The researchers also modeled every independent system operator region and individual balancing areas (roughly on a utility-by-utility scale) across the country.

Maximum PV Reduction

Researchers measured the anticipated reduction in solar power on April 8 in the three interconnections of the U.S. power grid. EI is the Eastern Interconnection, WECC is the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, and ERCOT is the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas.

“A systematic study of the impacts of the eclipse will provide valuable insights for grid operators across the country as they prepare for extreme weather events,” said Marilyn Jayachandran of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, a collaborator on the study.

The sun will be partially covered in major metropolitan areas for up to 3.5 hours and many in total darkness for as much as four minutes, requiring system operators to be prepared to meet a fast generation ramp rate. However, other weather events require that system operators build in enough diversity to energy systems so that utility customers will be ensured that there will not be a power outage.

Load rebalancing

How will they do this? While the researchers expect solar energy to decrease by 35.3 GWh during the time of the eclipse, assuming mostly sunny conditions across the country, the load will be rebalanced primarily by pumped hydropower storage (42%) and hydropower (24%), along with gas (30%), and a combination of oil-gas-steam (2%), and steam (2%).

Battery storage will also play a role by using stored solar and wind generation and discharging it when needed. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that 15.4 GW of battery storage is installed today in the U.S., compared to only 0.6 GW in 2017 during the last eclipse.

The ramp rates during the eclipse are expected to be two- to three-times higher than typical dawn and dusk ramp rates, NREL reports.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation are evaluating the grid impacts and NREL will provide a livestream via Zoom, beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET.

pv magazine USA will report on the research team’s post-event analysis and the mitigation measures taken by grid operators.

People on the move: Silfab Solar, Green Lantern Solar, Generac, and more

pv magazine — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 20:04:35 +0000

Job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.

Silfab Solar announced the appointment of Trevor Carson as chief financial officer.

“Trevor brings a proven track record and deep understanding of capital markets, investor relations, corporate development, and risk management amongst other operational areas,” said chief executive officer Paolo Maccario. “His insights and experience will be invaluable as Silfab continues to expand and support North America’s commitment to energy independence.”

Generac Power Systems, a global designer, manufacturer and provider of energy technology solutions and other power products, announced the appointment of Jennifer Anderson as executive vice president of global corporate strategy & development.

Anderson succeeds 34-year Generac veteran and Chief Strategy Officer, Steve Goran, who retired in March. In addition to corporate strategy and development, Anderson will lead Generac’s Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) efforts.

Green Lantern Solar, a renewable energy developer, announced the promotion of Alan Pratt to vice president of operations. With a proven track record as Green Lantern Solar’s director of operations for 10 years and deep experience in EPC roles before then, Alan brings exceptional leadership qualities and a steadfast commitment to the company’s mission.

Jobs provided by EnergeiaWorks:

Ben Macias started a new position as CRO at MGM Transformer Company
H. Dafoe Bulen started a new position as Associate Director – Preconstruction at PowerFlex
Michael Bath started a new position as Director, O&M Technical Services at SunGrid
Michael Ducker started a new position as President & CEO at MHI Hydrogen Infrastructure

North America’s leading renewable energy search firm

Job Description

As Commercial PV O&M Electrician, you will be a skilled and licensed electrician. The role involves overseeing the maintenance of high-performance commercial solar systems. The successful candidate will take charge of both preventive and corrective maintenance for operational projects in the Northeast region. Reporting directly to the Director of Engineering & Operations, the individual will be responsible for monitoring and troubleshooting system issues, both remotely and on-site. This role requires frequent travel, approximately 50%-75% of the time, to projects in the field within the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

Responsibilities, Skills & Requirements:

In-depth knowledge of solar energy systems
Ensure work adheres to relevant building and safety codes
High-level expertise in PV commissioning, operation, and troubleshooting
Supervise electric subcontractors during system commissioning
Review and ensure commissioning tests meet established standards
Conduct final punchlist walkthroughs with electrical subcontractors
Perform scheduled onsite preventative maintenance
Onsite and offsite electrical troubleshooting
Address corrective maintenance visits as needed
Identify and document faults, deviations, safety violations, etc.
Familiarity with Ethernet, cellular, fiber, and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications
High integrity character with a commitment to precision over speed

Requirements:

Minimum 2 years of experience in solar electrical work in construction or O&M
High School Diploma
Valid electrical license
Valid driver’s license
OSHA certification
Proficiency in using ladders and working at heights
Advanced electrical and PV-related troubleshooting skills
Understanding of construction documents and ability to read plans
NABCEP Installer Certification
Extensive experience with commercial solar projects
Associates or Bachelor’s degree
Must have valid work authorization
Regional travel up to 75% of the time

Apply here.

Microsoft signs two large solar power purchase agreements

Anne Fischer — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 19:29:42 +0000

The software giant entered into two power purchase agreements for a total of 400 MW of solar energy from Texas solar plants.

Leeward Renewable Energy announced that it entered into two 200 MW power purchase agreements (PPA) with Microsoft Corp. for power generated by the Morrow Lake Solar in Frio County, Texas, and Cradle Solar in Brazoria County, Texas.

Microsoft, which has over 200 data centers worldwide, reports that it has a goal of covering 100% of those energy needs with renewable energy production by 2025, plans to be carbon negative by 2030 and says that by 2050 it will “remove our historical emissions since our founding in 1975.” In its 2022 Solar Means Business report, the Solar Energy Industries Association ranked Microsoft fifth on the list of corporate buyers of solar energy, joining Meta, Apple, Amazon and Walmart as leaders.

The Morrow Lake project is currently under development, and Cradle Solar construction is planned to begin in the second quarter. Each has created about 300 construction jobs. The Morrow Lake Solar facility is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter of 2024, with completion of Cradle Solar expected by the fourth quarter 2025.

Both projects support community programs including educational initiatives, assisting in the establishment of a youth agricultural training center and donating to local events,

“We look forward to strengthening our relationships with Frio County and Brazoria County as we develop and operate the two facilities and deliver substantial and transformative benefits for local residents and communities for years to come, all while we support U.S. manufacturing,” said Jason Allen, Leeward Renewable Energy’s chief executive officer.

Leeward Renewable Energy reports that it currently owns and operates a 3 GW portfolio of 31 wind, solar, and energy storage facilities across the U.S. It is a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, an investment arm of OMERS, one of the largest defined pension plans in Canada, with $127.4 billion Canadian in net assets as of the end of Q2 2023.

Developing hydrogen fuel from iron-rich rocks

Ryan Kennedy — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 19:42:45 +0000

Researchers at UT Austin received grant funds from the Department of Energy to produce hydrogen fuel from rocks in an emissions-free process.

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin are researching methods to produce hydrogen fuel from iron-rich rocks in an emissions-free process.

The university received a $1.7 million grant from the Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The university is partnering with the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources on the project.

Today, most hydrogen in the U.S. is produced by burning natural gas. This process, sometimes referred to as “blue hydrogen” production, remains a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions alongside traditional fossil fuel use. The industry has also begun to embrace “green hydrogen,” a process that makes use of electricity from solar and wind generation sources.

Now, there may be a new entrant in hydrogen in the form of “geologic hydrogen.”

The research team at UT Austin is exploring the use of different natural catalysts to produce hydrogen gas from iron-rich rocks, mimicking a natural process called “serpentinization.”

In nature, iron-rich rocks release hydrogen as a byproduct of the serpentinization process, a low-temperature rock metamorphosis. It is particularly common at the sea floor at tectonic plate boundaries. Natural catalysts like nickel and platinum group elements are being explored as catalysts to induce this process.

“Natural accumulations of geologic hydrogen are being found all over the world, but in most cases they are small and not economical, although exploration continues,” said Esti Ukar, a research associate professor, UT Austin.

Ukar said the research will test generating larger volumes of hydrogen from iron-rich rocks that would normally take several million years to naturally occur. The research is a first-of-its-kind project to create a process to produce geological hydrogen at an industrial scale.

Researchers at Colorado University Boulder are researching serpentinization in hydrogen production as well. The team is performing accelerated underground testing to better our understanding of the chemical reactions that produce hydrogen naturally.

“If we can accelerate these reactions underground, we can turn rocks into a clean and abundant energy resource,” said Eric Ellison, research scientist at CU Boulder.

A 2022 report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) suggested there may be enough naturally occurring geologic hydrogen to meet global demand for generations, potentially offering a rapid replacement for harmful carbon-emitting fossil fuels.

“Using a conservative range of input values, the model predicts a mean volume of hydrogen that could supply the projected global hydrogen demand for thousands of years,” said USGS researcher Geoffrey Ellis. “We have to be very careful in interpreting this number, though. Based on what we know about the distribution of petroleum and other gases in the subsurface, most of this hydrogen is probably inaccessible.”

Ellis research showed that much of this hydrogen supply is too deeply buried or too far offshore to be economically recovered.

And while USGS said even a fraction of the Earth’s geological hydrogen resources could serve global liquid fuel demand for hundreds of years, relying on fuels that require natural processes that take millions of years may pose its own challenges. Extractive natural fuels are not part of a long-term circular economy, a vision pursued by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

A model of a circular economy.
Image: NREL

“Decarbonization of the U.S. economy will require rapid deployment of clean energy technologies,” said NREL. “This will demand large amounts of materials—including scarce, critical materials. Ensuring these materials are available in the necessary quantities and at their highest value and function will necessitate a robust circular economy for energy materials.”

Sunrise brief: Solar laggards–The five states with the least amount of solar installed

pv magazine — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:24:03 +0000

Also on the rise: Solar boom in Texas. Californians could see up to $128 fixed charge added to their monthly electric bill. And more.

People on the move: Sol Systems, Origis, Soltec and more Job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.

Suniva and Heliene partner to produce all U.S.-made solar modules Under a three-year sourcing contract, Suniva will supply domestically manufactured solar cells to Heliene for incorporation into its solar modules.

Solar laggards: The five states with the least amount of solar installed As solar power surges forward in states like California and Texas, a handful of states trail far behind, raising questions about the missed opportunities for energy independence and environmental benefits.

DOE awards $5 million for clean energy workforce development through minority-supporting institutions The funding will go to Tennessee State and University of Texas, El Paso, to help train students in the skills needed to succeed in solar and other clean energy careers.

Quebec announces 300 MW solar tender The government of the Canadian province of Quebec aims to deploy 300 MW of solar through tenders under utility Hydro-Quebec, in a bid to diversify the supply of renewables.

Californians could see up to $128 fixed charge added to their monthly electric bill The monthly charge would be assessed regardless of any energy conservation efforts or solar production at home. Eighteen California Congressional representatives wrote a letter to the Public Utilities Commission warning the proposed charge would harm low- and middle income residents and “undercut investments in renewable energy.”

Texas solar boom project updates Hundreds of megawatts of clean energy head to Texas as Microsoft signs a power purchase agreement, Amshore secures land for solar and batteries, and Swift Current Energy secures tax equity for a 260 MW project.

Texas solar boom project updates

Ryan Kennedy — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 21:17:45 +0000

Hundreds of megawatts of clean energy head to Texas as Microsoft signs a power purchase agreement, Amshore secures land for solar and batteries, and Swift Current Energy secures tax equity for a 260 MW project.

Texas leads the United States in solar development, particularly in the utility-scale segment. It has 22.8 GW installed through the end of 2023, with another 40.9 GW expected to come online over the next five years, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

“As the Texas economy continues to grow, electricity consumption has correspondingly increased,” said SEIA. “Environmental regulations and various market pressures have forced a significant amount of generation to exit the market in recent years while older generation sources continue to be retired. Thus, new solar generation capacity is required to meet the Texas market’s demand.”

Image: SEIA

Much of the market is driven by large utility-scale projects. Many developers are also opting to add grid-scale battery energy storage with their projects.

Dallas-based Amshore Renewable Energy announced it has identified a site for its new Route 66 Solar + Battery project. The site encompasses 1,500 acres, and Amshore said the community surrounding the project site is “highly motivated” and “ready to collaborate on renewable energy initiatives.”

The project enables dual interconnection with Texas’ ERCOT regional transmission operations and the SPP market. The company said the project is suitable for 150 MW to 200 MW on each transmission line, with solar irradiance of 5.25 to 5.50 kWh per squared meter per day. Studies of the land suggest there are no species of concern or floodplain issues for the project site, said Amshore.

Further along the project development cycle is a set of two projects developed by Leeward Renewable Energy, which entered into two 200 MW solar PPAs with Microsoft. Both projects, Morrow Lake Solar and Cradle Solar, are installing First Solar thin-film solar modules.

In Frio County, the Morrow Lake Solar project created 313 construction jobs, with 112 local hires. In Brazoria County, the construction of Cradle Solar is expected to generate over 300 construction jobs at its peak. Construction at the Morrow Lake Solar facility is underway and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2024, while construction of Cradle Solar is slated to begin in the second quarter of 2024 and completed by the fourth quarter of 2025.

Reaching one of the final legs of the project cycle is the Tres Bahias Solar, a project developed by Swift Current Energy that is now providing power to the Houston area. The Calhoun County project has entered a power purchase agreement (PPA) with utility NRG Energy.

UnitedHealth Group and Morgan Stanley Renewables Inc. are providing the tax equity for the 260 MW project. ING Capital, LLC provided construction financing for the Project, with Siemens Financial Services and Associated Bank as additional lenders in the construction financing.

DOE awards $5 million for clean energy workforce development through minority-supporting institutions

Anne Fischer — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 17:03:38 +0000

The funding will go to Tennessee State and University of Texas, El Paso, to help train students in the skills needed to succeed in solar and other clean energy careers.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and MSI STEM R&D Consortium announced $5 million in funding to train students for careers in clean energy industries.

The funding will be directed to two minority-serving universities to help train students in the skills needed to succeed in solar and other clean energy careers. MSI Stem R&D is a consortium that partners with more than 60 minority-serving research institutions, industry and government partners, such as DOE.

According to a report by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), full-time jobs in the U.S. solar energy and energy storage industries grew in 2022 and demand will only increase in the future. IREC notes that the solar industry expects total U.S. installations will multiply fivefold in the next 10 years, from 141 GW in 2022 to over 700 GW in 2033. SEIA optimistically predicts the total number of solar jobs could more than double, reaching 538,000 by 2032.

The reality, however, is that the tight labor market in the U.S. continues to create hiring challenges. The report notes that in 2022, 44% of solar industry employers said it was “very difficult” to find qualified applicants—the highest such percentage ever recorded in the Solar Jobs Census.

New workforce-related requirements were put into place by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that aims to address training, pay, diversity and job development in underserved areas.

The new initiative driven by DOE in conjunction with MSI Stem R&D supports the Justice40 Initiative that strives to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities by helping to build a diverse science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) pipeline to support the transition to clean energy.

“Achieving equitable energy transitions across the country is not possible without a workforce that reflects the diversity of America,” said Susan Hamm, director of the Integrated Strategies Office, EERE. “That’s why DOE provides minority serving institutions with the funding and support they need to educate, develop, and inspire the clean energy workforce of tomorrow. Innovation accelerates when there’s people with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds working together towards a common goal,”

The two universities selected to receive funding for their workforce development projects:

Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee

Tennessee State University’s workforce development program will serve as a pathway to STEM degrees and equip African American, Hispanic and Native American students with the skills needed for entry-level positions in the clean energy sector.

The project will offer an online training using virtual reality coupled with in-person workshops in solar energy (including design, installation, and energy storage). The project also has an entrepreneurship component, encouraging students to develop clean energy businesses to increase the number of clean energy businesses run by minorities.

University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas

The Hispanic Alliance for Clean Energy Education and Research project aims to train students and build the workforce development capacity in Texas, New Mexico and Puerto Rico. To support workforce development capacity building, six institutions in the Alliance will share expertise and collaborate on research, course materials and jointly mentor junior faculty members. There’s also a plan to expand the project’s reach beyond the six institutions to promote a growing workforce for the clean energy transition.

For more details on EERE’s STEM diversity and workforce development work, visit the Why Clean Energy Matters page.

People on the move: Sol Systems, Origis, Soltec and more.

pv magazine — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:15:53 +0000

Job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.

Origis Energy announced the promotion of Vikas Anand to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Anand joined the firm in August 2023 as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Company founder Guy Vanderhaegen, who has served as Chief Executive Officer and President to date, moves into the new role of Executive Chairman. The leadership changes are effective immediately.

SolarEdge Technologies announced the appointment of Bertrand Vandewiele as the new General Manager of SolarEdge in North America. Mr. Vandewiele has a proven track record in the sustainable energy space and leading global commercial building solutions and has served in leadership positions at ABB, Honeywell and Phillips.

Soltec has added Alma Miller to its executive team as CEO of its Soltec Trackers division in the United States. This executive has more than 20 years of experience in financial services companies and technology industries. With this addition, Soltec strengthens its presence in the U.S. market and further expands its ranks to further consolidate its position as a strategic player in the U.S. solar industry.

Jobs provided by EnergeiaWorks:

Alex Zafran started a new position as Director of Business Development at Logical Buildings
Anna Toenjes started a new position as Associate Vice President, Impact & Business Development at Sol Systems
Shane McCarthy started a new position as Director, Operations at Aecon Group Inc.
Colin Smith started a new position as Manager of Policy and Market Research at Green Street Power Partners

North America’s leading renewable energy search firm

Senior Performance Engineer | Austin, TX

Job Description

As a Sr. Performance Engineer, you will work within the Asset Management team, which is responsible for the technical management of a growing portfolio of distributed generation and utility-scale projects located across the United States. As a senior performance engineer in the renewable industry, you will be responsible for analyzing and interpreting data related to power plant performance, modeling, and prediction. Your work will help inform strategic decision-making and improve operational efficiency in the industry. You will collaborate closely with engineers, O&M teams, project managers, and business stakeholders to identify opportunities for data-driven insights and solutions.

Responsibilities:

Collect, clean, and analyze large data sets related to power plant performance, modeling, and prediction.
Develop predictive models and algorithms to forecast power plant performance and troubleshoot underperforming PV systems, identify potential component failures and modeling issues, and recommend corrective actions to meet guaranteed capacity and energy production targets.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement data-driven solutions that improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.
Design, implement and maintain APIs to enable easy access to data from various sources such as Data Acquisition System (DAS), equipment manufacturers (e.g. inverter, transformers), National Weather Services, third party weather data providers, etc.
Experience developing and executing Extract, Transform, Load processes with SQL databases.
Lead in the development of programming code to automate internal and external reporting requirements.
Work with stakeholders to identify their requirements for data analysis, model development, and performance optimization, and work with the team to deliver solutions that meet those requirements.
Communicate findings and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.

Requirements:

Degree in a relevant field, such as computer science, data science, math, physics, and/or engineering such as electrical and 5 years of combined experienced in performance engineering and data scientist in a similar role.
Domain expertise in the solar energy industry.
Proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and/or other programming skills
Proficiency in the use of business intelligence tools and other analytical tools (e.g. PowerBI, Tableau, Plotly, Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib)
Proficiency in MS Excel (inc. VBA and/or macros).
Proficiency with photovoltaic performance modeling tools such as PVsyst, PVLIB Python, NREL SAM and other PV software and models.
Proficiency and demonstrated experience working with real-world data in all phases of the data science life cycle—data compilation, data exploration, feature selection and engineering, training, testing and communication of results.
Knowledge of solar monitoring platforms (AlsoEnergy, GPM, Powerfactors, etc.)
Experience conducting performance evaluation of PV performance using ASTM and IEC.

Apply here.

1100 GW solar and 1000 GW storage now await transmission interconnection

William Driscoll — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 16:50:04 +0000

Solar, wind and battery storage accounted for nearly 95% of the capacity in transmission interconnection queues as of year-end 2023, based on preliminary data from Berkeley Lab, presented in a staff report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By year-end 2023, 1086 GW of solar projects awaited transmission interconnection, along with 503 GW of standalone storage, according to preliminary data from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The amount of storage in hybrid projects, such as solar-plus-storage projects, awaiting interconnection at year-end was estimated at 525 GW by LBNL, based on imputed values for missing data when storage capacity for hybrid projects was not reported.

The data were reported in a staff report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

LBNL’s preliminary values for all but one of the resource types awaiting interconnection are presented in the table below from the FERC staff report. The exception is hybrid storage, which FERC staff shows as 299 GW in the table, not LBNL’s preliminary 525 GW, because FERC staff excluded hybrid storage projects for which capacity was not reported.

Solar, wind, and battery storage represented nearly 95% of the total capacity in interconnection queues as of year-end 2023, the staff report said.

Pending transmission interconnection requests at year-end 2023 rose to 11,841, according to LBNL’s preliminary data, representing a 16% increase since year-end 2022 and more than a four-fold increase since year-end 2019, as shown in the table below.

The FERC staff report includes summaries of transmission plans submitted by grid operators to FERC last year, including plans for transmission that could help bring solar and storage projects online.

The transmission plan from California grid operator CAISO included 21 transmission projects at a cost of $5.5 billion to help meet the renewable generation requirements set by state regulators. Some of those projects would enable importing wind power from outside CAISO.

Mid-continent grid operator MISO planned 142 transmission projects to interconnect new generators.

The PJM grid operator stretching from Chicago to New Jersey “identified” 93 transmission projects at a cost of $180 million to support generation seeking interconnection, and “evaluated 227 supplemental projects put forward by transmission owners,” the report said, that would cost $2.4 billion.

The ERCOT grid region in Texas added the most solar of any region last year, as shown in the following chart from the report, showing capacity additions by grid region.

The geographic areas of seven of the nine grid regions referenced in the chart are shown in the map below. The other two regions are the “SERC region,” which is the SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC) area in the Southeast, and the “WECC* region,” which is the Western Electricity Coordinating Council area in the Western states without California’s CAISO region.

The CAISO and ERCOT grid regions account for most of the growth in transmission-connected batteries in the past three years, as shown in the following chart from the report.

Potential effect of the 2024 solar eclipse on solar energy production

Anne Fischer — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:14:19 +0000

To compensate for potential loss of solar energy flowing to the grid, grid operators will have to be ready to rely on other sources to ensure grid stability, as was done during the 2017 and 2023 eclipse episodes.

On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will start on Mexico’s Pacific coast around 11:07 a.m. PDT, traveling across parts of the U.S. and Canada until 5:19 p.m. EDT. Because the sky will darken completely in the path of totality for up to six minutes, forecasters are looking at the potential effect on solar energy generation.

The last eclipse took place in the U.S. in 2017, and didn’t have much effect on solar energy production, however, solar contributed only 1.3% to the electrical grid at that time, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA estimates that solar will provide 6% of U.S. electricity generation this year—a significant increase over 2017, and enough to cause some concern about the eclipse effect.

Solcast, a solar modeling and forecasting company owned by DNV, reported that the impact on solar generation across the U.S. could be greater than any previous eclipse due to the increased solar power generation.

Solcast used its clear-sky irradiance modeling, assuming no presence of clouds or smoke. Due to ongoing growth in national solar capacity, the grid impact of such major solar events is increasing, and this eclipse will have greater impact on power generation than previous eclipses. The company forecasts that the overall effects of the eclipse will cost as much as 16% of daily total clear sky irradiance in some areas.

Grid operators are preparing for a worst-case scenario, which would be a perfectly sunny day when solar would normally be feeding steadily into the grid. In areas of in the path of totality, solar generation will decrease and then be cut to zero, only to ramp back up again a few minutes later.

According to Solcast, the maximum duration will be over 90 minutes of impacted generation and a total loss of up to six minutes. The effect across the country will be a faster “ramp rate” than normal, which is the rate at which solar generation decreases and then picks back up again.

Across all grids, Solcast estimates calculated maximum losses are up to 39.9 GWh, of which 16.2 GWh will be lost from household rooftop solar. “Whilst it’s too early to predict cloud impacts, the effects of this eclipse will be significant on solar generation across the country,” said Dr. Hugh Cutcher, lead Data Scientist at Solcast.

Texas utility ERCOT, for example, is watching the event, as it provides power to 90% of the state and the state’s grid will be affected by the eclipse from 12:10 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. CDT, or during peak production hours. According to Solcast, ERCOT could experience a loss of nearly 11% of normal generation.

ERCOT posted on X that it is “working on forecasting models to reflect reduced solar power production (similar to a sunset and sunrise in the middle of the day) and does not expect any grid reliability concerns during the eclipse.”

Learning from the past

Looking back at the 2017 eclipse that obscured the sun for 76% of Northern California and 62% of Southern California on August 17, the EIA had estimated that more than 21 GW of installed photovoltaic (PV) systems would be affected. Utilities expected that production from solar plants would fall nearly 66%, with a sharp down ramp followed by an accelerated up ramp. To reduce “strain” on the electric grid, the California Public Utilities Commission President at the time urged residents to cut energy use between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on that day.

Because the ramping down and up had little deleterious effect, a call to curb electrical use is not likely to happen with the 2024 eclipse. In fact, during the 2017 eclipse, which also affected Georgia, Georgia Power “registered barely a blip”. Georgia Power had livestreamed the eclipse and watched solar power dip significantly for the three minutes of the eclipse’s totality and yet there was no failure to the grid.

People on the move: SunPower, University of Houston, and more

pv magazine — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 11:18:25 +0000

Job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.

Residential solar technology and energy services provider SunPower announced it has appointed Tony Garzolini as executive vice president and chief revenue officer.

“SunPower made great strides to improve our financial footing and we remain laser focused on achieving profitability and cash flow generation. As a part of this imperative, we’re pleased to welcome Tony back to SunPower as our first Chief Revenue Officer,” said Tom Werner, executive chairman of the board and principal executive officer of SunPower.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm appointed Joe Powell, the founding executive director of the Energy Transition Institute at the University of Houston, to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee (ITIAC).

The committee’s mandate includes identifying future investment opportunities and technical assistance programs and help move decarbonization technologies out of the lab and into the marketplace.

Global lithium supplier of the EV battery supply chain Piedmont Lithium announced Dawne Hickton has been appointed to its board of directors. Hickton is an accomplished leader in the aerospace, energy, and metals industries

Jobs provided by EnergeiaWorks:

Anatoliy Zeltser started a new position as Director of Construction at VC Renewables
JoEllen Billotte started a new position as Senior Project Developer at National Renewable Solutions
Erik Strand started a new position as Risk & Interface Lead at Attentive Energy
Daniel Edelson started a new position as Director of Business Development at Greenskies Clean Focus

North America’s leading renewable energy search firm

Job Description

As the Vice President of Origination, reporting directly to the executive leadership team, the VP of Origination will be responsible for shaping and executing our strategic origination efforts and cultivating key relationships with industry stakeholders. This senior-level role offers a unique opportunity to drive growth, innovation, and impact in the renewable energy sector.

Responsibilities:

Lead the origination for renewable energy projects, driving favorable outcomes that align with our company’s strategic objectives and financial targets.
Develop market strategy and manage and support team members in negotiations, risk analysis and project development of the pipeline.
Build a portfolio by sourcing brownfield projects and managing the due diligence process.
Cultivate and nurture strategic partnerships with utilities, corporate off-takers, financial institutions, government agencies, and other key stakeholders to facilitate project development and execution.
Develop and implement innovative strategies to expand our company’s market presence and drive revenue growth across target markets and geographies.
Stay abreast of industry trends, market dynamics, and regulatory developments to inform strategic decision-making and identify opportunities for competitive advantage.
Responsible for coordinating the preparation of all materials to allow for a smooth transition of projects from the origination team to the financing, development, EPC teams and asset management.
Accountable for the successful origination of a portfolio of projects including budget forecasting, coordinating consultants, Resource Assessment, Contract Execution, Legal negotiation and preparation, Land/Title, Transmission, Engineering, Accounting, Project Finance, and Valuation & Transactions.
Represent company at industry conferences, forums, and networking events, showcasing our thought leadership and expertise in the renewable energy sector.
Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to a high-performing team of origination professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, engineering, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Minimum of 10 years of experience in renewable project origination.
Deep understanding of renewable energy markets, project finance, regulatory frameworks, and industry dynamics.
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Strategic thinker with a demonstrated ability to develop and execute innovative business strategies that drive sustainable growth and create long-term value.
Proven leadership experience, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and empower teams to achieve ambitious goals and objectives.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed to support business development activities and project initiatives.

Apply here.

U.S. solar industry week in review

pv magazine — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 20:07:07 +0000

pv magazine USA spotlights news stories of the past week including market trends, project updates, policy changes and more.

A seismic shift may be coming to U.S. energy sector and economy: FTI Consulting released a report reviewing renewable energy merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in 2023 and provided an outlook for 2024. FTI anticipates various factors will drive an increase in M&A activity in the renewable energy sector. The report sees an uptick in corporate renewables adoption as decarbonization and electrification continues to come to the forefront, and it expects oil and gas players to actively invest in the sector.

A microgrid community in California.

Image: KB Home

California rulemaking signals changes in energy policy: The California Energy Center must now assess costs and benefits related to health and environmental externalities of energy generation and transmission. The rulemaking decision marks the first positive development for distributed renewable energy in California, a state that has taken numerous regressive policy actions over the past eighteen months.

What might a new administration cut from the Inflation Reduction Act?: A live podcast by Norton Rose Fulbright discussed how a Republican administration might handle the Inflation Reduction Act. The panel noted that several provisions have bipartisan support, including carbon capture, hydrogen, fuel credits and possibly domestic manufacturing tax credits. The group said repeal of the IRA may not be an all-or-nothing scenario, but a potential new administration may tweak or remove the things they don’t like.

Experts deep dive into IRA tax guidance: At SEIA’s annual Finance, Tax, and Buyer’s Seminar, key topics included tax credit transferability rules, the process of filing for and monetizing “elective pay”, domestic content and brownfield tax adders, capital structures, and the evolving finance structures. Also covered was the risk of tax credit recapture by the IRS, which can occur when solar projects fail to meet the technical requirements that initially qualified them for tax benefits.

Giant solar project in Texas secures nearly $600 million: Primergy Solar closed commitments for $588 million in debt financing for the 408 MW Ash Creek solar project in Hill County, Texas, south of Dallas. Once complete, the project is expected to generate the equivalent electricity demand of 90,000 homes per year, though it will be fully dedicated to Microsoft through a power purchase agreement.