Solar Industry News and Articles
Why Self-Storage companies should consider installing solar power, including net metering; and selling excess power to the local utility company to increase revenue.
Why Self-Storage companies should consider installing solar power, including net metering; and selling excess power to the local utility company to increase revenue.Self-storage companies can greatly benefit from considering the installation of solar power systems to...
Why You Need a Franklin Whole Home Residential Energy Storage System
What is a Franklin Whole Home Residential Energy Storage System? The Franklin Whole Home Residential Energy Storage System is revolutionizing the way homeowners store and use energy. This innovative system allows you to harness excess energy generated from your solar...
The Benefits of Using the Franklin Whole Home Residential Energy Storage System
The Benefits Of Using The Franklin Whole Home Residential Energy Storage System
Operations achieved at 290-MW Nam Ngiep 1 hydropower plant between Laos and Thailand
Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. announces that the 290-MW Nam Ngiep 1 hydropower plant has begun commercial operations.
Holtec, Eos create battery manufacturing JV
Eos Energy Storage and energy equipment firm Holtec International are creating a joint venture to produce Eos’ next generation of large-scale zinc batteries.
Australia in planning for multiple massive battery projects
France’s Neoen SA has outlined plans to build a giant renewables complex in South Australia, including battery storage with up to nine times more capacity than the Tesla Inc. design at its nearby Hornsdale plant, which is billed as the world’s largest lithium-ion...
UK closes in on first geothermal power after successful drilling outcome
The U.K. could be producing electricity from a geothermal plant for the first time early next decade after drilling at a site in southwest England showed it could become a viable part of the renewable energy mix.
Lincoln Clean Energy to build 230-MW wind farm in Nebraska
Lincoln Clean Energy (LCE), Ãrsted’s U.S. onshore company, issued the final notice to proceed on its 230-MW Plum Creek wind facility in Wayne County, Nebraska. This follows the final investment decision from Ãrsted’s Board of Directors.
220-MW Grady Wind power facility in New Mexico now operational
New Mexico’s newest wind power facility is now up and running. Pattern Energy Group 2 LP (Pattern Development) announced it has completed construction and begun operations at its 220-MW Grady Wind facility located in Curry County, New Mexico. This is the third and...
New Zealand to receive first ever floating solar
It will be used to supplement electricity from the grid, as well as cogeneration from biogas, which is already generated on-site from wastewater treatment
Take control of energy usage with LG’s residential solar offerings
In conjunction with North America’s Smart Energy Week, LG Electronics (LG) is underscoring its role as a top player within the U.S. residential solar market at the 2019 Solar Power International Conference.
FERC issues license for 5-MW Grant Lake Hydroelectric Project in Alaska
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the U.S. has issued an original operating license to Kenai Hydro LLC for its proposed 5-MW Grant Lake Hydroelectric Project in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska.
Houston Mayor selects developer for 70-MW urban solar array in revitalization plan
Last week, Houston, TX Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that Sunnyside Energy, led by developer Dori Wolfe of Wolfe Energy LLC, has won a competition to be considered to repurpose a 240-acre former landfill in Sunnyside. Subject to meeting certain terms and...
Company trying to tackle renewable energy curtailment enters European market
This week, Scottish software company Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS) announced that it will be expanding into Europe after completing successful trials with a utility company in Germany.
Hydro Tasmania accelerating site investigations for pumped storage hydropower
Hydro Tasmania says it is accelerating detailed investigation of three key opportunities for pumped storage hydro development in the state as part of the Battery of the Nation initiative. Work has begun on a full feasibility assessment of pumped hydro development...
ABB delivers solar plant at Antarctic research base
The Uruguayan government agency Instituto Antarctico Uruguayo (IAU) is collaborating with ABB, Uruguayan utility company UTE and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM) to provide a second solar power installation at the IAU’s research base in the...
More Tesla solar-panel fire incidents emerge in wake of Walmart suit
One evening last year, David Burek noticed charred wood and a burning smell in his attic, near his young sons’ bedroom. He climbed a ladder and saw a melted connector wire from the solar panels installed on the roof of his North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, home....
Are regional transmission organizations the future for renewables in the Southeast?
Renewable energy, particularly solar, is poised for significant growth in the southeastern United States. The Southeast has also mostly retained a vertically integrated utility model, and most utilities in the region have not joined a Regional Transmission...
Trump says he’s unwilling to risk US energy wealth for windmill ‘dreams’
President Donald Trump said he was not willing to sacrifice the abundant fossil energy wealth of the U.S. on “dreams” such as renewable power.
Brazil to support construction of four new hydropower plants
Brazil has included four hydropower plants among the projects that will receive support as part of the country's investment partnerships program, called Programa de Parcerias de Investimentos or PPI.
Hawaiian Electric Companies issue largest clean energy procurement to date; aim to end coal use, replace oil
Last week, the Hawaiian Electric Companies began Hawai‘i’s largest procurement effort for renewable energy resources to end the use of coal and reduce reliance on imported oil for power generation, moving the state closer to its goal of using 100 percent renewable...
World’s largest hospital solar PV project online now in Aman, Jordan
This week Aman, Jordan-based Philadelphia Solar announced that the 8.2-MW solar PV project that it installed at the Abdali Medical Center in Jordan has entered commercial operation.
SolarEdge founder and co-chairman dies at 54
In a statement, SolarEdge Technologies announced that the company's founder and co-chairman, Guy Sella has passed away.
Largest Cherokee County wind farm now under construction
After a 23-year wind farm construction hiatus, work on a 2nd Cherokee County wind farm has begun. Developed by San Diego based EDF Renewables, the 200-megawatt (MW) Glaciers Edge Wind Project north of Marcus is scheduled to be on line by the end of 2019.
Nine solar projects go live in Georgia
Duke Energy Renewables, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, announced that nine solar projects developed with SolAmerica Energy totaling 14.1 megawatts (MW) have begun commercial operations across central Georgia under Georgia Power’s Renewable Energy Development Initiative....
Can Italy strike twice?
Italy’s National Energy Strategy aims to increase wind and solar power’s share of gross final energy consumption by 2030. The country boasts a track record of meeting past renewables targets, but can it be successful once more? Stefania Belisario, associate director,...
Lekela reaches financial close for its West Bakr Wind project
Lekela announced that it has reached financial close on its first wind project in Egypt, West Bakr Wind. Construction will begin shortly, delivering 250 MW of clean, reliable power at a highly competitive price.
The IEA’s hydrogen report doesn’t miss the point. It just buries It.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently released a major new report on hydrogen, underscoring the remarkable political and business momentum surrounding the fossil fuel alternative, and touting its potential as a vital component of global efforts to build a...
Walmart sues Tesla over fires linked to rooftop solar systems
Walmart Inc. sued Tesla Inc., claiming it failed to live up to industry standards in the installation of solar panels on top of hundreds of stores, resulting in multiple fires across the U.S.
University of Notre Dame breaks ground on 2.5-MW hydroelectric generation facility
The University of Notre Dame and South Bend’s Venues Parks & Arts have broken ground on a 2.5-MW hydroelectric generation facility at an existing city-owned dam on the St. Joseph River in downtown South Bend, Ind.
Norwegian battery startup with $4.5B plan has vision for Nordic hub
Freyr AS, a startup planning to build one of Europe’s first battery gigafactories in Norway, has a bigger vision for the region: a “Nordic Battery Belt.”
New study shows benefits of local renewable energy marketplaces
The financial benefits of buying and selling locally produced energy from rooftop solar, wind turbines and batteries within communities have been revealed in a test case run by energy tech firm LO3 Energy.
Softbank invests $110M in new energy storage system
Energy Vault, the creator of a new way to perform utility-scale energy storage, announced that SoftBank Vision Fund (Vision Fund) invested $110 million in its Series B funding round. Energy Vault will use the funds to accelerate global deployment of its technology,...
ARENA to provide $40 million funding for South Australia’s first pumped hydro plant
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), on behalf of the Australian government, has announced up to $40 million in funding towards the deployment of a pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) project in South Australia.
Stanford researchers develop technology to harness energy from mixing of freshwater and seawater
A new battery made from affordable and durable materials generates energy from places where salt and fresh waters mingle. The technology could make coastal wastewater treatment plants energy-independent and carbon neutral.
London finds no easy answers after once-in-a-decade blackout
When two U.K. power plants shut down almost simultaneously in London’s first major blackout for a decade, it triggered a storm of questions about how to avoid another failure.
Who will benefit from the surge in behind-the-meter battery installations?
The electric utility industry has been buffeted by two recent trends that threaten to upend the profitability, and in some cases the future viability of, those companies that are slow to adapt to a new, rapidly changing landscape. Specifically, in the past decade, the...
What is the future of the utility?
Many of us are somewhat familiar with what an electric utility does. Our house receives electricity, and we get a bill in the mail each month for it. Here in North Carolina, that bill is likely coming from Duke Energy. In other parts of the country it may be PG&E or...
U.S. wind energy prices are at historical lows, DOE report says
The national average price of wind power purchase agreements dropped to below 2 cents/kWh in 2018, according to the annual Wind Technologies Market Report released by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Gap signs PPA for 90 MW of wind
Global apparel retailer Gap Inc. announced that it has signed a 90-MW virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for the Aurora Wind Project with Enel Green Power North America, marking one of the largest offsite renewable energy contracts by an apparel retailer.
Why Self-Storage companies should consider installing solar power, including net metering; and selling excess power to the local utility company to increase revenue.
Why Self-Storage companies should consider installing solar power, including net metering; and selling excess power to the local utility company to increase revenue.Self-storage companies can greatly benefit from considering the installation of solar power systems to...
Why You Need a Franklin Whole Home Residential Energy Storage System
What is a Franklin Whole Home Residential Energy Storage System? The Franklin Whole Home Residential Energy Storage System is revolutionizing the way homeowners store and use energy. This innovative system allows you to harness excess energy generated from your solar...
Going off-grid with solar: what does it mean and how much will it cost? (Part 2)
Reading Time: 5 minutes This is Part 1 of a two-part series that explores the economics of going completely off-grid with solar. Part 1 focuses on what it actually means to go “off-grid” and how to start thinking about calculating the costs for cutting the cord with...
Solar news: November 1st, 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutes In this week’s Solar News Roundup, Tesla announces its newest version of the famed Solar Roof, and corporate renewable procurements reach a new record in 2019. Tesla launches V3 of their Solar Roof The latest development in the saga of the...
Tesla Q3 2019 earnings call: what you need to know
Reading Time: 4 minutes As a publicly-traded company, Tesla presents quarterly reports to shareholders, analysts, and the media about the state of the company. While most coverage of these quarterly earnings calls focuses on the company’s electric vehicle business or...
Going off-grid with solar: what does it mean and how much will it cost? (Part 1)
Reading Time: 7 minutes This is Part 1 of a two-part series that explores the economics of going completely off-grid with solar. Part 1 focuses on what it actually means to go “off-grid” and how to start thinking about calculating the costs for cutting the cord with...
Critter guards/bird netting for solar panels: protect your system from squirrels & birds
Reading Time: 3 minutes A surprising threat to your solar panels may be the animals that live in the area surrounding your home. Birds and squirrels can damage your solar setup in several ways, leading to unwanted repair costs and headache. One solution to solar’s...
What to consider in a solar mounting system
Reading Time: 4 minutes It can be easy to overlook your solar mounting hardware since it’s mostly hidden under your solar panels. But, as with other types of solar equipment, there are multiple options to consider and you want to make sure you’re getting the right...
Solar financier partnerships: what you need to know
Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the most important choices to make as you’re going solar is which installation company to work with. Online reviews, industry certifications, years in business, and equipment manufacturer endorsements are just a few ways to gauge the...
Solar news: October 18th, 2019
Reading Time: 1 minute In this week’s Solar News Roundup, a new study indicates just how much the “green economy” has grown in the U.S., and FPL sets its sights on an ambitious community solar program. Study suggests America’s “Green Economy” is worth $1.3 trillion...
How many panels do you need for your EV?
Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the primary benefits of purchasing an electric vehicle is that it allows you to transition from paying for gasoline to lower-cost electricity. But why not take that one step further and power your car with clean, solar power you produce...
Soleil Lofts’ virtual power plant: what you need to know
Reading Time: 5 minutes In August 2019, the solar and storage industries took a giant leap forward with the introduction of the Soleil Lofts virtual power plant project. The apartment complex, which lies just south of Salt Lake City, Utah, is a unique,...
What you need to know about IKEA’s solar business
Reading Time: 2 minutes Massive corporations like Google and Facebook have made recent headlines with their commitments to renewable energy. One of the brands you might not have heard as much about is Swedish furniture giant IKEA – however, with ambitious solar and...
Hybrid inverters: what you need to know
Reading Time: 3 minutes There are plenty of options available when it comes to selecting a solar inverter: these inverters vary in size, efficiency, performance, and capabilities. So what’s the best solution for you? If you’re thinking about adding a battery to your...
Solar news: October 4th, 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutes In this week’s Solar News Roundup, LADWP votes to expand a beneficial feed-in tariff program in their service area, and the first 100% electric vehicle “gas” station opens. LADWP votes to expand feed-in tariff program by 300 MW The Los Angeles...
How to determine what electric rate you’re on
Reading Time: 3 minutes A recent report from the Smart Energy Consumers Collaborative found that half of all electricity customers don’t know what electric rate they are on, which begs the question: what electric rate are you on? And what do different electricity...
Top products of SPI 2019
Reading Time: 5 minutes Last week, the EnergySage team attended Solar Power International (SPI), the industry’s leading solar conference. There were countless innovative products showcased this year – from new high-tech solar panels, to smart home gadgets, to...
Solar Power International 2019 round-up
Reading Time: 3 minutes September means one thing in the solar industry: Solar Power International (SPI). EnergySage sent a team to this year’s version of the industry’s largest trade show in Salt Lake City, where we reconnected with old partners, met many new ones,...
Highlights from the ninth EnergySage Solar Marketplace Intel Report
Reading Time: 3 minutes This week, EnergySage released our ninth Solar Marketplace Intel Report™. The publicly available report provides data on the state of the solar market nationwide and at the state level. In this report, we introduced a number of new analyses,...
Solar news: September 20th, 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutes In this week’s Solar News Roundup, the U.S. utility solar pipeline hits a new high watermark, and California boosts battery incentives for homes vulnerable to wildfire-caused power outages. U.S. utility solar pipeline hits an all-time high of...
Costs of solar after installation
Reading Time: 4 minutes For the most part, solar panel systems are “set it and forget it,” requiring very little (if any) maintenance over time – but what costs can you potentially encounter after installing your solar panel system? In this article, we’ll discuss four...
Behind-the-meter: what you need to know
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe electricity system is changing, from the way we generate power to the way we distribute and use it. All grid-tied energy systems are situated either “in front of the meter” or “behind the meter”, and as more and more electric customers take...
Tesla solar renting vs. leasing vs. buying solar panels
Reading Time: 5 minutesTesla’s recently announced solar rental program was met with high hopes, as a program with the potential to make solar more accessible to more homeowners. With a sense of how the program works, the question becomes: how do the savings from...
Australia hits 2020 large-scale renewables target
The Clean Energy Regulator of Australia has approved enough capacity to guarantee that the large-scale Renewable Energy Target of 33,000 GWh of additional renewable energy will be met in 2020.
Clean energy investment set to hit $2.6 trillion this decade
The global energy supply is turning greener.
Pros and cons of community solar
Reading Time: 4 minutesCommunity solar is an enticing option for those looking to take advantage of solar energy without installing a system on their own property. As with any energy choice, there are pros and cons to participating in a community solar program. In...
Solar news: September 5th, 2019
Reading Time: 1 minuteIn this week’s Solar News Roundup, Sunrun lands another virtual power plant deal and Connecticut sets its sights on eliminating fossil fuels by 2040. Sunrun lands virtual power plant deal in Hawaii Following several other virtual power plant deal...
New POWERGEN award program seeks inspirational women of excellent character
In recognition of the widely acknowledged studies that show that organizations with gender equality perform better financially, this year POWERGEN International, along with partner UL, is launching a new awards program that seeks out women of good character.
What happens if your solar inverter fails?
Reading Time: 4 minutesSolar energy systems are built to last and are designed to produce solar electricity reliably for 25 years or more. In some instances, though, individual components of a solar energy system may malfunction or break altogether. If you’ve...
Democratic presidential hopefuls take on climate change, tout goals
Even as they touted ambitious proposals to reduce carbon emissions to a national audience, Democratic candidates for president tried to balance the boldness of their plans with the need for simplifying a complex scientific problem to make it palatable to voters.
Ameren Missouri to bring customers solar energy at night
Ameren Missouri, a unit of Ameren Corp., filed plans with the Missouri Public Service Commission to build three solar + storage facilities across Missouri
Renewable energy takes center stage at POWERGEN ASIA and Asian Utility Week
In a region of the world where coal is still king, there is room for renewables. This was a takeaway from the Ministerial Address and Joint Opening Keynote at POWERGEN Asia and Asian Utility Week. The two annual events kicked off Tuesday, Sept. 3, in Kuala Lumpur,...
Covering Climate Now signs on more than 170 news outlets
MORE THAN 170 NEWS OUTLETS from around the world have now signed up for Covering Climate Now, a project co-founded by CJR and The Nation aimed at strengthening the media’s focus on the climate crisis.
AC vs. DC solar battery coupling: what you need to know
Reading Time: 3 minutesSolar batteries are becoming popular additions to solar energy projects of all scales. When it comes to the way your solar panels, batteries, and inverters are all wired together on your property, there are two main options: alternating current...
An overview of the “commence construction” clause
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe country’s best solar incentive, the federal investment tax credit (ITC), is in the process of winding down. 2019 is the last year you can claim the full 30 percent tax credit. Starting next year, the credit drops to 26 percent, to 22 percent...
How much is your electric bill after going solar?
Reading Time: 4 minutesOne of the most common misconceptions about solar is that people who install panels no longer receive an electricity bill from their utility company. This isn’t true in most cases: the majority of solar panel systems in the U.S. are grid-tied,...
BNEF finds that hydrogen’s plunging price could boost its role in a carbon-free future
The cost of producing hydrogen gas with renewables is likely to plummet in the coming decades, making one of the most radical technologies for reducing greenhouse gases economical.
Solar news: August 23rd, 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutesIn this week’s Solar News Roundup, Tesla launches a new solar rental model, and the energy storage market for California’s major utilities continues at impressive deployment rates, especially in SDG&E territory. Tesla launches a new monthly...
What is solar racking?
Reading Time: 4 minutesOnce a solar panel system is installed, you’ll generally only see the shiny new panels on your property. However, the solar racking beneath them is an integral part of any solar installation. What is solar racking? In order to safely fix solar...
Bernie Sanders’ ‘Green New Deal’ aims to have renewables power homes by 2030
Bernie Sanders wants renewable energy to power U.S. homes and vehicles by 2030 -- and he wants to do it by enlisting the federal government in building and running new solar, wind and geothermal electricity projects.
Receive a FREE estimate
Are you in need of a solar installation or repair at an inconvenient time? Not to worry! The team at Green City Solar, LLC. is available to assist with necessary solar services or installations from Cape Coral to Naples or Ft.Myers to Charlotte county any time, day or night. We are the top rated solar installers in Southwest Florida.