• November 21, 2024

Castillo Engineering has been selected by Recon Corporation to provide design and engineering services for two new community solar projects in Illinois, with a total capacity of 15 MW DC. As part of the Shines or Adjustable Block Program in Illinois, these two 7.5 MW projects are located in Pontiac and Odell cities and will use single axis trackers. These projects are expected to start construction in the first quarter of 2025 and be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. Prior to this announcement, Castillo and Recon acquired a portfolio of three projects (totaling 23 megawatts) in the first quarter of 2024. Once these latest projects are put into operation, Castillo and Recon will jointly complete projects exceeding 50 megawatts. Recon President Scott Walker said, "Castillo remains our preferred partner because of their extensive experience in the Midwest and consistent track record in completing projects on schedule and within budget." "We look forward to further leveraging their internal expertise in civil, electrical, and structural engineering to provide more effective community solar projects for Illinois residents In the past four years, community solar capacity in Illinois has tripled. In terms of community solar installed capacity, the state currently ranks among the top four states in the United States, second only to New York, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. This can be achieved through favorable legislation in the state. Illinois Shines plans to recently increase the size limit for qualified projects from 2 MW to 5 MW AC. These two new projects are the first projects in the new allowed scale completed by Castillo and Recon. Christopher Castillo, CEO of Castillo Engineering, said, "We are delighted to once again have the opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders like Recon Corporation in the Midwest. Their expertise is unparalleled in the region, and we look forward to helping them effectively execute this range of impactful community solar projects

• November 20, 2024

Xcel Energy is currently providing carbon free electricity to customers in the Midwest through one of the country's largest solar projects, marking an important milestone in the company's clean energy transition and the first of several major investments in the Sherco plant in central Minnesota. Bob Frenzel, Chairman, President, and CEO of Xcel Energy, said, "The progress we have made at Sherco Solar shows that we are not only talking about the future of clean energy, but also building it." "This is the first large-scale solar facility we own and operate, and it is an important milestone on Xcel Energy's path to achieving our carbon free vision by using innovative technology, creating employment opportunities, supporting our communities, and ensuring reliability. Our customers. I commend our employees, contractors, and partners for working together to make this transformation a reality Sherco Solar first connected to the upstream power grid in the Midwest at the end of October, providing customers in the region with over 220 megawatts of low-cost solar power. The other two connection phases will be launched in 2025 and 2026. Once completed, Sherco Solar's total installed capacity will be 710 MW, providing sufficient clean energy for 150000 households in the Midwest and Northern regions, and replacing the capacity of the first coal-fired unit retired from the nearby Sherco plant last year. Sherco Solar will provide the lowest cost solar energy for Xcel Energy's upstream systems in the Midwest. This project represents an investment of approximately 1.1 billion US dollars in clean energy infrastructure. Sherco Solar is creating 400 high paying union construction jobs, as well as 12 ongoing operations and maintenance jobs. This project provides opportunities for participants in the Xcel Energy Power Up workforce and development program, with the Public Utilities Commission and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development playing key roles in developing the program. The labor program aims to provide opportunities for underrepresented individuals in the energy and construction industries. Sherco Solar is creating hundreds of jobs and providing a living wage for the 292 members of IBEW, who are building clean energy infrastructure to provide electricity for the state for decades to come while maintaining brightness for the people of Minnesota, "said Jeff Heimerl, the business manager of the company. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 292. Nearly 200 IBEW members have helped deliver the first phase of Sherco Solar, and we are working hard on the next phase to help the state achieve its 100% carbon free energy production goal

• November 18, 2024

The Massachusetts legislature has passed S.2967, a bill that promotes clean energy grids, promotes fairness, and protects taxpayers. The climate bill was announced under immense pressure from environmental justice and clean energy advocates following the failure of major climate reforms a few months ago. This legislation addresses the urgent climate crisis by promoting the elimination of polluting fossil fuels and simplifying the adoption of clean energy. Now, state-level legislation is more important than ever for the transition to clean energy. We commend lawmakers for passing this bill and recognizing the urgent need to address the climate crisis while prioritizing fairness in this process, "said Elena Weissmann, Northeast Director of Vote Solar. We congratulate the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as those advocates who did not ease the pressure, for passing this bill The bill makes significant changes to the site selection and licensing of energy infrastructure, which will accelerate the Commonwealth's transition to renewable resources such as solar energy, and plans to phase out methane gas projects without endangering low - and middle-income taxpayers. In addition, the bill lays the foundation for future distributed and resilient power grids by integrating battery storage and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. We are pleased that this bill prioritizes strong cumulative impact assessments for new energy projects rooted in environmental justice principles. This assessment requires new energy projects to fully consider the historical and ongoing burdens experienced by communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change and the current energy system, "Weissman said. We look forward to working with partners to promote the transition from polluting infrastructure to renewable energy projects that can directly benefit frontline communities

• November 14, 2024

OneEnergy Renewables has signed asset purchase agreements with We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service Company (WPS), and Madison Gas and Electric Company (MGE). Through this agreement, OneEnergy will construct two utility scale solar projects with a total installed capacity of approximately 165 megawatts, both located in Columbia County, Wisconsin. These two locations are named Good Oak (98 MW) and Gristmill (67 MW), referencing and paying tribute to the natural habitat and local history of the region. In order to provide a complete solution for its partners, OneEnergy is developing and constructing projects and handing them over in commercial operations. These projects will be built by union workers and workers from across the state. The electricity generated by these power plants will help Wisconsin achieve its net zero emissions goal by 2050. At OneEnergy, we are committed to developing high-quality projects with longevity. We are fortunate to have collaborated with a group of outstanding landowners to manage these projects, and we are thrilled to build them for an equally strong community of utility partners, "said Eric Udelhofen, Vice President of Development at OneEnergy. These projects are expected to be completed in 2026 and 2027, aiming to provide long-term energy benefits to Wisconsin communities and help enhance the state's leadership in renewable energy generation.

• November 13, 2024

Contrary to the initial explanation, residential solar projects may use the domestic content incentive credit in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). However, homeowners are not the ones who receive tax exemptions. When the project uses domestically produced solar modules, they can add an additional 10% on top of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which is a 30% tax credit on the total cost of renewable energy projects. ITC is a long-term subsidy for the solar energy industry, which has historically provided subsidies for different market sizes. But not every customer can receive domestic content - as well as other bonus adders from the Irish Republican Army. Individual homeowners cannot apply for domestic content bonuses, but businesses can. In order to meet the domestic content qualification of residential projects, the array must be leased to the homeowner or the homeowner must sign a power purchase agreement. In other words, residential projects can receive domestic content dividends through third-party ownership (TPO), and companies that provide financing for the project can also earn points. Homeowners and contractors will not be able to directly obtain credit, "said Glenn Woodruff, Vice Product Marketing Manager at IronRidge, a solar bracket manufacturer. Whether TPO financiers choose to share any benefits of [domestic content bonuses] with installers and/or homeowners depends entirely on the discretion of each TPO financier Sunnova is one of these TPO financiers, a national solar installation company engaged in the residential and commercial markets. On September 1st, Sunnova mandated that all solar projects of companies must comply with domestic content requirements. As an American solar company, it is in our vested interest to ensure that our business has a positive impact on employment in the United States, and we are pleased to achieve this goal by utilizing IRA's domestic content bonuses, "said Russell Wilkerson, head of Sunnova Enterprise. One of IRA's goals is to increase employment opportunities in the US manufacturing industry, and Sunnova is proud to support these efforts. In addition, meeting the investment tax credit can bring cash appreciation to Sunnova Two years have passed, and the Ministry of Finance has continuously updated the IRA, utilizing feedback from industry members to develop its guidance. Earlier this year, another round of domestic content qualification guidelines was released and the options for submitting required documents were expanded.

• November 12, 2024

Electrification of the entire home is a huge potential opportunity for solar installers. After all, if households or businesses want to use more electricity, then it is the perfect customer for solar systems to offset some of the costs. Similarly, providing electrified services such as batteries and HVAC is a huge potential new source of revenue for solar companies. But where do you start? Due to the abundance of conflicting and often untrue information regarding home electrification, homeowners may hold preconceived notions about the flaws in the entire home system. Let's take a look and debunk some common household electrification myths: Whole house electrification is expensive For most consumers, cost is an important consideration factor. Therefore, when it comes to supplying electricity to households, if the price is too high, consumers will not hesitate to withdraw. There are some important factors that can cover these costs and demonstrate improvements in cash flow and long-term (even short-term) savings. Firstly, there is motivation. National policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC), combined with state and local incentives for installing energy-saving and power technologies, can truly reduce the initial cost of the power system. Many states also offer low interest and interest free financing options for energy efficiency and electrification projects. For example, in Massachusetts, eligible homeowners can receive up to $25000 in 0% interest loans for energy efficiency upgrades. Understanding the incentive measures in your area can help you provide the most affordable solutions for homeowners. The electrification of the entire household takes too long Some homeowners may not be willing to pay for the lengthy electrification process or may be concerned about the risk of temporary power outages during the process. However, homeowners can electrify their homes at their own pace - without having to complete all the work at once. For example, they can first pair solar energy with energy storage solutions such as lithium-ion batteries. Afterwards, they can add electric vehicles (EVs), followed by water heaters, ovens, and heat pumps. Ensure that the design of your customer's solar system is easy to add in the future, so that you do not encounter unforeseen issues. In fact, according to Ohm Analytics, in homes that adopt multiple electrification technologies, homeowners typically adopt a phased approach to electrifying their homes. In households that have already installed solar energy, the next electrification technologies to be installed include: storage (42%), MPU (23%), heat pump (19%), and electric vehicle charger (16%). We do not support the electrification of the entire household In fact, your own organization is likely to provide comprehensive support to homeowners throughout the entire home electrification process, including initial assessment, design, installation, and final inspection of all sol...

• November 11, 2024

AEROCOMPACT, a specialist in photovoltaic installation systems, is expanding its COMPACTMETAL TL product line with new TLE25 and TLE38 options. These TLE mounting brackets are designed to span ribs on trapezoidal metal sheet roofs, featuring integrated risers and pre punched bridges without the need for pre drilled AEROCOMPACT proprietary self drilling screws. The newly launched TLE25 and TLE38 railway bridges have a height of 80 millimeters, and with AEROCOMPACT self drilling screws with integrated sealing gaskets, they can establish a safe and waterproof connection with the roof. AEROCOMPACT will showcase these new brackets at the RE+Midwest exhibition in Chicago, along with its elevated short rail TSE15, which is part of the COMPACTMETAL TS short rail system for trapezoidal metal sheet roofs. The photovoltaic installation system uses 80mm integrated risers installed along the length of trapezoidal metal plate ribs, providing a fast and cost-effective shelving solution. The new TL and TS options provide rear module ventilation to enhance performance, while providing ample space for wire management and easy MLPE installation. These systems have high load-bearing capacity, can withstand strong winds and snow loads, and corrosion-resistant components ensure minimum maintenance requirements. AEROCOMPACT provides a 25 year warranty for its solar panels and brackets.

• November 07, 2024

Norwegian battery developer FREYR Battery has entered the field of solar panel manufacturing after announcing its acquisition of Trina Solar's US manufacturing business. FREYR has previously sought to serve the energy storage and electric vehicle markets and is currently seeking to establish a gigawatt battery plant in Cowetta County, Georgia. Now, the company will control Trina Solar's 5-gigawatt solar panel assembly plant in Wilmer, Texas, and pay $340 million to Trina Solar for its US manufacturing assets. FREYR detailed in an investor presentation that it is establishing an operational and intellectual property agreement between Trina Solar and FREYR. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, and FREYR will begin to focus on domestic battery manufacturing. FREYR is currently selecting a site and aims to commence construction in the second quarter of 2025. This battery device should be able to provide 1800 job opportunities and begin production in 2026. We are pleased to announce this transformative transaction, which will immediately make the company one of the leading solar manufacturing companies in the United States, "said Daniel Barcelo, newly appointed CEO of FREYR. We are honored to collaborate with Trina Solar, a global leader in manufacturing and solar technology. Domestic solar and battery manufacturing capabilities are crucial for energy transition and job creation. The United States was once a global leader in the solar energy field and can become one again FREYR stated that it has obtained US polycrystalline silicon supply through Hemlock for its final battery production, which establishes a platform for FREYR's US solar and battery storage strategy. The company also announced that it has terminated its battery technology license with 24M Technologies, but has not released further information about its potential Georgia battery factory. After the completion of the Tianhe Solar transaction, employees who joined FREYR include Tianhe Solar employee Lin Mingxing as Chief Strategy Officer and Dave Gustafson as Chief Operating Officer.

• November 06, 2024

Large centralized power plants (such as 500 MW combined cycle natural gas power plants) are large enough to withstand human intervention. In order to manage these large power plants, asset owners hired a trading platform that continuously relies on manual intervention to participate in the market. On the other hand, distributed energy sources (DER) like solar energy cannot withstand this type of human intervention, not only because they are economically unfeasible, but also because their complexity is exponentially increasing and requires real-time multi-faceted input decisions. Automation is becoming increasingly important for optimizing the use of distributed energy and extracting its full value stream. That's why in order to fully develop the energy transition, distributed energy (DER) such as battery storage, cogeneration, heat pumps, and electric vehicle chargers need to be treated like small power plants. Traditionally, distributed energy has been seen as event based solutions rather than power plants. They are considered as grid edges rather than grid formation techniques. In other words, they are managed by a Reduced Service Provider (CSP), which tells the website, "Hey, we have an event tomorrow afternoon from 4pm to 6pm, please make sure to schedule batteries or backup generators Distributed energy is not continuously managed as part of the power grid, but is scheduled for up to 100 hours per year. Every year, there are over 8600 hours of unnecessary idle assets. In order to truly achieve energy transformation, distributed energy needs to be continuously managed. They need to constantly ask, 'Can I make money now? Can I save money now? Is it the cheapest time to charge now? How can I achieve the best carbon reduction?' Even if the answer is no dispatch, it is important to always seek opportunities.