• August 15, 2024

Nautilus Solar Energy announced that it has expanded its strategic partnership with EnergyMark, an energy supplier and solar ordering management company based in Williamsville, New York. After a year of successful cooperation, the two companies have expanded their trading volume from approximately 17 megawatts to 24 megawatts, and increased their projects in the public utility sector of State Grid from 7 to 10. This collaboration will take place on September 4, 2024, at the community solar farm that has recently been electrified on the Big Island in New York State. The ongoing cooperation aims to bridge the gap between local small and medium-sized commercial enterprises, which have been excluded from the community solar revolution in the past. A major issue faced by many companies is the inability to obtain solar credit lines, thereby missing the opportunity to ensure energy cost savings. Traditionally, these enterprises have been marginalized due to credit rating requirements and long-term commitments, preventing many people from enjoying the benefits of community solar energy. The long-term partnership with Nautilus and EnergyMark provides additional energy savings pathways for these small and large non rated businesses in western and central New York State. Our mutually beneficial and successful cooperation with EnergyMark enables us to provide solar energy to non rated businesses through trusted local energy suppliers. Therefore, due to our strong and friendly relationship, we are able to quickly and on more favorable terms sign agreements with businesses, "said Daniel Bozer, Community Solar Business Development Manager at Nautilus. In addition, my collaboration with my fellow Buffalo compatriots has been a beneficial journey, working with local businesses of State Grid utilities to strengthen the power grid and the New York economy

• August 14, 2024

According to the latest announcement from the White House, President Biden will exempt the domestic solar panel manufacturing market from tariffs on imported solar cells. The President has revised the measures imposed earlier this year on imported crystalline silicon solar (CSPV) tariffs, increasing the number of silicon solar cells entering the United States duty-free to 12.5 gigawatts. The tariff quota (TRQ) for solar cells under Article 201 of the 1974 Trade Act was previously set at 5 gigawatts. In his latest statement, the President stated, "I have determined that domestic module production and related CSPV battery imports are expected to increase, and therefore it is necessary to modify the actions taken... to expand tariff quotas to the unchanged 12.5 gigawatt quota The import volume of solar cells increased significantly in the second quarter of 2024, with monthly imports exceeding 1 gigawatt for the first time in May. After importing only 3.6 gigawatts of silicon cells in 2023, American panel assemblers exceeded the tariff quota of 5 gigawatts in June 2024, with imports reaching 5.2 gigawatts that year. According to Article 201 tariffs, all imported solar cells and panels (regardless of country of origin, with few exceptions) are currently subject to a 14.25% tariff to protect domestic solar panel manufacturers from the impact of cheap products from overseas. Both single-sided and double-sided solar cells and panels are subject to tariffs. But now, the first batch of 12.5 GW imported solar cells can be tariff free. Earlier this year, domestic solar panel manufacturers Hanwha Qcells, First Solar, Heliene, Suniva, Silfab, Crossroads Solar, Mission Solar, and Auxin Solar petitioned the government to extend Article 201 tariffs and include double-sided solar panels in the tariff order. Some petitioners demanded a tariff quota of 20 gigawatts, but the Biden administration lowered it to 12.5 gigawatts. This year, as more domestic solar panel assemblers go online, there is a need to import more solar cells to manufacture finished solar panels. Before establishing solar cell manufacturing plants in the country, panel assemblers could only rely on imported batteries, and there are currently no solar cell manufacturing plants online in the country.

• August 13, 2024

Residential solar installers always have to deal with subtle size differences between solar panel brands. Even if the industry generally operates within the same 60 battery footprint, the blank space on the boundaries of one brand's solar panels may be larger than another brand's, but the difference is not significant. The current competitive wafer lineup (M10's 182mm wafer and G12's 210mm wafer) provides installers with a wider range of different panel sizes for screening. When the ultimate goal is to generate the most energy on the smallest area, today's installers have more optimal array options than ever before. Qcells is the most popular residential solar panel brand in the top solar contractor category for 2024, and its current residential module design is based on energy production, BOS and shelf compatibility, and logistics efficiency, rather than following the previously established 60 cell standard. This led the company to default to using larger M10 chips for the residential market with a 54 battery design. The company's latest Q The TRON BLK M-G2+panel is 4 inches wider than the old 60 battery panel. As the modules on the roof become larger, it is more important than ever to pay attention to fire regulations and fire escape requirements, "he said. Robert Santoleri, president of Pennsylvania installer TerraSol Energies, said that larger solar panels make it more difficult to overcome challenges while maximizing space utilization, but his company has found that certain brands of solar panels can bring success. I like the REC series panels because they are actually shorter, wider, and closer to a square, "he said. Although it remains to be determined whether the installation personnel handle the 48 inch wide panel ergonomically, it is better from a design perspective. We can use more longitudinal panels to maximize the use of light from the south roof Although large-sized panels are also larger energy producers - Qcells and REC update modules generate 100 W more electricity than their old 60 battery version - customers may not necessarily choose fewer panels to more easily meet certain system sizes. TerraSol discovered that all of this is aimed at maximizing the use of roof space. Last year, the average system capacity of installers was 11.6 kilowatts, and by 2024, the average capacity will reach 12.5 kilowatts. For most homeowners, if they have more available space on their roofs, they will install more solar panels, "Santoleiri said. Most homeowners either plan to upgrade their homes' power systems or hope to purchase electric vehicles in the next year or so. They want to plan more electricity usage in advance

• August 12, 2024

Nautilus Solar Energy announced the development of its first community solar project on a former Defense Base (FUDS). This innovative project is located near the Gilderland Northeast Industrial Park in Albany County, New York, demonstrating how to transform debt into important environmental assets. This 2.8 megawatt project will provide clean energy to over 260 households in New York and major users within the National Grid utility area. Eric LaMora, Executive Director of Community Solar Energy at Nautilus Solar Energy, said, "The successful development of this community solar farm at the FUDS site sets a precedent for renewable energy projects. This is a proud moment for Nautilus as we have contributed to the transition to clean energy while promoting local economic growth The area is located on the site of the former municipal landfill and incineration pit in Altamont. It was originally the Schenectady Army Warehouse Wahisville area and was an important facility of the United States Department of the Army from 1941 to 1969. This warehouse played a crucial role in receiving, storing, and transporting military supplies during World War II and the Korean War. The US Army Corps of Engineers conducted extensive environmental maintenance on the site in accordance with the Defense Environmental Recovery Plan (DERP-FUDS). Therefore, the development of community solar power plants has adopted special measures to protect the land. For example, photovoltaic arrays are installed as fixed inclined ballast systems on vegetation landfill cover plates to ensure minimal interference with the underlying structure. Community solar power plants allow users who want to enjoy the benefits of solar energy but cannot install solar panels in their own homes to order community solar energy at prices lower than standard electricity service rates. Community solar supports New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act), which requires the state to obtain 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The bill also ensures that at least 35% of clean energy investment returns directly benefit disadvantaged communities (DAC) and low - to middle-income (LMI) users. The construction of this project has created employment opportunities for the local area and supported full-time positions dedicated to electrical maintenance and on-site vegetation management.

• August 08, 2024

Array Technologies, a utility scale solar tracker supplier, has launched Skylink, a photovoltaic powered wireless tracker system based on the functionality of the company's DuraTrack and OmniTrack tracker series. Array Technologies has launched Skylink, a photovoltaic powered wireless operating system for its solar tracker series. The Array DuraTrack and OmniTrack that support Skylink have many new features, including an eight row linkage architecture with passive wind resistance, brushless DC motors powered by photovoltaic series, Zigbee wireless communication, and a set of SmarTrack functions. Array Technologies CEO Kevin G. Hostetler said, "Array is committed to continuously improving our products, supporting customers by reducing costs and installation time, and addressing the increasingly severe challenges of extreme weather conditions. As destructive storms become more frequent, our new Skylink tracking system ensures uninterrupted solar production during grid outages and adverse weather conditions with its reliable wireless communication. This advanced system provides the protection needed to sustain solar production, especially in areas prone to snow and hail, ultimately supporting the wider adoption of sustainable energy solutions Regardless of the status of the power grid, photovoltaics will provide power to the solar tracker's mobile control system to ensure that the tracker retracts when it detects hail or snow in SmarTrack's automatic snow response and hail alert response, without relying on batteries operating in low temperature and extreme weather conditions. This is combined with Array's patented passive wind retraction technology. DC motors and wireless communication can reduce trenching, wiring, and power supply. Skylink can be installed using commonly used tools. The system aims to use SmarTrack backtracking to minimize inter row occlusion and achieve better yields for sites with hills or valleys. Skylink adopts an eight row linking architecture, making the layout of dispersed sites easier.

• August 07, 2024

SunPower has also signed an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) with residential solar company Complete Solaria. Image: SunPower. SunPower, a US residential solar energy supplier, has submitted a voluntary relief application under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code. At the same time, the company signed an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) with Complete Solaria, a residential solar company formed by the merger of Solaria Corporation and Complete Solar, as a "substitute buyer" for SunPower's Blue Raven Solar business, New Homes business, and non installation dealer network related assets. This type of buyer is nominated by the company applying for bankruptcy and is responsible for conducting preliminary bidding on its assets, setting a benchmark for bidding by other potential buyers. Approved by the court, these assets will be sold for $45 million in cash in mid to late September. SunPower plans to continue selling its remaining assets and complete all resulting sales transactions in accordance with Section 363 of the US Bankruptcy Code. Less than a month ago, investment bank Roth Capital released a letter from SunPower (obtained from industry insiders) stating that the company has ceased multiple businesses, including new shipments and financing options. Tom Werner, Executive Chairman of SunPower, said, "Given the challenges SunPower faces, the proposed transaction provides an important opportunity for a key part of our business to continue our legacy under new ownership. We are working hard to find long-term solutions for the remaining areas of our business, while continuing to focus on supporting our valuable employees, customers, distributors, builders, and partners Challenges faced by SunPower before applying for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Since last year, this residential solar energy supplier has been working hard to maintain operations until it violated a credit agreement in December of last year. At the time, SunPower stated that it was unable to borrow from the remaining $53.7 million revolving commitment due to filing for bankruptcy, but it had obtained a temporary waiver valid until January 19, 2024. However, the company has previously been sued for alleged inaccurate reporting of revenue, cost, and inventory indicators. As a result, SunPower reiterated its previously released financial statements for the fiscal year 2022 and the first two quarters of 2023. At the end of fiscal year 2023, the company incurred a net loss of $247 million.

• August 05, 2024

China's distributed generation (DG) solar cell arrays have developed to a level comparable to that of utility scale sites. According to data from the National Energy Administration (NEA), of the 216.3 gigawatts of new solar power capacity added in China in 2023, approximately 96.3 gigawatts will be for commercial and industrial (C&I), residential, and other small and medium-sized systems. The 23.8 gigawatts of distributed systems installed in the first quarter of 2024 exceeded the capacity of 21.9 gigawatts of ground installation projects. The solar power generation capacity of public utilities is leading, followed closely by industrial and commercial systems. In recent years, residential photovoltaic power generation has been continuously increasing. In 2012, after trade disputes with the United States and Europe hit Chinese solar exporters, China launched the "Golden Sun Plan" and "Leader Plan", which promoted an increase in solar power generation. In 2014, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China introduced regulatory and subsidy policies for distributed photovoltaics, attracting numerous investors. Small solar projects have even withstood the impact of Beijing's "5/31" subsidy reduction policy launched at the end of May 2018, relying on their inherent advantages over utility level solar projects.

• August 01, 2024

The June monthly bulletin released by the Chilean Energy Association (Generadoras Chile) shows that the total installed capacity of Chile's National Electric System (SEN) is 33580 MW, of which 22121 MW is renewable energy. Currently, there are 8292 MW of power projects under construction, of which 99% are renewable energy projects. Among these renewable energy projects, 47.8% are photovoltaic projects (3962 MW), 22.7% are wind energy projects (1882 MW), and 18.5% (1530 MW) are battery energy storage systems (BESS). Meanwhile, in terms of environmental assessment, 1069 MW projects have entered the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA), of which 61% are photovoltaic projects. The 1361 MW project plan has been approved, with a related investment amount of 1.26 billion US dollars. In addition, 67% of the electricity produced in June came from renewable energy sources, with renewable energy accounting for over 50% on 29 out of 30 days of the month. Water potential ranks first in renewable energy generation, accounting for 35% of monthly electricity generation, followed by solar energy, accounting for 15% of monthly electricity generation. At noon on June 1st, the instantaneous share of solar energy reached 53%. The main regions for renewable energy generation are Antofagasta (47%), Atacama (31%), and Tarapaca (5%).

• July 29, 2024

On July 24th, the German Federal Cabinet approved a draft law to implement the EU Renewable Energy Directive. The draft law was jointly drafted by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Economy, which includes planning and approval regulations for onshore wind and photovoltaic power generation. Accelerating regional development and shortening approval time are aimed at promoting faster expansion of renewable energy. The Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that these regulations also apply to energy storage systems built in the same location. The core content of the proposed law is to designate so-called acceleration zones for onshore wind turbines and photovoltaic systems including related energy storage, which are regulated by the Building Code and Spatial Planning Act. The department stated that projects within these areas can subsequently obtain approval through simplified and accelerated procedures in accordance with the new regulations of the Wind Energy Area Requirements Law. In addition, the acceleration measures for all projects specified in the directive (including projects outside the acceleration zone) will be implemented by amending the Federal Emission Control Act. The revised Renewable Energy Directive last year was based on the EU's goal of increasing the proportion of renewable energy in the final energy consumption of the EU to at least 42.5%. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to significantly accelerate the approval process. The implementation of accelerated regions is a real driving force for increasing onshore wind energy. Moreover, based on the expansion data of wind energy, this is also urgently needed, "said the head of communication and policy at Green Planet Energy. Compared to previous drafts, the federal government is integrating energy storage systems not only with solar energy but also with wind energy systems, which is a positive aspect. This will further accelerate the expansion of energy storage systems, help integrate renewable energy markets, reduce periods of negative electricity prices, and make the system more economical.