• 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.

• November 05, 2024

The Maryland Energy Administration announced today the launch of a new fiscal year 2025 (FY25) commercial solar subsidy program, which provides significant incentives for Maryland businesses and organizations to help pay for the cost of solar systems, benefiting low - and middle-income communities in Maryland who are burdened and underserved. The Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky said, "The agency has developed a commercial solar subsidy program aimed at promoting fair access to commercial scale solar systems through more meaningful and targeted incentives. The commercial solar subsidy program promotes partnerships with companies and groups led by minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities to ensure strong and lasting community benefits The budget for the commercial solar energy plan for the fiscal year 2025 is $5 million. More rewards can be provided for non-profit organizations to install solar photovoltaic systems; Small businesses; Ethnic minority industrial and commercial enterprises; Disadvantaged enterprises; Weak enterprises in airport franchising; Enterprises owned by veterans and disabled veterans. Grants are also applicable to businesses and other organizations with significant energy needs that can benefit from large-scale solar installations, thereby reducing energy costs and improving operational sustainability. The 2025 Fiscal Year Commercial Solar Energy Subsidy Program is a first come, first served program that will roll in applications before 3:00 PM Eastern Time on March 31, 2025, or until funds are exhausted.

• November 04, 2024

A coalition of 28 organizations, including non-profit organizations, solar and battery companies from the United States and Puerto Rico, submitted an Amicus statement to the federal court this week, opposing the Puerto Rico Financial Supervisory and Management Board (FOMB). The alliance believes that FOMB's legal attack on Bill 10, a law that extends Puerto Rico's net metering program until 2030, threatens the island's progress in solar energy and resilience. The 10th bill was signed into law in January of this year and was unanimously passed by the Puerto Rican House of Representatives and Senate, without opposition from the island's regulatory agencies. The law aims to ensure that Puerto Ricans continue to have access to affordable solar energy, and every additional kilowatt hour of solar energy shared by solar customers on the grid can earn points on their electricity bills. Thanks to net metering policies, 10% of Puerto Rico's homes are now equipped with solar energy with backup battery power, "said PJ Wilson, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Solar Energy and Storage Association (SESA)." We are striving for the other 90% of people to also have the ability FOMB claims that Bill 10 prevents Puerto Rico's independent energy regulatory agency, the Puerto Rico Energy Agency, from preparing the necessary research to assess the impact of current net metering and energy allocation plans at least until 2031, thereby weakening the agency's ability to regulate the energy agency. Puerto Rico's energy sector. The Non Partisan Opinion Coalition supports the defensive stance taken by the defendant, Governor Pierluis, and Puerto Rico Senate Speaker in court, with the latter demanding the dismissal of the lawsuit on the grounds that FOMB has no authority to interfere with the implementation of Act 10, which essentially postpones the potential sunset date of a long-standing law from one year to another. In fact, the law has received widespread support, including a letter sent by 21 US Congress members in May 2024 urging FOMB to The briefing explains that FOMB's opposition to solar energy disregards the unanimous vote of all five political parties (covering the entire political sphere) in the Puerto Rican legislature on Bill 10. abandon harmful attacks on solar energy. The National and Puerto Rican Alliance of Non Profit Organizations also called on the White House to provide assistance. Net metering is not just a policy; Javier R ú a Jovet, Director of Public Policy at SESA, said, "For Puerto Ricans facing frequent power outages and high energy costs, this is a path to hope." "This alliance is standing up to defend net metering because Puerto Rico deserves a reliable, clean energy future, and FO MB's actions are attempting to undermine that future