Focus

White House guidance on GHG analysis will ease renewable energy permitting, trade groups say

Utility Dive – January 9

The White House Council on Environmental Quality’s interim greenhouse gas emissions guidance will ease the permitting process for clean energy projects, according to renewable energy trade groups. The guidance clarifies best practices for analyzing GHG emissions and climate effects in National Environmental Policy Act reviews, streamlines reviews for some renewable energy projects, and recommends that federal agencies mitigate carbon dioxide emissions to the greatest extent possible, according to the Sierra Club. “The guidance appropriately recognizes that agency resources and time should not be spent reviewing the relatively minor and short-term greenhouse gas emissions associated with construction of clean energy projects and infrastructure that will provide large net emissions reductions,” the American Clean Power Association said.

News

Residential batteries linked over internet could soon help California's electrical grid

KPBS – January 6

Sonnen has developed software that allows the company to manage thousands of residential batteries, which, if used collectively, become a virtual power plant. They already have a system up and running in Germany, and they are exploring doing the same in several parts of the U.S. A simple modem connection becomes a bridge to building a virtual power reservoir capable of helping California avoid future power shortages. Sonnen needs 5,000 to 10,000 connected batteries for the virtual power plant to have a significant impact on grid operations, but the potential is much larger than that.

GM, Ford, and Google partner to promote 'virtual' power plants

Reuters – January 10

Companies, including GM, Ford, and Google, and solar energy producers said they would work together to establish standards for scaling up the use of virtual power plants (VPPs), systems for easing loads on electricity grids when supply is short. Energy transition nonprofit RMI will host the initiative, the Virtual Power Plant Partnership, which will also aim to shape policy for promoting the use of the systems. VPPs are positioned for explosive growth in the U.S., where the 2021 Inflation Reduction Act has created or enlarged tax incentives for electric cars, electric water heaters, solar panels, and other devices whose output and consumption can be coordinated to smooth grid load.

Projects

BLM to solicit comments on 600 MW solar project in Arizona

Renewables Now – January 6

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will hold two public meetings in January to collect feedback for the 600 MW Jove solar project proposed in La Paz County, Arizona. The proposed project will feature PV modules on 3,495 acres of public land along with a battery storage system. The facility will connect to the grid through the yet-to-be-built Ten West Link 500 kV transmission line. Jove Solar is one of three projects on public lands in Arizona that could collectively add around 1 GW of power generation capacity. The other two are the 250 MW Pinyon Solar in Maricopa County and the 300 MW Elisabeth Solar in Yuma County.

Leeward secures $260M in financing for Chaparral Springs solar, energy storage project

Solar Industry Magazine – January 10

Leeward Renewable Energy has closed approximately $260 million in construction financing and secured tax equity commitments for its Chaparral Springs Solar + BESS Facility in Kern County. The Chaparral Springs Solar + BESS Facility is currently under construction and, when completed, will provide 174 MW of renewable energy to two not-for-profit, community-owned electricity providers, Peninsula Clean Energy and Valley Clean Energy, through two 15-year power purchase agreements.

Ultrafast battery maker StoreDot launches U.S. hub

Electrek – January 10

StoreDot, makers of ultrafast Tesla-like 4680 cells, is opening a research facility in Irvine, California – its first in the U.S. The new facility will be used to speed up StoreDot’s development of semi-solid battery technology and battery material research. StoreDot chose Irvine to “access the wealth of talent in the West Coast of the U.S.” and strengthen the company’s relationship with U.S.-headquartered EV makers.

SunPower and Maxeon extend module supply deal amidst soaring residential demand

PV-Tech – January 6

SunPower has extended its supply agreement with solar technology company Maxeon until 2025 as it seeks to meet rising demand for residential solar in the U.S. Q3 2022 saw SunPower set a new record for customer additions, in the wake of which it announced discussions with other module suppliers as well as Maxeon to facilitate its expansion and meet growing demand in the market.

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