Renewable Energy Focus
Solar Industry Magazine - Nov 30 Renewable energy sources provided 15.1% of net U.S. electrical generation during the first three quarters of this year, according to nonprofit SUN DAY Campaign, which cites data from a U.S. Energy Information Administration monthly report. This includes electricity from conventional hydropower, utility-scale biomass, geothermal, and wind facilities, as well as utility-scale and distributed solar. By comparison, renewables provided 13.2% of net electricity during the same period in 2015. In terms of actual generation year-to-date, electricity from renewable sources is 14.3% greater in 2016 than during the first nine months of 2015.
Long Beach Press-Telegram - Nov 29 Power company AES Corp. may soon win approval for a 300-megawatt battery facility that would be capable of storing more electrical power than any such facility previously constructed. AES and its affiliates are simultaneously pursuing three major projects for the company’s Long Beach site, the Alamitos Generating Station, along the western bank of the San Gabriel River. The firm is also seeking approval from state regulators to build a new natural gas-fueled power plant and, if permission is granted, AES would demolish its existing plant. AES’ proposal for a battery electric energy storage facility in Long Beach calls for the construction of three 50-foot buildings, which would each house arrays of lithium ion batteries and cooling equipment.
North Bay Business Journal - Nov 28 Green Charge and REC Solar have announced plans to build what the companies describe as the largest commercial solar-plus-energy storage project in Sonoma County. Green Charge’s 1-megawatt commercial energy storage system paired with REC Solar’s solar system will be installed at SOMO Village in Rohnert Park. The combined solar-plus-storage system is expected to deliver more than $160,000 savings to SOMO Village in the first year and more than $1.8 million over the first 10 years of operations. Owned by Rohnert Park-based Codding, SOMO Village is a mixed-use development with approximately 600,000 square feet of commercial space.
SolarServer - Nov 28 Coronal Energy, powered by Panasonic, announced that Coronal Tulare, a 44.2-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) facility, began commercial operation in mid-September. The PV project delivers solar power to Southern California Edison through a 20-year power purchase agreement. It is expected to generate 87,500 MWh of solar power annually, enough electricity to power more than 9,000 homes.
Sacramento Bee - Nov 28 Pacific Gas & Electric has agreed to pay $85 million to neighboring cities and a school district affected by the closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, the California utility announced Monday. The state's largest utility reached a deal to provide economic support in the region when the Central Coast plant shuts down in 2025, depriving the area of property taxes and potentially affecting local businesses through the loss of plant workers. The agreement includes San Luis Obispo County, a coalition of local cities, and the San Luis Coastal Unified School District. Another part of the deal involves promises to environmental groups and to unions representing plant employees. The deal needs approval from the California Public Utilities Commission.
SeeNews Renewables - Nov 30 U.S. geothermal company Ormat Technologies Inc. has signed a new 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) for its Ormesa geothermal complex in Imperial Valley, eliminating its exposure to natural gas prices. SCPPA will resell about 86% of the complex's output to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the remaining 14% to the Imperial Irrigation District.
PV-Tech - Nov 23 Axium Infrastructure has acquired a 100% equity interest in an 84-megawatt solar portfolio from Renewable Energy Trust Capital. Combined, the portfolio consists of eight solar PV projects, with two in California, three in Georgia, and three in Ontario.
Los Angeles Times - Nov 23 Los Angeles utility commissioners want to pay homeowners in the city’s disadvantaged communities to generate electricity from the sun. Residential customers who participate in the city’s Solar Rooftops Program will receive a $30 credit each month or $360 a year in exchange for allowing the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to put city-owned solar panels on their property. The unusual pilot program aims to install solar panels on 400 rooftops over the next three years, beginning in early 2017.
