Focus
California demands 3.3 gigawatts of new resources as grid shortfall looms
Greentech Media – November 8
California regulators have approved a 3.3-gigawatt "all-source" procurement that will pit new renewables, energy storage, demand response, and other clean resources against natural gas-fired power plants in a race to meet what could be a major shortfall in grid capacity over the next four years. Last Thursday’s decision from the California Public Utilities Commission sets the stage for every utility, community choice aggregator, and third-party direct access provider in the state to secure a share of resources needed to keep the grid running during times of peak demand. The decision also contains the controversial option of keeping a set of natural gas-fired power plants open past their current 2020 closure dates, a move opposed by local environmental justice groups and clean energy advocates alike.
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News
California will still require rooftop solar panels on new homes — at least for now
Los Angeles Times - November 13
State officials declined this Wednesday to approve a program that would allow new homes to be built in Sacramento without rooftop solar panels — handing at least a temporary victory to clean energy advocates, who said the program would cripple California’s first-in-the-nation home solar mandate. The California Energy Commission postponed a decision on a controversial proposal from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) after hearing from dozens of solar industry representatives, environmental activists, and utility ratepayers. Under SMUD’s proposal, home builders would be allowed to take credit for electricity produced at existing solar farms, rather than installing solar panels on new single-family homes and low-rise multifamily buildings.
Two programs launched to get veterans working in solar
PV Magazine – November 11
In an effort to expand the role of veterans in the solar industry, the Solar Foundation has teamed up with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s “Hiring Our Heroes” program, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, and the Solar Energy Industries Association to launch two new workforce development programs for transitioning military service members and veterans. The two programs: the Solar Ready Vets Fellowship Program and the Solar Opportunities and Readiness (SOAR) Initiative, will be funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. The Solar Ready Vets Fellowship Program is a series of 12-week work-based learning programs for veterans with solar employers, while the SOAR initiative will connect veterans with a range of solar training, credentialing, professional development, and employment opportunities.
Vivint Solar adds battery storage option to solar PPAs
Solar Industry Magazine – November 12
Residential solar provider Vivint Solar has debuted a new power purchase agreement option that offers California customers a single rate for both solar and battery storage. Having batteries coupled with a PV system can be economically beneficial and convenient, especially during times when homeowners are experiencing power outages, like those recently seen in parts of California, or during peak demand hours when utility rates are highest.
SunPower to spin off solar panel manufacturing, shares rise
Reuters – November 11
SunPower announced this Monday that it will split into two publicly traded companies, separating most of its solar panel manufacturing operations from storage and energy services, sending its shares up as much as 15 percent. The new solar panel company, named Maxeon Solar Technologies, will be headquartered in Singapore, with manufacturing operations in France, Malaysia, Mexico, and the Philippines. The remaining company will still be based in California and will retain the SunPower name. It will focus on catering to the growing residential and commercial rooftop solar installation markets in the United States through the company’s network of hundreds of dealers. That company will also keep SunPower’s new solar panel factory in Oregon.
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Projects
Airport microgrid in Northern California looks to create replicable model
Microgrid Knowledge - November 12
An airport microgrid is moving forward on the northern coast of California that could provide relief for planned utility power shutoffs and serve as a template for similar projects. The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid began about two years ago when Humboldt County’s Board of Supervisors gave the green light for the project to receive up to $5 million in funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC). The CEC’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program puts a strong focus on pilot projects that can be replicated and provide a business model for future projects. Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid might serve this role in its exploration of microgrid tariffs. Parties to the airport microgrid have been working on tariffs for the various relationships between the utility, the generation owner, and the end-use customers.
Ørsted starts building solar-plus-storage project in Texas
Energy Storage News – November 13
Denmark-headquartered firm Ørsted, formerly DONG Energy, has started building its first large-scale solar-plus-storage project, located in Andrews County, Texas, alongside existing oil and gas installations. The Permian Energy Center, with 420 megawatts of solar PV and 40 megawatts of battery storage with one-hour capacity, will be spread across roughly 1,456 hectares of land. It will become operational in mid-2021 ready to power the equivalent of 100,000 homes in west Texas, where demand for electricity is growing.
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