Focus
California’s wildfires hampered solar energy production in September
Greentech Media – October 1
The severe wildfire smoke that cast an orange glow over sections of the West Coast this summer also curtailed the productivity of solar panels in California. Newly released analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) shows that particulate matter from fires sparked in August and early September blotted out the sun enough to cause quantifiable differences in solar output. In the first two weeks of September, solar generation on the grid overseen by CAISO, which covers the great majority of large-scale solar in California, dropped about 13% year-over-year, even taking into account the fact that California added 659 MW of large-scale solar capacity during that period. Production dropped 30% from the average output in July 2020 (when output is generally higher than in September).
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News
Governor Gavin Newsom signs off on new commission to study Salton Sea lithium extraction
Desert Sun – September 29
Governor Gavin Newsom this Tuesday signed a new law that orders the formation of a commission to study the feasibility of lithium extraction around the Salton Sea. Local politicians hope the commission will lead to the creation of a green economy around the state’s largest lake, which is a geothermal hotspot. Sponsored by Assembly member Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella, AB1657 will create a “Blue Ribbon Commission on Lithium Extraction in California” to study the area around the Salton Sea.
Solar and wind generation continue to expand rapidly while coal is in a tailspin
PV Magazine – September 29
In a year that has seen the strong growth of renewable generation and declines in the production of fossil fuels, the new edition of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Electric Power Monthly report confirms that solar and wind are the fastest growing sources of U.S. electricity. In July, solar, including distributed generation, accounted for nearly 3.5% of the nation’s total energy generation, up nearly 20% over the July 2019 mark of 2.8%. This breakout year for renewables is highlighted by the month of May, where renewable resources reached an all-time high share of the country’s electricity generation at 25.3%.
PepsiCo and REI Co-op announce ambitious renewable goals
Renewable Energy World – September 30
PepsiCo Inc. and REI Co-op this week announced major renewable energy commitments. PepsiCo now aims to source 100% renewable electricity across its company owned and controlled operations globally by 2030 and across its entire franchise and third-party operations by 2040. REI Co-op has completed a 14-year commitment to be carbon neutral in its operations by 2020. PepsiCo will employ a diversified portfolio of solutions, including power purchase agreements that will support the development of new projects such as solar and wind farms globally.
Chanel invests $35 million in solar to help low-income Californians
Los Angeles Times – September 25
If you’re a low-income resident of California with new solar panels on the roof of your apartment building and extra money in your pocket, you might have Chanel to thank. The French luxury label announced on Wednesday that it is investing $35 million with San Francisco-based Sunrun, the largest rooftop solar installer in the U.S., aimed at bringing solar power to 100 multifamily properties across the Golden State. The solar-meets-high-style partnership may sound like an odd pairing, but according to John Galantic, Chanel Inc.’s president and chief operating officer, it’s part of Chanel’s larger effort to combat climate change outside its core business.
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Projects
California community group contracts for 260 MWh of battery storage
Energy Storage News – September 30
CleanPowerSF, a community choice energy provider run by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, has signed contracts for battery storage with EDF Renewables and NextEra Energy totaling 260 MWh, to be deployed in combination with solar PV. CleanPower SF serves about 380,000 customers with electricity. It has just signed two separate contracts: one with a NextEra subsidiary to deliver a 20-MW solar PV project combined with a 60-MWh battery storage system and the other with EDF Renewables North America for a 200-MWh battery storage system to be coupled with a 100-MW solar PV plant that is already under construction.
Power generator Vistra pumps $850 million into renewables push in Texas
The Dallas Morning News – September 29
Irving-based power generator Vistra plans to break ground on six solar projects and a battery energy storage facility in Texas in an $850 million bet on renewables. The clean power sources are expected to add nearly 1,000 MW of capacity to Vistra’s portfolio of natural gas, nuclear, solar, and battery energy storage facilities. The state’s grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, estimates that one MW of electricity powers about 200 homes during peak demand. Vistra also said Tuesday that it will close seven coal plants in Illinois and Ohio in its push to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050.
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