Focus
ACP: The clean energy pipeline is loaded with solar power
Solar Industry Magazine – October 25
The American Clean Power Association's (ACP) Clean Power Quarterly 2021 Q3 Market Report shows the U.S. clean energy industry installed 3,336 MW of new capacity during the third quarter, with additions totaling 15,317 MW in the first three quarters – a 23% increase compared to 2020. Solar represents the largest share of capacity in the clean power pipeline, accounting for 54%, followed by land-based wind at 23%, offshore wind at 13%, and battery storage at 9%. The top five states for third-quarter additions include Texas (1,679 MW), California (389 MW), Wyoming (301 MW), Oklahoma (287 MW), and Alabama (227 MW).
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News
Harbor District pursues offshore wind energy in Humboldt Bay
Eureka Times-Standard – October 25
Efforts are underway to position Humboldt Bay to be California's offshore wind energy hub, for both energy production and manufacturing the hardware needed for that production. "We are focused on revitalizing the port of Humboldt Bay by attracting the offshore wind industry," Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District executive director Larry Oetker recently told the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce. In July 2021, the state approved $20 million for offshore wind development, half of which was earmarked for Humboldt Bay.
DOE unveils support for solar PV project lifespan, advanced materials research
PV-Tech – October 22
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will provide $40 million in funding for projects aiming to extend the operational lifetime of solar PV projects to 50 years and support the development of advanced materials such as perovskites. The funding is the first tranche of a $128 million research and development funding exercise designed to slash the cost of utility-sale solar by 60% this decade, launched by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in March this year.
NextEra doubles down on green hydrogen, other renewables
Utility Dive – October 21
NextEra is doubling down on green hydrogen, with plans to build a 500-MW wind project to provide power to a hydrogen fuel cell company, the company noted Wednesday in a third quarter earnings call with analysts. The Florida-based energy company said it continues to expand its wind portfolio as well, announcing on Wednesday's call a deal by its NextEra Energy Partners limited partnership to acquire a 100-MW wind project in California for $280 million.
This startup says it has found a way to cut the cost of making solar cells in half
Fast Company – October 26
Solar power is growing quickly, but it still makes up only around 3% of the world’s electricity production—and to address climate change, that number may need to grow to 60% or more. The supply chain is one of the factors limiting growth. In an Oakland lab, a startup is working on a redesigned solar cell that could cut the cost of manufacturing in half. Leap Photovoltaic's design eliminates silicon wafers, a component used in almost all solar cells, which are expensive to produce, energy intensive, and create waste.
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Projects
California's 'biggest hybrid renewable power plant' under construction, Clearway says
Energy Storage News – October 27
Construction of the first phase of what has been described as California's biggest hybrid renewables-plus-storage project got underway earlier this month. Combining 482 MW of solar PV with 394 MW of battery energy storage in total, utility-scale clean energy project developer Clearway's Daggett project is being built adjacent to Coolwater Generating Station, a retired coal and natural gas power plant in San Bernardino.
Southern California Edison to add 535 MW of battery energy storage
Daily Energy Insider – October 25
Southern California Edison (SCE) will add 535 MW of battery energy storage at three of its substations to increase grid reliability for next summer. The move was made in response to Governor Gavin Newsom's emergency proclamation to accelerate the deployment of new clean energy and storage projects for the summer. The additional SCE-owned storage will complement the 1,355 MW of utility-scale battery storage installed last year.
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