solar

FERC report confirms renewables lead and provided the majority new generating capacity in 2019

Over the next three years, net-new renewable energy generating capacity will be 18 times greater than that of gas, coal, oil, and nuclear combined

By Editorial team at pv/buzz

Renewable energy is the energy that is collected from renewable resources, which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat (Image: Alberto Masnovo)

According to a review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the first eleven months of 2019, the mix of renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) is now in first place in the race for new U.S. generating capacity added in 2019.

FERC’s latest monthly “Energy Infrastructure Update” report (with data through November 30, 2019) reveals renewable sources (i.e. biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) accounted for 8,784 MW of new generating capacity through the end of November. That is 8% more than that of natural gas (7,819 MW), nuclear (155 MW), oil (77 MW), and coal (62 MW) combined.

Combined, renewables provided 52% of new generating capacity through the first eleven months of 2019 and seem poised to increase their share once the final December numbers are released.

Renewables have now also surpassed 22% (i.e., 22.03%) of the nation’s total available installed generating capacity – further expanding their lead over coal capacity (20.92%). Among renewables, wind can boast the largest installed electrical generating capacity – 8.52% of the U.S. total, followed by hydropower (8.43%), solar (3.43%), biomass (1.33%), and geothermal (0.32%).

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Congress stiffs solar, wind wins modest tax-deal victory

Despite months of intense lobbying, the solar industry comes up empty-handed in end-of-year spending legislation.

Lawmakers agreed on funding, but not clean energy tax credits.
Lawmakers agreed on funding, but not clean energy tax credits.

EMMA FOEHRINGER MERCHANT reports for gtm

After months of lobbying, the clean energy industry secured minimal tax credit extensions in the $1.37 trillion end-of-year deal U.S. lawmakers eked out this week to fund the government in 2020.

Of the possible extensions that may have been stuffed into the spending bill, wind was the only winner, and the industry secured just one extra year of incentives. 

If the full deal wins congressional passage, as is expected, wind developers can now qualify for the production tax credit through 2020 — a year longer than anticipated. Developers qualifying projects in 2020 will receive 60 percent of the PTC if they bring those projects online by the end of 2024. Projects qualified in 2019 will still receive only 40 percent of the incentive.

That will benefit onshore wind developers at a time when their market would otherwise be under pressure. However, offshore wind developers, who typically opt for the Investment Tax Credit, would not get the same boost.

Meanwhile, lawmakers left solar— the industry that most aggressively fought for an extension of its ITC — and electric vehicles out of the deal. Storage, which lawmakers had sought incentives for in legislation like the November GREEN Act, will continue without credits. 

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Celebrate: New York is a 2 GW solar state. Enough. Back to work on 4GW

Image: Daroga Power

Tim Sylvia reports for PV Magazine

What was billed as the opening of the state’s newest community solar project became a monumental day in New York solar history. The installation, a 6.12 MW project developed by ForeFront Power in Mechanicville, put New York at over 2 GW of solar installed. The Empire State has now become the 9th in the country to have more than 2 GW of solar capacity installed.

The milestone also keeps New York on track to achieve the statewide target of installing 6 GW of solar by 2025.

“Solar energy is a vital part of New York’s Green New Deal strategy to transition to a clean energy future, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality,” said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. “The success of this initiative demonstrates we are on the path to meeting our nation-leading climate goals, and our clean energy agenda is spurring economic growth and jobs while leaving this planet cleaner and greener for generations to come.”

New York is in an especially interesting spot as it positions itself as a national solar leader. While nearly every state within the “2 GW installed” club is home to massive utility-scale projects, New York’s greatest potential lies in distributed generation. The state has no shortage when it comes to rooftops, a resource that is currently being used to develop a a 316 MW / 2528 MWh (that’s 8 hours) energy storage facility (pdf). Furthermore, a study done by City University of New York early in the decade found that 66.4% of all rooftops in New York city were suitable for solar installations, totaling well over 5 GW in capacity.

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NJBPU debuts solar transition plan to ease costs for utility customers

New incentive program reduces the subsidies given to developers and owners of solar arrays in New Jersey

The solar industry employs about 7,000 people in New Jersey.

TOM JOHNSON reports for NJ Spotlight

The state has adopted a much-debated plan to help the solar sector transition to a new way of financing solar projects, an overhaul the Murphy administration hopes will rein in costs to utility customers who pay for the program.

The plan, the first step to scrapping a decade-old system of subsidizing solar projects, has met a mixed reception from solar developers who have helped build a robust solar industry in New Jersey. The industry employs about 7,000 people, and homes and businesses have installed a total of 117,893 solar arrays.

But the state Board of Public Utilities’ vote to approve the new program will allow the agency and solar advocates to focus on designing a more permanent program in which the sector can continue to thrive using a less expensive system. Ratepayers have been hit with $2.6 billion in subsidies since the program began about a decade ago.

The new incentive program reduces the subsidies given to developers and owners of solar arrays, as was sought by a law enacted in 2018. It sets up a tiered level of incentives depending on what solar projects are installed — those built on homes; on corporate campuses and businesses; on landfills and brownfield; grid supply projects and community solar facilities.

“Our mission is to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050, and we won’t get there without solar power, a critical industry for our state,’’ said BPU President Joseph Fiordaliso. “Ultimately, our aim is to balance ratepayer impacts with ensuring a thriving and stable solar industry.’’

Skepticism among solar advocates

Whether that is achieved provokes skepticism among some solar advocates. Modeling for a new energy master plan for the state projects solar energy will provide up to 34% of the state’s electricity by 2050.

“Our members are in a panic right now,’’ said Lyle Rawlings, founder of Advanced Solar Products in Flemington, referring to the Mid-Atlantic Solar and Storage Industries Association. “They don’t see how they can stay in business.’’

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Rhode Island governor hails community solar facility project next to Superfund site

Michael Bates reports for Solar Industry

TurningPoint Energy and  TurningPoint Energy have broken ground on the King community solar project in North Smithfield, R.I. The project, originally developed by TurningPoint Energy and now owned by Nautilus, is being constructed by DEPCOM Power as part of the State of Rhode Island’s Community Net Metering Pilot Program.

The project includes two solar arrays totaling 12.44 MW AC of community solar capacity and is expected to be operational in 2020.

The King community solar project abuts the Landfill Resource and Recovery Superfund site that is currently undergoing a long-term remedial response under the oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency. TurningPoint Energy and Nautilus have coordinated closely with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and EPA representatives to ensure that the project design has considered any potential future remediation which may be required. The project will incorporate environmental measures including a pollinator-friendly seed mix around and underneath the array.

“Projects like this, which simultaneously clean up our land and make our economy more green, are the future of our state,” says Governor Gina M. Raimondo. “I’m thrilled that once this array is complete, more than 3,000 Rhode Island households will have the option to use clean energy and save money.”

This is TurningPoint Energy’s and Nautilus Solar’s second Rhode Island community solar project to break ground as part of the Community Net Metering Solar Pilot Program, created in 2016. The Hopkins Hill community solar project broke ground earlier this year.

Nautilus is the owner of the project and responsible for managing the project, overseeing construction, and maintaining its long-term performance.

Above photo: Courtesy of Scott Lapham Photography. Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo (second from right) joined State Representative Carlos Tobon, Jared Schoch (president of Turning Point Energy), Laura Stern (co-CEO of Nautilus Solar Energy), Gary Ezovski (town administrator of North Smithfield) and Carol Grant (commissioner, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources) for a ground-breaking ceremony at the King community solar project. Facebook10TwitterPrintEmail

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Trump knocks off tariff exemption for bifacial solar panels

It’s a fresh blow to the solar industry but also means U.S. based panel manufacturers will regain an edge on foreign competitors

DERICK LILA reports for pvbuzz

The U.S. Trade Representative said in an online statement that it is withdrawing the exclusion on tariffs for imported bifacial solar panels.

According to a notice from the Representative, the technology will be subject to a 25 percent tariff starting Oct. 28, 2019.

The exclusion had been a reprieve for the solar industry which lost thousands of jobs and put projects on hold as a result of the Trump administration tariffs.

Due to the positive business case made possible by the exemption, some panel manufacturers had begun shifting supply chains to produce more bifacial panels abroad.

While bifacial panels accounted for just 3 percent of the solar market last year, they are gaining traction since their double-sided nature means they absorb more power and are therefore more efficient.

But like any other new technology in the early stages of development, manufacturers try to find cost-effective ways of manufacturing thereby choosing to produce in China.

Also, stripping the exemption represents a setback to developers building big U.S. solar projects.

This fresh blow to the industry means U.S. based solar panel manufacturers like First Solar and SunPower will regain an edge on these foreign-manufactured solar panels.

The news was described as “an extraordinary and unprecedented turn of events” by the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA)’s President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper.

In a public statement, she noted that the exemption was hastily rescinded “without any opportunity for public notice and comment.”

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