SolarWire

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/

Solar power, off-grid ideas, and making daylight do chores. Automated RSS; source content belongs to its owners. Unofficial fan feed; not affiliated with source publishers.

Public Key

npub1dw39xgg9a4n72jwphxtp8e6ts88a9krdr66zvggmcz8ywl74svaqxc787w

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsxhgjnyyz76el9f8qmn9snua9crn7jmpk3adpxyyduprj80l2cxwspz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsrmvf27

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1dw39xgg9a4n72jwphxtp8e6ts88a9krdr66zvggmcz8ywl74svaqxc787w

Show more details

Last Notes

2026-10-22 17:19:51 GMT

How energy storage can meet the power demands of AI data centers
Roadmaps from Nvidia and the Open Compute Project put a single AI rack at roughly 1 MW of peak power by the Feynman generation, due around 2028 to 2029. Running a large language model, that rack can drop from its peak power output to 300 kW in a few milliseconds, then swing back. Multiply that across a data hall, and the site’s electrical system and the grid behind it have to absorb the swing.
Energy storage can absorb that variability more economically, and the good news is the capacity to do that is being built. Utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity in the United States grew at an average annual rate of 70% over the last three years and reached nearly 52 GW by the middle of 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The International Energy Agency projects that global data center electricity consumption will more than double to around 945 TWh by 2030.
At scale, the question isn’t how much storage gets built — it’s how it’s used, and how it’s layered to meet a data center’s competing demands.
Energy storage is returning to its original role as a quick-responding stabilizer
When energy storage first went onto the grid nearly 20 years ago, there weren’t many renewables to integrate. The earliest grid-scale batteries went in for ancillary services: frequency regulation and spinning reserves that kept a coal-and-gas grid stable when a large load tripped. As wind and solar grew, those 15-minute to two-hour batteries gave way to two-to-four-hour systems, then four to six, then eight-plus, because the job became firming an intermittent resource into a near-dispatchable asset.
AI data centers are now causing the kind of instabilities we used to see when a large load dropped off or came onto the grid, like frequency and voltage excursions; rapid ramps that outrun conventional generation; and cascading load trips. In some regions, storage us returning to ancillary services to manage them. That doesn’t retire the eight-hour battery; renewables still need it. The data center is simply the first place where millisecond-level grid support and the eight-hour bridge are needed at once.
The important role of backup batteries
Historically, the battery in a data center was a last line of defense. It sat idle until an outage, then held the load long enough for a controlled shutdown. Because energy demand swings so widely during training and inference, batteries are becoming active components of the power architecture, cycling regularly as a shock absorber for the electrical system.
Put storage close to the load, and the batteries absorb the peaks and fill the valleys, so the power coming into the facility can be lower and more stable. In some cases, that reduces the required incoming power by 20% to 40%. A smaller incoming feed means less electrical infrastructure, lower utility requirements, and a way around some of the power-availability constraints now common in data center development.
One site, three layers, three different batteries
Storage shows up in three places on a data center site, and each asks something different of the cell.
Near the rack, the requirement is rate. The cell chemistry candidates are high-rate lithium iron phosphate (LFP), possibly paired with lithium titanate, sodium-ion, or supercapacitors.
Behind the meter, the job is bridging. Some jurisdictions now grant grid connections to data centers on the condition that the operator curtails its draw when the utility company needs that capacity for other customers. Those curtailments roughly run in one-hour increments, and lithium-ion or sodium-ion both work there.
In front of the meter, the layer exists to secure the site’s feed. If wind and solar are the prime supply, something has to carry the site through eight or more hours without sun, and that is lithium or flow battery territory.
Diesel gensets usually still sit inside that microgrid. More companies are weighing batteries against diesel as backup, and for AI data centers it is getting hard to imagine an effective design without storage from day one.
Chemistry, logistics and cell manufacturing decide who delivers
Delivering storage across those three layers comes down to three product-level decisions.
Chemistry: LFP is the incumbent for stationary storage: coat the electrodes thick for long duration, thin for C rates of 10 to 60. Sodium-ion can match LFP’s C rates in fast cycling and may come in cheaper. Flow and iron-air batteries can win on cost and energy density above four hours. Some sodium chemistries run at 45 to 55 degrees Celsius without active cooling, which takes cost out of the balance of plant. Bankability decides how fast those alternatives arrive. Aside from lead acid, lithium-ion is the only chemistry with a field record long enough to finance at scale, and accelerated life testing is only as good as its correlation to field data the industry doesn’t have yet.
Logistics: The best-built battery is built in a factory. Early projects shipped 53-foot containers and finished the battery installation in the field. The market then swung to 750-kWh cubes, easy to ship, painful to interconnect by the thousand. The industry is converging near the 20-foot container: 100,000 to 150,000 pounds, heavy enough to need a super-heavy permit but inside a form factor that avoids escort cars and lowered wires.
Cells and automation: Cell manufacturing remains the hardest part of the value chain to scale in the U.S., on supply chain and on the automation know-how concentrated in markets that have produced cells for years. For large projects, domestic-content rules tied to tax incentives are turning U.S.-made cells from a preference into a requirement.
The battery is the first step
A battery is a demand-following device. It will kill itself trying to deliver the current asked of it. The battery management system is a protection circuit: it watches cell voltages and temperatures and keeps the pack from hurting itself. The energy management system is what senses a millisecond-scale swing and tells the battery when to charge and when to discharge; at the rack, that controls layer is the shock absorber.
Around the battery sit the inverters, transformers, and power conversion hardware that tie storage to the grid and to on-site generation. Gas turbines and gensets going in as prime movers don’t like to cycle; storage carries the variation so they can run flat. On the manufacturing side, understanding the storage value chain has driven expansion from system assembly into automated module production; inverter manufacturing is already part of our work, and we are evaluating transformers and power conversion systems. Reliable power is the system built around the battery.
What’s next for data center storage
Within a few years, we can expect the energy storage system toolkit to widen: a flow battery for a proven 12-hour requirement, sodium-ion for a site that runs hot or cycles fast, LFP where footprint matters most. LFP has become the new lead acid, the incumbent with a very long tail, and other chemistries will take its corners. Storage in an AI data center now doubles as an operational asset, and the grid has circled back to where the industry started, asking for the same fast response. Storage isn’t moving away from renewable integration. Instead, it’s expanding into a role the grid has needed since the beginning.
By Jozsef Kocsis, Vice President of Global Business Units at Jabil
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/22/how-energy-storage-can-meet-the-power-demands-of-ai-data-centers/
#energystorage #data #power #opencompute #computeproject #energyinformation #internationalenergy #demands #informationadministration #unitedstates
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 16:54:36 GMT

PVH expands Houston footprint to scale pre-assembled solar trackers
Solar tracker and foundation solution provider PV Hardware USA (PVH USA) has announced a major expansion of its original Houston, Texas, manufacturing facility. The expansion adds approximately 34,200 square feet of manufacturing space, increasing the company’s overall Houston footprint capacity by 42%.
The company said the added space will support a 35% increase in the production of pre-assembled tracker components. The move is designed to shift complex component assembly away from outdoor construction jobsites and into a controlled factory environment.
“We are investing in additional domestic manufacturing capacity because our customers are asking us to do more,” said Alfonso Queipo, CEO of PVH USA. “Pre-assembly has become an important part of that strategy because it allows us to move complexity out of the field and into an environment where we have greater control over quality, productivity and consistency.”
The project builds upon PVH USA’s growing footprint in Texas. In May 2024, the company invested $30 million to launch its first Houston facility, followed by the addition of a 95,000-square-foot tracker factory in September 2025.
Factory precision vs. field complexity
Since 2023, PVH USA has focused on refining its pre-assembly model to streamline utility-scale installations and offset field labor shortages facing EPCs and developers.
According to the company, performing sub-assembly tasks in the factory before equipment ships to project sites yields significant operational advantages:
Part reduction: Up to 70% fewer loose components delivered on-site, managing roughly 188 loose parts per row in-factory rather than in the field.
Speed: Up to 44% faster field installation rates.
Predictability & weather agility: Minimizes field labor needs and reduces worker exposure during severe weather events or tight project schedules.
“Solar EPCs face mounting pressure regarding labor availability, strict timelines and total project costs,” said Rodolfo Bitar, vice president of business development for PVH USA. “Traditionally, manufacturers pushed the assembly burden onto the jobsite. We ask a different question: what work can be done more efficiently before the equipment ever leaves the factory?”
Domestic content and sustainability
In addition to site efficiency gains, PVH USA highlighted the sustainability and supply chain benefits of expanding domestic production in Texas. Localizing sub-assembly reduces the carbon emissions associated with long-haul international shipping while increasing domestic content compliance under U.S. clean energy incentive frameworks.
The company noted that steel accounts for more than 98% of the total weight of a PVH solar tracker system, enabling high end-of-life recyclability.
The expansion complements PVH’s existing terrain- and weather-resilient product portfolio, including its terrain-following AxoneDuo Infinity tracker (which accommodates up to 2 degrees of post-to-post slope variation) and its HazardPVH extreme weather mitigation software suite.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/22/pvh-expands-houston-footprint-to-scale-pre-assembled-solar-trackers/
#houstonfootprint #usa #solar #hardwareusa #texas #factory #scale #domestic #alfonsoqueipo
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 16:29:29 GMT

VPPs to remain focus for sonnen after TIVEN acquisition
sonnen USA has confirmed its sale from Shell to TIVEN, a family office investment group based in Malta and Germany. TIVEN acquired 100% of sonnen’s global business, including the American business line, sonnen USA. The transaction follows a successful year driven by the company’s strategic VPP partnerships with SOLRITE in Texas, New England, California and…
The post VPPs to remain focus for sonnen after TIVEN acquisition appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/vpps-to-remain-focus-for-sonnen-after-tiven-acquisition/
#tiven #newengland #usa #vpps #germany #shell #texas #solrite
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 16:02:34 GMT

T1 Energy announces Department of Commerce waiver allowing cell imports
Texas-based T1 Energy has announced it has received a waiver from the Department of Commerce that will allow the company to import up to 1.725 GW of solar cells to supply its module assembly operations in Wilmer, Texas, just south of Dallas.
The waiver allows the company to meet its supply needs without fear of punishment for stockpiling solar materials under the Trump administration’s Section 232 tariffs, set to take effect on Dec. 4, 2026. On that date, incoming shipments of polysilicon and silicon-based solar products will become subject to a 15% tariff alongside minimum import prices established in the order.
Ahead of that deadline, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued an emergency rule outlining criteria it would use to determine evidence of stockpiling, set import prohibition penalties for noncompliance and establish a process for companies to obtain a waiver.
T1 Energy says its waiver request would supply it with the raw materials it needs to continue operations at its module facility while it completes construction on its G2_Austin solar cell fabrication facility, set to begin producing cells in the first quarter of 2027 in the Austin suburb of Rockdale.
“We appreciate the Commerce Department’s support in granting this waiver, allowing us to deliver solar modules assembled in Texas and expand U.S. solar cell manufacturing capacity without any unnecessary delays,” said T1 Energy CEO Dan Barcelo, in a statement. “Since the Section 232 proclamation, customer demand for domestic solar cells and modules has meaningfully risen, and receiving a waiver positions T1 to meet this demand.”
While other importers of solar materials have likely submitted similar waiver requests, T1 Energy appears to be the first company to publicly disclose receipt of such a waiver.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/22/t1-energy-announces-department-of-commerce-waiver-allowing-cell-imports/
#commercedepartment #energy #waiver #cell #texas #austin #danbarcelo #dallas #wilmer
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 15:37:08 GMT

NeoVolta launching third-party ownership solar + storage program
NeoVolta, an energy storage technology company, is launching a third-party-ownership (TPO) financing platform funded by tax equity partners and designed to deploy solar and battery energy storage for both residential and commercial customers. It will launch with an initial focus on the residential market with plans to extend the platform to support its commercial product…
The post NeoVolta launching third-party ownership solar + storage program appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/neovolta-launching-third-party-ownership-solar-storage-program/
#solar #tpo
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 14:42:48 GMT

SEIA analysis: Solar is curbing consumer energy costs
As energy affordability emerges as a defining issue heading into the midterm elections, new analysis from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) shows how solar and energy storage are lowering electricity costs in both red and blue states. Growth in solar and energy storage helped drive down average wholesale electricity prices by 42% in Texas…
The post SEIA analysis: Solar is curbing consumer energy costs appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/seia-analysis-solar-is-curbing-consumer-energy-costs/
#seia #solar #energy #industriesassociation #analysis #costs #texas #growth
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 08:05:14 GMT

Ontario grid operator proposes regulation market role for batteries
Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has published a proposed market design that would allow battery storage to provide regulation service, the second-by-second balancing that keeps system frequency close to 60 Hz.
Regulation is currently provided by generators with automatic generation control (AGC). The IESO said in an Oct. 15 design memo that, according to its 2026 Annual Planning Outlook, “additional regulation capability is needed in every hour of the year.”
Under the proposal, batteries registered as dispatchable single model storage resources could provide regulation while also participating in the energy and operating reserve markets. The IESO would remove a current restriction, which applies to all resources, that sets operating reserve offers to zero in hours when a resource is scheduled for regulation.
State of charge
To keep batteries able to respond in both directions, the IESO’s scheduling tools would reserve stored energy and charging room around each battery’s regulation commitment. In the day-ahead and pre-dispatch timeframes, the reservation would cover one hour of scheduled regulation capacity. In real time, it would cover 10 minutes.
Resources would submit regulation offers by 9 a.m. Eastern prevailing time before the day-ahead market and receive hourly schedules by 10 a.m., with selection based on reliability. The IESO said cost-based selection “will continue to be investigated” as regulation supply grows.
The design would also lift the 100 MW per-minute ramp-rate limit for storage during hours in which a battery is scheduled for regulation, and it would introduce a monthly performance factor based on how closely a resource follows its regulation setpoints. The IESO would keep its existing bidirectional regulation signal, not split it into separate up and down products.
Only transmission-connected batteries would be eligible. Distribution-connected resources, compressed air and pumped hydro storage are outside the scope of this phase.
The IESO plans to introduce battery regulation in the second phase of its Storage and Co-located Hybrid Integration Project, planned for 2028, after the first phase establishes a single storage resource model with state-of-charge management in 2027 to 2028. Settlement, make-whole payment and market power mitigation designs will follow, with an updated design due in the first quarter of 2027. Feedback on the memo is due Oct. 30.
The IESO expects Ontario to have more than 3,500 MW of battery storage by 2030, following its E-LT1, LT1 and LT2 procurements. The most recent, LT2’s first capacity window, procured 640 MW of eight-hour storage in June, including a 200 MW/1,600 MWh Neoen project near Dryden in northwestern Ontario due online in 2030. The 250 MW/1,000 MWh Oneida project, Canada’s largest operating battery at the time, began commercial operation in May 2025.
From ESS News
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/21/ontario-grid-operator-proposes-regulation-market-role-for-batteries/
#ieso #regulation #storage #systemoperator #independentelectricity #resources #annualplanning #planningoutlook #project
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 07:14:47 GMT

The chemical compliance gap at battery storage sites: What solar O&M teams are still missing after the 2025 BESS fires
You’ve probably felt the shift. Battery energy storage system (BESS) fire risk is getting scrutinized in ways it wasn’t two years ago.
What’s getting far less attention, and what site operators consistently underestimate, is the chemical documentation infrastructure that has to sit behind every one of these installations.
Think about what happens when a lithium-ion cell vents, when a coolant line leaks, or when an OSHA inspector shows up at your solar-plus-storage O&M yard. In that moment, your fire suppression system has little bearing on how the next 48 hours play out.
What actually matters is whether you have current, accessible, GHS-compliant safety data sheets (SDSs) for every chemical on site, and whether the people on shift that day know where to find them.
The January 2025 fire at Vistra’s 300 MW facility in Moss Landing, California made that gap hard to ignore. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) later called it the largest lithium-ion battery cleanup in the agency’s history.
Moss Landing grabbed the headlines because of its scale, but the compliance problem behind it runs quietly through nearly every solar-plus-storage portfolio in North America. Most sites just haven’t had their Moss Landing moment yet.
AB 303, NFPA 855, and OSHA
California lawmakers have taken this up directly.
Assembly Bill 303, the Battery Energy Safety and Accountability Act, is advancing through the legislature. It tightens permitting rules, adds community engagement requirements, and expands buffer zones.
NFPA 855, the Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, has kept tightening its containment, ventilation, and fire mitigation requirements across recent revisions.
None of that policy activity answers the question that kept coming up in the days after the fire.
Think about every chemical present at that facility: electrolytes, thermal management fluids, transformer oils, cleaning agents, sealants. Where were the SDSs for each one? When had someone last updated them? And could first responders actually reach them while the cells were still off-gassing?
Nothing exotic about any of that. It’s the baseline requirement under 29 CFR 1910.1200, OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard.
OSHA HazCom citations in 2024
Look at fiscal year 2024. OSHA issued more than 2,500 citations under the Hazard Communication Standard alone. J. J. Keller compiled this breakdown from OSHA’s enforcement data, and the numbers point to specific problem areas:
Written HazCom program deficiencies: 988 citations
Employee information and training failures: 820 citations
SDSs not readily accessible: 350 citations
SDS missing for a specific chemical on site: 203 citations
Workplace labeling failures: 196 citations
Year after year, HazCom sits near the top of OSHA’s most-cited standards. Solar and storage sites are not exempt from that pattern. Every new BESS installation adds its own chemical inventory to document. As the sector scales up, so does the exposure.
Three real-world SDS compliance failures
Picture these three scenarios. Each one plays out at a real site, with real people trying to do the right thing under pressure.
Scenario 1: An Outdated SDS Meets an Active Thermal Event
A 200 MWh utility-scale BESS site runs into a single-cell thermal event. Local fire crews arrive and ask the on-call O&M technician for the SDS covering the electrolyte formulation.
The technician pulls an SDS binder from the trailer, but the sheet inside reflects the original battery supplier’s cell chemistry from three years back. The operator switched to a second-source cell partway through the project, and nobody updated the binder to match.
Scenario 2: An On-Site Chemical Blend With No SDS on File
A solar O&M contractor blends its own dielectric-safe cleaning solution on-site, combining two commercial products into one mixture. Field crews then apply this blend across multiple sites.
No SDS exists for it, since no supplier technically produced it. Under HazCom, that makes the contractor the manufacturer of record for this mixture, with an obligation to write an SDS for it.
Scenario 3: A Cross-Border Export With No REACH-Compliant SDS
A U.S. inverter manufacturer exports a product line into the EU, including a proprietary thermal interface material. The EU importer asks for a REACH-compliant, CLP-formatted SDS in three languages.
The manufacturer’s compliance team has only an English OSHA HazCom SDS on file, with no established process for producing the jurisdictionally correct versions the importer needs.
Notice what connects these three scenarios.
Each site had people who understood the risks around them. What they lacked was a controlled process: a system that can produce, update, and distribute SDSs as fast as this industry moves.
SDS authoring vs. collection
Most of the SDSs on a solar or storage site are supplier documents.
Think of the battery integrator’s electrolyte SDS, the coolant vendor’s thermal management SDS, the panel manufacturer’s encapsulant SDS.
You collect these, file them, and refresh them whenever the supplier issues a revision. Most teams handle that part fine.
Here’s where it gets more complicated.
Solar-plus-storage operators increasingly produce chemical products of their own.
A cleaning contractor blends a proprietary field solution from two commercial products.
An integrator repackages coolant into secondary containers.
A manufacturer produces a branded panel coating or thermal fluid.
Each of these activities makes you the author under HazCom, with a legal obligation to produce that SDS yourself. If you’re a manufacturer or integrator in that position, dedicated SDS authoring workflows can help.
Rather than relying on ad-hoc word-processor templates, SDS authoring workflows produce documents that meet OSHA HazCom, EU REACH/CLP, and Canadian WHMIS 2015 requirements at the same time.
Don’t treat this as paperwork. An SDS exists to make a chemical hazard actionable for someone who never manufactured that chemical. That includes a technician who gets called out at 2 a.m., a first responder who arrives at an active incident, an EPA on-scene coordinator who assesses a site after a fire.
When the document is stale, incomplete, or missing altogether, that hazard stays effectively invisible right up until an incident forces it into view.
Four steps to close the SDS compliance gap
Look back at that citation data. Four practical steps consistently separate the well-prepared sites from the ones that end up in it:
Reconcile your chemical inventory against what’s actually on site: SDS libraries drift over time. Cell chemistries change mid-project. Cleaning products get swapped out without anyone updating the file. Walk your SDS index against the physical site once a year, and you’ll catch most of the gaps that inspectors find.
Make sure SDSs stay reachable without a working office computer: OSHA wrote the “readily accessible” requirement before power outages, evacuations, and site-level network failures became routine parts of the job. Build redundancy into how your team reaches these documents: mobile devices, offline copies, and printed binders. That combination reflects how these sites actually operate under pressure.
Assign a named owner for every document your site authors: Any chemical your site produces, blends, or repackages comes with an authoring responsibility attached. Name that responsible party directly in your written HazCom program, and you close the single largest gap OSHA finds during inspections.
Rehearse how first responders will access your documents: Fire departments increasingly request pre-incident SDS packages during permitting inspections. Hand these over ahead of time instead of scrambling during an actual event, and you shift response timelines in your favor.
Documentation remains BESS safety’s weakest link
“The industry has done impressive work on cell chemistry, thermal runaway detection, and fire suppression,” a senior BESS safety consultant familiar with the Moss Landing response said in a recent conversation.
“The weakest link on most sites we assess is still documentation. When crews cannot tell a first responder in 60 seconds what is in a container, the rest of the safety architecture stops mattering.”
That assessment lines up with what the enforcement data, the incident reviews, and the regulatory activity since Moss Landing all point toward. You can have the best sensors and the best suppression agents on site. None of that helps if the documents describing what’s actually there are missing, outdated, or impossible to find under pressure.
That’s where the next phase of solar and storage safety maturity actually runs: discipline around documentation, authored where necessary, kept current in every case, and made reachable when it counts.
Arysha Alif Khan is an EHS and chemical safety specialist with a background in biochemistry, biotechnology, and public health. She works closely with the product and regulatory teams to turn complex chemical regulations, SDS requirements, and workplace safety standards into clear, practical guidance for people.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/21/the-chemical-compliance-gap-at-battery-storage-sites-what-solar-om-teams-are-still-missing-after-the-2025-bess-fires/
#bess #mosslanding #osha #energystorage #chemical #communicationstandard #gap #still #hazardcommunication #oshacalifornia
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 06:23:47 GMT

Construction innovations could cut gigawatt-scale solar costs by 22%
The construction of gigawatt-sized solar farms could be transformed by adopting four technical innovations, according to research by Lightsource bp.
The UK-headquartered independent power producer (IPP) has shared findings from the investigation phase of its NextGen Solar Programme, which is reviewing how gigwatt-scale solar farms are built.
The programme is exploring how four areas of innovation – automated foundation piling, a frameless panel design that uses steel rather than aluminium, press-fit bolt-free module installations, and on-site pre-assembly – can reduce the costs and time required to construct gigawatt-sized solar farms.
Results from the initial investigation found combining these four construction innovations could cut direct installation costs by around 22% and reduce installation time by up to 30%, when compared with current standard practice.
Chris Buckland, Global Technical Director of Lightsource bp, told pv magazine the analysis is based on assessment of “newly-developed solar industry offerings from China, Europe and Northern America, with a focus on automation and novel installation method.”
Buckland added that a construction approach combining the four innovations is intended for large-scale PV development from 2028 onwards.
“It remains at the development stage but is expected to become relevant to major projects over the next three years,” he explained. “We plan to run trials in Australia and the United States to validate supplier data points and support technical assessment and bankability, with initial results targeted within the next 18 months.”
Lightsource bp’s analysis says automated piling rigs that use GPS precision can reduce installation time by up to 12.5%. Automated piling replaces manual pile driving, it adds, in turn lowering costs and improving consistency while also potentially reducing the risk of injury to site workers.
Additional analysis by the IPP says a press-fit, bolt-free solar module installation that enables solar panels to click into position has the potential to reduce installation time by up to 30% when combined with automated piling and a new module design.
“The solution aims to simplify module installation by replacing conventional clamps and bolts, delivering potential savings through reduced installation time and balance-of-system costs,” Buckland told pv magazine.
“We are also exploring replacing aluminium frames with steel options. Due to confidentiality requirements, we cannot provide the cost assessments.”
An additional statement from Lightsource bp explains its NextGen Solar Programme now moves from modelling and analysis into real-world validation, with trials on active projects including automated piling systems, robotic module placement and advanced cable harnessing solutions to verify cost, time and safety assumptions.
“We know that demand for solar energy is rising, and building for gigawatt scale is constrained by existing construction methods, impacting some projects commercial viability,” Buckland explained.
“The NextGen Solar Programme has delivered a practical, evidenced-based roadmap for scaling solar farm construction efficiently, and we are now moving to validate these solutions under real operating conditions.”
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/21/construction-innovations-could-cut-gigawatt-scale-solar-costs-by-22/
https://www.pv-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-21-at-11.49.06-1024x551.png
#solar #constructioninnovations #solarprogramme #costs #lightsource #cut #nextgensolar #buckland #technical #northernamerica
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 05:33:17 GMT

Budderfly plans 150 MW municipal VPP with solar, storage in U.S. cities
Budderfly said it will make $500 million in project capital available to small and mid-sized US municipalities for solar, battery storage and other energy upgrades at no upfront cost, and plans to combine the sites into a 150 MW VPP. Cities would pay the company over time from the resulting energy savings.
The Connecticut-based energy-as-a-service company announced the Modernizing American Cities program with Schneider Electric this week at the International City/County Management Association’s annual conference in Long Beach, California. Depending on local needs, projects could also include EV charging, HVAC, lighting and energy-monitoring technology, said the company.
Budderfly added that it aims to upgrade 100 cities at roughly $4 million to $5 million each and forecasts energy savings of 60% to 80% per city. It did not say whether the $500 million is newly committed financing or an allocation of existing capital. It said it has invested more than $378 million in facility upgrades over the past 10 years, across more than 9,000 commercial customer locations.
Under the planned model, Budderfly would finance, install, own, operate and maintain the equipment. The company said municipalities would pay over time through energy savings rather than depend on grants or capital-budget spending.”
“Cities are being asked to modernize aging facilities while electricity costs rise and budgets remain tight,” Budderfly CEO Al Subbloie said. “The question is how to get that work underway.”
Schneider Electric will supply energy management and automation technology to integrate and run the systems. “Budderfly’s model helps cities move forward without drawing on limited capital budgets,” said Michele Hix, vice president, strategic customers, North America operations, at Schneider Electric.
Cadillac precedent
The program builds on Budderfly and Schneider Electric’s project in Cadillac, Michigan, where Budderfly said it is investing about $4.4 million to upgrade seven municipal facilities, including city hall and the wastewater treatment plant. According to Cadillac City Council minutes, the investment “would primarily fund solar generation and battery storage,” and the systems at city hall and the wastewater treatment plant would provide microgrid capability during power outages.
Budderfly will finance, own, operate and maintain the equipment under a 15-year agreement and “would assume the performance risk,” the minutes show. The companies said in August that Budderfly would deliver guaranteed savings over the contract term.
The project “is projected to lower the city’s overall energy costs by approximately 65%,” according to the minutes, and the city will own the equipment outright at the end of the term or could renew the agreement for further upgrades.
“The city would receive a share of demand-response revenue and additional savings if the project exceeds the projected 70% savings threshold,” the minutes state. They do not specify the city’s monthly payments to Budderfly or the size of its demand-response share.
Company representatives told the council that Cadillac would be Budderfly’s first municipal project. Council members discussed “the proposal’s long-term financial implications,” along with maintenance, solar output in cloudy and snowy weather, visual impacts and the use of local contractors, before voting unanimously on July 20 to waive competitive bidding and authorize the agreement.
Cadillac City Manager Marcus Peccia said the project allows the city to modernize “without requiring upfront taxpayer investment.”
The Cadillac project came through Schneider Electric’s Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure Initiative, which launched with $7.5 billion in available financing, according to Schneider Electric. Budderfly’s plan to aggregate municipal sites into a VPP comes as distributed aggregation scales up in the United States, where Sunrun, Tesla and Renew Home announced plans in June for VPP programs of up to 16.8 GW.
From ESS News
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/21/budderfly-plans-150-mw-municipal-vpp-with-solar-storage-in-u-s-cities/
#budderfly #schneiderelectric #cities #vpp #city #storage #solar #plans #americancities #longbeach
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 04:44:14 GMT

U.S. distributed solar generation quadrupled over the last decade
Generation from U.S. small-scale solar photovoltaic systems smaller than 1 MW reached 92,979 GWh, up from 18,812 GWh a decade ago, according to the latest Annual Electric Power Industry Report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
California led national generation in 2025, accounting for 37% of total rooftop solar output at 34,411 GWh. Between 2024 and 2025, California rooftop solar generation grew by 8% as total operating small-scale capacity expanded from 18 GW to 20 GW.
National generation growth peaked in 2022, when total small-scale output expanded 25% year-over-year amid record capacity additions. The expansion was partly fueled by regulatory deadlines, including California’s transition from Net Energy Metering (NEM) 2.0 to the Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0) in April 2023. Grandfathering provisions under NEM 2.0 drove higher installation volumes before export compensation rates were reduced.
Arizona ranked second in national generation in 2025, delivering 5,795 GWh, or more than 6% of the national total. Arizona rooftop generation grew 6% in 2025, down from a peak annual growth rate of 22% recorded between 2022 and 2023. Growth in the state continues to be supported by a 25% state income tax credit alongside local utility incentives.
Texas and Florida experienced substantial growth over the decade, backed by property tax exemptions and state-specific programs. Annual small-scale solar generation in Texas grew from 391 GWh in 2016 to 5,408 GWh in 2025. Over the same period, Florida generation expanded from 205 GWh to 5,198 GWh.
New York ranked as the fifth-largest small-scale solar producer, supported by state incentive programs and technology improvements despite lower regional solar irradiance. State-level incentive structures have driven similar growth in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois.
While overall small-scale generation continues to expand year-over-year, national annual growth rates have moderated since 2022.
The EIA estimates small-scale generation by combining utility survey data on customer counts and aggregated capacity with modeling tools from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, including PVWatts and the System Advisor Model.
Register for the October 21, 2026 live webinar session of pv magazine USA week to learn about the latest in distributed scale solar and storage, including insights on virtual power plants, plug-in solar, energy storage for homes and businesses and more.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/21/u-s-small-scale-solar-generation-quadrupled-over-the-last-decade/
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Callout-Box_USA-Week-2026.png
#generation #solar #gwh #national #informationadministration #growth #industryreport #decade #nem #energy
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 03:53:34 GMT

SolarEdge announces approval of its Nexis IslandDER meter collar by major California utilities
SolarEdge has announced the approval of its Nexis IslandDER meter collar for use in the service territories of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) in California. The move allows solar and energy storage installers in those utility service territories to more easily install SolarEdge Nexis energy storage solutions.
Meter collars, also called “meter socket adapters” (MSAs), are installed between a utility meter and the meter socket in a residential installation and enable a direct, two-way electrical connection between distributed energy resources like solar and battery inverters and the homes at which they are installed. This differs from the traditional method of installing these resources, which often involves more complex electrical work to rewire circuits in the home’s main electrical panel.
SolarEdge says the use of MSAs saves time and money for installers and their customers. Installers have also said they prefer to work with MSAs over doing complex rewiring.
“The IslandDER meter collar makes the interconnection process a lot simpler, and paired with SolarEdge Nexis it keeps the whole installation clean and straightforward,” said Zachary Hood, director of residential construction at San Diego-based installer Stellar Solar. “Anything that lets us put in solar and storage more efficiently is a win for our crews and for the homeowner.”
The Nexis IslandDER device, which was developed in collaboration with MSA maker ConnectDER, was specially designed to work with the Nexis inverter. Unlike the latter company’s analog MSAs, the Nexis IslandDER communicates with the SolarEdge inverter through a digital connection via a standard ethernet cable.
The Nexis IslandDER device is now among five MSA solutions approved by SDG&E, and among four approved by PG&E. The list of other approved devices includes MSAs from Tesla, Enphase and NeWorld. Testing is underway in PG&E territory on MSAs from Generac, Sigenergy and Span.
In addition to PG&E’s and SDG&E’s approvals of the Nexis IslandDER MSA, the device is also scheduled to complete witness testing for California’s other major utility, Southern California Edison.
Together, the three California companies serve more than 5.38 million residential customers in the state, and are among the 86 utilities in 33 states that have approved MSAs.
The SolarEdge Nexis ecosystem consists of a solar inverter that can deliver 13 kW of power when used on-grid and 14.5 kW when the grid is down, coupled with 5 kWh stackable modular battery blocks that are designed to be used in systems up to 80 kWh in size. The Nexis products were unveiled in late 2025 at the annual RE+ trade show in Las Vegas, and the components of the system became available nationwide in June, 2026.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/21/solaredge-announces-approval-of-its-nexis-islandder-meter-collar-by-major-california-utilities/
#nexisislandder #solaredgenexis #metercollar #california #msas #diegogas #pacificgas #southerncalifornia #sandiego #approval
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 02:31:03 GMT

California legalized balcony solar, here’s what homeowners should know
This September, Governor Newsom signed SB 868, the Plug and Play Solar Act. Scott Wiener wrote it, and California is now roughly the tenth state to make room for balcony solar. These are small kits that plug into a standard outlet and push power straight into the home’s circuits. For renters, condo owners and anyone told “you can’t go solar here,” it’s a real change. Most of the practical questions still fall on the homeowner, though.
What balcony solar is, and what it isn’t
A plug-in system is one or two panels and a microinverter, mounted on a railing, a patio or a ground stand and plugged into a receptacle. Under SB 868, a qualifying device is capped at 1,200 watts of AC output per dwelling. It has to be designed to offset your own consumption. It has to meet the National and California Electrical Codes, carry a UL (or equivalent lab) certification as a plug-in PV system, and shut itself off from the grid during an outage so it never backfeeds onto lines a utility crew is working on.
Qualifying devices are exempt from interconnection agreements, utility approval, extra equipment requirements and utility fees. Utilities, including municipal ones like LADWP, may ask you to fill out a simple online registration form. They cannot make you wait for permission.
A rooftop system is a different thing. A typical Southern California home system runs 5 to 10 kilowatts or more and is permitted, inspected and wired to the panel by a licensed contractor. Balcony solar is a useful supplement, not a replacement.
What to check before you buy
Your HOA or landlord. SB 868 deals with your relationship to the utility. It doesn’t override your lease, your CC&Rs or building rules about what you can attach to a railing. Get permission in writing.
Your circuit, not just your outlet. I worry about this one most. A plug-in kit feeds power into a branch circuit, and that breaker can’t see the solar current coming in. If the same circuit also carries a space heater or a window AC unit, the wiring can carry more than it was designed for. Use a dedicated or lightly loaded outlet, never an extension cord or power strip. In an older home, have an electrician look at the circuit first.
The listing. The law’s protections apply only to devices that meet every condition it sets out. A kit with no recognized certification for plug-in PV doesn’t qualify, whatever the listing says. Check the certification mark and look it up.
Utility and export rules. The law waives interconnection. It doesn’t promise to pay you for exported power. Treat any energy that leaves your home as worth roughly nothing, and size the kit to what you use during the day.
Insurance and fire safety. Tell your insurer. Keep panels and cables out of exit paths, off combustible surfaces, and secured against wind. On a balcony, a loose panel can hurt someone below.
Economics: be honest about the numbers
Balcony solar makes the most sense where rooftop solar doesn’t work: renters, apartments, condos with shared roofs, shaded houses. A well-placed 800-watt kit in Southern California sun might produce on the order of 1,000 kilowatt-hours a year. A vertical railing that faces north or sits in shade will make much less. At today’s California rates, that can mean real savings and a payback in the low single-digit years.
Most single-family homes with a decent roof face different math. Under California’s net billing tariff, exported solar earns far less than it did under the old net metering rules. The value now comes from using your own power, including after sunset when rates peak. A battery is what lets you do that. The federal residential tax credit ended after 2025, so rooftop systems have to make sense on their own merits, and in many SoCal homes with high bills and EV charging they still do. A 1,200-watt plug-in kit simply can’t cover an evening peak or keep your refrigerator running during a Public Safety Power Shutoff. The required anti-islanding feature switches it off when the grid goes down.
Red flags
Expect a gold rush and some overpromising. Be skeptical of:
Claims that a plug-in kit will “eliminate” your bill
Kits rated above 1,200 watts, or sellers suggesting you combine several to get past the cap
“Backup power” claims for kits without real integrated storage and proper certification
Missing or vague certification marks, or no California-specific compliance documentation
Pressure to buy before you’ve checked your lease, HOA or circuit
Anyone telling you to skip the utility registration where it’s required
Where to start
Pull 12 months of usage from your utility account and look at what you use during daylight hours. If you rent, live in a condo, or can’t put panels on your roof, a certified plug-in kit on a safe, lightly loaded circuit is a smart, low-risk first step. If you own a single-family home with a usable roof, get a rooftop-plus-storage assessment first, then decide whether a plug-in kit fills a gap.
SB 868 runs through January 1, 2030, when the interconnection exemption expires unless the Legislature extends it. If the industry wants that extension, the next four years need to go well, which means consumers have to have good experiences. The industry should give them honest advice now.
Oren Tamir is Founder & CEO of NRG Clean Power, a residential solar and battery storage installer based in Woodland Hills, California, serving homeowners across Southern California.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/21/california-legalized-balcony-solar-heres-what-homeowners-should-know/
#balconysolar #governornewsom #playsolar #utility #southerncalifornia #electricalcodes
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-22 01:40:10 GMT

New Jersey representative introduces first national plug-in solar legislation
Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) has introduced H.R. 10851, titled the “Socket Full of Sunshine Act,” which contains provisions that would require all state utility commissions to consider plug-in solar rules, provided that state’s legislature has not already enacted similar rules or explicitly voted to not pass such a bill.
“Families are getting squeezed by electric bills that keep going up,” Menendez said in a statement announcing the bill’s introduction. “Plug-in solar is a simple, affordable way to cut those bills, but outdated rules and unnecessary fees are standing in the way. The Socket Full of Sunshine Act clears those barriers so more families, including renters, can start saving.”
Similar to the plug-in solar laws currently adopted in 10 states, H.R. 10851 defines a “portable solar generation device” as having a maximum output of 1,200 watts and connecting to a ‘standard 120-volt alternating current outlet.” The bill further requires that a plug-in solar device meets NEC standards and is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or a similar national testing lab.
A final stipulation regarding system design requires plug-in solar devices to be equipped with a power control system if they exceed 400 watts of AC output.
Having been introduced late in the congressional calendar for the year, the bill will not see action until after the pre-election recess scheduled to end in mid-November. That leaves congress with just a handful of days to consider the bill in the lame duck session before the Jan. 3, 2027 deadline.
Potential rebates
Alongside the new requirements, the bill would direct the Department of Energy to establish a grant program to provide rebates of up to $1,000 to low- or moderate-income households. To obtain the funds, states would have to establish rebate programs that verify income eligibility at the point of sale and “prioritize renters, multifamily residents, and high-energy burdened communities.”
The rebate grants would be available only to those states in which plug-in solar rules prohibit landlords from blocking their tenants’ use of plug-in solar devices.
Further, the rebates would only be available for plug-in solar devices that were manufactured in the United States and contain greater than 55% domestic content components.
The rebate program would be funded with $100 million per year from FY 2027 through FY 2032, totaling $600 million.
Consumer protection
The bill would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to develop product safety standard for portable solar generation devices, and would require equipment providers to share information with consumers that covers how to install and use portable solar devices along with details on warranty coverage and expected energy bill savings.
In addition, the bill makes it voluntary on the part of the manufacturer for devices to come with an “expected electricity costs savings label” that looks like the yellow Energy Guide labels required on new appliances.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/21/new-jersey-representative-introduces-first-national-plug-in-solar-legislation/
#solar #newjersey #socketfull #sunshineact #robmenendez #states #similar #productsafety
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-21 20:10:16 GMT

A Q&A with NeoVolta, the latest BESS manufacturer in the United States
A new lithium battery energy storage system (BESS) manufacturer opened in the United States in September, and it plans to supply the commercial, industrial and utility-scale markets. NeoVolta Power, a joint-venture between lithium brands NeoVolta and PotisEdge, unveiled its 4-GWh manufacturing site in Pendergrass, Georgia, about one hour northeast of Atlanta. The site is designed…
The post A Q&A with NeoVolta, the latest BESS manufacturer in the United States appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/a-qa-with-neovolta-the-latest-bess-manufacturer-in-the-united-states/
#unitedstates #bess #neovolta #september #georgia #atlanta #pendergrass #power #potisedge
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-21 19:20:28 GMT

Maryland convention center solar project covers acres of rooftops
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, has activated a rooftop solar installation spanning approximately 3.5 acres atop the resort’s convention center. Featuring 4,696 solar panels, the array is designed to supply up to 20% of the resort’s electrical load during peak production periods and offset up to 50% of the electricity…
The post Maryland convention center solar project covers acres of rooftops appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/maryland-convention-center-solar-project-covers-acres-of-rooftops/
#conventioncenter #nationalharbor #solar #acres #resort #gaylordnational #featuring
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-21 18:27:40 GMT

25 years in solar: What we’ve learned and what comes next
The solar industry has been through a lot over the past 25 years: major advancements, setbacks and plenty of ups and downs. But what needs to change next isn’t the tech. The next chapter of solar depends on how we conduct ourselves, run our businesses and work with our communities. The way I see it,…
The post 25 years in solar: What we’ve learned and what comes next appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/25-years-in-solar-what-weve-learned-and-what-comes-next/
#solar #next
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-21 17:38:21 GMT

PV Hardware expands Houston factory for increased solar tracker production
PV Hardware USA (PVH), a solar tracking and foundation solutions provider, is expanding its original Houston manufacturing facility, increasing the company’s domestic production capacity to meet growing demand for solar tracking systems. The expansion will add approximately 34,200 sq ft of manufacturing space and increase PVH USA’s overall Houston store capacity by 42%. It opened…
The post PV Hardware expands Houston factory for increased solar tracker production appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/pv-hardware-expands-houston-factory-for-increased-solar-tracker-production/
#solar #production #usa
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-21 16:45:38 GMT

3.5-MW community solar project completed in Illinois Shines program
Generate Capital and TurningPoint Energy celebrated the ribbon-cutting of a new 3.5-MWac community solar project in Sandwich, Illinois, marking another community solar project in Kendall County developed through Illinois’ Adjustable Block Program, now known as Illinois Shines. The project is part of an eight-project, 34.5-MWac portfolio developed by TPE and financed, built, owned and operated…
The post 3.5-MW community solar project completed in Illinois Shines program appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/3-5-mw-community-solar-project-completed-in-illinois-shines-program/
#illinoisshines #solarproject #communitysolar #program #blockprogram #adjustableblock #kendallcounty #generatecapital #turningpointenergy #sandwich
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 20:46:36 GMT

7-MW solar system completed for Arkansas water district
Madison Energy Infrastructure and Verogy have completed a 7.2-MW solar system for Beaver Water District (BWD) in Northwest Arkansas. The project is expected to generate approximately 12,300 MWh annually, meeting 15 to 20% of BWD’s electricity needs. “This solar installation strengthens our ability to deliver safe, affordable, and reliable water to the communities we serve,”…
The post 7-MW solar system completed for Arkansas water district appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/7-mw-solar-system-completed-for-arkansas-water-district/
#waterdistrict #solarsystem #northwestarkansas #energyinfrastructure #beaverwater #bwd #madisonenergy #mwh
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 19:54:54 GMT

Solar + storage project grants new resilience on California reservation
The Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians, in partnership with the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), has completed installing solar and battery storage systems at three Tribal facilities on the Mesa Grande Reservation in San Diego County, California. The project marks the first public clean energy installation on the reservation and another step in…
The post Solar + storage project grants new resilience on California reservation appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/solar-storage-project-grants-new-resilience-on-california-reservation/
#mesagrande #diegocounty #lightfund #missionindians #solar #reservation #grandeband #dieguenomission #electriclight #sandiego
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 19:01:12 GMT

Solar + storage industry group opposes NextEra and Dominion merger
A group of solar and storage industry members called the Storage and Clean Energy Coalition has filed testimony in opposition to the possible merging of utilities Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. “There is no doubt that the proposed merger poses an unacceptable risk to the competitive landscape in Virginia,” the testimony states. “For this reason,…
The post Solar + storage industry group opposes NextEra and Dominion merger appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/solar-storage-industry-group-opposes-nextera-and-dominion-merger/
#storageindustry #energy #cleanenergy #energycoalition #group #merger #solar #virginia
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 18:12:25 GMT

126-MW community solar portfolio being developed in Illinois, Maryland
A portfolio of community solar projects being sited across Illinois and Maryland will result in about 126 MWDC of shared renewable energy in those states. There are 18 project sites in Illinois, accounting for 115 MW, and two in Maryland accounting for 11 MW, which will generate enough energy to power approximately 31,500 homes. Aligned…
The post 126-MW community solar portfolio being developed in Illinois, Maryland appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/126-mw-community-solar-portfolio-being-developed-in-illinois-maryland/
#communitysolar #illinois #maryland #mwdc #aligned
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 17:19:06 GMT

3.75-MWh battery system installed indoors at NY affordable housing building
Good Carbon Co. has installed a 3.75-MWh energy storage system from Viridi at Peace Bridge Place, a 105-unit affordable housing apartment building in Buffalo, New York. The project is likely one of the largest indoor lithium-ion battery systems in an occupied residential building in the United States. At Peace Bridge Place, Viridi’s RPSLinkIN indoor battery…
The post 3.75-MWh battery system installed indoors at NY affordable housing building appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/3-75-mwh-battery-system-installed-indoors-at-ny-affordable-housing-building/
#bridgeplace #affordablehousing #peacebridge #newyork #building #battery #installed #unitedstates #system #viridi
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 16:24:46 GMT

Illinois arboretum commits to sustainability mission with hillside solar project
Construction began this month on a solar array at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, that is expected to produce almost all of the organization’s annual electricity needs. The planned solar array will be built on a south-facing hillside with the goal of increasing energy output while minimizing land use. Once completed, the installation will…
The post Illinois arboretum commits to sustainability mission with hillside solar project appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/illinois-arboretum-commits-to-sustainability-mission-with-hillside-solar-project/
#mortonarboretum #solar #lisle
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 15:58:02 GMT

Solesca adds web-based 3D terrain modeling for early-stage solar design
Chicago-based software company Solesca has launched version 2 of its cloud-based design platform for commercial and industrial (C&I) and community solar projects. The new release features terrain tracking and a 3D view, allowing developers to see how land slopes affect project layouts during the early site evaluation phase.
Other features in the Solesca v2 software also include two new in-house simulation models alongside the existing NREL System Advisor Model (SAM), a new inverter group functionality that incorporates data about each inverter’s MPPT inputs and datasheet DC/AC limits, and the ability to export a complete PVsyst project file.
The company developed the new features in response to customer requests for a realistic 3D view to present to landowners and stakeholders. Customers also requested terrain tracking in a web-based tool for use early in the development process.
“A lot of the expensive surprises on solar projects come from decisions made early with incomplete information,” said Sam Schierloh, CEO and co-founder of Solesca. “Terrain is one of the big ones. We’ve been working on v2 for more than two years, and it gives developers a much clearer picture of a site before they commit to it, which means less time and money spent on projects that were never going to work.”
Terrain work has traditionally been done in AutoCAD later in the development process, which Solesca says can lead to costly surprises if the actual site does not match initial assumptions.
“Our goal is to bring more of the engineering workflow, especially the work that’s historically been stuck in CAD, into a web-based platform,” Schierloh told pv magazine USA.
The Solesca v2 software pulls terrain data from a commercial elevation service that includes government survey data, such as the U.S. Geological Survey’s 3D Elevation Program. The data covers the globe, offering high-resolution survey data of 1 to 10 meters in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and much of Europe. Other regions use a 30-meter global model.
Solesca v2 is now live for all users with terrain tracking available as an add-on. Pricing for the add-on has not been made public, but the company says it will share costs with prospective customers during product demonstrations.
Terrain modeling in other early-stage design software
While Solesca is adding these capabilities specifically for C&I and community solar developers, several other solar design software products offer terrain modeling and topographical analysis for early-stage development targeted toward utility-scale projects.
For example, RatedPower offers a simulation tool called “3D Energy” in its cloud-based design software for utility-scale PV and battery energy storage systems. The platform analyzes site and terrain conditions, adapting designs to real-world challenges to generate optimized layouts.
Glint Solar, another cloud-based platform designed for early-stage utility-scale site analysis, includes built-in topographic data. The software helps developers and engineering teams design solar layouts that account for terrain and interconnection constraints when screening potential solar locations.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/20/solesca-adds-web-based-3d-terrain-modeling-for-early-stage-solar-design/
#solesca #terrainmodeling #solar #design #survey #schierloh #early #advisormodel
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 15:06:15 GMT

Bill McKibben: “The solar panel is the new peace symbol.”
Fossil fuels remain inextricably bound up in modern warfare as cause, weapon, and primary vulnerability. From military engagements aimed at securing foreign crude reserves to targeted strikes on energy infrastructure, volatile oil and gas assets continue to drive global instability.
Writing in a recent Substack post, environmental advocate Bill McKibben highlighted how substituting hydrocarbons with distributed renewable generation fundamentally alters the strategic calculus of international conflict.
“If we lived on a planet that ran mostly on wind and solar power, war would be less likely,” McKibben noted. “It’s hard to fight over sunshine.”
The intersection of oil and military conflict is visible across active geopolitical flashpoints. U.S. intervention in Venezuela has focused heavily on securing governance and low-cost off-take rights to over 65 billion barrels of proven reserves. Similarly, military operations targeting Iranian energy nodes, including the Kharg Island oil terminal, demonstrate how central energy infrastructure remains in modern theater operations.
Beyond direct conflict, fuel supply disruptions serve as leverage for economic coercion. The ongoing U.S. oil blockade of Cuba has constrained the island grid, resulting in rolling blackouts that disrupt basic municipal services, healthcare, and industrial output. Meanwhile, attacks on energy infrastructure across Eastern Europe and the Middle East continue to destabilize regional power markets.
In response to grid vulnerability and fuel insecurity, nations and consumers are treating clean energy deployment as an operational hedge. Island nations like Cuba and war-impacted regions in Europe are accelerating rooftop solar and battery storage installations to build localized resilience against centralized fuel shocks.
Every solar system installed on a roof or balcony generates clean, decentralized power directly on site, bypassing the logistical vulnerabilities of imported fuel and insulated from geopolitical blockades. Because sunshine is ubiquitous and impossible to hoard or blockade, replacing centralized fuel supply chains with distributed solar assets strips petrostates and military aggressors of their primary economic leverage.
Simultaneously, clean energy adoption across transport and heating is eroding structural oil demand. European electric vehicle sales reached 600,000 units in September 2026, marking a 39% increase year-over-year. Key markets led the expansion, with France surging 78% year-over-year and Germany rising 61%.
In California, which represents the fourth largest economy in the world, the grid regularly achieves stretches where clean energy meets more than 100% of total demand. When the sun sets, the state increasingly relies on large scale battery storage systems that spent the afternoon soaking up cheap, excess solar generation. This dynamic battery buffer has allowed California to slash its natural gas consumption for electricity by 60% over a brief two year window.
“We live on a planet where the cheapest way to make power is to point a sheet of glass at the sun,” McKibben said on a recent appearance on the Ezra Klein podcast.
As McKibben emphasizes, every solar array, heat pump, and electric vehicle deployed directly reduces global reliance on centralized, vulnerable hydrocarbon supply chains. While regulatory friction and political shifts can affect short-term project timelines, the underlying economic dominance and security benefits of solar generation make the transition irreversible, establishing clean power infrastructure as a foundation for geopolitical stability.
“The solar panel is the new peace symbol. Pass it on,” McKibben said.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/20/bill-mckibben-the-solar-panel-is-the-new-peace-symbol/
#billmckibben #solar #island #cuba #europe #easterneurope #middleeast #khargisland
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 14:40:18 GMT

Duke Energy Florida completes 75-MW Bailey Mill solar site
Duke Energy Florida recently completed construction on the 74.9-MW Bailey Mill Solar Center, a solar site located near Monticello in Jefferson County. “The launch of Bailey Mill is another step toward lowering long-term energy costs for our customers,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Every solar site we bring online reduces the amount…
The post Duke Energy Florida completes 75-MW Bailey Mill solar site appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/duke-energy-florida-completes-75-mw-bailey-mill-solar-site/
#dukeenergy #baileymill #energyflorida #millsolar #solarsite #jeffersoncounty #solarcenter #melissaseixas #monticello
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 14:15:28 GMT

Qnetic testing flywheel to compete with lithium-ion for grid-connected energy storage
Sacramento-based Qnetic has begun low-speed testing of its flywheel energy storage system at its technology center in Shanghai, China. The prototype unit, dubbed Pulsar, represents a continuation of the company’s mechanical storage architecture that is expected to have an initial capacity of 200 kWh and expandable to 500 kWh with the same platform, which would enable four-hour storage at a nominal discharge rate of 125 kW.
Flywheels store energy in rapidly spinning rotors as kinetic motion. Surplus electricity is injected into the system, accelerating the rotor to high speeds. When power is needed, a generator converts kinetic energy back into electricity, slowing the rotor. Advocates for the technology say that flywheels could challenge battery-based energy storage systems (BESS) now dominant for renewables on the grid.
Qnetic reported in September that Pulsar had successfully completed its first 100 continuous charge-discharge cycles with zero faults or capacity degradation. Tested separately, the system’s motor produced 130 kW of power output at 97.3% efficiency with speeds exceeding 11,000 rpm.
Qnetic has established a factory and headquarters in Sacramento where it intends low-volume production of commercial Pulsar units. Pulsar will be evaluated in a pilot program by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) under the auspices of a risk-reduction initiative run by the Electric Power Research Institute. Qnetic aims to be able to start the pilot in the first half of 2027.
Michael Pratt, co-founder and CEO of Qnetic, told pv magazine USA that his company’s implementation of flywheel technology is intended to overcome many of the shortcomings of lithium-ion batteries, particularly in the areas of cycling rates and degradation over time.
“When we were formulating our concept about five years ago, grid-connected lithium-ion batteries in the form of large, containerized systems were just getting into the mainstream,” Pratt said. “It was pretty clear at the time that batteries were too expensive, but the main problem was the degradation issue.”
According to Pratt, the pressing need to integrate renewables on the grid argued for BESS, with its drawbacks, as the best solution then available. Since then, he notes, many billions have been spent trying to improve battery chemistry, but the fundamental issues remain: cycle life and calendar life.
“Lithium-ion batteries are typically doing one cycle per day, and they’re only going to last so many years,” Pratt said. “In addition, the whole time you’re using them, they are getting weaker and weaker. We knew that flywheels had the characteristics to cycle repeatedly on the grid and not lose capacity over time. We also saw that nobody was putting together all the pieces in the way needed for grid storage.”
Historically, flywheels have served as energy storage devices, rapidly delivering high power for short-duration applications measured in minutes or even seconds. Examples include backup power in telecommunications and data centers, or as bridging power until diesel generators come online. Precision control and high output power has also made them suitable for creating tokamaks in fusion energy experiments.
Qnetic’s goal is to produce flywheels suitable for long-duration energy storage on the grid. If four-hour performance is just this side of “long,” it still fulfills many utility requirements. Moreover, flywheel units may be grouped into banks that can be tapped over longer periods of time. Also, discharge rates can be varied to meet demands.
Deployed grid-scale units are buried in the ground with the control machinery accessible through an exposed dome, an arrangement that suggests eggs in a carton. Pratt positions flywheels as safer than lithium-ion batteries from a fire perspective, but the high speeds of the rotors still require consideration in case of “rapid unscheduled disassembly.” He adds that safety measures like making sure the motor stays short of imparting the rotor’s maximum rated speed will keep this from happening.
Competing flywheel maker Amber Kinetics has also developed a version of its 32-kW units for above ground deployment in steel shipping containers.
While Pratt makes arguments for how flywheels overcome some specific drawbacks of BESS – namely cycling and degradation issues – he acknowledges that the mechanical storage technology faces developmental hurdles of its own in order to reach higher capacities and economies of scale.
Some of these are addressed in Pulsar’s architecture. The unit features a carbon fiber rotor rotating in a vacuum on no-contact magnetic bearings, all but eliminating friction. The rotor is kept clear of the central shaft using technology similar to that which enables magnetic levitation trains to travel with no contact with the rails. The assembly is housed in a cylindrical steel container.
A key objective in Pulsar’s development is to increase the strength of the composite rotor, which is made with carbon fiber filaments. The stronger the rotor, the faster it can be made to rotate, and the more kinetic energy stored. With Pulsar’s current configuration, further iteration of the carbon fiber will enable the increase of its capacity to 500 kWh.
“As you build up, you get excellent economies of scale,” Pratt said. “If you double the physical size, you can get eight times the potential energy capacity in that envelope. The second thing you want to do is go fast. You want to make a really strong rotor so that you can spin quickly. So, a really good rotor and going quite large are the keys to getting a low-cost system.”
At the same time, Pratt says there are practical considerations about achieving higher capacity and thus cost-effectiveness through size. One is that the company is essentially breaking new ground with composite rotors. The improved rotor is made using a process called filament winding from carbon fiber, and Pratt says it is not common to manufacture these larger than about two-and-a-half meters in diameter.
“We’re going to cycle the hell out of it, see if anything breaks, and if it does, we’ll fix it,” he said. “Once we’ve gone through that proving process, then we do the first pilots.”
On the whole, Pratt says, all of the fundamental technologies leading to Pulsar are mature and in service. Other than perhaps fabricating a larger carbon fiber rotor, Qnetic is doing a lot of systems integration and control optimization work as opposed to original engineering and research and development. The goal is to achieve MW-scale flywheel units based on a subsequent generation.
If flywheels seem like an exotic energy storage solution, that’s largely because they have generally been relegated to niche applications. A spokesperson for Qnetic told pv magazine USA that grid-connected flywheel pioneer Beacon Power deployed 400 of its 100 kW (25 kWh) units at two utility sites in New York and Pennsylvania between 2011 and 2014 to provide fast-responding frequency regulation. Each location had 200 units with a nameplate capacity of 20 MW (5 MWh), and both are still providing frequency regulation service and generating revenue.
Pratt says flywheel technology has only gotten better and more reliable. He says an asset lifetime in excess of 30 years and the ability to cycle multiple times a day with rapid response and no degradation make flywheels a promising energy storage solution at all scales, including long-duration grid applications.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/20/qnetic-testing-flywheel-to-compete-with-lithium-ion-for-grid-connected-energy-storage/
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pulsar-Workers-1024x570.jpeg
#energystorage #qnetic #pratt #pulsar #flywheel #grid #power #bess #sacramento
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 13:46:02 GMT

Jinko unveils 510-W all-black residential solar panel
JinkoSolar has unveiled Tiger Neo 5.0, an all-black residential solar module built on its all-new TAC technology — a combination of TOPCon and HJT. The first version to reach the market, an all-black 48-cell module, delivers a maximum power output of 510 W with a module efficiency of 25.52%. It was designed to redefine the…
The post Jinko unveils 510-W all-black residential solar panel appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/jinko-unveils-510-w-all-black-residential-solar-panel/
#residentialsolar #tigerneo #hjt #tac
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 13:19:19 GMT

Safety by design: PCS Considerations in mixed PV and battery energy storage systems
As solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) become increasingly common, installers frequently encounter projects that combine equipment from different manufacturers. While these systems may operate independently without issues, integrating them into a shared electrical infrastructure introduces important safety challenges that designers must address.
The challenge of different ecosystems
Consider an existing PV system paired with a newly installed battery from another manufacturer. Although both systems may be individually certified, they do not necessarily communicate or coordinate their power output.
The battery’s controller may monitor existing PV production through current transformers (CTs), but it may not have the ability to reduce or shut down the third-party inverter’s output.
This becomes a significant concern when both systems can simultaneously supply power to the same electrical infrastructure. Without proper engineering, their combined output could exceed the allowable current ratings of shared conductors or busbars.
One of the most overlooked design issues is assuming that monitoring an independent energy source is equivalent to controlling it. When equipment operates outside a common ecosystem, designers must account for the potential output of every independently operating source.
The role of PCS in mixed-manufacturer systems
A Power Control System (PCS) provides a means of managing power flow to maintain defined electrical limits, offering greater flexibility when integrating multiple energy sources.
NEC 705.13 in the 2023 edition establishes requirements for using listed PCS equipment to limit current on busbars and conductors. However, the presence of PCS functionality does not automatically guarantee that all connected energy sources are controlled.
In mixed-manufacturer installations, a battery PCS may have direct control over its own inverter while having no authority over the existing PV system. In these situations, the independently operating PV system must be accounted for when establishing the PCS operating limits.
For example, a properly configured PCS may maintain the required electrical limits by adjusting battery charging and discharging in response to PV production, without directly controlling the third-party inverter.
The critical consideration is whether the PCS has sufficient control authority to maintain the required limits under all relevant operating conditions.
Proper PCS application and system safety
Correct PCS application begins with identifying the electrical equipment requiring protection and evaluating the maximum potential contribution from every connected energy source.
Designers must establish a control strategy that accounts for simultaneous PV production and battery discharge while ensuring that the ratings of shared conductors, busbars and other electrical equipment are not exceeded.
CT placement is particularly important. Sensors must be installed at the appropriate measurement points to provide the PCS with accurate information about the power flowing through the equipment being protected.
Equally important is understanding the PCS’s control limitations. When the primary controller cannot regulate an independent PV source, the system must be designed to maintain the required limits through the equipment it can control or through another approved protection method.
Designers must also evaluate how the system responds to communication failures, incorrect measurements and loss of control. The proposed configuration should be supported by applicable equipment listings, manufacturer instructions and the adopted electrical code. Proper commissioning must verify that the PCS operates as intended.
Conclusion
Integrating PV and BESS equipment from different manufacturers offers significant flexibility, particularly when adding battery storage to existing solar installations.
However, these configurations require careful consideration of independently operating energy sources.
The presence of a PCS alone does not guarantee a safe installation. Designers must understand which sources can be controlled, account for those that cannot, and verify that the control strategy maintains the required electrical limits.
Ultimately, safe system integration depends on designing around the actual capabilities of the PCS rather than assuming that every connected energy source operates within a coordinated ecosystem.
By Vahe Hayrapetyan. Hayrapetyan is an engineer and Managing Director of Energy Solar, Inc., a California-based solar EPC company working on residential and commercial PV and battery storage projects.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/20/safety-by-design-pcs-considerations-in-mixed-pv-and-battery-energy-storage-systems/
#pcs #pcsconsiderations #storagesystems #energystorage #battery #safety #power #design #control #correctpcs
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 12:53:36 GMT

Solesca adds 3D terrain modeling to latest design software
Commercial and community solar design service Solesca is launching the second version of its software, which will now add terrain variability and slopes for designing ground-mounted and rooftop solar projects. “A lot of the expensive surprises on solar projects come from decisions made early with incomplete information,” said Sam Schierloh, CEO and co-founder of Solesca.…
The post Solesca adds 3D terrain modeling to latest design software appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/solesca-adds-3d-terrain-modeling-to-latest-design-software/
#software #solesca #design #samschierloh
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 12:00:04 GMT

DC utility operator approves ConnectDER meter collars for capital’s grid
Pepco approved ConnectDER‘s meter collar products for solar, battery storage and EV charging installations for installation across its service territory in Washington, D.C. D.C. joins ConnectDER’s national footprint of 54 utilities reaching nearly 40 million households, with further utility expansion in progress. ConnectDER’s adapters plug directly into the existing meter socket on the outside of…
The post DC utility operator approves ConnectDER meter collars for capital’s grid appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/dc-utility-operator-approves-connectder-meter-collars-for-capitals-grid/
#connectder #meter #washington
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 09:00:46 GMT

Six-year testing highlights impact of reduced maintenance on PV plant operation during COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers at Djillali Liabes University of Sidi Bel-Abbes have published the findings of a six-year performance assessment of a 12 MW grid-connected solar power plant in Sidi Bel-Abbes, western Algeria, covering the period from 2018 to 2023.
The study revealed a significant decline in the plant’s performance in 2020, primarily attributed to reduced maintenance activities amid restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This drop in yield underscores the crucial role of regular maintenance in minimizing energy losses and sustaining optimal system performance,” the researchers said.
The solar plant in Sidi Bel Abbes uses Sunny Central 800CP XT inverters from German manufacturer SMA and 47,808 polycrystalline silicon HSL60-PB-1–250 modules from Hanwha Qcells, each rated at 250 W and mounted at a 34° tilt facing south. The installation is divided into six 2 MW subfields, each equipped with two inverters and connected to a step-up transformer.
The Sidi Bel Abbes solar plant was equipped with a monitoring system that records operational and meteorological data every 15 minutes in accordance with IEC 61724 standards. Its control room houses two computers, one for plant supervision and data collection and another for grid monitoring. An on-site weather station measures solar irradiance, ambient temperature, humidity and wind speed.
To minimize dust-related energy losses, the facility used a semi-automatic cleaning system featuring rotating brushes mounted on a tractor-towed frame. The researchers assessed the plant’s performance using several indicators, including reference yield, array yield, final yield, performance ratio and capacity utilization factor. They also evaluated inverter and overall system efficiencies to determine how effectively solar energy was converted into electricity.
Array capture losses and system losses were calculated to identify inefficiencies in electricity generation and conversion. Finally, the researchers examined long-term module degradation by tracking changes in effective peak power under standardized irradiance and temperature conditions.
The testing showed that ambient temperatures followed stable seasonal patterns, ranging from around 8–10 C in winter to 22–24 C in summer. Solar irradiation varied between 100 and 275 kWh/m² per month, with the highest levels recorded in June and July. Annual electricity generation ranged from 19.83 to 21.41 GWh, with 2019 recording the highest output, followed by 2023. Monthly production peaked at 2,258 MWh in August 2019, while the lowest output of 1,125 MWh occurred in January 2020.
Average daily reference, array and final yields were 5.65, 4.92 and 4.65 hours, respectively. Capture losses ranged from 0.3 to 1.5 hours per day, while system losses varied between 0.1 and 0.5 hours per day. Despite favorable irradiation conditions, the plant experienced a marked performance decline in 2020, attributed primarily to reduced cleaning and maintenance during COVID-19 restrictions. The performance ratio fell to 78.74% in 2020 from 85.37% in 2019, before gradually recovering to 84.83% in 2023. Its six-year average performance ratio reached 82.6%, exceeding that of several comparable installations worldwide.
Module efficiency generally ranged between 12% and 14%, while inverter efficiency remained stable at approximately 97–98%. The average annual capacity factor was 19.3%, reaching a maximum of 20.30% in 2019. The researchers also estimated degradation rates of 4.12% and 4.38% under two different irradiance and temperature conditions. They concluded that the plant demonstrated competitive long-term performance despite temporary operational setbacks, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and improved cleaning systems for sustaining electricity production.
Their findings were presented in “Evaluation of an Algerian solar power plant efficiency: Six-year performance of 12 MWp grid-connected photovoltaic,” published in the Journal of Engineering Research.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/19/six-year-testing-highlights-impact-of-reduced-maintenance-on-pv-plants-during-covid-19-pandemic/
https://www.pv-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-s2.0-S2307187726004190-gr3_lrg-1024x691.jpg
https://www.pv-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-s2.0-S2307187726004190-gr2_lrg-1024x399.jpg
#reducedmaintenance #sidibel #plant #belabbes #pandemic #solar #djillaliliabes #liabesuniversity #testing #hanwhaqcells
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 08:07:37 GMT

National storage targets fall 45% short of COP29 pledge
National energy storage targets compiled by UK-based think tank Ember total 822 GW by 2030, 45% below the 1,500 GW committed internationally at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29). The gap persists despite official targets having nearly tripled since 2024 and annual battery installations reaching record levels.
The COP29 commitment, made by 74 countries, calls for global energy storage capacity to increase sixfold to 1,500 GW by 2030. Before the November 2024 summit in Baku, national targets totaled 284 GW. The current 822 GW represents a 190% increase but remains 678 GW below the international commitment.
National targets also fall short of BloombergNEF’s forecast of 1,200 GW of global battery storage capacity by the end of the decade. Ember estimates that maintaining the installation rate recorded in 2025 through 2030 would bring cumulative global storage capacity to approximately 1,020 GW. That would exceed current national targets by 24%, but still fall short of the COP29 commitment.
Global installed energy storage capacity reached 430 GW at the end of 2025. A further 118 GW was added during the year, 40% more than in 2024. Batteries accounted for 108 GW of the additions, driving most of the sector’s growth.
Annual battery additions increased from 9.5 GW in 2021 to 108 GW in 2025, more than an elevenfold rise in four years. China accounted for 54% of new storage installations in 2025, followed by the United States with 16%. Falling system costs have supported expansion, with Ember estimating average annual cost reductions of around 20% over the past decade.
Storage power capacity, measured in gigawatts (GW), indicates the maximum rate at which a system can charge or discharge. The service each installation can provide also depends on its duration, typically measured in megawatt-hours (MWh) or gigawatt-hours (GWh). Power capacity targets alone therefore do not establish how much energy each country can shift from periods of renewable surplus to periods of higher demand.
Meeting existing national targets would require an average of 78 GW of additional storage capacity annually between 2026 and 2030. That is below the volume installed in both 2024 and 2025. Ember sees the difference as a sign that governments could raise their targets.
Most of the increase in ambition is concentrated in China and the European Union. China has raised its 2030 target from 130 GW to 460 GW. The revised goal includes 300 GW of new-generation energy storage, predominantly batteries, and 160 GW of pumped hydro storage.
The European Union adopted a target of 200 GW of energy storage by 2030 in June 2026. China and the EU together account for more than 80% of the national targets identified by Ember. Since COP29, eight countries and the EU have raised their targets or announced new commitments, but most major solar markets have made no significant changes to their plans.
Australia has revised its projections to 33 GW by 2030, while Vietnam has set a target of 22.3 GW, comprising 16.3 GW of batteries and 6 GW of pumped hydro. India, Spain and Italy are among the markets that have not increased their targets since the Baku summit.
Spain retains its target of 22.5 GW of energy storage by 2030, included in its National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), approved in September 2024. The plan envisages 12.5 GW of daily or weekly storage and a further 10 GW of seasonal storage, without specifying the allocation between batteries and pumped hydro.
Ember identifies updating national targets as the main challenge. As renewable generation capacity grows, power systems need more storage to shift electricity between hours, limit renewable curtailment, manage grid congestion and provide flexibility. Battery deployment continues to accelerate, but national policy targets for 2030 have yet to reflect either the pace of installations or the international commitment to 1,500 GW.
From pv magazine España
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/19/national-storage-targets-fall-45-short-of-cop29-pledge/
#storage #targets #ember #changeconference #climatechange #nationsclimate #short #fall #europeanunion #unitednations
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 07:15:07 GMT

The rapidly growing business of solar grazing
The business of solar grazing, using animals to manage vegetation at solar sites, has taken off in along with the growth of solar in the U.S. According to Stacie Peterson, executive director of the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA), solar grazing became a business in 2018. This was one year before the U.S. achieved two million solar installations.
The United States Solar Grazing 2024 Census was the first to attempt to capture the full scope and scale of U.S. solar grazing. Conducted by ASGA in conjunction with U.S. Department of Energy National Lab of the Rockies (NREL), the census found that over 113,000 sheep grazed through fields of solar panels on 129,000 acres of land. The 2025 census has not yet been released, but Peterson told pv magazine USA that she believes the numbers have greatly increased.
The ASGA Solar Grazing Map is a resource for solar grazers and solar site operators and developers to connect with each other and build partnerships. Credit: American Solar Grazing Association
What solar grazers bring to solar sites is expertise in agriculture, land stewardship, vegetation management, soil health knowledge and forage and weed knowledge, according to Peterson. Graziers provide additional benefits to solar developers or owners including their connections within the local community and their deep understanding of the land.
Having a regular physical presence at the site is another plus, which Rebekah Pierce, solar grazer and owner of New York-based J&R Pierce Family Farms said has great value to O&M teams. “It’s hard to quantify on paper what being on site means to the O&M team, but we’re there every other day. If we see an issue that needs to be addressed like a loose wire or a hole in a fence, we let them know and that issue is addressed.”
While most solar grazing is done with sheep, J&R Pierce Family Farm raises cows as well as sheep. Pierce proposed a cattle-grazing pilot to Nexamp, a solar developer that grazed livestock at 89 sites this past season across five states for a total of almost 2,000 acres, according to Keith Hevenor, communications manager.
“We began our grazing program in 2019 with just one site and have been expanding significantly each year since,” Hevenor said. “We are looking forward to even more progress next year and love that our grazing partners are able to continue an agricultural application on these solar farms while providing a necessary service for us in a safer and more sustainable way.”
The cow pilot began last summer on two of Nexamp’s solar sites in Fort Covington, New York. Five cattle, including one bull, grazed among the solar modules mounted on trackers, and it was a success with the cows showing “no unusual behavior,” according to Pierce. She said that sheep remain the most flexible option for solar sites, especially those that were not designed for grazing larger animals. Pierce noted, however, that grazing cattle is worth consideration, especially when looking at market potential and the fact that Americans consume far more beef than lamb.
J&R Pierce Family Farm grazed cattle on two of Nexamp’s solar projects in New York state. Credit: J&R Pierce Family Farm
The arrangement between the solar grazer and the developer are different depending on region and for different graziers, Peterson said. In addition to signing an agreement that works for both parties, Pierce stressed that communication is key, so it’s important to have a connection with the right person in the company, especially in light of the fact that solar projects are commonly acquired and new people take the helm.
Many times, enhancing communication requires dispelling misconceptions. Pierce said that in most cases, livestock are less risky than mechanical mowers and other farm equipment. She said sheep don’t chew on wires and damage things, they don’t kick up rocks, they’re not creating fire risk. These misconceptions, she said, just aren’t true and the benefits are many.
A main challenge for both parties is in educating one another about priorities and how they can work together successfully.
“The more corporate world of solar companies can be quite the dichotomy from the one of farmers/ranchers, and vice versa,” said Matt Kovarik of Maine-based Black Earth Grazing. “Once we both do a little work of educating each other on our systems, the partnership can serve both interests and work out quite successfully.”
ReVision Energy, a renewable energy contracting company based in New England, has partnered since 2024 with Black Earth Grazing on a dual-management solar grazing program. It’s been so successful that the farmers changed the name from Black Earth Forest Farm to Black Earth Grazing. They started with 40 ewes and now manage a flock of several hundred. They’re currently responsible for 11 of ReVision’s community solar sites, and the flock keeps growing as more solar sites become available.
The many benefits of solar grazing for solar companies include vegetation management that requires fewer fossil fuels than mechanical methods, a human presence on site and a connection to local graziers who provide products to the community pay taxes, support local services and more.
“We are there to provide vegetation management, but we are a bit more invested in the land and its productivity than a mowing crew would be, as we are deriving benefits from a healthy well-managed pasture that feeds our sheep,” said .
For the grazier, the benefits include the pay they receive for performing land stewardship and vegetation management and access to a greater land area that enables them to expand the size of their operations.
Solar grazing offers a cost-effective solution to land stewardship and vegetation management, with many other tangible benefits as a bonus. For solar developers interested in solar grazing, ASGA offers a one-day workshop for site operations and management teams, developers, asset managers and sustainability teams. Participants receive a Level 1 Solar Grazing Management Certification.
Register for pv magazine USA week to learn more about solar grazing October 22 in a keynote fireside chat with Silicon Ranch, one of the leading solar grazing installers in the U.S.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/19/the-rapidly-growing-business-of-solar-grazing/
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/SolarGrazingMapASGA-1024x564.jpg
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/image-18.png
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Callout-Box_USA-Week-2026.png
#solargrazing #grazingassociation #americansolar #pierce #business #asga #according #staciepeterson #census #energynational
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 06:23:40 GMT

Colorado approves largest solar lease on state trust lands
The Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners approved a land use lease for the 120 MW Mirasol Solar Project on 1,140 acres of state trust land in Pueblo County, making it the largest solar installation in agency history.
The project anchors a broader push by Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ administration to deploy renewable energy infrastructure across state-owned parcels. Revenue generated from the project’s lease agreement flows directly to Colorado’s Public School Fund. The state’s public school endowment recently surpassed $2 billion in total assets as the Land Board marks its 150th year.
Developed by Mirasol Energy Center, LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, the project is located on 1,140 acres approximately five miles south of Avondale in Pueblo County. County land-use filings authorize a facility size of up to 200 MW of photovoltaic solar generation alongside 200 MW of battery energy storage, interconnecting to the Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo / Xcel Energy) grid via a new 230 kV transmission line hookup at the existing Mirasol Switchyard.
Following local permit extensions and state land lease approvals, the project is scheduled to enter commercial operation in late 2028.
State officials structured the lease to combine commercial solar generation with utility-scale battery energy storage systems. Land Board administrators noted that the project helps the agency advance toward its administrative target of hosting 750 MW of clean energy capacity across its statewide portfolio.
“Surpassing $2 billion in the State Land Board’s 150th year is a powerful example of history with purpose,” said State Land Board Director Nicole Rosmarino. “The value generated from these lands does not end with a single lease or a single generation. It becomes part of an enduring trust that will continue supporting Colorado students well into the future.”
The approval aligns with constitutional mandates requiring the Land Board to generate consistent financial returns for K-12 public education while applying statutory conservation stipulations across leased acreage. Project development timelines and interconnection schedules will proceed following local county permit filings.
According to Solar Energy Industries Association market reports, Colorado hosts 5.77 GWdc of installed solar capacity alongside 2.3 GWh of energy storage. The state market accounts for $11.1 billion in total solar investment, 170,281 individual installations, and supports 8,071 solar jobs across 379 local companies.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/19/colorado-approves-largest-solar-lease-on-state-trust-lands/
#landboard #colorado #state #energy #solar #largestsolar #project #lease #pueblocounty #publicschool
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-20 05:32:02 GMT

Watchdog group predicts utilities will oppose transmission reform that could yield 200 GW of clean energy
The trade group American Clean Power (ACP) has endorsed the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 recently introduced in the U.S. Senate, highlighting the bill’s transmission and permitting provisions that would benefit clean energy.
Four other pro-solar trade groups have also endorsed the bill: the Solar Energy Industries Association, Advanced Energy United, the American Council on Renewable Energy, and the Clean Energy Buyer’s Association.
Fossil industry groups also back the bipartisan bill, while environmentalists have said the bill’s permitting provisions would fast-track oil, gas and pipeline projects by weakening environmental reviews.
ACP projects that the bill’s reforms of transmission planning and siting could enable “roughly 200 GW of clean energy, with more as the grid expands.”
ACP says the bill would reduce interconnection delays and costs by enabling clean energy developers to plan ahead for where new generation may connect to expanded transmission. The bill would also boost transmission capacity in existing transmission rights-of-way.
But those transmission provisions are at risk from utility opposition as the bill moves through Congress, according to an analysis from the Energy and Policy Institute (EPI) published on its “Utility Watch” Substack.
Starting from the premise that “utilities make money by building stuff” and earning a regulated return on that investment, EPI says that business model suggests that utilities would want to build more transmission.
But long-distance transmission lines create value, EPI says, by letting cheaper power from one region displace power in another region from plants that are more expensive to operate. Those more expensive power plants are owned by a utility.
That means, EPI says, that even if one utility could profit by building transmission, another utility could lose revenue as low-cost clean power flows in. EPI’s analysis cites a finding by an academic study that one utility could have lost net revenues of $850 million in a single year in the absence of transmission constraints, because low-cost renewable power would have reached the utility’s customers, outcompeting the utility’s fossil generation.
Utilities in the Southeast, EPI says, have historically “done the most to block transmission, and are likely to be the ones who will do the most intensive lobbying against” the bill’s transmission provisions, “based on their track record.”
The analysis provided examples from a previous EPI report that described actions by Southeastern utilities “to kill regional transmission planning.”
In EPI’s current analysis, the authors do not expect Southeastern utilities to “outright oppose” the bipartisan bill, but instead to “try to find any means possible to act privately to subvert” the bill’s transmission provisions. EPI said utilities might oppose those provisions through donations to a political action committee, advocacy through a sympathetic union, and funding of trade associations and think tanks.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/19/watchdog-group-predicts-utilities-will-oppose-transmission-reform-that-could-yield-200-gw-of-clean-energy/
#cleanenergy #transmission #epi #utility #americanclean #cleanpower #americanaffordability #energyindustries #solarenergy #acp
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-16 22:22:46 GMT

Nightpeak Energy brings second 300 MWh phase of Texas project online
Californian-based power infrastructure company Nightpeak Energy has reached commercial operation of the second phase of its Bocanova battery energy storage system (BESS) in southeast Texas, doubling the site’s total capacity to 300 MW / 600 MWh, adding flexibility to the ERCOT grid.
Nightpeak Energy announced that the 150 MW / 300 MWh Bocanova 2 project in Brazoria County entered commercial operation on September 17, following financial close.
The project doubles the capacity of the Bocanova BESS, where the first 150 MW / 300 MWh phase, Bocanova 1, began commercial operation in August 2025.
Bocanova 2 is equipped with Tesla’s Megapack 2 XL battery storage systems and operates under a long-term offtake agreement with an unnamed investment-grade counterparty.
Financing for the project was provided by MUFG Bank through a tax equity bridge loan and a construction-to-term loan, while U.S. Bank provided traditional tax equity financing.
Paris Hays, co-founder and CEO/CDO of Nightpeak Energy, said Texas is experiencing rapid growth in electricity demand and will require additional infrastructure and flexible energy storage resources to support it.
“With 300 MW now operating at Bocanova, we’re putting that kind of flexibility to work in one of the most dynamic power markets in the country. We’re grateful to the City of Alvin, Brazoria County, and the local community for their support in bringing Bocanova to life,” said Hays.
Founded in 2022, Nightpeak Energy said it has developed and acquired a portfolio exceeding 1 GW of “operating and de-risked capacity spanning gas-fired generation, battery storage and powered land development.”
In other ERCOT news, independent power producer Linea Energy recently closed project debt financing and a preferred equity commitment for the 250 MW / 500 MWh Mesa View BESS in Upton County, Texas.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/16/nightpeak-energy-brings-second-300-mwh-phase-of-texas-project-online/
#nightpeakenergy #mwhphase #texas #bocanova #brazoriacounty #bess #second #viewbess #hays #mufgbank
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-16 21:29:42 GMT

Why solar carports are emerging as a strategic growth opportunity for commercial solar
Commercial solar developers have traditionally looked first to rooftops and open land for available PV capacity. PV Magazine has highlighted growing interest in solar carports among schools, municipalities, manufacturers, and other commercial projects, noting construction and engineering considerations that are distinct from those of conventional rooftop installations. There are also new evolving policy changes around sourcing involving Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC), domestic content and FCC authorization. Choosing a manufacturer has become a much more complicated process on all projects.
I’ve seen the shift to carports firsthand in the Northeast, particularly in Massachusetts, where more customers I work with are considering carports instead of, or alongside, rooftop and ground-mounted systems. Suitable ground-mount sites can be difficult to find, permit, and interconnect, while commercial roofs may have space, structural, or age constraints.
A parking lot gives businesses another option on property they already control. Carports can also bring several energy objectives together on the same site. A business can generate electricity, provide covered parking, and create infrastructure that supports resiliency and energy savings through battery energy storage. For developers and EPCs, however, taking advantage of that opportunity requires approaching a carport as more than a rooftop solar project moved onto a steel structure.
Start with the site, not the modules
One of the first questions I ask when evaluating a carport project is straightforward: What does the site actually look like? Parking lots that appear simple on a drawing can become complicated once construction begins. You need to understand the soil, underground utilities, drainage, traffic patterns, accessibility requirements, and how customers or employees will continue using the property while construction is underway.
That makes early coordination particularly important. The recent PV magazine coverage of solar carport construction identified geotechnical conditions, foundations, buried obstructions, steel costs, and structural design among the variables that can quickly affect project economics. Carports were described as heavy construction combined with solar, which is a useful way for contractors to think about these projects.
For installers tackling their first carport, construction logistics are among the most easily underestimated areas because the work often takes place in an active parking lot. Contractors need to determine whether construction can happen in phases, how much of the lot must close, where vehicles will be redirected, and how crews will safely access the work area. Those questions can affect both the project schedule and the customer experience, so they should be considered during design rather than after crews arrive on site.
Think about maintenance before construction ends
Access also needs to be considered after commissioning. Depending on the design, carport structures can place equipment well above ground level. Lifts and other equipment may already be on-site during construction, but those resources leave when the project is demobilized. Returning later for maintenance can require additional rented equipment and labor. That means O&M should influence design decisions from the beginning.
The same principle applies to equipment placement. Components requiring regular service should, where the electrical architecture permits, be installed where technicians can reach them efficiently. There may also be advantages to centralizing certain equipment rather than distributing it throughout the canopy, depending on the number of conductors, the wiring distances, and the overall electrical design. This is why comparing equipment prices alone does not provide a complete picture of the economics of carports. Developers need to evaluate DC and AC wiring, conductor runs, labor, construction access, and long-term maintenance alongside the canopy’s cost.
Design today for resiliency and energy savings
Battery energy storage is another area of growing customer demand. On top of business continuity concerns during volatile weather, more and more utilities are adding (or raising) their Time of Use rates. Batteries can be used for peak shaving/peak shifting to avoid added demand charges. Storage helps customers turn their PV carports into 24-hour assets.
PV carports and storage should be planned together, even if the batteries are funded for a future phase. In early meetings, developers should ask whether the customer expects to add storage over the next five or 10 years. Where would battery enclosures need to be in the future system? If trenches are already being opened for PV conductors, designers can consider additional conduit capacity for storage rather than requiring the customer to reopen the parking lot later.
Installation readiness is only part of the equation. Designers also need to size the PV array and storage capacity for the customer’s anticipated future load, not just what’s needed today, so the system can support growth (EV charging and other added critical loads) once storage comes online. A carport that’s physically prepped for batteries but undersized on inverter, switchgear, or interconnection capacity won’t deliver much real resiliency benefit.
The broader lesson is to consider the property’s future electrical needs when designing the original infrastructure, even if PV and storage are ultimately installed in later phases.
Carports change the project economics & benefits
Carports generally require more structural work than rooftop solar. Foundations/piers, steel, trenching, and construction equipment all add cost and complexity, which means developers need to look beyond a simple cost-per-watt comparison. The economics become more interesting when you consider what else the structure provides. A rooftop installation generates electricity, but a carport can also provide covered parking and establish infrastructure for future demand and energy storage. It can help customers reach their generation goals when their roof cannot accommodate the desired system size.
Customers also use carports to showcase their ESG commitments to their own customers and employees. Building something that tangibly benefits employees every day can help show their team that they care. And renewable assets also signal to the public that a company or municipality is providing stewardship of the environmental future. Why not capture soft benefits with the financial benefits of energy savings?
For EPCs, the important question becomes whether all the benefits justify the additional construction cost for a particular customer. That calculation will vary significantly by site, which is another reason carports require careful early-stage engineering rather than a standardized design approach.
A growing opportunity requires a different skill set
Solar carports present an interesting opportunity for commercial PV by allowing developers to turn an existing piece of real estate into an energy-producing asset while potentially preparing the property for additional electrification. But the opportunity comes with a learning curve. Contractors entering this market need to think more deeply about foundations/piers, traffic management, underground conditions, equipment access, O&M, and future electrical loads than they might for a straightforward rooftop installation.
For developers already working in commercial solar, those challenges are manageable when they are addressed early. The strongest carport projects I see are the ones where teams consider the entire lifecycle of the site: how it will be constructed, how people will continue to use the property, how technicians will maintain the equipment, and how the customer’s energy needs could change over time. As commercial customers add solar and storage, parking lots can become a much more important part of the energy equation. For the solar industry, the opportunity is to design those projects with that future in mind.
About the Author:
Deep Shamani is a Senior Field Applications Engineer at SolarEdge with nearly a decade of experience in commercial solar engineering and project development. Prior to joining SolarEdge, he worked as an engineer for a solar developer, designing commercial and ground-mount PV projects. Shamani is a NABCEP-trained PV Installation Professional and holds a postgraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/16/why-solar-carports-are-emerging-as-a-strategic-growth-opportunity-for-commercial-solar/
#solar #commercialsolar #solarcarports #parking #foreignentities #magazine
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-16 20:30:09 GMT

Swift Current alleges widespread module defects in lawsuit against First Solar
Renewable energy developer Swift Current Energy is suing First Solar in New York state court, alleging the manufacturer knowingly supplied defective solar modules and used deceptive testing to hide significant performance issues.
The complaint, filed in Sept. 2026, alleges that First Solar supplied over 2.4 million defective Series 6 Plus and Series 7 thin-film cadmium telluride modules across three major U.S. solar installations, including the 800 MWdc Double Black Diamond project in Illinois.
The developer states it paid more than $360 million for the equipment, which it claims has consistently failed to meet promised power output metrics.
According to the complaint, the modules experienced increased degradation and significantly lower-than-expected output immediately upon installation in 2023 and 2024. Swift Current says it initially submitted formal warranty claims on Dec. 23, 2024, after discovering the widespread underperformance.
First Solar formally responded on May 2, 2025, stating that the developer had not adequately described or provided evidence of the claimed defects, and noted that evaluating power output claims based on system-level performance data is invalid under the warranty terms.
The module maker requested that Swift Current coordinate with its technical support to conduct individual module power output measurements in a laboratory. Swift Current’s court filing called this proposed remedy “commercially impossible,” arguing it would require shipping more than 1.5 million modules back to First Solar at a cost exceeding the value of the claims.
In the complaint, Swift Current points to its inability to meet commitments to its commercial offtakers under power purchase agreements as a result of the power output loss. In addition, the developer says it has lost revenue from decreased compensation under capacity contracts it signed for two of the projects in question.
Defect allegations
Swift Current claims that First Solar identified two primary errors in its manufacturing process that led to lower power output in 1.6 million of the modules it purchased from the module maker.
The developer alleges First Solar knew about the defects at the time it shipped modules to its sites, but concealed them from the developer until October 2024. Importantly, one of the defects alleged in the complaint appears never to have been publicly acknowledged by the module maker.
The first type of these errors, which Swift Current calls “Edge Grind Defects” is related to a flaw in the manufacturing process for Series 7 modules first publicly disclosed by First Solar in an Oct. 2024 earnings call.
In the call, First Solar CEO Mark Widmar provided details how the company identified the issue early in Series 7 production, in which materials that have been ground from the edge of module glass “calcify” onto the glass during the “dwell time” between the grinding step and a module washing step that occurs after.
At the time, First Solar said it had identified and taken actions to address the edge grind issues and was taking a warranty charge of $50 million in anticipation of providing service to buyers of affected modules.
The second, previously-undisclosed type of defect is referred to in the complaint as “Substrate Defects,” which Swift Current alleges arose from a change to the manufacturing process initiated by First Solar in 2021, which prevented the absorber layer for its Series 6 Plus and 7 modules from forming as designed. The complaint states these defects “impacted the annealing process, film quality, recombination rates, and ultimately, module power output.”
Swift Current says it was presented with an investigative report First Solar commissioned from Leidos Engineering, LLC to examine its Series 7 modules, which identifies the two defects being present in the modules. The complaint says the Leidos report found an average power loss of approximately 8 percent for modules tested after nearly one year of field deployment.
The complaint also goes further, alleging “metastability losses inherent in First Solar’s thin film cadmium telluride technology,” which can result in seasonal loss of power output during cold periods of the year.
Swift Current alleges that First Solar artificially inflates its modules’ nameplate power ratings using a secret, proprietary “preconditioning” testing method that masks the metastability loss by testing module power output immediately after subjecting the panels to at least eight hours of extreme heat, voltage and irradiance.
The complaint says that while the edge grind and substrate defects were present in more than 1.6 million of the modules it received, all 2.4 million failed to perform as promised, with the alleged metastability issues solely at fault for lower-than expected production from the remaining modules.
Swift Current is seeking damages and restitution due to the alleged defects. In addition, it has asked the New York court to apply penalties under a Massachusetts law regarding willful misconduct, because the Swift Current employees who evaluated the modules and negotiated the deal to purchase them are based at the company’s headquarters in Massachusetts and the commercial relationship between the two companies was managed there.
The case is active and ongoing, with the parties scheduled to appear before Justice Andrew Borrok of the New York county commercial division of the New York state supreme court on Nov. 16, 2026.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/16/swift-current-alleges-widespread-module-defects-in-lawsuit-against-first-solar/
#firstsolar #swiftcurrent #module #defects #series #newyork #blackdiamond #doubleblack #energy
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-16 19:36:31 GMT

In case you missed it: Solar stories of the week
Texas to account for almost half of domestic U.S. silicon module production in 2027
Texas is projected to produce over 45% of U.S. silicon-based solar modules in 2027 within 100 miles of the I-45 corridor, driven by rapid multi-gigawatt facility deployment and pro-business incentives according to Terawatt PV Research.
U.S. power prices fall with utility-scale solar, rise with rooftop
MIT researchers say there is no link between renewable portfolio standards or utility-scale wind and solar and higher U.S. residential power prices, but rooftop solar correlates with higher rates and distribution costs.
China solar down 29%, everywhere else up 15%
BloombergNEF’s projection that solar industry would decline for the first time in decades, has proven prescient with China capacity down over 100 GW, while the world has continued a measured pace of growth.
USITC finds material injury from solar imports from India, Indonesia, and Laos
Following affirmative dumping and subsidy findings by Commerce, the International Trade Commission’s final vote secures the issuance of federal antidumping and countervailing duty orders.
Battery energy storage failures are down 98% since 2018 and continue to decline
The research institute EPRI found that the current failure rate of battery energy storage systems globally is comparable to that of large oil-filled transformers. EPRI’s report recommends continued measures to improve battery system safety.
Column sponsor: CAB Solar
The leader in above-ground cable management.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/16/in-case-you-missed-it-solar-stories-of-the-week-1016/
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/CAB-Solar-1024x702.png
#solar #texas #internationaltrade #laosfollowing #tradecommission #epri #battery #cabsolar #china #terawatt
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-16 18:38:12 GMT

Patent lawsuit points to 10 GW ingot and wafer equipment import for Tesla’s $10 billion Texas solar factory
A federal patent lawsuit filed in East Texas indicates that massive quantities of Chinese crystal-pulling equipment are bound for Texas to build out a 10 GW solar production line.
Court filings and public records tie the multi-hundred-million-dollar machinery deal to Tesla’s planned $10.1 billion vertically integrated solar gigafactory in Fort Bend County, highlighting the U.S. solar industry’s continued reliance on imported heavy machinery to establish domestic ingot and wafer manufacturing.
Linton Crystal Technologies, an equipment maker based in Rochester, New York, filed a patent infringement complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Chinese machinery manufacturer Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical and Electrical, known as JSG.
The legal dispute centers on high-precision industrial furnaces called Czochralski crystal pullers. The machines melt raw silicon and grow monocrystalline silicon ingots, which are subsequently sliced into thin wafers to make solar cells. Ingot pulling represents the foundational first step in the entire solar manufacturing chain.
What the lawsuit claims
Linton alleges that JSG infringed on its patented designs for specialized seed-lifting and rotating systems used inside high-temperature crystal pullers. The systems carefully regulate the growing silicon crystal as it is drawn out of the molten material to ensure uniform structure and diameter.
According to the court complaint, Linton and JSG competed directly to supply crystal-growth furnaces for a major photovoltaic project in the United States.
Linton claims JSG secured the supply contract by utilizing contested designs and subsequently began importing the hardware into the country.
To establish personal jurisdiction in Texas, Linton cites public market reports showing that JSG secured a massive contract to supply crystal pullers and associated equipment for a 10 GW photovoltaic production line in Texas, with deliveries scheduled in 2026.
Potential connection to Tesla
Although Tesla is not named as a defendant in the litigation, the location, equipment scale, and delivery timelines match public regulatory filings for Project Crystal Sun, Tesla’s proposed $10.1 billion vertically integrated solar cell and module factory in Fort Bend County, Texas.
Recent local regulatory proceedings show that the local school board approved property tax incentives for the massive project footprint. The filings outline an $8.6 billion capital commitment specifically earmarked for manufacturing equipment and personal property. Unlike standard assembly facilities that simply wire imported cells into finished panels, equipment lists for the Texas project detail comprehensive machinery for upstream ingot pulling, wafer slicing, chemical coating, and automated cell fabrication.
Industry context
The litigation highlights the intense competitive pressures surrounding upstream machinery as developers race to build domestic solar wafer and cell production lines. While U.S. manufacturing incentives and domestic content rules encourage fully localized supply chains, the specialized heavy hardware required for ingot and wafer manufacturing remains heavily reliant on global equipment suppliers.
Neither Linton, JSG, nor Tesla immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the litigation. The case, Linton Crystal Technologies Corp. v. Zhejiang Jingsheng Mechanical and Electrical Co., Ltd., is pending before U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/16/patent-lawsuit-points-to-10-gw-ingot-and-wafer-equipment-import-for-teslas-10-billion-texas-solar-factory/
#texas #tesla #patentlawsuit #solar #jsg #easttexas #equipment #crystal #bendcounty #fortbend
#rss #feeds #linksharing #qwibbit

2026-10-16 12:56:30 GMT

Solar inverters in 115°F heat why they slow down, and what quits first
Temperatures on a typical Las Vegas afternoon can reach 115°F, which is already near the operating limit for a lot of home solar inverters. An unventilated attic, or a west-facing stucco wall in full sun, exceeds that temperature range. When an inverter “folds back,” it is protecting itself by making less power, and the part…
The post Solar inverters in 115°F heat <br><span style='color:#404040;font-weight:600;font-size:15px;'>why they slow down, and what quits first</span> appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/solar-inverters-in-115f-heat/

2026-10-15 21:40:54 GMT

From broken panels to responsible recovery: Green Clean Solar leads industry recycling efforts
Solar projects are built to generate clean energy, but construction and operations can also generate materials that need to be managed responsibly. At a solar site in Maysville, Georgia, broken and damaged solar panels created a need for a responsible recycling solution, bringing in Green Clean Solar, a Georgia-based, woman-owned company specializing in solar waste…
The post From broken panels to responsible recovery: Green Clean Solar leads industry recycling efforts appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/from-broken-panels-to-responsible-recovery-green-clean-solar-leads-industry-recycling-efforts/

2026-10-15 21:30:33 GMT

Jackery steps into RVs with built-in 2 kW solar and 45 kWh storage
Outdoor and home backup storage maker Jackery has announced it is entering the smart electric trailer market, partnering with California-based Pebble, which makes travel trailers.
Jackery will deliver new custom solar panels and connections that add power to the new 2027 Pebble Flow as an optional extra for buyers who want to add self-reliance through solar power. Together it’s dubbed an “all-new category of mobile off-grid energy”, while noting mobility freedom and power independence.
As for definitions, an RV is a recreational vehicle, a broad term for any motor vehicle or trailer equipped with a place to stay, cook, and live, usually for travel and camping. Defining it further, a trailer can be an RV, though not all RVs are trailers!
In the new Pebble Flow, when parked and deployed, the system delivers approximately 2 kW of additional solar input. The panels connect directly to Pebble Flow’s all-electric microgrid, which pairs a 45 kWh LFP battery with up to 4 kW of combined solar input and up to 12 kW of power export to a home, another RV or an electric tow vehicle.
In response to questions, Jackery confirmed to ESS News that it doesn’t supply the 45 kWh battery, but the new solar add-on setup.
“We didn’t want to just put two logos on a product,” said Bingrui Yang, CEO and founder of Pebble. “Jackery has spent years building portable power that people count on, both at home and outdoors. Their solar panels connect straight into Pebble Flow’s own energy system, so travelers get the same steady, easy-to-use power on the road that they have at home. That’s the idea behind Jackery’s ‘Home on the Road, Power on the Go.’”
Specs and options
In terms of the new Pebble, the Jackery-based add-in is a $4,000 extra for the 2027 Pebble Flow’s ‘Founder Edition’ of the trailer, and goes on top of a list price of $189,000.
The setup includes four high-efficiency 500W solar panels, four matching 3-meter solar extension cables and a four-in-one solar connection junction.
Other configurations are available. Self-Powered Package hardware is expected to begin shipping in December 2026.
From ESS News
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/13/jackery-steps-into-rvs-with-built-in-2-kw-solar-and-45-kwh-storage/

2026-10-15 20:49:38 GMT

4-hour battery storage is cheaper to install than gas turbines all across globe
Wood Mackenzie’s latest global report on levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) shows that advancing technologies and market dynamics continue to drive divergent prices, with four-hour battery storage now less expensive than open-cycle gas turbines in all 43 markets where both technologies were modeled. In the Middle East and Africa, where utility-scale solar already leads at…
The post 4-hour battery storage is cheaper to install than gas turbines all across globe appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/4-hour-battery-storage-is-cheaper-to-install-than-gas-turbines-all-across-globe/

2026-10-15 19:28:03 GMT

Pisgah Energy installs solar on third building for craft furniture maker
Pisgah Energy has finished a third solar project for Vanguard Furniture, continuing a multi-year partnership between the North Carolina-based businesses. Building on two earlier solar investments in Conover, North Carolina, Pisgah has completed a 848-kW rooftop system at Vanguard’s manufacturing facility in Hillsville, Virginia. The project should offset 95% of the craft furniture building’s electricity…
The post Pisgah Energy installs solar on third building for craft furniture maker appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/pisgah-energy-installs-solar-on-third-building-for-craft-furniture-maker/

2026-10-15 19:07:39 GMT

Integrated Power Services acquires aftermarket solar inverter company Bold Renewables
Integrated Power Services (IPS), a power management lifecycle service, has acquired Bold Renewables, the transaction effective October 9th. Headquartered in Windsor, Colorado, Bold Renewables provides field service, spare parts and preventive maintenance for Advanced Energy central solar inverters branded Solaron, NX, TX and PV Powered. “The acquisition of Bold Renewables brings new and exciting inverter…
The post Integrated Power Services acquires aftermarket solar inverter company Bold Renewables appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/integrated-power-services-acquires-aftermarket-solar-inverter-company-bold-renewables/

2026-10-15 18:21:35 GMT

China solar down 29%, everywhere else up 15%
In December 2025, BloombergNEF projected a pullback in global solar installations, with China slowing and the rest of the world growing. Ten months later, China has slowed more than expected. The rest of the world has grown slightly faster.
BloombergNEF now projects 584 GW of solar installations in 2026. That is a 10.8% decline from 655 GW in 2025. In December, it forecast 649 GW. In the first quarter of 2025, it expected 753 GW. That earlier 2026 figure is 29% higher than today’s forecast.
When asked whether there have been any surprises in the solar industry in 2026 – any Pakistan’s for instance – BloombergNEF CleanTech Analyst Jenny Chase said, “Honestly, none so far, a big theme has been no major booms. I don’t think it has anything to do with Chinese politics or pricing.”
BloombergNEF estimates China installed 383 GW in 2025. It now expects 271 GW in 2026, a 29% decline. In the group’s 2025 Q4 projection, China had been forecast for 2026 was 341 GW.
In December, BloombergNEF CleanTech Analyst Jenny Chase said growth in China “cannot continue at its historical breakneck pace.” She now attributes the deeper slowdown to saturation. “We doubt that either batteries or EVs will halt this, they just slow it down a little,” Chase told pv magazine USA.
Last year China deployed 383 GW of solar capacity, of which Chase noted the “breakneck” pace. The nation-state is projected to decline a massive 29% to 271 GW deployed. Through the end of June 2026, China installed about 71.8 GW of PV, down from 212.2 GW in the same period of 2025, a even sharper decline of roughly 66%.
The decline came as part of a shift in policy and a new five year plan taking attention off of capacity, and focusing on energy storage.
Outside of China, non-utility, and batteries
The world has slightly outperformed BloombergNEF’s projections. 2025’s deployment capacity of 272 GW was projected to grow to 308 GW – a 13% pop. Current projections put global capacity at 313 GW deployed, well within the end of 2025’s margin of error.
Growth is coming from markets like India, “chugging along”, the Philippines, Nigeria and Malaysia. Regarding both Nigeria and the Philippines, Chase pointed out that the growth in those markets was almost entirely residential and commercial based.
This aligns with a recent report, shown in the above BloombergNEF chart, that with the pullback in utility scale solar in China – non-utility solar is now the largest sector of global renewable energy investment.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/15/china-solar-down-29-everywhere-else-up-15/
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/image-16.png

2026-10-15 17:34:03 GMT

EcoFlow releases new 5-kWh energy storage system
EcoFlow has released a new energy storage system, the Titan Series. The residential battery comes in three versions: 5000, 5000 Plus, and 5000 Classic. The flagship of the lineup, Titan 5000 Plus, delivers 7.2 kW of output from a 5-kWh battery. Titan can scale up to 30 kWh. Paired with the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel…
The post EcoFlow releases new 5-kWh energy storage system appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/ecoflow-release-new-5-kwh-energy-storage-system/

2026-10-15 16:40:38 GMT

Omnidian celebrates its 10-year anniversary, looks to the future with a new offering
Omnidian is celebrating 10 years of providing performance assurance support to the owners of distributed solar and energy storage systems. The company’s portfolio comprises residential systems as small as 2 kW — including more than 100,000 orphaned systems — and also covers thousands of large behind-the-meter installations, with the biggest being 23 MW.
During its first 10 years in business, the Seattle-based company says it has served more than half of the largest distributed generation independent power producers (IPPs) in the United States and now manages greater than 6 GW of solar assets and 3 GWh of battery energy storage systems in the U.S. and Australia.
On the cusp of its second decade, Omnidian is poised to rapidly grow the second of those figures. The company is introducing a new commercial battery energy storage system (BESS) offering, which it calls “an end-to-end technical asset management solution” that features OEM-agnostic O&M and financial reporting built for corporate owners, developers, IPPs and investors.
To celebrate the anniversary and discuss the new BESS product, Omnidian CEO Mark Liffmann sat down for an exclusive interview with pv magazine USA. The discussion highlighted the company’s beginnings supporting systems installed by its earliest clients, along with the factors that have allowed it to continue servicing those systems despite the fact that many of those clients no longer exist.
Liffmann detailed the company’s founding in 2016, describing how in the early days of the residential solar boom that followed the 2008 expansion of the Section 25D tax credit, O&M teams at many early residential solar players like SolarCity and SunPower were working to manage their asset portfolios on spreadsheets.
“The reality was they weren’t getting real resources to build out software to better manage their assets because all those companies in the space were really focused on origination and not focused on long-term asset management,” Liffmann said. “We set out from the beginning to build something that will last, that can accompany these long-lived assets and keep them working for asset owners.”
Omnidian’s approach was to build tools that could be used by companies across the industry, taking on the heavy lifting so that individual O&M departments didn’t all have to invent their own methods. Liffmann ended up partnering with many of the people he met at those early companies, co-founding Omnidian with Dave Kenny and Ray Szylko.
Liffmann credits the company’s unique role in the industry as one of the reasons it has lasted a decade, while many other early companies in the space folded years ago.
“We have a fundamentally more stable business model than you see in the space, because we are generally attaching to assets that have a long life and need to be cared for over many years,” Liffmann said. “We’ve got Fortune 100, Fortune 10 companies who rely on us to keep their assets working, or from a leasing/PPA company or an IPP in the commercial space who owns thousands or, in the residential case, tens or hundreds of thousands of assets.”
Through it all, the CEO says the company has remained humble and focused on its mission to protect and accelerate its clients’ capital investments in clean energy.
“10 years is great. We’re not going to pat ourselves on the back for that — maybe at 30 or 40 years we’ll start patting ourselves on the back,” Liffmann said. “We see this as just a mile post in a very long marathon we’re running. We intend to be here for a very long time and to be taking care of these solar and storage assets for a very very long time.”
Leveraging the data
One of the unique assets Omnidian has developed over the past 10 years is data. The company says its performance data now totals more than 1.7 million asset years, giving it a clear picture of how to best manage its O&M portfolio, along with a view into equipment failure rates few others see.
Liffmann says the company leverages that data in two ways. The first way helps the company do better remote detection and diagnosis of problems. “That enables us to avoid truck rolls when we don’t need to roll a truck to fix an issue, or when an issue is not really an issue, but also roll a truck once with the correct equipment on it to do the repair and not have to do multiple truck rolls if we can avoid it,” he says.
The company also shares its data on failure rates with clients, which can help with procurement. With regard to equipment, Liffmann says that, on the whole, manufacturers have gotten more reliable over time, but some problems persist.
Liffmann identified problems with AC hardware in the commercial and community solar space as one issue. “The AC side of some of these systems used to be pretty rock solid, and it is not anymore,” he said. “When those pieces go, it brings down a whole site and generally has a long lead time to address.”
Liffmann said the company will use its recent observations to recommend more reliable products to its clients, and will also direct resources to dedicated medium-voltage technicians and spare parts to be able to mitigate some of the problems with these inverters.
On the residential side, the CEO identified rapid shutdown devices (RSDs) as a major concern. The United States is one of the only countries in the world to require the installation of RSDs in rooftop solar. The devices are meant to quickly de-energize a solar array when the main disconnect switch is enabled to protect firefighters, but analysts have cautioned that the devices seem to introduce more problems than they solve.
“We don’t want firefighters to be chopping through live wires,” said Liffmann. The reality is, across the world, there have been to my knowledge no instances of that happening. But we’re putting more electronics on the roof and those electronics are failing in relatively large numbers. So that’s another challenge we see in the industry, and we can see that in our data and tell a given customer which RSDs are more or less reliable to help them make those choices.”
Building a new battery offering
Liffmann says the company’s commercial BESS solution is a response to a market that is finally starting to see more commercial-scale battery installations. While the residential industry has seen a boom in battery installations in places like Hawaii and California, where energy export credit values have fallen in recent years, the commercial boom is only just now taking hold.
“We’ve got handfuls of battery energy storage in commercial assets today, but high numbers in the pipeline,” Liffmann said. “It’s all coming through the pipeline now, generally attached to solar, although we’re starting to see a little bit of independent battery depending on where you can make the economics make sense.”
The company says its new commercial BESS solution will combine continuous performance monitoring, visibility into availability for dispatch across OEMS, warranty management, lifecycle and degradation modeling and planning support, and of course, field service and support.
The company plans to demo the new offering in meetings at RE+ 2026, Nov. 16-19 in Las Vegas.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/15/omnidian-celebrates-its-10-year-anniversary-looks-to-the-future-with-a-new-offering/

2026-10-15 15:45:38 GMT

Nominate the Rising Stars of US solar
For the last few years, Solar Power World has highlighted the work of individuals making a difference at not only their employers but in the larger U.S. solar market. We’ve featured marketers, installers, advocates, designers and PV professionals from many different corners of this industry, and we’re once again asking you to nominate your peers…
The post Nominate the Rising Stars of US solar appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/nominate-the-rising-stars-of-us-solar/

2026-10-15 14:56:35 GMT

Flatiron Energy closes $850 million in financing for 1,200 MWh Boston area battery project
Flatiron Energy has secured approximately $850 million in construction and term financing commitments for the Energizar battery project in Chelsea, Mass.
The standalone energy storage project will be the largest on the East Coast and one of the largest urban battery energy storage systems globally, designed at 1,200 MWh.
Commercial operations for the Energizar project are pegged for the fourth quarter of 2027, said Flatiron Energy. Once online, the facility will provide critical peaking capacity and reliability resources for the Boston metropolitan area grid, helping to offset local reliance on fossil-fuel-fired generation.
The financing commitments span construction and bridge loan facilities, term loan facilities, letter of credit facilities, a preferred equity commitment, and a tax credit transfer commitment.
The debt facilities were provided by a consortium of financial institutions, with Nord/LB, Santander, and Societe Generale serving as coordinating lead arrangers; Investec and East West Bank acting as joint lead arrangers; and Siemens Financial Services participating as a lender. East West Bank served as depositary, while Santander acted as administrative agent.
A premier global credit asset manager with more than $350 billion in assets under management provided the preferred equity commitment, and two Fortune 500 corporations committed to transfer a portion of the project’s investment tax credits (ITCs).
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Foley Hoag LLP represented Flatiron Energy. Winston & Strawn LLP and Rath, Young and Pignatelli, P.C. represented the lenders.
CCA Capital LLC advised Flatiron on the preferred equity investment and tax credit transfer, while Riverside Risk Advisors acted as hedge advisor to Flatiron for interest rate hedging activities. Raymond James Renewable Energy Investments advised the tax credit purchasers.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/15/flatiron-energy-closes-850-million-in-financing-for-1200-mwh-boston-area-battery-project/

2026-10-15 13:30:43 GMT

Texas to account for almost half of domestic U.S. silicon module production in 2027
More than 45% of all silicon-based solar module production in the United States during 2027 is forecast to take place within a radius of roughly 100 miles from the centrally located I-45 Industrial Corridor in Texas, dominated by assembly plants in the Greater Dallas and Greater Houston regions.
These findings are taken from the latest updates to Terawatt PV Research’s new Solar Manufacturing USA Quarterly report that forecasts the capex and production of domestic U.S. solar manufacturers out to 2030.
The state’s ascent to the top of the domestic landscape has been driven by a select group of multi-gigawatt manufacturers. Companies such as SEG Solar, Canadian Solar, Waaree Energies, and TOYO Solar have chosen Texas for its efficient deployment of capital. Often by retrofitting existing industrial infrastructure, these manufacturers have significantly minimized the time between site commitment and manufacturing ramp, skipping the lengthy construction timelines associated with massive greenfield projects.
The broader appeal of Texas as a manufacturing powerhouse extends beyond the availability of empty warehouses or the solar sector alone. Texas has aggressively positioned itself as a leading national destination for advanced industries by leveraging pro-business fiscal policies and targeted economic incentives. Consequently, the state has built a highly attractive operational launchpad that is drawing significant aerospace, automotive, and high-tech expansions alongside the solar manufacturing boom.
It is noteworthy that several companies also have major plans for new silicon-based cell factories in Texas from 2027 onward, complemented by an emerging network of raw material suppliers rushing to meet the rapid uptick in regional module assembly. Then, of course, there is Tesla. Quite possibly, by 2030, this highly integrated silicon-based ecosystem could make it increasingly difficult for other states to compete on inward investment packages. More importantly, it will cultivate a specialized, highly skilled factory workforce in Texas on a scale that the U.S. solar industry has never seen before.
To register your interest in the Solar Manufacturing USA Quarterly report, please send an email to: [email protected]
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/15/texas-to-account-for-almost-half-of-domestic-u-s-silicon-module-production-in-2027/

2026-10-15 12:47:21 GMT

Standard Solar acquires two Washington projects from OneEnergy
Standard Solar has acquired two solar projects in Washington from OneEnergy Renewables, marking the companies’ first projects together in the state. The projects — Palouse Junction in Connell and Cunningham in Othello — will bring a combined 15.79 MW of new ground-mounted solar capacity to eastern Washington. The acquisitions reflect Standard Solar’s continued growth in distributed…
The post Standard Solar acquires two Washington projects from OneEnergy appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/standard-solar-acquires-two-washington-projects-from-oneenergy/

2026-10-15 12:00:20 GMT

Meter socket adapters are approved by 86 utilities across 33 states
Eighty-six utilities in 33 states have approved customer use of meter socket adapters (MSAs) for connecting residential distributed energy resources, based on data provided on the websites of MSA manufacturers Tesla, ConnectDER and Enphase.
That’s according to a joint regulatory filing by Efficiency Maine Trust, the Maine Office of the Public Advocate and the consultancy EquinoxDG (available as filing #43 in this docket).
An MSA attaches to a home’s electric meter socket, and is electrically connected to solar panels, energy storage or an electric vehicle charger—or potentially all three. This wiring approach bypasses the main electrical panel and can eliminate the need for a costly panel upgrade.
But even in the 33 states, not all utilities allow the use of MSAs. Maine is one example. The joint parties’ filing recounts numerous roadblocks that Maine utility CMP presents to the wide use of MSAs, quoting a CMP comment that MSAs can create “serious safety hazards.”
But Vaughan Woodruff, principal of EquinoxDG, said on social media that certification to the UL 414 standard addresses safety concerns.
Equinox DG and the two other joint parties called on Maine regulators to require the state’s transmission and distribution utilities to permit a customer to use an approved MSA provided that certain conditions are met, including that the MSA model is certified or listed in accordance with UL 414 or an equivalent standard, and that the installation also meets certain criteria.
For advocates in other states seeking to address utility concerns on MSAs, Woodruff said the joint comments “get into the weeds on the standards governing MSAs while highlighting the importance of safely giving customers access to these devices.” He highlighted how wider approval of MSAs can reduce electricity costs for all customers by facilitating participation in virtual power plants consisting of distributed home batteries.
Home batteries
The joint parties see wider use of MSAs as key to wider adoption of home batteries, particularly through Efficiency Maine’s small battery incentive program, which offers incentives to battery manufacturers to compensate battery owners for delivering energy to the grid at times of peak demand.
The parties quote Josh Oxley, owner of solar installation firm Logix Maine, saying that using Tesla’s Backup Switch MSA for a residential installation of a Tesla Powerwall 3 saves $700 in parts and two hours or more of an electrician’s labor compared to another approved method.
“This scale of cost reduction has a material impact on the overall success and impact” of Efficiency Maine’s small battery program, the parties say.
“Batteries offer more than just backup power,” Efficiency Maine says on its website. For a customer who uses 600 kWh of electricity per month and installs a 15 kWh battery, Efficiency Maine projects battery sharing payments of $500 per year plus $500 per year in time-of-use savings, for a customer who switches to the utility’s time-of-use rate, stores low-cost off-peak power, and uses it when grid power is most expensive.
Over ten years, the net cost of the $20,000 battery would be $10,000, thanks to ten years of payments and savings totaling $1,000 per year.
For a household that uses more electricity, such as an EV owner with a heat pump, a 30 kWh battery costing $30,000 would also have a net cost of $10,000 over ten years, thanks to a doubling of the annual payments and savings, Efficiency Maine says.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/15/meter-socket-adapters-are-approved-by-86-utilities-across-33-states/

2026-10-15 11:20:05 GMT

Ameresco solar + storage project meets 100% of Oregon wastewater site’s energy needs
Ameresco has completed a solar-plus-storage project at the main office of the Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority (RUSA) in Oregon. The $1 million project is the beginning of a multi-phase transformative energy program aimed at enhancing the resilience, sustainability and cost-effectiveness of RUSA’s key facilities, which include its main office, wastewater treatment plant and natural treatment…
The post Ameresco solar + storage project meets 100% of Oregon wastewater site’s energy needs appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/ameresco-solar-storage-project-meets-100-of-oregon-wastewater-sites-energy-needs/

2026-10-15 10:55:49 GMT

Unico launches 330kW bidirectional Grid-Tie Inverter
Unico, a specialist in advanced power conversion technologies, launched its new 330kW bidirectional Grid-Tie Inverter (GTI). The compact, scalable power conversion platform supports solar generation, energy storage or high-power loads, such as data centers.
The inverter was developed in 2025 when Unico signed an agreement to supply Eos Energy Enterprises with DC-to-DC converters, and thus launched a new product line of ultra compact power conversion products for energy storage solutions.
Unico reports that the GTI, its first inverter, operates at 98.5% efficiency and boasts a power density of 72W per cubic inch. The same platform can address a range of system configurations: AC voltages from 380 to 900 VAC are supported and it features a programmable DC voltage range from 600 to 1500 VDC.
The GTI supports parallel operation in groups of ten or more to deliver system power levels exceeding 3.3 MW, the company reports.
“With the explosion of data centers, increase in alternative power generation, and expansion of battery storage across industries, bidirectional capability at 1,500 VDC is increasingly required but remains underserved at the C&I scale by U.S.-manufactured products,” said Mike Canada, Unico CEO.
Unico was launched in 1967 in Wisconsin, originally focusing on testing, oil & gas applications and industrial automation systems. Today the company develops and manufactures power conversion products for data centers, microgrids, electrical systems, and energy storage in its 10 GW manufacturing facility in Franksville, Wisconsin
The Unico GTI is launching at The Battery Show 2026, which runs from October 12 to 15 in Detroit.
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/14/unico-launches-330kw-bidirectional-grid-tie-inverter/

2026-10-15 10:17:22 GMT

Adelphi University covers sports facility with new roof and solar project
A 295-kW rooftop solar system is now producing power at Adelphi University in Long Island, New York. Along with its commercial operation, the school announced a new solar energy initiative for its 75-acre main campus. This solar system was built on Adelphi’s LEED-certified Center for Recreation and Sports, offsetting a portion of the facility’s energy…
The post Adelphi University covers sports facility with new roof and solar project appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/adelphi-university-covers-sports-facility-with-new-roof-and-solar-project/

2026-10-15 09:36:52 GMT

Battery energy storage failures are down 98% since 2018 and continue to decline
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has reported that global annual failures for lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) per deployed GWh have declined 98% from 2018 to 2025.
EPRI defines a failure incident as a large-scale thermal event involving arc-flash, fire, or explosion of a BESS unit. EPRI counted only failures caused by an issue internal to the BESS, rather than an outside cause such as wildfire.
There have been no reported injuries or fatalities in the U.S. related to BESS failures since 2019, EPRI said. That year, a BESS failure and explosion in Surprise, Arizona left eight first responders hospitalized. EPRI credits the U.S. safety record since then to “dissemination of the lessons learned.”
Much of the decrease in the BESS failure rate results from improvements between 2018 and 2020 in BESS design, codes and standards, as well as battery management and operating practices, EPRI said. But the failure rate continued to drop 50% from 2024 to 2025, with the 2025 rate at 0.04 failures per GWh deployed.
In the last few years, grid-scale lithium-ion BESS deployment “has shifted predominantly” towards LFP chemistry (lithium, iron, phosphate) from the previously dominant NMC chemistry (nickel, manganese, cobalt), the report shows.
But with the BESS failure rate declining during a period characterized by both industry learning and a shift in battery chemistry, EPRI said it did not have evidence to determine whether battery chemistry in isolation was a risk factor for system-level BESS failures.
Noting that “all energy infrastructure carries inherent risks,” EPRI said that the current BESS failure rate is “comparable” to that of large oil-filled transformers.
In terms of responding to a BESS incident, EPRI found that “many principles of incident command, site control, and emergency response used for transformer fires are also applicable to BESS incidents,” adding that there has been no report of a fire spreading beyond a utility-scale BESS facility.
EPRI found that indoor BESS facilities are “overrepresented” in failure incidents, and recommended that fire walls or other barriers can be used to segment large indoor facilities and limit propagation between BESS units.
EPRI suggested a potential ongoing opportunity for safety reviews and retrofits of “early-vintage systems” to “help ensure they include the latest codes, designs, and practices.”
EPRI based its analysis on data the institute has collected for its BESS Failure Incident Database. That database includes primarily publicly reported events but also 33 non-public incidents, which accounted for 22% of the total incidents analyzed in the report.
Despite EPRI’s ability to collaborate with other entities to gather data on non-public incidents, the institute said that “limited transparency and data gaps remain a major challenge to a complete database.” EPRI said that “increased transparency from failures is necessary for continued improvement on BESS risk and safety.”
The EPRI report is titled “Risk factors and failure statistics of lithium-ion BESS.”
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/14/battery-energy-storage-failures-are-down-98-since-2018-and-continue-to-decline/

2026-10-15 08:57:37 GMT

Illinois school district invests in solar on three school buildings
Allied Facility Partners, a design-build and performance contracting firm serving K-12, municipal and public-sector organizations across Illinois and Wisconsin, has completed a districtwide rooftop solar project for Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 in Illinois. The completed project includes rooftop solar installations at three district facilities, with a combined system capacity of 843 kW. The…
The post Illinois school district invests in solar on three school buildings appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/illinois-school-district-invests-in-solar-on-three-school-buildings/

2026-10-15 08:16:38 GMT

EcoFlow launches 5 kWh to 30 kWh residential storage systems
EcoFlow is targeting the cost of home battery storage in the US with its new Titan series, offering three models that start at 5 kWh and expand to 30 kWh, along with a pre-wired home panel to cut installation work.
The Titan range, which includes the Titan 5000 Classic, Titan 5000, and Titan 5000 Plus, joins EcoFlow’s existing Delta Pro Ultra and Ultra X systems. In launching, its new products, EcoFlow said it analyzed data from 100,000 households and found that 80% stayed below a rough power demand of 6.7 kW for some 99% of the time. In a standard day, that might be just 15 minutes of high-power draw. That informed the Titan’s design, with the company arguing that most homes do not need the output of its larger systems. That supports its output choice, although backup duration still depends on battery capacity and the loads being supplied.
Titan 5000 specifications and details
The standard Titan 5000 and flagship 5000 Plus match the original Ultra’s 7.2 kW output, but start with a smaller battery, at 5 kWh versus 6.144 kWh.
The Titan 5000 Plus supplies 7.2 kW at 120/240 V, rising to 10 kW when hooked in to a solar supply, with the additional power contributed through a boost function. EcoFlow says it can run a 3-ton central air conditioner alongside a refrigerator, TV and lights, without a soft starter.
On the input side, the Plus handles up to 8 kW of solar through two 4 kW MPPTs, compared with 5.6 kW for the original Delta Pro Ultra. The standard Titan 5000 takes up to 4 kW through one MPPT. The cheaper Titan 5000 Classic drops to 4 kW of output at 120 V, with 3.2 kW of solar input.
The Plus weighs 55 kg and measures 623 mm × 336 mm × 428 mm. Both it and the expansion batteries carry an IP20 rating, requiring dry indoor placement. Charging is specified from 0 C to 45 C, with discharge from -10 C to 45 C. Warranty coverage is five years.
EcoFlow said the new hardware uses a 200 V architecture, LFP cells and silicon carbide power electronics. EcoFlow noted the battery was powered by an “industry-first 40160 tabless 2C LFP cell.” A tabless cell design can effectively reduce heat generation by eliminating traditional narrow current tabs, lowering resistance.
For home integration, the new Smart Home Panel 10 manages up to 10 circuits and supports 50 A, with automatic transfer to battery power in under 20 milliseconds. The company’s home energy management system, OASIS 3.0, manages charging and discharging against household demand, tariffs and weather forecasts.
EcoFlow quotes around $1,200 in installation labor and about two hours on-site. Its seven-business-day installation service starts after permits and approvals are obtained, though this offer or similar was already available with the Ultra X.
FCC authorization for all three Titan 5000 systems are dated July 20, before the FCC’s July 28 restrictions on foreign-produced inverters.
EcoFlow Titan 5000 pricing and availability
For now, pricing is being given in bands in a slightly unusual but welcome move for launch. The Titan 5000 and 5000 Plus will be in the $3,000 range standalone, or the $7,000 range including the home panel and installation. The Classic will be in the $2,000 range standalone, or the $5,000 range installed.
EcoFlow announced availability from Oct. 13, with its product pages currently offer reservations including . Further pricing details are due Nov. 3.
From ESS News
https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/14/ecoflow-launches-5-30-kwh-residential-storage-system/
https://www.ess-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/image-5-png.avif

2026-10-15 07:46:28 GMT

Solar imports from India, Indonesia, Laos to be tariffed beginning in November
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has found that the domestic solar panel manufacturing industry has been harmed by unfairly priced imports from India, Indonesia and Laos. The affirmative final determination by the ITC means that antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) will be placed on silicon solar cells and modules imported from the three countries.…
The post Solar imports from India, Indonesia, Laos to be tariffed beginning in November appeared first on Solar Power World.
https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/10/solar-imports-from-india-indonesia-laos-to-be-tariffed-beginning-in-november/