SOLAR POWER
EIA’s latest Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) projects a 56 percent increase in natural gas production by 2040, overtaking coal as the largest share of U.S. electric power generation. On December 16, 2013, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released the AEO 2014 Early Release Overview presenting updated projections for U.S. energy markets through 2040. The AEO…...
The U.S. residential solar segment witnessed record growth in Q3 2013 with 31,000 individual installations. On December 10, 2013, GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released a report analyzing U.S. solar market performance across 28 states and the District of Columbia during Q3 2013. According to the report, Q3 2013 represents the…...
New York State’s largest rooftop solar PV system connects to the Con Edison network through smart grid technology and computer-controlled remote monitoring. On December 9, 2013, NY State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the completion of the state’s largest rooftop solar installation under the NY-Sun initiative. The 1.56 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) system, installed at…...
Alternative energy project financiers are utilizing the YieldCo model to find new, cheaper sources of capital in 2013, as renewable tax credits set to expire. The YieldCo model is unlocking cash flow value from fast growing companies and providing attractive investment opportunities as money market funds, interest rates, and bond rates remain stagnant. Overview At…...
Development of clean energy and energy efficiency solutions are confronted by challenges including federal policy uncertainties jeopardizing grants and tax credits, state budget constraints, and insufficient capital markets. Several states are exploring ways to leverage public resources with innovative banking and financial mechanisms to facilitate large-scale deployment of low-carbon technologies. Overview Many federal energy subsidies…...
New York City’s largest solar facility to be deployed at Freshkills Park will increase the city’s current renewable capacity by 50 percent. On November 25, 2013, Mayor Bloomberg announced NYC’s largest solar energy facility will be installed at Freshkills Park, Staten Island. The 10 MW facility, with potential to generate five times more power than…...
DOE has announced $30M to develop electrochemical technologies for low-cost distributed generation. On November 25, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $30M in funding to advance distributed power generation technologies under the Advanced Research Projects Agency –Energy’s (APRA-E) Reliable Electricity Based on Electrochemical Systems (REBELS). The REBELS project will support transformational electrochemical…...
DOE has announced $60M in funding to advance solar energy research and development projects under its SunShot Initiative. On October 22, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $60M in funding to reduce solar electricity costs, expedite seamless grid integration, and support the solar energy workforce. The funding will be shared across several solar energy…...
A 2.7 MW solar installation at the Owens Corning site has reached completion, making it the largest installation under the NY-Sun Initiative. On October 15, 2013, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the completion of the largest solar installation under the NY-Sun Initiative. Constellation, a subsidiary of Exelon Corp., financed…...
A number of renewable energy tax credits are set to expire on December 31, 2013. Neither the House nor Senate has introduced legislation or amendments that would likely advance before the end of the year. The expirations will affect multiple industries, including wind, biofuels, and other renewable energies. Overview More than a dozen tax credits…...
California’s AB 327 will facilitate electricity rate reforms, including extension of the net energy metering program that enables consumers to realize economic benefits from harnessing solar energy. On October 7, 2013, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 327 (AB 327) into law, authorizing the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to implement residential electricity…...
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released a study examining increased wind and solar energy integration to the Western Interconnection power system. On September 24, 2013, the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released Phase 2 of the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study, assessing emissions and costs of fossil-fueled power plant cycling…...