EGEB: US Solar slowing, Hawaii going 100% renewable transportation, Arctic solar power, more

Electrek Green Energy Brief: A daily technical, financial, and political review/analysis of important green energy news. Featured Image Source.

US solar deployment hits lowest level in two years (w/ charts) – According to the latest figures from GTM Research and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) across the nation 2.03 GW of solar PV was installed, slightly below Q2 2016, which saw 2.05 GW. There are no simple answers to why the industry saw this slump, and instead a variety of factors can be seen. A 51% year-over-year decline from Q3 2016 has more to do with the volume of projects initially planned for completion before the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was extended to 2020, than it does with the weakness this past quarter. There’s a lot of complexity going on in US solar. Smaller utility-scale stuff is on hold because of the Suniva issues – larger utility-scale stuff won’t show up in report just yet. Commercial is actually up in volume, but it’s a smaller component. Residential is down overall – lease and cash dealing with separate complexities. Some of these things are temporary, some are permanent evolutions (less leasing as a percent of the total). Still though, expectations of 12GW of solar power is a lot of solar power. And it’ll grow again soon.

Glendale Pilots Battery Energy Storage – This pilot battery storage system has confirmed the ability of the battery to respond instantaneously to shifts in system load. With an energy storage system of sufficient size, GWP has unprecedented capacity to regulate its transmission system. Beyond future renewable integration, a future BESS of sufficient capacity also may serve as an emergency source of energy to start up generating units, mitigating the impact of potential unplanned disruptions in service. First, I gave you the conclusion of this article because the whole of the article is chock full of technical stuff. And really, it’s not that ‘special’ as lots of folks are starting to do this, but I really liked seeing how a utility tests a new technology and integrates it. But secondly – who would have guessed batteries would be one of the more exciting and futuristic developments of our times? They have given us: faster cars, a more stable power grid, smart phones and they might help us clean up the environment.

New conservative group to tout value of renewable energy – “For too long Republicans have allowed Democrats to lay claim to the issue and drive the message. The Wisconsin Conservative Energy Forum is designed to change that dynamic and bring Republicans into the conversation,” said Scott Coenen, the group’s executive director. Renewable energy can be about job creation, economic development and sustainable cost-saving energy, said Coenen, who acknowledged it’s been a tough sell for some. We’ll take all the help we can get man.

Hawai’i island leaders pledge to transition ground transportation to 100 percent renewable by 2045 – The 100 percent renewable transportation proclamations were signed on the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule’a, which recently finished its worldwide Malama Honua voyage. The voyage’s call to action was resiliency and sustainability in the face of a changing climate. The mayors of Honolulu and Maui also pledged to transition all of their fleet vehicles to 100 percent renewable power by 2035. An island fully powered by wind and solar, with cars and homes all with batteries. I can think of no place where it makes more sense.

So it appears the US Senate wants to alter a proposed tax structure in order to protect wind and solar deals. I’m betting the banks on the list below who are heavily invested in renewable technologies all had some influence in protecting wind and solar power. Has the renewable energy industry gained official clout? Straight up bankers defending the field.

Tax tool crucial to wind, solar spared after deal reached on Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax https://t.co/MQ4gTXPdoc pic.twitter.com/FuubxULZ6G

— Ari Natter (@AriNatter) December 15, 2017

Tweet number two because in the Arctic Circle it makes absolute sense to install solar panels on the facade of your building. Awesome.

Project Spotlight (progress update): Our next large vertical solar array completed on the second building of our AK Village Housing Project with @itekenergy @unirac #sunframe and @Enphase. This array shows the versatility and beauty of vertical solar #design & #construction! pic.twitter.com/QlFy27zlkJ

— Arctic Solar Ventures Corp (@Arctic_Solar) December 14, 2017

Featured image is from the Department of Energy SunShot program. A solar array on a carport in Frederick, Maryland. Photo by Michael Drei.

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