Electrek Green Energy Brief: A daily technical, financial and political review/analysis of important green energy news.
Hanwha Q CELLS launches first p-type monocrystalline PERC modules in Europe – Q.PEAK series available in Europe, two variations: Q.PEAK-G4.1 with black frame and white back sheet all black Q.PEAK BLK-G4.1. The Q.PEAK-G4.1 comes in power classes ranging from 295Wp to 305Wp and efficiencies of up to 18.6 % – 18.6% is a nice number. It’s a rooftop solar panel focused on residential. The black on black meets the aesthetic needs of many people. Anyone know what the price is? I think its time for the EnergySage people to update their most efficiency panel charts.
An ‘Awesome’ View at America’s First Offshore Wind Farm – Definitely an awesome view. These wind towers are so big. I’m headed to Block Island sometime this summer to enjoy a drink and check out these turbines.
U.S. ITC moves ahead with Suniva investigation – Investigation No. TA-201-75, the official number the ITC has assigned Suniva’s filing, will “determine whether crystalline silicon photovoltaic (“CSPV”) cells (whether or not partially or fully assembled into other products) are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or the threat thereof, to the domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive with the imported articles.” – This investigation could increase solar prices by 10% for residential customers. If I were you, and I were considering making a purchase – look harder, consider sooner. Commercial and utility business will be affected immediately as project timelines – six months from first handshake to closing a deal is a fast project – mean conversations today will be building in a world after this decision is made. And that means pricing today might mean we add 15-20% onto a commercial project.
Updated: Tucson Electric signs solar + storage PPA for ‘less than 4.5¢/kWh’ – A few update details from yesterday – first detail is that no official pricing information was released 🙂 The second is that the solar power coming from the plant is at under 3¢/kWh – and the third is that the storage portion is going for about 1.5¢/kWh in some way. The articles notes that gas peaker plants cost upwards of 20¢/kWh – this would be a great reduction in price off of that. Don’t ever forget this guy!
Asian and European battery plants being built to rival Tesla – If anything, Tesla building its Gigafactory has woken the other slumbering giants. This competition will drive pricing much harder than we considered – if you were a prudent, but still risk taking type looking for growth – I’d bet on battery pricing falling in strange ways just like solar pricing has.
Sol Voltaics makes manufacturing breakthrough with GaAs PV nanowires – ‘Aerotaxy’ nanowire thin-film reactor process to create GaAs nanowires in quantities that would lead to the production of a commercial film that could be integrated with a traditional silicon solar cell as a tandem cell to boost overall module efficiency by more than 50%, enabling module conversion efficiencies that exceeded 27% – two things to note, 1. They’re getting closer to commercialization. That’s awesome – how long until ready for the market? 2. Doubling solar module conversion efficiencies to 27%? Tell me where to sign up.
Renewable Energy Powers Jobs for Almost 10 Million People – The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) put out a nice global report that gets into many fields. This Bloomberg article shows off keys slides. 24 million renewable energy workers by 2030…that’s a healthy portion of the planet (under 1% though) and a large part of future job growth.
Cool graphic showing off corporate renewables – these companies deserve some attention.
Major companies are shifting to clean energy – and many are teaming up to buy it https://t.co/fCtGX2HI7J #RE100 Via @ClimateGroup pic.twitter.com/yWBa6Y4NI2
— UN Climate Change (@UNFCCC) May 20, 2017
No coal plant in the UK ran for more than 20% in April
UK coal:
Fiddlers Ferry & Aberthaw didn't run at all during April. None of UK coal plants ran for more than 20% of hours – @AuroraER_Oxford pic.twitter.com/MgsnQO53wp
— Simon Evans (@DrSimEvans) May 19, 2017
Header Image – A solar mirror faces the New Mexico sunset at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF) at Sandia Labs. The NSTTF is the only test facility of this type in the United States. The primary goal of the NSTTF is to provide experimental engineering data for the design, construction, and operation of unique components and systems in proposed solar thermal electrical plants planned for large-scale power generation.
Considering residential solar? Understand Solar will connect you with local contractors. Tweet me to pick apart quote.
For more electric vehicle, autonomous transport and clean technology news, make sure to follow us on Twitter, Newsletter, RSS or Facebook to get our latest articles.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments