EGEB: Business communities selling solar among themselves, big solar investments, microgrids matter, more

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

The World’s Tiniest Power Market Will Leverage Big Data to Sell Solar – Local medical business campus has a collection of solar panels across many buildings, now with help from a local utility and some software – they’re selling their excess solar power into the local commercial market (mainly on campus it seems). The utility is getting paid some sort of fee for allowing this to go on. The internet started with universities and military bases connecting to each other. US Military talking solar microgrids all the time…universities as well, now we’re moving onto physically tight knit business communities selling among themselves.

Canadian Solar Announces Pricing of the Initial Public Offering of Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund, Inc. in Japan – Subsidiaries of Canadian Solar in Japan are contributing 13 solar power projects with a total installed capacity of 72.7 MWp to CSIF as its initial portfolio. I don’t know exactly how something like this functions with cash flows, ownership of hardware, dividends, etc – but it seems similar to a YieldCO, which have had some bumpy rides in the US with SunEdison and SunPower/FirstSolar. This is another way for investors to move money into solar power dominated investments. Any of our readers mind giving us a sales pitch in the comments on the structure/benefits of a fund like this?

NextEra Energy to acquire 691MW renewable power assets for $812m – NextEra Energy Partners has agreed to purchase around 691MW renewable power assets from NextEra Energy Resources for a total consideration of around $812m. As part of the agreement, NextEra Energy Partners will acquire a 25.9% interest in solar plants Desert Sunlight 250 and Desert Sunlight 300, which are situated in Riverside County, California, US. They have a combined capacity of 550MW. Plus other assets and debt related stuff – which all means I won’t do a normal $/W purchase of $812/619MW because I don’t think it would work like normal. You’d have to know what individual pieces cost and who makes money, does O&M, etc. Nonetheless – $800M+ deal for projects being bought as an investment. This market is getting a lot more liquid.

REC Silicon sees 38% sales increase in Q3 – REC’s production cost for its fluidized bed reactor (FBR) technology drop to $10.4/kg – 9.6% below the guidance of $11.5/kg. Interesting that we can see a company increase revenue, produce it at a lower cost and increase profit margins – while also having to lay off employees specifically in one country due to the laws and broader interactions with another country. The average price outside of China rose to $13/kg outside of China, and $19/kg within. I am not sure, but I do think that the $6/kg price is totally a tariff. In this article a 57% tariff from US silicon producers lines right up.

New Bedford seeks port funds – New Bedford already has a special port built that is long and large enough for wind turbine hardware to be moved through. This money would expand that location it seems. State of Massachusetts is reviewing 15 wind port applications from cities up and down the coast. Kinda cool to be so close (less than a mile) from the port. If we get it – I’ll make sure to take great pictures for you all.

Microgrid Kept Power On Even as the California Wildfires Caused Outages – A new job in the future will be microgrid operator. I’m not sure how many employees will be needed to actually run a ‘small’ microgrid (1? Part-timer? Service company?). Neighborhoods will sell the feature – see Sonnen City in Arizona. Maybe better energy can help us defend ourselves in a fire event like this in the future.

Not saying that it’s the money that made the man act…but I will insinuate it.

Contributions to #Ohio State Rep. Bill Seitz tripled after he began attempts to dismantle renewable energy standards https://t.co/8URvr3jk7c pic.twitter.com/0O5CzLGwTR

— Inside Climate News (@insideclimate) October 29, 2017

Featured image is of community solar project that would seemingly do well as a microgrid. Speaking of tight communities. This SunPower by E2 Solar installation for Habitat for Humanity in Harwich, MA is an example of a community solar project that contributes to Habitat’s mission of providing homes that are affordable to own and power. Photo by Chris Wingard.

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