Author: solarenergy

Earth-mounted solar PV plant (Credit: Erthos) Erthos has signed a framework agreement with Sky Community Solar for a 180 MW portfolio in Texas, with the projects under contract ranging in size from 9 MW to 18 MW and will be located near the state’s major population centers. The company’s Earth Mount Solar aims to reinvent large-scale solar design, placing PV modules flat on the ground to reduce installation time and materials. “We’ve all read the news stories about projects stalled or canceled due to community opposition, and we think communities are right to ask questions,”…

BANDUNG CITY – The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (KESDM) unveiled several new business opportunities for the ESDM sector through efforts to reduce emissions.Secretary General (Sekjen) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Dadan Kusdiana, said one of these is through carbon trading.“That the impetus for reducing baseline emissions is a market, the approach is a market approach. So there is supply and demand. The question is who should reduce emissions. Later, the supply will be those who can contribute to reducing emissions or known as carbon credit,” Dadan said on Saturday during a media workshop themed “Neighbors…

Woodland Group announces the unveiling of the solar installation at the Hayes site. Image: Energy Solutions Supply chain company Woodland Group has announced its largest solar installation to date, expected to contribute 60% of its Doncaster site’s electricity demand. Working with the company’s customer, an ‘eco-friendly’ toilet paper manufacturer aptly named Who Gives A Crap, over 526 solar panels have been installed at the Hayes factory in Doncaster, England over the past six months. A green electricity tariff will supplement 60% of the electricity demand for the 130,000 square meter site. It’s also worth mentioning that Woodland Group now powers…

Easterseals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut announced that – using C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing through the Connecticut Green Bank – it has begun a clean energy upgrade project at its Deerfield Road facility in Windsor. The improvements to the 22,100-ft2 building include installing a 218-kW rooftop solar system, plus new lighting and controls. The estimated energy savings over the lifetime of the improvements are approximately $1.3 million. “At Easterseals, we’re leading the way to full equity, inclusion and access through life-changing programs for children and adults with disabilities, active military and veterans,” said Robin Sharp, President &…

Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) has announced that it has completed construction and operation of its 200 MW Horizon Solar Project. LRE started work on the project in 2022. The project, located near Pearsall in Frio County, Texas, will supply renewable energy from Verizon under a previously announced Renewable Energy Purchase Agreement (REPA). Over Horizon Solar’s operational life, avoided greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to be equivalent to powering 1.2 million Texas homes. 1,2 The project will provide numerous benefits to the local community, including approximately $30 million in tax payments that will directly support the local county and schools. During…

OCI has unveiled plans to invest US$617.9 million to expand production at its Malaysian manufacturing facility from 35,000 to 56,600 tonnes. April 26, 2024 Emiliano BelliniOCIM Sdn Bhd (OCIMSB), the Malaysian unit of South Korean polysilicon maker OCI, will increase the annual production capacity of its polysilicon plant in the Samalaju Industrial Park in Sarawak, Malaysia, by 21,600 tonnes (MT).“OCI Holdings has agreed to invest KRW850 billion ($617.9 million) in Malaysia by 2027 to boost the local company’s production capacity. OCIM from 35,000 tons to 56,600 tons per year,” a company spokesperson said pv magazine.The group increased the plant’s capacity…

The European Commission (EC) has proposed the European Solar Charter (ESC) in response to the challenges facing the continent’s solar industry. The document sets out a series of voluntary actions to be taken to support the EU’s photovoltaic sector and makes no mention of EU trade tariffs or restrictions on cheap imports of solar panels. April 16, 2024 Marija MaischThe European Commission announced the ESC in an effort to support Europe’s ailing solar energy sector. The document describes a series of voluntary actions, including accelerated permitting for the deployment of solar energy and PV production projects, as well as “ambitious…

CPRE research shows that the majority of domestic solar energy is generated in rural areas. Image: Viridian Solar New research from CPRE, also known as the Countryside Charity, revealed that 48 of the 50 English parliamentary constituencies with the highest solar generation are in rural areas. The report also found that all 200 constituencies with the lowest constituencies are in larger cities and metropolitan cities. Analysis of local government data shows that rural constituencies have enough solar panels to generate 12.5 MW of energy annually, compared to 4.5 MW in urban areas. These findings are supported by research from the…

Late last week, the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) dealt a blow to the state’s goal of rapidly growing local energy storage capacity, according to the California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA). The CSLB voted to approve a new rule that would prohibit licensed solar contractors from installing new battery storage capacity in existing solar energy systems or performing maintenance on battery storage systems, including those they installed themselves. Those projects would now require a licensed electrician. Licensed solar contractors could still install smaller battery storage at the same time solar systems are being installed, but the inability to…

Despite the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a large number of homeowners have not taken advantage of the tax incentives. This presents a unique opportunity for contractors to tie these tax savings into their customer offerings. Educating homeowners on the benefits of the potential tax incentives will drive sales and improve cost savings for consumers interested in electrification products — creating a consumer mindset shift that will positively impact our industry and help us reach our climate goals. What the IRA offers homeowners As the single biggest climate policy in history, the IRA includes $370 billion in investments…