Author: solarenergy

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator operates a high-voltage electricity network that extends from Manitoba to Louisiana and serves 45 million users. This massive operation requires maintaining a balance between energy generated and demand in the regions. The traditional dependence on coal and natural gas power stations is changing. For example, wind farms in Iowa now generate more than 64% of the state’s electricity, and recent initiatives such as the Alliant Energy Solar Farm at Iowa State University represent the shift toward renewable energy sources. However, these sources introduce variability and uncertainty into grid management. Zhaoyu Wang, associate professor of electrical…

Silfab Solar has signed an agreement with SolarCycle to purchase ultra-low carbon household glass for its US-made solar panels. Credit: Silfab SolarCycle recently announced plans to build a first-of-its-kind factory in Georgia to make new solar glass using recycled materials from old solar panels. SolarCycle’s planned glass factory is about 300 miles from Silfab Solar’s newest factory in South Carolina, which will soon add 1 GW of U.S. cell production and another 1.3 GW of module production. “SolarCycle is an ideal partner because of its proven success and innovative processes that have already made Silfab a more sustainable company. The…

a new report has found that emissions from domestically produced steel frames for solar modules are 90.4% lower than those from current aluminum frames manufactured in China. The independent report of Limitless impact research and analysis was commissioned by Steel Frame Startup Origami solar energy. The data aligns Origami Solar’s steel module frames with the mission Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Alliance and the Global Electronics Council’s EPEAT Ultra-Low Carbon Solar Criteria to ensure a key part of the PV supply chain is low-carbon and accelerate embodied carbon reductions across the solar industry supply chain. This also provides a clear, data-driven alternative…

Summit Ridge Energy (SRE), an Arlington, Virginia-based commercial solar contractor, will soon complete construction of a 17 MW community solar portfolio of seven projects – or so it is believed by interconnection standards – built on four different rooftops in Maryland. The 4.8 MW solar project built in the LBA Logistics building on Quad Avenue. Summit Ridge Energy All four locations are commercial buildings owned by industrial real estate operator LBA Logistics. Work with Black Bear energyan agency that represents institutional real estate owners looking to build renewable energy on-site, LBA started the process of adding solar PV to its…

Thornova Solar is launching a new TOPCon module series exclusively for utility-scale projects. Based on the larger G12 silicon wafers, the TS-BGT66 and TS-BWT66 modules offer output power ranging from 695 to 720 W, with conversion efficiencies of 22.4% to 23.2%. Thornova offers a 15-year product warranty and a 30-year performance warranty on modules sourced from its manufacturing facility in Vietnam. Thornova G12 Series 720-W modules leverage the key advantages of Thornova TOPCon modules in higher efficiency, output power and reliability. N-type solar cells, devoid of boron-oxygen pairs, virtually eliminate light-induced degradation (LID) compared to PERC solar cells, resulting in…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $22 million to improve the planning, siting and permitting processes for large-scale renewable energy facilities. Six state-based projects will receive $10 million through the program Renewable energy location through the Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program to develop and expand statewide initiatives that provide expertise, training, and technical resources to local governments and communities in planning and evaluating large-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects. DOE also announced its intention to open a second round of the program with up to $12 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding. “Solar and wind energy…

Primergy Solar, a developer, owner and operator of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects, has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for the full capacity of its 400-MWAC and 1.6-GWh energy storage Purple Sage Energy Center with San Diego Community Power (SDCP). SDCP, California’s second largest Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) serving nearly 1 million customers, will receive renewable energy and attributes in a long-term power offtake agreement when the project is expected to come online in 2027. “Signing a PPA with SDCP marks a significant milestone in the development of Purple Sage Energy Center,” said Primergy CEO Ty Daul.…

Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts, has just powered on a 725-kW solar project. The solar system, installed by Solect Energy with support from SolarKal, should provide 95% of the power used by the zoo, which is managed by Zoo New England. The 1,500-panel array was constructed in the existing zoo parking lot. “The solar canopy project at the Stone Zoo will have a substantial impact on reducing the zoo’s carbon footprint, while saving money, and serving as an example of solar solutions at work to the Zoo’s many visitors,” Yaniv Kalish, CEO of SolarKal said. One of the primary goals…

Energy Toolbase has added a new feature to its ETB Developer product to model savings from solar and storage projects. The ability to model grid services and utility bill savings empowers solar and storage projects to leverage a wide variety of value streams, enhancing overall project economics and reliability. This new feature builds upon Energy Toolbase’s advanced modeling technology, which includes optimization across multiple behind-the-meter value streams, rapid forecasting during simulation, and access to a utility rates database. This new feature is now available to all ETB Developer subscribers. “At Energy Toolbase, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s…

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) published its “2023 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report,” which highlights the state’s clean energy industry growth, being home to over 108,000 direct clean energy workers. The state’s clean energy industry has grown 80% since 2010, or approximately 48,176 jobs. The industry contributed more than $14 billion to the gross state product (GSP) in 2022, a 63% increase since 2012. It also shows that 7,315 clean energy businesses exist across the state. In terms of direct jobs, the clean energy industry is on par with both the higher education and restaurant industries in Massachusetts yet…