Ernie Moniz has been unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next Secretary of Energy, in a 97-0 vote (with three nonvoters). He succeeds Stephen Chu who held the position for four years.
Tag: Solar Tech
Solar PV Inverter Giant SMA Cutting Workforce Amid Sales Slide
Global inverter leader SMA AG cast a downward glance in its fiscal 1Q13 results today, and is preparing for what could be major layoffs in the face of the global PV market’s first decline in many years.
US Solar PV Manufacturer Suniva Plans Expansion
It’s been a tough several years for solar PV manufacturing. The common refrain has been that Chinese competition has undercut solar cells and modules made elsewhere to the point of market instability. That’s why the U.S. laid out penalties on Chinese s…
Energy Expert Predicts Solar Could Upend Major Utility in California on Price
Based on the falling costs of solar and rising electric prices, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), one of the largest utilities in the country that serves northern California, may not be able to compete with residential solar soon. That’s according to a recent piece at think tank, The Energy Collective by energy expert Douglas Short, President of Exas
Solar Fred’s Guide to Positive Yelp Solar Installer Reviews
Whether you’re in the solar business or any consumer-facing business, you can’t ignore Yelp today or in the foreseeable future. First of all, it won’t ever go away, and it’s only getting stronger. In fact, it’s even more important now in the age of “Siri,” Apple’s voice-activated concierge for the iPhone. If someone asks Siri, “Who are the best sol
Connecticut Seeks to Literally Water Down its RPS, Could it Happen in Your Region?
Since I live in New Hampshire and write about the global renewable energy industry, once in a while small local news that might appear to be of minor importance to my neighbors leaps out at me as something that could end up having a huge impact on the …
Solar Photovoltaic Wafer Production Forecast to Grow 19% in 2013
After falling 15 percent in 2012, solar photovoltaic wafer production is forecast to grow 19 percent in 2013, passing 30 GW and recovering to the 2011 level, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz Polysilicon and Wafer Supply Chain Quarterly. However, i…
Solar Mosaic Fills the Gaps for Solar-Free Solar Industry People — Like Me
I know a lot of passionate people in the solar industry who don’t actually own a solar system, and I’m one of them. On the surface, that may appear hypocritical when you make a living telling people how affordable solar is. “If it’s so affordable, why don’t you own it?” they ask. When you explain that it’s (currently) not physically possible to own
When Will Solar Batteries Become Economical?
It’s always the same problem: You save energy but the electricity bills are still getting more expensive. Luckily, there is a solution: Solar power can be generated in Germany for 12 cents per kilowatt hour. In contrast, utilities currently charge an average of 25 cents for domestic electricity. What better reason to invest into your own photovoltaic system? Solar storage systems can increase on-site consumption by up to 70 percent. They absorb surplus solar power and pass on the energy as required — expensive grid power is hardly necessary. This makes the systems very attractive for consumers: According to an EuPD Research survey, almost 90 percent of solar operators are already thinking about buying an additional storage system.
EU-China Solar Trade War Entering Endgame?
A report indicating the European Commission has decided to recommend duties on Chinese solar panels appears to usher in the final stage of the European/Chinese version of solar trade wars.
The Need for Reliable Solar Power at Sea
In light of recent at-sea power failures on major cruise liners, smaller vessels are tuning into the need to ensure their own systems are dependable and won’t strand crews and passengers at sea. Reliable and efficient power is vital on any size or type…
EU Debate Over Climate Change Policy Could Dampen Renewable Energy Growth
Europe’s program to halt climate change is in disarray with lawmakers in the region expressing concern the drift is undermining the planet’s most significant effort to combat global warming.
Solar PV Module Rankings in 2012, And What Comes Next
The gap between PV supply and demand narrowed slightly in 2012, but overcapacity will continue to weigh on the industry for the next several years, even with optimistic outlooks, according to new industry analyst reports.
America’s Real Problem with Solar Energy
Each day, our industry sits down and whittles the unsightly knots off the tree we call solar energy. We, as a group, spend more time than we should pointing to one of a growing number of reasons why solar energy isn’t taking hold in America: that perha…
Massachusetts Resets Its Solar Energy Bar, Four Years Early
Solar installations in Massachusetts topped 135 MW in 2012, and through April of this year another 30 MW was installed. This week, on May 1, the state achieved a milestone: 250 MW of installed solar capacity, fulfilling a goal set by Governor Deval Patrick’s administration — a goal that was expected to be achieved four years from now.
Distributed Energy Storage Benefits on Both Sides of the Meter
Solar and wind are excellent sources of clean, renewable energy, but as they contribute a larger share to the generation fleet, their integration will become increasingly challenging. The reason: solar and wind cannot be dispatched in the same way as other sources of energy, such as nuclear, hydro, and fossil fuels. Because the grid must operate “j
Latin America Report: Thinking Big About Clean Energy and Climate Change
Virtually eliminating the carbon footprint from Latin America’s power sector by 2050 would require $66 billion in annual investments, with spending on renewable energy making up half that amount, according to a new report analyzing full “climate stabil…
2013 Solar Industry Trends: A Look at US Geographical Markets
Trends in the geography of solar development are determined by three primary drivers: solar insolation (the quantity of sunlight during the year), local electricity rates (the higher the rate the better) and local regulatory and incentive programs. Goo…
Verizon to Invest $100 Million in U.S. Solar and Fuel Cells
Verizon Communications Inc., the second-largest U.S. phone company, plans to spend $100 million on solar systems and fuel cells to power 19 U.S. facilities.
Rooftop Solar Seen Protecting U.S. Power Grid From Attack
The U.S. power grid is vulnerable to terrorist attacks, and the growing use of rooftop solar panels will provide protection against lengthy blackouts, the chairman of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said.