USA

Chinese solar project developer Renesola Ltd’s Board of Directors announced the moving of the global headquarters from China to the U.S.

The scientists from National Renewable Energy Lab have created a model of the potential energy system of the U.S. comprising 55 per cent of solar energy. The research has shown there would be some days in spring when too much electricity would be generated, which proves the importance of energy storage.

Facebook has signed a PPA with Apex Clean Energy, Virginia-based renewable energy developer, for 61.6 megawatts of Altavista Solar. The solar farm, scheduled to start operations next year, will be the first solar facility in Campbell County.

Solar Support has started its comprehensive plant and inverter maintenance and repair solution. The company cooperates with major operation and maintenance providers in the US, which enables Solar Support to comprise inverter operation and construction management knowledge. Such combination of skills helps it fix complicated faults in power supply systems.

The research group from the University of Houston has found a novel catalyst which is likely to help effectively split hydrogen from seawater. This innovation is supposed to considerably advance the seawater electrolysis development for commercial hydrogen production.

American solar corporation Silicon Ranch has been chosen for deployment of a 107 MW (AC) solar park for powering Facebook-owned data center located in Newton County.

Innergex Renewable Energy has commissioned the 250MWac / 315MWdc Phoebe PV project located in Winkler County, Texas.

The advanced technology developed by the startup funded by Bill Gates is aimed at minimization of gas emissions from heavy industries.

Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), in partnership with 12 Florida municipal electric utilities and Florida Renewable Partners, has broken ground on the 223.5MW Florida Municipal Solar Project. Once completed, the installation will be one of the largest municipal-backed solar projects in the US.

John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport will be the site of New York City’s self-styled largest solar plant after the project, which includes energy storage, was awarded to SunPower Corp and Goldman Sachs Renewable Power Group.

One of the major public utilities in Arizona is starting deployment of a 250 MW / 1,000 MWh storage facility in Rainbow Valley, the southern neighborhood of Buckeye (Phoenix Metropolitan Area). Sonoran Energy Center is going to become the biggest storage system in Arizona and one of the biggest in the US.

Seoul-headquartered solar supplier Hanwha charges rivals in the United States, Germany and Australia with having violated its patent. In U.S., Jinko Solar – together with REC and Longi – have requested an intermediate review by USITC. Today, Jinko is expecting the judge to decide in its favor.

Ørsted has commenced construction on the company’s first utility-scale solar plus battery storage project, the 460-MWAC Permian Energy Center. The facility is located in Andrews County, Texas, and will come online in mid-2021.

Coolidge-based Planning and Zoning Commission has supported sPower's 100-megawatt photovoltaic project as well as a 472-ha solution implemented by Saint Solar.

The latest study published by the International Renewable Energy Agency says the average solar electricity cost of $0.085/kWh produced by projects commissioned last year is set to fall to $0.048 next year, and $0.02-0.08 by 2030.