USA

Nanowire mesh offers better cell performance and lower costs
A new method of creating an ordered mesh of nanowires, developed by scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the United States, could lead to the creation of more efficient transparent electrode layers in solar cells – and the elimination of a rare material from the manufacturing process.
Aug 16, 2019 // Technology, USA, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Anna Hiszpanski, Nanowire, Yong Han
Lithium-ion batteries still set for US tariffs on September 1
The energy storage market is set to be the latest affected by Trump’s trade war as lithium-ion batteries were excluded from the group of Chinese imports for which the U.S. president announced tariffs would be delayed until December 15.
Aug 16, 2019 // Storage, Tariffs, Policy, USA, storage, TESLA, China, Trump, lithium-ion, Energy Storage Association, Nevada Gigafactory
Sunnova partners with PetersenDean Roofing ahead of California residential solar mandate
US solar and battery storage service giant Sunnova is partnering with roofing and solar contractor PetersenDean Roofing & Solar to help Californians prepare for the state’s new residential solar law.
Aug 16, 2019 // Plants, Residential, Storage, California, USA, storage, Sunnova, PetersenDean Roofing & Solar
New York leads coalition of 22 US states in lawsuit against Trump’s energy plan
A coalition of 22 US states and seven local governments have sued the Trump Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its “Affordable Clean Energy” (ACE) plan.
Aug 16, 2019 // Solar, USA, New York, Trump, lawsuit, Affordable Clean Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Letitia James, Clean Power Plan
The world’s first solar road is an absolute disaster
In 2016 France turned a one-kilometer stretch of roadway into the world’s first solar road. And three years later, the trial project has turned out to be an absolute disaster, French newspaper Le Monde reports.
Aug 16, 2019 // Solar, USA, France, Netherlands, solar road, Amsterdam, Solar Roadways, LED lights
Pattern Energy ‘Draws Interest’ From Potential Buyers
Brookfield Asset Management is reported to be considering merging its own TerraForm Power business with the U.S. wind operator.
Aug 14, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, USA, New York, SunPower, pattern energy, terraform power, SunEdison, American Wind Energy Association, North America
Montana Developer Ready to Build Modern-Day Pumped Hydro Storage
Absaroka Energy and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners plan to update an old storage technology for the 21st century. All they need is a customer.
Aug 14, 2019 // Storage, USA, storage, Absaroka Energy, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Montana, Carl Borgquist
Mexico needs domestic PV-making push, minister says at plant launch
Mexico should aim to nurture a national solar industrial ecosystem to ensure it captures the full benefits of the renewable technology, a top government official has said.
Aug 14, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, USA, Mexico, Rocío Nahle, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Zuma Energía
Texas’ self-styled largest solar project nears completion
Canadian developer Innergex has confirmed that its 315MWAC / 250MDC Texas PV project, set to be the largest in the state, is on track to go live by September.
Aug 14, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, USA, New York, Texas, Nick Holman, Innergex, Phoebe Solar, Michel Letellier, Solar Energies Industry Association, Greenbacker Renewable Energy, BNRG Renewables
Pattern Energy confirms takeover interest
Energy developer Pattern Energy confirmed on Tuesday that it is courting potential takeover suitors, but that so far no agreement or arrangement had been reached.
Aug 14, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, USA, ssfusa, pattern energy, terraform power, brookfield asset mangement, mergers and acquisitions
Greenbacker Renewable Energy purchases 9.27 MW of under-construction solar projects
Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company purchased the rights to a portfolio of three solar projects totaling 9.27 MW from a subsidiary of BNRG Renewables (BNRG).
Aug 13, 2019 // Plants, Large-Scale, Commercial, Markets & Finance News, USA, Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, BNRG, Evergreen Solar Services, Charles Wheeler, Nick Holman
Sandia Labs increases efforts at abusing lithium-ion batteries for safety research
According to a press release from Sandia National Laboratories, the testing lab now uses an indoor tower to drop 200-lb+ weights on lithium-ion batteries in efforts to learn more about how batteries respond to stress. This will be especially helpful in understanding how electric vehicle batteries may respond in an automobile accident.
Aug 13, 2019 // Technology, Storage, USA, Lithium-ion batteries, Sandia National Laboratories, Chris Grosso
China holds key to corporate solar take-up but lags way behind Texas at present
The Lone Star State accounted for almost half of the activity witnessed in the world’s biggest corporate clean energy marketplace but analysts are excited about the prospect of Beijing mandating companies to purchase minimum levels of green electricity.
Aug 13, 2019 // Markets & Finance News, Policy, USA, PPAs, Texas, China, Europe, Africa, Lone Star State, green electricity, RPS, Nordic nations
Aquavoltaics in the Philippines
An EU funded solar-plus-storage project has been tendered in the Philippines. The United Nations is seeking bids for the system, to support the for the seaweed industry on the island of Tawi-Tawi. Combining PV with aquaculture brings many advantages for both, including water conservation, a more controlled aquatic environment, and ecosystem restoration.
Aug 13, 2019 // Technology, Markets & Finance News, Storage, Floating PV, USA, tender, floating PV, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Philippines, RETS, MinDA, hybrid systems
Stitching together the grid of the future
A vision of a decentralized, renewable-powered electricity grid is being brought a step closer by scientists at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Their project, Autonomous Energy Grids, aims to take an overarching look at the solutions that will power this grid of the future, and to fill any gaps that appear between them.
Aug 13, 2019 // Technology, USA, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Autonomous Energy Grids, Benjamin Kroposki