Three years ago, we wrote that microgrids were poised to take off due to their key benefits of lowering energy costs, strengthening resilience, and easily integrating renewable sources. Present-day indicators continue supporting the forecast, with California’s Title 24 spurring a wave of microgrid developers, while Proposition 7 in Texas funds the creation of backup microgrids …
Category Archives: Utility
A Solution for Overcoming HOA “Reasonable Restrictions” on Residential Solar Installation Projects
Homeowners and residential solar installers have cause for celebration in Michigan following the passage of a new law prohibiting homeowners’ associations (HOAs) from banning PV systems, but restrictions do apply. Like the restrictions and limitations posed by the country’s surging number of HOAs, making sales pitches in these communities remains a major obstacle to successfully …
Leveraging New Federal Land Use Policies and Advanced PV Technologies for Successful Utility-Scale Solar Siting
The U.S. utility-scale solar sector continues its historic growth trajectory, adding 12 GW of new capacity in the first half of 2024 — 59% of all utility-scale power plant additions. Florida and Texas led the nation, contributing 38% of the new solar capacity. Analysts forecast the country to finish the year with 37 GW of new …
Community-Centered Approaches for Addressing Local Resident Pushback in Utility-Scale Solar Projects
Despite the urgent need to deploy substantial renewable energy capacity if the country is to meet its decarbonization goals, utility-scale solar developers and EPCs continue to face ever-present challenges from local resident pushback. Increasingly, project success often hinges on a company’s ability to navigate community concerns effectively and ethically. The recently launched Community-Centered Solar Development …
Two New Reasons Why C&I Solar EPCs and Developers Should be Considering Houses of Worship
Houses of worship, like churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples, may not be the first places that come to mind when you think about solar power, but they’re actually punching above their weight when it comes to renewable energy. Despite representing only 0.6% of non-residential buildings, these sacred spaces account for 2% of the country’s total …
Why Hail-Resistant PV Modules are Critical for Mitigating Increasing Hail Risks
By: Billy Christie, Director of Engineering Center, Trina Solar US For any hailstone aficionados out there, it must be an exciting time. For everyone else, though, the increasing frequency and severity of hailstorms with larger and denser hailstones are causing concern and re-evaluation of PV product offerings. Since the solar sector often bears the brunt …
Tapping into the Intangible Benefits of Community Solar with a Total Solar Solution
Community solar is experiencing significant growth, presenting compelling opportunities for project developers and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firms. The innovative approach to solar energy continues gaining momentum across the United States, offering a unique blend of financial, environmental, and social benefits. Community solar projects hit a sweet spot for competitive solar. These sites capture …
One-Stop Solar Shopping: The Key to Utility-Scale Success as Co-Located PV, Trackers, and Storage Converge
The renewable energy sector is rapidly codifying a new unwritten rule: Battery storage must be co-located with new PV and solar tracker installations. No, there aren’t any new regulations or legislation mandating this—at least, not yet, anyway. Nonetheless, recent S&P Global Market Intelligence data indicates that deploying a trifecta of PV, solar trackers, and storage …
Solar is Big and Bright, Deep in the Heart of Texas
Something big is brewing in the Lone Star State, which has quickly become the new hotspot for the country’s solar power and energy storage sectors. With total solar power generation skyrocketing by 3,700% over the last decade, Texas has staked a credible claim as the renewable energy capital of America. Let’s examine what’s making a …
New SEC Rules and More Equitable Energy Access: A Two-Prong Strategy for C&I Solar EPCs and Developers
As we’ve previously discussed, big box stores are prime targets for commercial and industrial (C&I) solar developers and EPCs. With thousands of big box retailers nationwide, each with massive rooftops and parking lots, a recent analysis found that the 21,363 big box stores in the Western US alone could generate a staggering 31,035,098 megawatt-hours (mWh) …
