Power management company Eaton has launched a volunteer pilot program in 100 homes to look at how innovative tech might allow homeowners to have their homes function as a grid – energy management that empowers them to leverage renewables and storage and potentially supply power back to the grid. They are using smart breakers to do this.

Researchers at the Shoolini University in India have developed a mathematical model that more precisely predicts the output power of solar cells. The reason for this accuracy is that the model accounts for the degradation of the PV modules over time (in addition to other external factors) – something other models haven’t included.

Solar module imports in the US fell 27% in Q3, the largest single-quarter drop in three years. The fall is being attributed by some to the proposed expansion of tariffs against Asian-imported modules that has been introduced by an anonymous group of domestic manufacturers, the American Solar Manufacturers Against Chinese Circumvention.

Auston Taber is founder and CEO of Solar Support, a company that rehabilitates PV inverters and power electronics. He talks with Nico Johnson of Suncast regarding his years repairing solar systems and mitigating damages from failing hardware and how he advocates for transparency of information across the renewables industry.

Arizona law firm Lewis Roca is creating a Renewable Energy End-of-Life Planning Group they say will tap the firm’s experience in the energy and utilities sector. The aim is to help clients navigate regulatory issues regarding the  renewables lifecycle (storage, disposal and recycling) plus real estate and land use issues around renewable facilities.

Biden’s administration offered its framework for the Build Back Better agenda to be considered by Congress: a 10-year expanded tax credit for utility-scale and res clean energy, transmission and storage, clean passenger and commercial vehicles, and clean energy manufacturing. The overall package puts a proposed $555 billion aside for clean energy initiatives.

The latest episodes from entrepreneur Benoy Thanjan’s Solar Maverick podcast (with his insider expert guests) cover data driven solar insurance solutions, discussion about solar‘s future and the Australian Market, insights re the Texas renewables market, and RatedPower’s move to lower tech costs with their engineering design software.

Chronic problem regarding lithium batteries so key re energy storage and EVs: lithium production mining, using hard rock and brine extraction, is resource intensive, polluting and slow-moving. Possible solutions: geothermal extraction, solar evaporation and lithium recycling – all which could reduce the environmental impact, streamline extraction, and lower production costs.

Study shows that another reason why LMI households are less likely to go solar is that solar marketers are not trying very hard to sell to them. They’d be more likely to close deals if they got more quotes. Tactics include using supply-side incentive policies, offering better financing options, and doing promo marketing in low-income areas.

CED Greentech offers the latest info on CA solar contractor licensing requirements. CALSSA sued the CSLB over a recent regulation requiring C-46 Solar Contractors to obtain an electrician’s license by the end of October. The ruling was removed so that CALSSA and the CSLB could resolve it out of court. The concern is that other states may follow suit.