Solar, carports and EV charging are a potent mix. The booming EV/hybrid and EV charging markets have moved contractors and others to venture into the market to expand their offerings and develop tech that streamlines the combo of PV solar carports and EV charging.
Energy bills to watch this year include HA banning fossil fuels, KY outlawing floating PV solar, AZ’s cleantech grant program, CA’s module recycling, ME’s and CT’s energy storage procurement and deployment mandates, GA’s 100% clean energy goal, and IN’s NEM removal.
In 2020 solar reached a record 19.2 GW of capacity and is forecasted to quadruple in ten years. Despite the pandemic, res solar reached a record 3.1 GW, up 11% from the previous year, and utility solar had the largest year to date with nearly 14 GW or 65% more than 2019.
Because of hail damage to solar the past few years, the hail modeling sector has grown to include granular, site-specific info that pulls from data from human storm spotters as well as from doppler radar. A recently developed method predicts return interval, size and likelihood the hail will return.
Three CA utilities proposed adding monthly customer service and maintenance costs and reducing fixed charges for low-income households in the state’s net metering policy. Solar campaigners rallied to stop the “NEM 3.0” because they say it will raise prices 5x.
New optical coating could make PV cells last 6x longer, significantly lower the cost of replacing worn out cells, and herald a new kind of high-performance, low-cost panel. Made from germanium, the coating is the first to reflect and transmit the same wavelength range.
Aurora has recently put out some resources for prospects and contractors regarding solar energy storage. They have the Pocket Guide to Selling Storage, How Solar Energy Storage Works (a detailed guide) and Solar Batteries for Home: A Comprehensive Guide (a deeper dive).
Schletter Group has put out ProLine, a fully redeveloped pitched roof system for solar. It’s lighter, bears more load, and is easier to install due to upgraded profile geometries and connecting elements like new EcoA and RapidAroof hooks and a new Rapid Pro module clamp.
WV Democratic Senator Joe Manchin will decide if Biden succeeds around addressing climate change – particularly the all important clean electricity standard. Why? Because he is the Senate Democrats’ 50th vote and influences how other caucus “moderates” vote.
O&M, install and insurance companies are trying to address the gap left when companies go out of business and leave solar owners in the lurch. SunSystem Tech has service centers around the US while Solar Insure has 30-year warranties that cover orphaned solar.