The editor of SPW shares her insights into the highlight of the first day of RE+, focusing on panels and energy storage. She talked with panel manufacturers re their plans for U.S. factories over highlighting new models and talked with resi ESS companies who seemed to be heavily focused on the integrated system: inverter on top and stackable lithium batteries below.

Canadian-based manufacturer Silfab signed an agreement to supply NorSun’s planned 5 GW ingot and wafer production facility in the U.S. NorSun recently raised $8.5 million in new equity for further develop American manufacturing projects while Silfab is investing $125 million to expand its facilities.

The Treasury will offer guidance by the end of 2023 on the IRA’s uncapped Section 45X manufacturing production tax credit, along with other tax credits in the law. This Section 45X offers incentives for panel wafers, inverters, batteries, and minerals, among other things. This is part of Biden’s “phase two” for implementing the IRA’s clean energy provisions.

In this Solar Conversation, SolarAcademy co-founders Kerim Baran and Jon Bonanno host Allie Detrio, Founder of Reimagine Power, a boutique microgrid and distributed energy resources policy and market strategy consulting firm. The trio discuss the latest Proposed Decision (on VNEM and NEM/A programs) of California Public Utilities Commission (issued on August 2, 2023) and how this proposal could potentially eliminate the Virtual Net Energy Metering (VNEM) program and the Netting practices in Multifamily buildings and therefore block solar for 45% of Californians.

In this discussion, Kerim, Jon and Allie dive into the history of NEM incentive programs, the principles of Net Energy Metering and Netting programs in microgrid and multi-family settings, the driving forces and legal issues around California Utilities Companies’ current position on this proposed decision, as well as some potential solutions.  The video is below.