NERC is offering a warning to the industry: we need more energy sources, and fast. They assess that “well over half” of the continent is at elevated or high risk of energy shortfalls over the next five to 10 years. Challenges for the industry in the next ten years include satisfying rising energy growth, managing generator requirements, and removing barriers to resource and transmission development.
The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates for the third time in 2024, dropping the fed funds rate another 25 basis points, bringing the benchmark lending rate down to 4.25% – 4.5%. This is good news for prospective resi customers and installers given that it makes the financials more appealing.
The DOE has loaned $1.45 billion to support Qcells’ panel manufacturing facility in Cartersville, Georgia. The site will produce silicon ingots, wafers, cells and completed panels. The company has committed to investing $2.8 billion into the facility. This plant will bring their capacity up to 8.4 GW of annual panel production in GA.
SPW also offers its roundup of best stories from 2024. Topics include the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, solar warrantees, FCC rulings, rural America and solar, the commercial solar boom, and more.
FERC is proposing to approve two NA Electric Reliability Corp. reliability standards dealing with the ability of IBRs to ride through frequency and voltage excursions like faults on the transmission system instead of tripping offline. The standards are the first in a group of NERC rules for inverter-based resources, which can trip offline during grid disturbances.
Power Forward talks with Baywa re re key solar storylines from 2024 on bankruptcies and financing, what’s coming up, the issue of product oversupply, the impact of Trump, and more. The video is below.
Baywa re looks at the new Fronius GEN24 and the GEN24 Plus, hybrid inverters aiming for ease of install, simple upgrades, and integrated backup power. The webinar examines the software upgrade needed to make the transition, specs for the tech, their PV Point, a basic backup power function, adaptability, cooling system and more. The video is below.