A new study in Renewable Energy journal looked at CA’s deployment of renewable power and highlighted the reliability of solar. From late winter to early summer 2024, renewables fulfilled 100% of the state’s electricity demand for up to 10 hours on 98 of 116 days, a new record. There no blackouts thanks in part to backup battery power, and at their peak renewables provided up to 162% percent of the grid’s needs.

S-5! discusses the advantages of their rail-less solar mount PVKIT. These include saved time and money on metal roof PV installs due to fewer components and smoother process, better holding strength on exposed-fastened and standing seam profiles, and non-penetrating attachment for better roof structural integrity and intact manufacturer warranty when paired with S-5! clamps. They also point to it making up to 37% of the 40% federal requirement to qualify for the IRA Domestic Content Bonus Credit.

At least eight Republican Congress members voiced support for retaining IRA tax credits, citing job growth, in addition to the eighteen Republican members of the House of Rep requested that Congress retain IRA funds last August. Despite this support, key provisions will probably be stripped out in the next budget reconciliation process.

SPW interviewed four solar companies (including Namaste and Revision Energy) that are employee owned to look at the advantages like profit sharing, low turnover, shared biz decision-making, better hiring processes and more.

Trump suspended all IRA and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding disbursements in an executive order. The admin clarified that the pause on the disbursement of grants and loans applies only to “funds supporting programs, projects, or activities that may be implicated by the policy established in Section 2 of the order” which is a broad area including issues like encouraging energy exploration, protecting economic and national security and eliminating the EV mandate.

In this Solar Conversation, Kerim Baran of SolarAcademy sits down with Jayson Smith, Utility and ESS Product Solutions Engineer at Chint Power Systems (CPS). They explore CPS’s cutting-edge contributions to the solar and advanced energy sector, including their unique string inverter design, UL9540-certified systems, and integrated medium-voltage transformers. Jayson also shares his journey from industrial electronics to renewable energy, offering valuable insights into CPS’s key differentiators and the evolving energy storage landscape. From navigating California’s NEM 3.0 challenges to the growing demand for microgrid solutions, this conversation provides an in-depth look at how CPS is shaping the future of utility and C&I energy applications.

The topics discussed included the following among others:

• The role of string design in improving system reliability and reducing downtime.
• CPS’s integrated medium-voltage transformer and its impact on installation lead times.
• The differences and interplay between EMS, BMS, and PCS technologies.
• Market demand for battery storage in C&I and utility-scale applications.
• The challenges and opportunities presented by NEM 3.0 in California.

In this Solar Conversation, Kerim Baran of SolarAcademy talks with Alvaro Acosta, Senior Director of BESS Commercialization at Lightsource bp. Alvaro is a seasoned Market Strategy executive with over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, working on projects across the US, LATAM, Africa, and Asia. With his extensive expertise in deploying and commercializing cutting-edge energy solutions, Alvaro provides a unique perspective on the evolving role of batteries in accelerating solar adoption.  The duo discuss these subjects, among others:

• Alvaro’s Career Evolution and Journey to Lightsource bp
• Advancements in Battery Energy Storage Systems
• Market Movements and Economical Applications of Energy Storage
• Use Cases for Energy Storage in Various Sectors
• Technologies in Energy Storage: Current Trends and Future Prospects
• Decarbonization and Risk Mitigation with Energy Storage Solutions