The intrepid Nico Johnson of podcast My Suncast sat down with Nikhil Vadhavka, the founder of Raptor Maps, one of the more effective data analytics software platforms for renewables (also called the Slack for Solar). They discuss how Nikhil got into renewables, his time at NASA and SpaceX and what he and his team are working on to forward insights into the solar market.

Managing Director of ROTH Capital Partners Phillip Shen has noted several things about the solar anti-circa investigation by the Commerce Dept: 1) The DOC will probably take the full 150 days to come to a decision, 2) Passing Ossoff’s Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act may play a role in how they decide, 3) facilities in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia have started reducing production, 4) PPA prices have gone up, and 5) smaller developers are reselling projects to larger developers.

Solar Builder has trotted out another great Buyer’s Guide – this one on inverters. They’ve got a lineup of the newest, hottest offerings from 15 manufacturers including AP Systems, CPS America, Dauphin, Generac and Enphase. The guide includes specs, links, why each offering makes a difference and more.

Community solar can be complex – and a good software platform can help developers manage the ins and outs effectively. Five features to looks for are 1) flexibility and customization for both subscribers and asset owners, 2) white labeling or SaaS for creating strong brand presence and good subscriber relations, 3) ease of signup and use by subscribers to prevent churn, 4) one-stop shop for asset owners and developers with tools like management dashboard, referral codes and promo codes, and 5) data and reporting.

Chronic problem: developers are doing a great job of diversifying America’s fuel supply by growing renewables but the regulatory process and framework can’t keep up with demand. SPW deep dives into the great divide between developer progress and the grid’s ability to accommodate growth. They look at all the factors at play and what’s being done about it.

PPA prices have gone up 9.7% since the turn of the year and 28.5% since the start of 2021. This is due to a shortage of new renewable projects for interested buyers as well as increasing materials costs, interconnection backlogs, and regulatory risks. Some developers are opting to halt offering PPAs in response to this shift and in response to regulatory uncertainty.

Brian Hayden of HeatSpring, an expert online solar education site, asked Kerim Baran of SolarAcademy about an underserved, overlooked – but exciting – opportunity in solar. The answer? Operations and maintenance (O&M), an area that has considerable growth potential given what is occurring in the resi solar market. The video is below.