Ten Things Worth Reading This Week (7/23/21)

Design tips for low cost res battery backup: don’t try to back up the entire building, keep the automatically protected backup panel small, wire the grid side of the battery inverter as a “supply side connection,” and run a “generator interlock switch” between the backup panel and the main service panel.

10 years of data from the EIA and FERC reveal that the US will not meet Biden’s 2030 clean power goals without substantial renewables growth. The growth of solar and wind are largely responsible for the fact that the US will attain one-third of renewable electrical generation in 2030.

SEI has put out a list of “Equitable Solar Policy Principles” meant to promote organizational realignment and increase awareness about equitable solar policy. They can help advocates and local, state and federal policymakers create policy solutions that push benefits to People of Color and others.

SPW is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Top Solar Contractor list by interviewing installers on the list about their backgrounds, experiences and industry insights. So far they’ve chatted with execs from Sunstall, AIA Solar Contracting, and Silicon Ranch.

Given the current squeeze on the solar supply chain we need supply diversification and expanded manufacturing more than ever. Stable, long-term policies like the recently introduced Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act in the Senate will go a long way towards creating business certainty.

Why does the application of a carbon additive in traditional flooded lead-acid batteries up performance? This webinar looks at the science behind it and does performance comparisons with two Rolls offerings and lithium-based batteries and examines maintenance requirements versus AGM batteries.

Palmetto has a new Instant Proposal tool meant to empower the homeowner and improve customer experience. It generates a PV proposal+design within 60 seconds of entering utility info. The data originates from Mapdwell  – tech that offers data tools like remote site assessment and solar potential mapping tech.

Hottest community solar states now include IL, ME, MD, and NJ. They’ve all implemented friendly policy changes and incentives to boost growth. IL has approved 215 MW of community solar capacity, ME plans on 5 MW while NJ plans 150 MW more. Next up for growth are NM and VA.

Fluke’s new IRR1-SOL Irradiance Meter is meant to seriously streamline PV install, commissioning and troubleshooting by providing measurement for irradiance, temperature, inclination and direction of the array with just one handheld tool. It makes meeting IEC 62446-1 requirements easy.

Utility giant National Grid’s joint venture Emerald Energy Venture LLC landed $150 million credit to help invest in solar, battery storage and wind projects under National Grid Renewables, the utility’s renewable energy branch. The portfolio can be expanded to $250 million in 2022.