Solar

The Economics of Clean Power

And how the market has outmaneuvered the political forces, so far.

While former CEO Charles Bayless says that economics remains the driving factor behind the shifting sands, there are plenty who would put the blame on the Obama administration and its “War on Coal.”

DTE Energy to Install Detroit's First Solar Energy Trash Compactors

DTE Energy installed seven Bigbelly units, the city of Detroit's first smart, solar-powered trash compactor and recycling units. The pilot program supports the company's Energize Detroit neighborhood revitalization initiative. Waste Management of Michigan installed the units and will maintain them for DTE Energy. The solar panel on the unit extracts energy from the sun to continuously charge the battery powering the system. When the unit needs to be emptied the smart system sends a signal to Waste Management of Michigan.

Vivint Solar Teams Up With Google for Project Sunroof

Vivint Solar teamed up with Google for the newly announced Project Sunroof, a new online tool created by Google that provides homeowners with custom solar information for their home. The tool uses high-resolution aerial mapping to help calculate a roof's solar energy potential, without having to climb up a ladder. The online tool is being tested in San Francisco Bay Area, Fresno, and greater Boston.

Distributed Generation

Disruptive Technology or Regulatory Challenge?

Distributed generation marks a set of emerging technologies requiring creativity from utilities and regulators in introducing laws, policies, and economic incentives – to ensure that revenue streams are captured and that cost recovery reflects market reality.

Understanding New York's 'Vision'

A roadmap to ‘REV’ and its plan for restructuring.

New York's far-reaching reform plan, called the Renewable Energy Vision, or “REV,” seeks to decentralize power supply by encouraging distributed resources, and a new regulatory entity will be created called a “Distributed System Platform,” or DSP.

Becoming Customer-Centric

Two utilities embrace technology and innovation.

Today the rise of customer-centric technology and innovation has created a whole new set of challenges. Advances have occurred in energy efficiency, demand response, distributed solar, energy storage, and electric vehicles, as well as smart grid infrastructure and analytics. Electric utilities have two basic choices: react to the agendas of the special interests or chart a path forward to create the most value for stakeholders and customers.

Duke Energy Renewables Acquires 20-MW Shawboro Solar Project from Ecoplexus

Duke Energy Renewables acquired a 20-MW solar power project in Shawboro, N.C., from Ecoplexus Inc., lead developer of the project. The energy generated from the facility is enough to power about 4,000 homes and will be sold to Dominion NC Power through a 15-year agreement. Swinerton Renewable Energy will build the facility. The project is targeted for completion by year-end.

Piggybacking on the Grid

Why net energy metering is unfair and inefficient.

While customers may have reached a “net zero” threshold on energy, they are a large net negative on very expensive grid services.

EPA's Clean Power Plan

Charting a Path Forward

With respect to the Clean Power Plan, the question is whether EPA will address the major issues and reinforce its positions in advance of the anticipated legal challenges.

AES Distributed Energy Completes 4-MW Solar PV Project in Georgia

AES Distributed Energy, a subsidiary of AES, commissioned a 4-MW solar project located in Dublin, Georgia. This system is the first of two solar PV projects being developed by AES Distributed Energy and its partners, collectively expected to supply 20 MW to the Georgia Power utility grid. The second, 16 MW project, is under development and is expected to be operational in the first half of 2016.