The CPUC approved 3 energy project contracts proposed by San Diego Gas & Electric, and 4 contracts proposed by Southern California Edison.

California greenlights more than 800 MW of storage and solar

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The CPUC’s 11.5-GW mid-term reliability procurement order sought to meet the state’s grid needs between 2023 and 2026, given the then-planned retirement of the 2.2-GW Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant by 2025, as well as the closure of several natural gas plants. The state is now considering extending the life of the Diablo Canyon plant through the end of the decade. However, it continues to focus on procuring new clean energy resources to meet grid needs, with the 2021 decision requiring 2 GW to come online by August, another 6 GW by mid-2024, followed by installments of 1.5 GW and 2 GW in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

In September 2021, SDG&E issued a request for offers to meet its share of these procurement needs, and then reopened the solicitation last April for new bids as well as updates to previous ones. It filed a proposal with the commission in October, seeking approval of two lithium-ion battery storage projects – the 80-MW Bottleneck project and 100-MW Cald project – as well as a 20-MW hybrid solar and storage facility. SCE, meanwhile, also launched an RFO in 2021, and filed its latest proposal with the commission in October, proposing four storage projects, ranging from 69 MW to 230 MW, for a combined capacity of 619 MW.

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Source: Utility Dive

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The most significant event for the clean energy economy in 2022 which is the IRA, is going to have reverberations throughout 2023 and beyond.

Four big things to expect in clean energy in 2023

In 2023, the country’s first super-size offshore wind farms will come online, or at least get close to it. U.S. sales of electric vehicles will continue to accelerate, likely hitting 1 million units per year for the first time. And, state lawmakers in Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota are poised to pass climate and clean energy legislation.

Meanwhile, the most significant event for the clean energy economy in 2022—the Inflation Reduction Act—is going to have reverberations throughout 2023 and beyond as federal agencies work to implement the law and consumers and companies begin to see its benefits.

That’s a lot. And that’s just the top of my list of what to watch and expect this year.

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Source: Inside Climate News

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Several new polysilicon factories came online at the end of 2022, and material costs have dropped by more than a third since mid-November.

Big solar panel manufacturers boost production as costs fall

Several big solar-panel makers are ramping up production in a boon to clean energy. A key reason: the collapse of material costs that had been elevated for more than a year.

Three leading Chinese module manufacturers are bumping up January output forecasts, according to Shanghai Metals Market, which didn’t identify its sources. Promising near-term demand is another factor driving the output boost.

JA Solar Technology Co. has a more positive expectation for the solar market this quarter than previously, the company said in a WeChat message, though didn’t specify if it would raise production. Major competitors Longi Green Energy Technology Co. and Jinko Solar Co., didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. The China Photovoltaic Industry Association declined to comment.

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Source: Bloomberg

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Mitrex is now an approved manufacturer on CEC PV module listing and boasts verified bankability testing for PV modules

Mitrex announces the world’s first colored solar panels with CEC Listing

Mitrex, a North American manufacturer of solar panels and integrated solar technology, is the world’s first and only solar manufacturer to receive California Energy Commission’s (CEC) listing for colored solar panels. Mitrex products are not only CEC, NY-Sun, and FSEC listed but boast bankability testing that evaluates the long-term performance of PV modules.

Mitrex’s complete product line of standard and colored photovoltaic modules are now available on CEC’s PV module listing. In addition to the state of California, Mitrex products are also qualified in Florida and are eligible for New York’s incentive and financing programs through NYSERDA’s NY-Sun program.

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Source: CISION

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With California’s power woes apparent, Western grid regionalization has been raised as a potential path to address these related concerns.

What does Western grid regionalization mean for California?

California’s grid reliability struggles have intensified in recent years as extreme summer heat strains the system and threatens power outages. The state’s grid reliability is also inextricably linked to issues of improving energy affordability and achieving California’s ambitious clean energy goals. With California’s power woes apparent, Western grid regionalization has been raised as a potential path to address these related concerns.

Western grid regionalization is the idea of better connecting and coordinating power grids throughout the West. It’s not a new concept. It gained traction in California in 2018, although that particular effort fell short. But once again, the debate is becoming topical as another push for grid regionalization gains momentum.

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Source: Clean Technica

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The move to make 100% renewable the default service is a powerful decision that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

California CCA makes 100% renewable energy the default for members

MCE’s Deep Green 100% renewable energy has become the default electricity service in Contra Costa, Marin, Napa and Solano counties. Homes and businesses starting new electric service will automatically start with 100% renewable energy, with the freedom to choose from several other options from MCE or PG&E.

The move to make 100% renewable the default service is a powerful decision that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since its launch in 2010, MCE has a track record of at least doubling the renewable energy offered by PG&E — increasing its default energy service from 28% in 2010 to 100% in 2023.

More than 100,000 new electric accounts are expected to start 100% renewable service in 2023, reducing more than 1,600 metric tons of greenhouse gasses each year. That is equivalent to more than 4 million miles driven in a gas-powered passenger vehicle.

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Source: Solar Power World

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This is one of the first efforts by a major oil & gas company to build a net exporting, behind-the-meter solar PV plant.

Solar project powers an oil and gas field with California sunshine

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The Lost Hills oil field in California’s San Joaquin Valley has been producing oil since 1910, with significant reserves yet to be extracted. The operators plan to continue to produce oil for many years to come, with the goal of providing reliable, affordable, and ever-cleaner energy to customers in California.

Before the solar project, Lost Hills, which operates as a waterflood, imported all its power from the local utility. The electrical energy load, which is generally stable throughout the day and over the year, is driven mainly by artificial-lift systems, fluid-processing facilities, and waterflood injection pumps. Faced with higher utility energy rates and increasingly stringent greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission regulations, the operator embarked on a project to identify alternatives to reduce its energy costs and lower its carbon footprint.

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Source: JPT

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UCLA researchers has developed a way to use perovskite in solar cells while protecting it from the conditions that cause it to deteriorate.

UCLA breakthrough could lead to more durable, less expensive solar cells

Using enhanced halide perovskite in place of silicon could produce less expensive devices that stand up better to light, heat.

Amid all of the efforts to convert the nation’s energy supply to renewable sources, solar power still accounts for a little less than 3% of electricity generated in the U.S. In part, that’s because of the relatively high cost to produce solar cells.

One way to lower the cost of production would be to develop solar cells that use less-expensive materials than today’s silicon-based models. To achieve that, some engineers have zeroed in on halide perovskite, a type of human-made material with repeating crystals shaped like cubes.

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Source: Sci Tech Daily

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An eco-friendly Irish pub powered by solar panels is reaping the rewards of renewable energy amid the inflation crisis.

Solar-powered pub uses renewable energy to beat cost-of-living crisis

An eco-friendly Irish pub powered by solar panels is reaping the rewards of renewable energy amid the inflation crisis.

While other hospitality businesses are being hit with soaring electricity bills, the Old Oak in Cork has managed to limit the impact through its adoption of solar power.

The bar has installed almost 100 solar panels on its roof and is now self-generating a significant proportion of its energy needs.

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Source: yahoo! sport

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The industry has seen US manufacturing expansion and groundbreaking announcements directly triggered by the IRA at the end of 2022.

2022 paves way for massive growth for solar + storage industry

Robust federal clean energy policy has laid the groundwork for a decade of explosive growth for the solar and storage industries. A 10-year extension of the investment tax credit, new incentives for domestic solar product manufacturing and many other provisions will help solar and storage meet the increasing demand for home-grown, clean energy.

The industry has already seen U.S. manufacturing expansion and groundbreaking announcements directly triggered by the Inflation Reduction Act at the end of 2022, with developers eager to collect the 10% ITC adder for sourcing domestic content. From mounting companies like Nextracker, with an expanding manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania, to panel makers like Heliene, with expansion plans at a Minnesota facility, the legislation is delivering more solar manufacturing to U.S. soil.

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Source: Solar Power World

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