Hello solar enthusiasts, I am thrilled to share with you today, the latest in the world of solar news that veers into some insightful industry predictions. This week’s wrap up includes everything from solar market trends and policy changes to project updates and developments. So, grab your cup of coffee and stay tuned!
Perhaps one of the biggest announcements made this week is about a new 2 GW module factory in Houston by SEG Solar. Investing $60 million in U.S. solar manufacturing has the potential to shape the future of solar companies, by ramping up solar panel production right here in the U.S.
What does this mean for you? It could likely translate to more options and competitive prices when you’re scouting for solar panels for your home.
Moving on to the grand state of California. If you’ve ever wondered about the applicability of a solar-plus-storage microgrid, Humboldt County might soon become your point of reference. Three tribes there are projected to cut outages by a whopping 90% by constructing solar+storage microgrids. Not only is it expected to be a more reliable power source, but it’s also anticipated to be cost-effective compared to conventional power line undergrounding methods.
The economic viability and reliability of this solar technology can make it an attractive option, especially if you’re in the market for a solar array for home usage.
On a related note, brownfield solar projects have also made the headlines. Even these seemingly derelict sites are making a clean energy comeback, primarily with the acquisition of a 13 MW brownfield portfolio by CleanCapital. Among the projects are the Steel Sun II, situated on the former site of the Bethlehem Steel, Buffalo, and the Homeridae project- a solar array in Olean built on an ex-oil refinery and tank farm.
Transitioning from these specific projects to a broader industry outlook, respected market research firm Wood Mackenzie predicts that U.S. community solar installations will likely double in the next five years. To translate that into concrete numbers, the less than 7 GW of installed community solar today might escalate to over 14 GW by 2029.
This predicted boom in community solar is good news for households looking into solar solutions. More installations could mean competitive pricing, better infrastructure and, fingers crossed, more incentives for those looking to go solar.
Lastly, there was a bit of a shakeup with the throne of BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) production. Sungrow has been unseated by Tesla, which claimed 15% of the global market share in 2023.
This shifting landscape serves as a reminder of how dynamic and competitive the solar market remains. As a consumer, you can benefit from this competition, whether you’re looking to work with a solar company for an installation or simply planning on adding a solar-powered appliance at home.
As we forge ahead in this clean, green and sunny future, these snippets of news provide much-needed insight for homeowners, potential solar users and clean energy advocates alike. So, stay tuned in for what’s yet to come!
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/08/12/sunrise-brief-tesla-usurps-sungrow-as-lead-bess-producer-globally-in-2023/
