New research reveals virtual power plants (VPPs) could meet 15% of peak demand – 5x the existing capability – by using commercially available technologies to provide affordable and reliable power. That analysis comes via GridLab, a non-profit that provides comprehensive technical expertise to policy makers, advocates and other energy decision makers. The group’s latest report, California’s Virtual Power Potential: How Five Consumer Technologies Could Improve the State’s Energy Affordability, conducted by The Brattle Group, is a deep dive into market potential for VPP deployment in California ..read more

Financing is a big challenge in the current residential solar market, so Soligent and Sungage are launching new flexible financing equipment options via PowerUp. This is an enhanced version of their Direct Pay program that will be unveiled this week at SolarCon, a North American solar networking conference hosted in Salt Lake City, Utah. “We know margins are tight for our partners given the recent fluctuation in financing rates and escalating business expenses,” said Michael Gilroy, CEO of Sungage Financial. “We are constantly looking for ways to help our partners save money and streamline th ..read more

Due to the challenging regulatory and economic conditions within the residential solar market, Nelnet Renewable Energy announced a strategic shift in its solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) operations to focus exclusively on the commercial solar market and discontinue its residential solar operations. “Nelnet is committed to being an industry leading commercial solar EPC contractor and consultant with resources, knowledge, and people to deliver high quality projects and solutions for our customers,” said Jim Kruger, Nelnet chief financial officer. Nelnet is a publicly trade ..read more

Seneca Environmental president Jeff Ellis being presented with the Preferred Provider acknowledgment at the 2024 Tribal Energy Equity Summit. Seneca Environmental has been selected as the first Preferred Provider for the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization offering no-cost capacity-building support to tribal nations based on a strong foundation of Native American culture and values. Advancing the self-determined efforts of Native American Tribes to transition toward clean energy, the Alliance is currently supporting over 75 tribes with nearly 8 GW of ..read more

MCE has partnered with Renewable America to bring online a 1 MW solar farm in Marin County, California. The 4.5-acre Fallon Two Rock solar farm is MCE’s latest project, generating an estimated 2,300 MWh annually and powering 400 homes each year. To celebrate this milestone, MCE and Renewable America (RNA) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site in Petaluma on April 15. “We’re thrilled to celebrate Fallon’s commercial operation and toast the partnership with MCE at the ribbon-cutting,” said Ardeshir Arian, president and CEO of RNA. “Renewable America’s motto ‘Think Local. Act Local,’ driv ..read more

Demand for smart electric panels is going up and up. To keep pace, home energy management tech company SPAN is teaming up with Jabil, a global leader in engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions, to support a rapid expansion of SPAN’s product portfolio. SPAN designs its products to replace the traditional electrical panel with technology better fit for the solar + storage + EV all-electric home. SPAN’s electrical panels give users real-time control over every circuit in their home and provide valuable energy usage analytics, all from one app. Scaling that product is now the curre ..read more

Interest in home electrification is growing. Same goes for the product ecosystems that — much like the rug in The Big Lebowski — tie the whole electric home together. Given the ebbs and flows of the solar market, solar installers might be wise to incorporate some of these ancillary “home electrification” services and “smart home” gizmos into their product offering. In this article, we’ll explore the smart home / electric home services market for solar pros interested in diversifying their offering. This article was originally published in the Q1 2024 edition of Solar Builder magazine. Check o ..read more

Photo courtesy of Solvari Solvari SR is an all-in-one solar panel that ships with everything needed to install on asphalt shingle roofs: racking, flashing, deck screws, inverter, cabling, and cable management are all included. According to the company, installation time is 2 minutes per module, including lift-to-the-roof. It is a compelling pitch — at least the California Energy Commission (CEC) thinks so. CEC awarded Solvari a $500k grant to advance its automated module assembly process and decrease the cost of its panels. Solvari entered the CalSEED program in the fall of 2022 with 240 other ..read more

UL 1741 sets a series of safety tests and performance requirements that inverters must meet to ensure that they are safe and reliable for use in renewable energy systems. These tests cover a range of factors, including electrical and mechanical safety, performance and efficiency and protection against environmental hazards such as fire, shock and electromagnetic interference. Last week, Briggs & Stratton Energy Solutions announced the SimpliPHI 6 kW Hybrid Inverter received UL 1741-SB certification. This means the residential inverter finalized its IEEE 1547.1-2020 testing and is in compl ..read more

GRID Alternatives is building one of the nation’s most competitive clean energy workforce programs. Last week, its Installations Basics Training 200 Program, which provides hands-on training to entry-level solar installers, was accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). GRID’s IREC Accreditation will be held at its headquarters, with Central Valley being the first affiliate to secure accreditation. The accreditation is valid for five years. GRID will continue applying to add additional affiliates to become accredited training providers until all affiliates have earned IREC ..read more