Solar

Silfab Solar plans to invest $150 million in a new manufacturing plant in South Carolina as part of its expansion strategy, citing the region’s skilled workforce, high quality of life, and commitment to innovation as key factors. The facility, scheduled to begin operations in 2024, will generate approximately 800 jobs and significantly increase Silfab’s production capacity. The investment aligns with President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which offers tax credits for domestic manufacturing of clean energy components. This move reflects a growing trend of solar cell manufacturing in the United States, strengthening the country’s manufacturing capabilities and promoting clean energy production.

A new ground-mounted solar park is set to begin construction in Finland in the second half of 2024, estimated to cost €50 million ($53.1 million), commissioned by Alight as part of Finland’s national climate and energy strategy, aiming to phase out Russian fossil fuels and increase renewable energy sources, with the park expected to generate approximately 107 GWh/year in the high radiation levels of the Satakunta region, where the municipality is supportive of renewable energy initiatives, although the specific technology for the solar park has not yet been determined, bifacial panels are being considered as a potential option, and Alight anticipates securing contracts with large corporate and industrial customers despite currently lacking any power purchase agreements (PPAs), as the company plans to expand its presence in Finland and achieve a solar capacity ranging from 500 MW to 1 GW within the next 12 months, while two other notable projects are also in progress in Finland, including a 216 MW hybrid park and a 500 MW power plant, with Finland’s total installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity standing at 591 MW at the end of 2022, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the construction of this solar park is expected to contribute significantly to Finland’s renewable energy goals, diversify its energy sources, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and boost the country’s sustainable energy generation capacity when commissioned in early 2026, ultimately strengthening Finland’s position in the global renewable energy landscape and contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

California Governor Newsom signed SB49 into law on October 7, 2023, marking a significant milestone in the state’s pursuit of clean energy solutions. The bill aims to encourage the installation of solar power infrastructure along California’s extensive highway network, leveraging the underutilized space to generate clean energy and advance the state’s ambitious clean energy targets. The legislation also establishes opportunities for public-private partnerships and streamlined procedures for the deployment of solar installations, benefiting both the environment and the state’s economy.

St. Francis Center, in collaboration with Everybody Solar and ARE Solar, has installed a 26.24-kW solar array at its Warren Residences housing complex in Denver. The project aims to provide affordable supportive housing for unhoused community members seeking to transition out of homelessness, while also reducing energy costs and the carbon footprint of the St. Francis Center. The solar installation at the Warren Residences is expected to contribute to a more sustainable future and create job training opportunities for unhoused community members.

Sunnova Energy and FranklinWH have partnered to develop a new battery solution for multi-family homes, providing resilient backup power to homeowners and meeting necessary standards for deployment in multi-family construction projects. Sunnova offers a 25-year service coverage for the FranklinWH battery, ensuring reliable power supply for each household within a multi-family community.

CPS America’s Breaker Box achieves UL certification, marking a significant milestone for the company and offering enhanced system protection and installation convenience for CPS 250/275-kW three-phase string inverters.

Array Technologies has entered into a long-term agreement with Steel Dynamics, in which Steel Dynamics will supply coil for Array’s solar projects across the United States. This collaboration aims to support local job growth and increase the use of domestically sourced materials in Array’s solar trackers. Steel Dynamics’ environmentally conscious steel production practices align with Array’s commitment to sustainability.

French construction firm Saint-Gobain has signed a power purchase agreement with TotalEnergies, known as Danish Fields, to supply 100 MW of renewable electricity to its industrial sites in the United States and Canada, aiming to reduce its scope 2 emissions by 70% from 2017 levels and contribute to a more sustainable energy landscape.

Schneider Electric has launched Schneider Home, an integrated home energy management solution that includes smart devices and advanced features to monitor and control energy consumption. The solution allows homeowners to monitor energy consumption on an individual appliance level, make informed decisions about electricity consumption, and potentially reduce energy bills. Schneider Home also offers the ability to prioritize power during an outage, ensuring that essential devices remain operational. The upcoming bidirectional EV charger prototype is expected to be commercially available by 2025 and offers advanced features such as full home backup and high-power charging. Schneider Electric aims to simplify energy management, enhance energy efficiency, and empower users to make sustainable energy choices for their homes.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has approved Xcel Energy’s expansion of the Sherco Solar project, which aims to triple the amount of solar energy on Xcel Energy’s Upper Midwest system by 2028. The project will replace the capacity of the first coal unit at the Sherco coal plant, contributing to the company’s goal of diversifying its energy mix and reducing carbon emissions. The Sherco Solar project is expected to generate enough electricity to power over 150,000 homes annually and eliminate fuel costs associated with traditional power generation. Xcel Energy’s commitment to renewable energy is further demonstrated by its plans to purchase power from the Apple River solar project in Wisconsin. The company has invested over $1 billion in the Sherco Solar project and expects to qualify for federal tax credits. The strategic decision to build the solar arrays adjacent to the existing Sherco plant will simplify integration and benefit the local economy by creating nearly 400 union construction jobs. Xcel Energy plans to retire all of its coal units by 2030, with the Sherco Solar project playing a crucial role in meeting the energy needs during this transition.