Canadian Solar (Nasdaq: CSIQ), a global provider of solar modules, energy storage, and other clean energy components and solutions, announced its Q2 2024 earnings

The company posted $1.64 billion in revenues, roughly coming in line with Wall Street expectations. However, revenues are down from $2.36 billion in Q2 2023, and the company’s share price declin.ed about 15% in the trading session following the earnings report.

Canadian Solar attributed the decline in revenues to sharply falling global solar module prices.

Total module shipments recognized as revenues in the second quarter of 2024 were 8.2 GW, up 30% quarter-over-quarter and remained consistent year-over-year. Of the total, 135 MW were shipped to the company’s own utility-scale solar power projects.

“Today, we have reached an optimal scale—large enough to maintain a highly competitive cost structure yet lean enough to adapt swiftly to changes in industry dynamics,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, chairman and chief executive officer, Canadian Solar.

Shares fell as Canadian Solar forecast third quarter revenues of $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion, significantly lower than Wall Street expectations of $2.22 billion. The company now guides $6.5 billion to $7.5 billion for full year revenues, falling short of analyst estimates of $7.66 billion.

The company recorded 17.2% gross margin, in line with guidance of 16% to 18%. Its e-STORAGE order backlog grew to $2.6 billion, backed by a record 66 GWh of pipeline, as of June 30, 2024.

Its solar project development arm Recurrent Energy expanded its total development pipeline to 27 GW of solar and 63 GWh of battery energy storage, as of June 30, 2024. The company also achieved initial closing of BlackRock’s investment in Recurrent Energy, representing the majority of the planned $500 million capital infusion. During the quarter, the company also announced a $200 million private placement of secured convertible notes with PAG.

“In our module business, we continue to apply a disciplined approach to operations, from strategic capacity investments to stringent order management. At the same time, we are positioning ourselves for sustainable medium- and long-term growth through our energy storage business, e-STORAGE, and global project development platform, Recurrent Energy,” said Qu.

The company said Recurrent Energy will continue to increase leverage in the near-term to support its transition to a partial independent power producer (IPP) model. As of June 30, 2024, Recurrent Energy’s total solar project development pipeline was 27.4 GW, including 1.7 GW under construction, 4.8 GW of backlog, and 20.9 GW of projects in advanced and early-stage pipelines.

“While we continue to navigate challenging market conditions, our focus remains on sustainable, profitable growth. We are beginning to see signs of market rationalization, as module pricing and input costs reach record lows. In line with our commitment to strategic future planning, we are adjusting certain capacity investments to ensure a resilient financial profile. We anticipate stabilization in the second half of the year,” said Qu.

Middle-market infrastructure investment firm Nova Infrastructure announced it has completed its purchase of UGE International, a solar and energy storage developer and operator.

The acquisition includes Nova purchasing approximately 70% of UGE’s shares. The company is publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange.

UGE is a solar operator and developer of rooftop and ground mount commercial, industrial and community solar energy solutions. Founded in 2010, UGE develops, builds, finances, owns and operates solar and battery storage projects in New York, New Jersey, Maine, California, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Texas, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts.

The company has delivered over 500 MW of projects and currently has a portfolio of more than 12 operating and 81 advanced backlog projects in 11 states. UGE is a community solar and battery storage platform with a vertically integrated business model and a diversified project portfolio.

“Nova committed acquisition capital as well as growth capital to support the expansion of the UGE platform and installed MW,” shared Allison Kingsley, co-founder and partner at Nova.

NOVA was advised in this transaction by Blank Rome LLP and Bennett Jones LLP, and UGE was advised by Mintz LLP and CP LLP.

From pv magazine Global

Student solar car teams from Canada’s Polytechnique Montréal and École de technologie supérieure made it to the podium at the Electrek American Solar Challenge 2024, a distance-based competition for solar cars.

With a multiple occupant vehicle (MOV) named Esteban 11, students from Polytechnique Montréal won first place in the MOV category in both the qualifier circuit race, known as the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) and in the main race, the Electrek American Solar Challenge, which requires completing a minimum of 1,500 miles (2,400 km).

The Esteban team completed 1,610.3 miles at an average speed of 36.2 mph (58.26 km/h), with an overall score of 73.86. The MOV category is scored on factors beyond the distance covered, such as practicality, amount of external energy used, and whether the 35 mph target average speed was maintained.

The other Montreal team, hailing from École de technologie supérieure, won silver in the single occupant vehicle (SOV) category, completing 2,004.5 miles with the Éclipse XI solar car. The SOV class is scored solely on miles driven. Only in the event of a tie is elapsed time relevant.

This year’s winner of the SOV class was the University of Michigan student team with its Astrum solar car, completing 2,095.5 miles (3,372 km) with an average speed of 37.51 mph.

Esteban 11 by the Polytechnique Montréal student team

The Esteban project spokesperson told pv magazine that the team began competing with a two-seater MOV in 2019. “Switching categories allowed us for more creativity in our design. Being multiple occupants also displays the efficiency of our car. Especially in the event, the broader public gets to learn how the technology evolves,” said the Esteban spokesperson.

The team used a 1218 W solar array with cells from Singapore-based Maxeon and encapsulation by German specialist PV panel manufacturer OPES Solutions. The 4-wheel vehicle weighed 293 kg, measuring 4.92m x 1.8m x 1.04 m. The battery was a 9.2 kWh by China-based BAK Technologies, weighing 47 kg, paired with two 5kW M2096D-3 hub motors from Japan’s Mitsuba in a carbon fiber monocoque.

“One great challenge we had was splitting the battery pack. This allowed us to have a lower center of gravity but complicated the monitoring and protection,” the spokesperson said, adding that a new printed circuit board design adhering to professional standards with features to manage heat effects also made a difference this year.

Éclipse XI by the École de technologie supérieure student team

The Éclipse XI, a 3-wheel design weighing 200 kg, measured 4.5 m x 1.5 m x 1.1 m. It was equipped with a 1000 W solar array spanning 4m2, based on Sunpower Maxeon Gen 3 solar cells. It had a 20 kg 5kWh lithium ion battery by Japanese manufacturer Panasonic.

The Éclipse XI team not only won a silver medal in the American Solar Challenge competition, it also won two awards, an Electrical Design Award, and the Abe Poot Award. The latter is named after an influential figure in the U.S. solar car racing community, that recognizes team spirit of collaboration and cooperation, according to the Éclipse XI team spokesperson.

The Electrical Design Award recognized the performance of the electrical setup. “At FSGP, we were the first team to complete both electrical and battery protection system inspection with all green status. We also proved that our electrical systems were robust and reliable along both races, more than 4500 km without any issue,” the Éclipse team spokesperson told pv magazine.

“For this race, we used a custom-made motor casing with air cooling system to help us climb the most steeped hills along the route,” they said, adding that the team is currently working on an improved maximum power point tracking that will “maximize efficiency across all operating ranges” to be able to reduce overall weight and cost.

The Electrek American Solar Challenge 2024 attracted over 30 student-run teams from the U.S. and Canada. It began on 20 July in Nashville, Tennessee, and ended in Casper, Wyoming, on 27 July. The primary route has 1562.2 total miles to complete and vehicles must average at least 35 mph for the event. There are seven optional loops to earn additional points.

The Canadian government’s OHPA program, which incentivizes homeowners to switch from heating their homes with oil to a heat pump, is now available to citizens of the eastern province of Prince Edward Island.

The OPHA program offers up to CAD 15,000 ($10,914) per eligible low- to medium-income household. The funds can be used to install heat pumps, alongside additional measures such as switching to electric water heaters, supplemental electric resistance heaters, electrical upgrades, and the safe removal of oil tanks.

The program began delivery in Prince Edward Island after an agreement was signed between the federal and provincial governments. It is estimated that 5,000 grants have been issued to applicants in the area.

The federal government also has co-delivery arrangements in place for the OPHA program with Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia. It said it “looks forward to co-delivering the program with other provinces and territories soon.”

As of July 5, a total of 7,403 heat pumps have been installed under the plan nationally, with 10,568 Canadian households having received upfront payments.

“Canadians should be able to save on energy bills by heating and cooling their homes more efficiently,” said Bobby Morrissey, member of parliament for Egmont, Prince Edward Island. “This is especially true in Atlantic Canada, where many are facing high energy costs … That’s why this federal government is helping Canadians switch from expensive home heating oil to lower-cost and lower-emission heat pumps through the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program. This next step in the program is a win-win: it will provide even more support for low-to-medium-income Islanders who are looking to reduce their energy bills while also reducing pollution.”

In jurisdictions where OHPA agreements are not yet in place, oil-heated households can still apply for up to CAD 10,000 in federal funding to make the switch to heat pumps. Government estimates suggest that homeowners who switch from an oil furnace to a cold-climate heat pump could save approximately CAD 1,500 to CAD 4,500 per year on their home energy bills, depending on their province or territory.

Earlier this month, the province of British Columbia launched a rebate scheme for homeowners that install rooftop solar and battery energy storage systems, offering up to CAD 10,000.

From ESS News

Canadian Solar’s e-Storage has secured a contract from Nova Scotia Power to develop the first grid-scale battery energy storage projects across three locations in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The projects, totaling 150 MW / 705 MWh DC and located in Bridgewater, Waverley, and White Rock, will play a major role in enhancing the grid reliability and stability, while contributing to provincial and federal targets of achieving 80% renewables by 2030.

Construction will be completed by the end of 2026, and the first site expected to be operational in 2025. e-Storage will provide comprehensive engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services along with long-term service agreements (LTSA).

Peter Gregg, President of Nova Scotia Power, said: “We look forward to collaborating with communities and project partners to ensure these projects provide the most cost-effective value to our customers.

Elsewhere, the Canadian province of Saskatchewan’s first utility-scale BESS project came online last week. The construction of the 20 MW facility began in 2022, and it was a Canadian community effort.

Canada’s On Power provided the BESS’ equipment while local utilities business SaskPower employed contractors to complete the installation onsite. The BESS is located at SaskPower’s Fleet Street substation in Regina, which is the capital city of Saskatchewan. The Canadian government supplied approximately $13 million of the project’s total $34 million cost.

“The addition of battery storage will enable SaskPower to better respond to the fluctuating demands of our electrical grid,” said Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for SaskPower.

Rupen Pandya, SaskPower’s president and CEO said the company was pleased to be adding battery storage as another tool to help it provide power to its customers. Pandya hinted at the possibility for more BESS work if the Regina BESS is a success.

“The experience we gain from operating our first BESS will help us determine the potential for more battery energy storage in the future,” he added.

The project coming online is a significant development for Saskatchewan, which hopes to reach net-zero emissions 15 years later than the national Canadian target of 2035.

Elsewhere in Canada, other BESS-related advancements have been pouring in. In May, the government of Ontario completed the largest battery storage procurement in Canadian history. It secured 2,195 MW from ten projects ranging in size from 9 MW to 390 MW.

Article continues on ESS News…

From pv magazine Global

Scientists from the Université de Sherbrooke in Canada have fabricated a prototype of a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module based on the so-called surface-mount technology (SMT) – a technique that is commonly used to mount electronic components to the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB).

The proposed SMT design used no wire bonding for cell emitter connection and is intended to increase heat dissipation in the CPV panel, which in turn reduces its operating temperature and increases its performance.

“The SMT, which uses a conductive solder paste for interconnection, has the advantage of being less expensive and faster for large-scale production, and SMT equipment takes up less space than wire-based wiring equipment,” they explained. “We have developed and employed the SMT process, which integrates assembly flexibility and enhanced alignment of solar cells, to assemble the solar cells larger than a millimeter in size.”

The 4-solar cell CPV module prototype uses a Fresnel lens to concentrate light onto cells soldered on a transparent glass PCB and protected by lamination layers. The emitter contacts are soldered through conductive solder joints to a glass PCB, which embeds metal tracks for the non-soldered areas. Transparent underfill fills the gap between the solar cell and the PCB to prevent reflections at the interfaces of the module’s bottom plate.

“Underfill fillets protect the sides of the solar cell to prevent short circuits and contribute to the thermomechanical stability of the assembly,” the research team stated. “The back face of the assembly is laminated with an EVA encapsulant and a Tedlar protective sheet to preserve the solar cells from the environment.”

The four cells used in the device are non-interconnected with each other, and are triple-junction III-V germanium solar cells, each with an active surface area of 8.751 mm². The cost of solar cells based on compounds of III-V element materials, named according to the groups of the periodic table that they belong to, has confined the devices to niche applications, such as drones and satellites. These are applications where low weight and high efficiency are more pressing concerns than costs.

The scientists mounted the 4-cell CPV SMT module on a 2-axis solar tracker from the Helios platform at the University of Sherbrooke.

The group took a series of electrical and temperature measurements on the system under real operating conditions and also conducted a series of simulations based on the finite element model (FEM), which is a numerical technique used to perform finite element analysis (FEA) of physical phenomenon.

Through their analysis and experiments, the academics found that the dimensions of the metal ribbon at the back of each cell and the metal coverage ratio of the PCB are key factors for the thermal management of the CPV module, while the other components have a negligible impact on the module temperature.

“The temperature of the solar cell can be kept below 80 C over a wide range of dimensions of the metal ribbon behind the solar cell, both for a metal coverage of the PCB of 0 % or 100 %,” they further explained. “However, this dimensional range is much wider when the metal coverage ratio is 100 % than when the metal coverage ratio on the PCB is 0 %.” The simulation also showed that the temperature of the solar cells may reach 54 C with a copper ribbon and 57 C with an aluminum ribbon.

The system was described in the paper “Finite element modeling and experimental validation of concentrator photovoltaic module based on surface Mount technology,” published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. “These results demonstrate that in addition to simplifying the assembly process, using SMT for CPV modules fabrication can enhance heat dissipation both by the metallic layer on the glass PCB and on the back side contact,” the researchers concluded. “This opens the door to simpler CPV modules, higher performance CPV modules and higher concentration ratios.”

ABB has launched a new smart electric panel for home energy management, called the ReliaHome Smart Panel. The product, intended for residential projects in the United States and Canada, was developed in partnership with Lumin, a responsive load management device and software provider.

The smart panel coordinates home energy assets, enabling energy optimization, circuit scheduling, and real-time control. Homeowners can control their energy use informed by insights from platform, which can be controlled via an app, saving on energy and costs.

“Users can make informed decisions on energy consumption, prioritizing appliances during an outage to extend battery storage runtime and optimizing circuits to avoid paying high electricity rates at peak times,” said ABB. “The platform ensures seamless functionality during power and network outages through a local-first network backup, enabling consistent customer connectivity independent of a cloud connection.”

The ReliaHome energy management system is designed and assembled in the United States. It has wide compatibility with third-party batteries, solar inverters, EV chargers, standby generators, and more. ABB said the product is suitable for both retrofits and new installations.

ABB provides customer support and resources for implementation and maintenance, as well as cybersecurity systems that are validated and ISO 27001:2013 and IEC 62443-4-1:2018 certified.

Technical specifications for the ReliaHome panel:

• AC voltage: 120/240 VAC Split phase, 50-60HZ
• Supply Breaker rating: 15-20 A (non-GFCI)
• Connection options: Wi-Fi or Ethernet

Find the full spec sheet here.

Residential energy consumption accounts for about 20% of U.S. total energy use, said the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. As such, energy retrofits and a shift towards distributed low-carbon energy sources are an important step towards meeting decarbonization goals. The ABB smart panel helps homeowners coordinate and manage power as they electrify their homes.

“This latest collaboration marks a significant stride in ABB’s focus on the residential sector,” said Adam Mease, NEMA global product group leader, ABB. “We’re committed to accelerating the energy transition through innovation and the evolution of traditional home electrical distribution, offering homebuilders, homeowners, and communities’ powerful tools to optimize energy usage and save costs.”

Apricus Generation said it has acquired a controlling interest in Nexus Renewables, a Canadian solar and storage developer and independent power producer (IPP).

Florida-based Apricus Generation said the deal with Nexus Renewables is its first strategic acquisition since it launched earlier this year. It did not provide any additional details about the financial terms of the transaction.

A team of researchers at the University of Ottawa are testing the use of artificial reflectors to boost solar production. The study was published in Progress in Photovoltaics.

In Canada and other northern climates, it is common to use bifacial solar panels, which can collect light and convert it to electricity on both sides of the panel. These cold climates often have snow on the ground, creating a highly reflective surface that boosts bifacial production.

University of Ottawa’s Sunlab, along with the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), collaborated on a project that tested the efficacy of creating artificial surfaces that can mimic the benefits of the high reflectivity of snow.

“High-albedo locations demonstrate a boost in performance, with bifacial gains reported of over 19% in snowy months,” said the report. “The bifacial PV industry has demonstrated an interest in extending this energy gain to non-snowy locations year-round using artificial reflectors.”

The team found that placing white reflective surfaces directly under solar panels can increase total energy output by up to 4.5%.

The study calculated a maximum viable cost for these improvements of up to $2.50 to $4.60 per squared meter, including both material and installation, at the Golden, Colorado test site.

“Higher breakeven material costs are possible in systems with higher initial levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). For example, we found breakeven installed costs of $3.40–$6.00 squared meter for Seattle, Washington, with 60% reflective material.”

 The impact of artificial reflectors depended strongly on location, with locations with higher LCOE and lower energy yield benefiting more from the addition of reflectors than locations with low LCOE and high energy yield.

“We found that highly reflective white surfaces can boost solar power output,” said Mandy Lewis, the study’s lead author. “Critically, these reflectors should be placed directly under the solar panels, not between rows, to maximize this benefit.”

Lewis said the research will be helpful in boosting solar production in geographically diverse regions. Generating more power per unit of land area makes reflectors a potential match for densely populated areas, where space limitations exist for solar installations, said Lewis.

The report found that 70% reflective material can increase total incident irradiance by 1.9% to 8.6% and total energy yield by 0.9% to 4.5% annually after clipping is considered with a DC–AC ratio of 1.2.

“Clipping has a significant effect on reflector impact and must be included when assessing reflector viability because it reduces reflector energy gain,” said the report.

Hitachi Energy today announced plans to upgrade and modernization of its power transformer factory in Varennes, and other facilities in Montreal, Canada to help address the great transformer shortage in North America.

More than $100 million includes funding from the Government of Quebec through Investissement Quebec to establish a state-of-the-art testing facility for large power transformers and a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) engineering and design center. Hitachi expects the expansion to create around 70 jobs.

The transformer shortage is felt in countries across the globe but is especially acute where clean energy and energy storage systems are expanding rapidly. Other causes of the shortages include shortages of raw materials, backlogs after the pandemic, labor constraints, shipping issues and more.

The Varennes facility is Hitachi Energy’s main manufacturing location for large power transformers in North America. The facility has been in operation since 1971, covers over 300,000 square feet and employs around 330 people.

The company sees the establishment of a new 130,000 square foot transformer testing facility on the manufacturing site in Varennes as a critical element of the company’s efforts to meet growing demand in the province for sustainable energy solutions. The testing facility is expected to be completed before the end of 2027.

This initiative aligns with Quebec’s broader strategy to meet its ambitious energy goals, including the need for more than 150 TWh of additional energy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 – around twice what Quebec consumes today.

“Globally, demand for transformers and electrical equipment continues to grow at an unprecedented scale… In addition to our global investments, the support of the Quebec Government will help to address North America’s rising demand for transformers to support fast-growing sectors like renewable energy, data centers, and industrial electrification, as Quebec strengthens its role as a key player in the energy transition,” said Bruno Melles, business unit transformers, managing director at Hitachi Energy.

The investment in transformer facilities in Canada follows closely after the company investments of over $1.5 billion to ramp up its global transformer manufacturing capacity to keep pace with the growing demand and support the long-term plans and electrification efforts. About $180 million of that investment, for example, will go to build a new state-of-the-art transformer factory in the Vaasa region, Finland.

In the U.S. Hitachi Energy recently announced  plans to invest more than $37 million in expanding and modernizing its power transformer manufacturing facility in South Boston, Virginia. In addition to its own funds, Hitachi Energy has received financial support from the Commonwealth of Virginia and Halifax County where the facility is located. The company also plans to invest more than $10 million in the expansion and modernization of its 50-year olf distribution transformer facility in Jefferson City, Missouri to provide additional capacity and enhance its manufacturing capabilities.

North American solar module manufacturer Heliene announced it has secured a 2 GW long-term module supply deal with Excelsior Energy Capital, a renewable energy infrastructure developer.

Multiple-millions of solar modules supplied in the deal will primarily be assembled at a Heliene factory in Mountain Iron, Minnesota.

Excelsior said that the new agreement “materially derisks supply of PV modules” of their projects. By procuring solar modules from a North American supplier, Excelsior can avoid the risks inherent with purchasing equipment that travels a 6,000 mile-plus global supply chain. Trade and tariff risks including enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act (UFLPA), and the threat of new emergent antidumping tariffs, coupled with the tax credit adder, are leading equipment procurers to consider North American supplier alternatives.

Heliene produces solar modules in Ontario, Canada, as well as Minnesota and Florida.

“Heliene is proud to formalize our supply arrangement with Excelsior as we continue building on a period of tremendous growth, both for our company and for the domestic solar industry as a whole,” said Martin Pochtaruk, chief executive officer at Heliene.

The 2 GW deal with Excelsior builds on a large purchase order from Boston-based community solar provider Nexamp, which signed a deal in August 2023 for 1.5 GW of modules. At the time, the transaction marked the single largest procurement deal for the community solar sector in U.S. history.

Heliene also announced expansions to its Minnesota facility in December 2023, adding 150 MW of capacity to the site. It has two manufacturing lines producing a combined annual 800 MW of solar modules. The upgrades also enable the company to produce TOPCon solar modules, which has rapidly emerged as a leading cell type in the global solar market. The company runs a 300 MW manufacturing line in Ontario and a 100 MW line in Riveria Beach, Florida.

Heliene produces modules for the residential, commercial and industrial, and utility-scale sectors. Its range of products include all-black modules for residential rooftops, and both monofacial and bifacial modules for the C&I and utility-scale markets. Heliene’s modules come with a 25-year linear performance guarantee and 15 to 25-year product warranties.

From pv magazine global

The provincial government of Quebec in Canada plans to develop 300 MW of electricity from solar.

Under the terms of the proposed draft regulation, utility Hydro-Québec would tender 300 MW. The first tender could take place by the end of the year.

The provincial government said the deployment would establish several small solar parks that could be directly connected to the Hydro-Québec distribution network. It added the small solar projects could use large rooftops, parking lots, or urban wasteland, reducing impacts on natural or agricultural environments.

The initiative aims to diversify the area’s long-term energy supplies and create a framework for developing the solar sector in Quebec. The provincial government has acknowledged that solar will help to increase the energy supply quickly and at the lowest cost.

“The objective of these calls for tenders relating to solar energy is to have better knowledge of the market and the speed of deployment of projects,” said Quebec Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy Pierre Fitzgibbon. “In the current context of energy transition, solar energy is an essential complement to hydroelectricity and wind energy.”

Hydro-Québec’s 2023-32 Supply Plan shows that new energy supplies will be needed by 2027 to meet Quebec’s energy requirements.

The tender proposal is open to comments from local people and organizations for 45 days.

Quebec’s first solar plants came online in 2021, but wind and hydropower have remained the dominant sources of energy in the province’s renewables tenders.

Polar Racking announced it has been selected by Concord Green Energy to supply its solar mounting systems to a 38 MW solar project in Tilley, Alberta, Canada. The mounting provider will provide engineering design services for the project.

The project will make use of Polar Racking’s all-weather fixed tilt racking product called CORE. The mounting system includes helical pile foundations.

Polar Racking is among the only Canadian suppliers of solar mounts and racking for the commercial and utility-scale market. Its products are designed to be constructed and maintained in areas with heavy environmental loads like snow, wind, and frost. The company has supplied over 3 GW of racking across North America and has a 3.4 GW project pipeline.

While many utility-scale solar projects make use of single-axis tilt racking, the fixed-tilt CORE racking system was chosen for this project. The racking system has fewer components to assemble, built-in wire management, and integrated bonding. Polar Racking said the fixed-tilt system leads to reduced civil costs, faster installation, and has high assembly tolerances. It enables both top-down or direct bolt clamping.

Polar Racking said the fixed-tilt racking is optimized for bifacial and thin-film solar panels. Bifacial panels collect light from both sides of the panel, which is particularly advantageous in northern climates where snow on the ground leads to high levels of reflectivity, known as albedo.

The galvanized steel racking product is UL 2703 tested for the U.S. and Canada and wind tunnel tested up to 195 mph. CORE is designed for projects varying in size from 500 kW to 500 MW.

Polar Racking also develops single-axis solar trackers, solar carports, and a residential and small commercial version of its fixed-tilt mount.

From pv magazine Global

Canada’s Capsolar, a manufacturer of vehicle-integrated PV (VIPV) systems, recently completed an electric tow tractor ground transport project.

“We designed, built and installed the solar PV system, including the electronic and physical integrations. It is used at one of the largest US-based automotive industry original equipment manufacturers (OEMs),” Capsolar’s CEO, Samy Benhamza, told pv magazine. “Our customer uses electric ground-support vehicles for heavy-duty material transport.”

The Capsolar system consists of 5.6 kW of power based on 20 solar panels, a high-efficiency controller system, and a data management tracking platform. It enables a 30% to 40% range increase per battery charge, according to Benhamza.

Looking ahead, the Canadian company is in discussion to equip the rest of the OEM’s fleet with “an improved and larger system with higher efficiency.”

The U.S. ground support vehicle project comes on the back of Capsolar completing construction of a 3 MW pilot line at 560.3 m2 facility in Montreal, Quebec.

Capsolar was founded in 2020 and began developing custom PV systems for small vehicles, such as electric golf carts, and has since expanded into electric passenger vehicles, boating and ground transportation applications.

It typically uses cells supplied by US-based manufacturer Maxeon that have 24% efficiency, along with high-efficiency charge controllers to optimize power output. The company can customize module shape, texture, size, and color to match clients’ requests.

From pv magazine Global

Canadian solar simulator developer G2V Optics and Sinton Instruments, a US-based PV characterization specialist, have created a solar simulator for solar cells and modules.

The new instrument supports both characterization and a Class AAA light in a single tool. It is designed to test all solar cell technologies, but with a focus on perovskite-silicon tandem cells and encapsulated mini-modules. It contains a fully programmable and tunable spectrum steady-state LED light combined with Sinton Instruments’ solar cell testing hardware and advanced characterization analysis software.

Named FCT-650SE, the instrument has a multi-source LED solar simulator with up to 36 tunable channels for spectrum control, integrated current versus voltage (IV) curve recording, and Suns-Voc measurement capability. It can perform both flash and continuous lighting tests. Also supported are maximum power point tracking (MPPT), light soaking, and automated measurement sequences.

Some of the supported tests and measurements include full IV curve, short circuit current, open circuit voltages, maximum power point, fill factor, efficiency, series resistance, shunt resistance, and Suns-Voc. For silicon devices, it can also measure bulk lifetime, lifetime at max power, substrate doping, substrate thickness, and power loss analysis.

The system has a footprint of approximately 4,645 cm2, which the manufacturer said is on par or slightly more compact than other solar simulators with similar illumination areas.

Its voltage and current range are 40 V and 20 A for silicon and 2.4 A for perovskite tandem devices. The temperature-controlled chuck can accommodate samples that range in size from 2 mm2 to 210 mm2. Custom chuck designs for unusual sizes are available from the manufacturer.

The testing instrument is available from both companies. Several units have already been built and delivered to customers, according to the manufacturers.

From pv magazine global

The government of the western Canadian province of Alberta has ended an almost seven-month long moratorium on approving renewable energy projects. The pause started in August 2023, when the Alberta Utilities Commission began an inquiry into land use and reclamation.

Upon lifting the ban on Feb. 29, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the government would now take an “agriculture first” approach to future renewables projects. It plans to ban renewable power projects on agricultural land deemed to have excellent or good irrigation potential, in addition to setting up 35 km buffer zones around areas the government classifies as having pristine views.

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) welcomed the end of the ban, and said it did not affect operational projects or projects already under construction. However, it said it expects the impact to be seen in the coming years. It said the ban on approvals has “created a climate of uncertainty with negative consequences for investor confidence in Alberta.”

“While the pause has lifted, there remains significant uncertainty and risk for investors wishing to participate in Canada’s hottest market for renewables.,” said CanREA President and CEO Vittoria Bellissimo. “It is critical to get these policy changes right, and to do so quickly.”

The association said the government’s decision to make some parts of the province off-limits for renewables is “disappointing.” It said it means local communities and landowners will miss out on the benefit of renewables, such as associated tax revenues and lease payments.

“Wind energy and solar energy have a long record of co-location with productive agricultural land use,” said the association. “CanREA will work with the government and the AUC to seek opportunities to continue these beneficial approaches.”

Alberta is at the forefront of Canadian renewables development. Figures from CanREA show that the province accounted for more than 92% of Canada’s overall growth in renewable energy and energy-storage capacity in 2023. It added 2.2 GW of installed renewables capacity last year, including 329 MW utility-scale solar and 24 MW of on-site solar.

CanREA said another 3.9 GW of projects with the potential to come online in 2025 are in the pipeline, alongside another 4.4 GW of proposed projects with later commissioning dates. But it warned that these are all now “at risk.”

Figures from the International Energy Agency show that at the end of 2022, Canada’s cumulative solar capacity hit 4.4 GW. Alberta had the second-most installations, at 1.3 GW, only exceeded by Ontario at 2.7 GW. The country has set a target of 35 GW of total solar capacity by 2050.

From pv magazine Global

Researchers at the University of Victoria in Canada have built a flexible perovskite solar cell based on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate in ambient air fabrication.

They explained that PET is cheaper than commonly utilized polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) in substrates for flexible solar cells, with the latter having however the advantage of being more thermally stable during the production process. PET, by contrast, has a maximum temperature tolerance of 100 C and can tolerate deposition procedures under this threshold.

For this reason, the research group chose a cell architecture with a substrate made of PET and indium tin oxide (ITO), an electron transport layer (ETL) based on tin oxide (SnO2), a methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite absorber, a Spiro-OMeTAD hole-transporting layer (HTL), and a gold (Au) metal contact.

They deposited the SnO₂  layer by annealing at 100 C, the Spiro-OMeTAD at 50 C, and the perovskite absorber at 100 C by a slot-die coating of acetate/chloride salts. “The acetate component of this ink converts to gas during perovskite deposition process, creating local positive pressure and pushing dust away from deposition area,” they explained. “Deposition of perovskite from this ink requires neither clean rooms nor inert atmosphere. The chloride component, in contrast, improves crystallization dynamics of the film.”

The group built a cell with an active area of 0.049 cm² active area and a reactant known as phenyltrimethylammonium chloride (PTACl). “When adding PTACl into the colloidal solution of SnO₂, we observed doubling the size of agglomerates, which indicates that the phase-transfer agent indeed increased the particle-to-particle interaction in the colloidal solution,” it stated.

Tested under standard illumination conditions, the flexible perovskite device achieved a power conversion efficiency of 17.6%, an open-circuit voltage of 0.95 V, a short-circuit current density of 23 mA cm⁻², and a fill factor of 80%.

The scientists also built a 1 cm² device with the same configuration showing an efficiency of 12.7%, an open-circuit voltage of 0.97 V, a short-circuit current density of 21.7 mA cm⁻², and a fill factor of 60.2%. They said the fill factor loss compared to the smaller device is due to increased resistance of the ITO substrate, which they ensure can be further improved through improved electrode design.

“The incorporation of phase-transfer catalyst, PTACl, into the SnO₂ colloidal solution improved particle-to-particle interaction, enhancing SnO₂ coverage and strengthening the binding to the perovskite layer,” they emphasized, adding that future research should focus on replacing MAPbI₃ with more stable perovskite materials.

The device was introduced in the study “Enhanced Particle-to-Particle Interaction of Tin Oxide Electron Transporter Layer for Scalable Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells,” published in RRL Solar.

The Government of Canada is working to make heat pumps more affordable for more Canadians through its Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) program. Now Nova Scotia is partnering with the federal government to bring the program to its residents.

Under the program, low-to-median-income households in Nova Scotia that heat their home with oil can apply to receive up to $30,000 in funding to cover the full cost of switching to a cold climate heat pump; $15,000 of which comes from the Government of Canada’s OHPA program and up to $15,000 from the Province of Nova Scotia. Only cold climate heat pumps on this list are eligible. In addition to the funding going toward installation, it can cover the following:

• electrical and mechanical upgrades required for the new heat pump;
• safe removal and/or decommissioning of the oil tank;
• installation of a back-up electric heating system (as required); and
• switching over other oil-using household systems, such as a hot water heater (where necessary).

“Making the switch to more energy-efficient heating systems does not just save energy and reduce families’ carbon footprint — it also helps Canadians save on their utility bills,” said the Honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “That is why we are strengthening the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program and ensuring that families are supported in making the switch from expensive heating oil to an efficient heat pump.”

In addition to these increased grants, OHPA applicants will also soon be receiving an upfront, one-time payment of $250 from the federal government. This applies to all eligible applicants who heat their homes with oil and sign up for a heat pump through OHPA. This will include those who have signed up since April 1, 2023.

Natural Resources Canada (NRC) estimates that heating the average Canadian home with oil is the most expensive option, costing $2,000 to $5,500 per year, depending on the province or territory. Homeowners who switch from an oil furnace to a cold-climate heat pump could save approximately $1,500 to $4,500 per year on their home energy bills, NRC said.

Heat pumps offer a few major advantages over oil including energy efficiency are health considerations. NRC reports that heat pumps are two to three times more efficient than oil furnaces. Additionally, oil furnaces and boilers generate around three million tons of CO₂ every year in Canada, according to the NRC, the equivalent of pollution from approximately 920,000 cars. Healthwise, oil combustion in heating systems also generates nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and fine particles that can be harmful to humans and the environment.

Nova Scotia residents interested in the program may apply here.

From pv magazine Global

Perovskite solar technology company Solaires Entreprises has switched on a pilot production line to manufacture indoor perovskite PV modules in Langford, British Columbia.

The company wants to sell the panels to automotive, consumer electronics, sensor, and LED component manufacturers. “The pilot line will produce 200,000 units per year, each unit measures 3.82 cm x 7.62 cm,” Solaires CEO Fabian De La Fuente told pv magazine.

The types of applications Solaires targets include self-charging electronic devices, wireless keyboards, smart door locks, electronic shelf labels, and sensors. Solaires says its modules can be standalone or paired with rechargeable batteries.

Solaires will produce the complete stack in-house.

“We have all the equipment to do so. Our manufacturing process is a sheet-to-sheet process for rigid glass substrates using slot-die coating, screen printing, laser ablation and lamination. We also have in-house quality control and testing equipment,” said De La Fuente, adding that the manufacturing equipment is commercially available and scalable.

The modules are based on perovskite tuned for indoor light absorption and have a power conversion of 35% in indoor light. Current prototypes have an aperture area of 17.22 cm2 and an active area of 14.70 cm2.

Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure (GSI), a subsidiary of the Libra Group, announced that Saturn Power and Ocean Man First Nation have entered a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 100 MW solar project. The project, once complete, will rank among the top ten largest solar facilities in Canada.

A partnership between Saturn Power and Ocean Man First Nation formed an entity called Iyuhána Solar for the project. The utility-scale solar facility is valued at about $200 million (CDN). It represents that largest power purchase agreement with a Canadian utility since 2015.

Under the PPA, Iyuhána Solar will construct and operate the facility, which will generate power for municipal utility SaskPower for the next 25 years. Located in the Rural Municipality of Estevan in southeast Saskatchewan, the project is large enough to power the equivalent of 25,000 homes.

As a founding partner, Ocean Man First Nation will have an ownership stake in Iyuhána Solar. Band members will also receive training in the maintenance of solar facilities and will be offered employment opportunities with the project. Additionally, partnering with two of Saskatchewan’s leading post-secondary academic institutions, Iyuhána will provide scholarships, internships, and direct research projects in clean energy to benefit the community.

“Our partnership with GSI and SaskPower will bring great opportunities for Ocean Man First Nation, including employment and revenue that will provide stability and sustainability for our Band,” said Chief Connie Big  Eagle, Ocean Man First Nation. “We are proud that this project, which is able to generate clean power, will be known as Iyuhána Solar, which, in Nakotah translates to ‘everyone’ or ‘all of us.’”

This is the first of many renewable energy infrastructure projects for SaskPower, which plans to add approximately 3 GW of capacity by 2035.

“This new solar facility will play an important role in our path to net-zero by 2050 or sooner,” said Rupen Pandya, SaskPower president and chief executive officer.

Last year, GSI acquired Saturn Power’s solar and battery development portfolios, including its team of seasoned developers an a 1.4 GW pipeline of early- to late-stage solar and energy storage projects. Today, GSI has a footprint across Canada and in 12 U.S. states.

A study conducted at the University of Western Ontario compared both large and small solar installations and concluded that small-scale solar systems are better for the environment than even the largest, most efficient, utility-scale solar project.

Solar is scaling up in both the U.S. and Canada in part because Today solar energy is the lowest cost form of new-build electricity in  many markets, according to a the energy and resources report by Ernst & Young, which notes that the global weighted average levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for solar is 29% lower than the cheapest fossil fuel alternative.

To eliminate carbon emissions and meet U.S. and Canada’s clean energy goals, many more solar panels must be installed. A study that looked at the agrivoltaic potential in Canada predicted we would need only 1% of Canada’s agricultural land to offset all fossil fuels for electricity generation if we installed large-scale solar farms. While this is a modest amount of land, the researchers at University of Western Ontario questioned whether it is better for the environment to have a few large-scale solar farms or many smaller rooftop systems.

The lifecycle analysis study conducted by Riya Roy and Joshua M. Pearce compared rooftop solar systems to multi-megawatt utility-scale solar PV systems from production to decommission. They found rooftop solar systems require 21% to 54% less input energy, make 18% to 59% less carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions, and consume a reduced quantity of water ranging from 1% to 12% per kilowatt-peak.

Thus the researchers calculated energy payback time of rooftop solar systems is approximately 51% to 57% lower than that of ground-mounted solar systems across all locations, with the main reason being that rooftop systems don’t required the racking or trackers used in large-scale projects. Plus they are usually closer to transmission lines, whereas many utility-scale installations need lines added or they must account for transmission losses if running a long distance.

Source: Joshua M. Pearce

The researchers determined that the carbon dioxide payback time was 378% to 428% longer for ground mount large-scale solar installations, compared to rooftop solar for the same modules.

The reality

While the research shows that small, rooftop installations are better for the environment, the researchers concluded that a mix of both is needed because there are not enough rooftops to meet electrification needs, if we take into account heating and transportation. Agrivoltaics, which is dual-use, offers advantages because it uses land for both energy generation as well as food production, according to the authors of the study.

From pv magazine Global

The OFA – representing 38,000 farmers – submitted feedback in December over proposed changes to the government of Ontario’s Electricity Act in the Canadian province.

According to the Environmental Registry of Ontario, the government of Ontario is proposing to “accelerate” new electricity generation in the renewable-rich province, which installed 2.7 GW of solar in 2022.

Changes center on commercial and industrial customers being able to offset their electricity demand by establishing power purchase agreements (PPAs) with renewable generation facilities, spanning wind, solar, biofuel, battery storage and hydropower less than 10 MW.

OFA submitted written feedback to the policy change, which included seven recommendations.

The OFA said regulators prioritizing energy and storage infrastructure sited on commercial and industrial land should “discourage” projects sited on land with certain soils; “prime” agricultural areas, as well as lower priority agricultural lands and rural land, should be considered as a last resort for renewables to protect “Ontario’s finite and declining farm lands”; and developers should be “contractually obligated” to restore environments and land after a renewable project is decommissioned or in the case of a “system failure event.”

Programs establishing net metering systems “must” include collaboration between developers, landowners, local government and the public; and there should be improved public engagement to “encourage compromise between grid capacity restrictions limiting site options, and host site objections,” the OFA said.

Community consultation ran from Nov. 2 to Dec. 17, 2023, with the proposed start date for the amendment change slated for May 1, 2024.

The amendment follows the release of the government’s Powering Ontario’s Growth plan in 2023, which aims to procure 4 GW of new electricity, support new investments, electrify the economy and power 1.5 million new homes to house the province’s growing population. Planning the state’s next competitive electricity procurement process – focused on wind, solar, hydroelectric, batteries and biogas – is one of the policy prongs.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) last month welcomed the news that the Government of Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) would procure 5 GW of new wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy in a new tender exercise. The move will provide “long-term procurement certainty for the market,” according to CanREA.

“This announcement provides a clear signal to our members that Ontario is ready for new renewable projects,” said CanREA’s director for Ontario, Eric Muller. “This procurement will be a significant opportunity for our members to develop low-cost wind, solar and energy storage in Ontario to meet the province’s growing needs.”

Canada recorded 4.4 GW of solar installed capacity at the end of 2022, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

From pv magazine global

On Aug. 25, 2023 the Government of Alberta in Canada announced it had directed the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to “pause” approvals on renewable energy projects until the following February, the Minister of Affordability and Utilities Nathan Neudorf said in a statement at the time.

According to a government factsheet, the pause would allow the AUC to conduct an inquiry into policy issues as well as future renewable deployment, with 13 projects – comprising 4.6 MW – suspended. Along with potential policy reform, the inquiry’s scope covers exploring renewable energy’s impact on “Alberta’s pristine view spaces” and “electricity system reliability.”

Alberta is one of the country’s most solar-rich regions and clocked in over 1.1 GW of PV installed capacity in 2022, according to the AUC.

Yves Poissant, renewables research manager at Natural Resources Canada’s CanmetENERGY, told pv magazine that the moratorium has impacted developers. And although they are still at the table, he said they are “impatient to get the projects off the ground.”

“They [the government] wanted to look at what would be the best practices in order to evaluate the regulations regarding solar PV on farmlands, and also sort of the grid integration of variable renewables on the grid.

“We’re looking at this, and hopefully, we’ll find a more appropriate approach to approve these projects and that they are more organized, because most of the growth right now, most of the installed capacity, is in Alberta.”

Poissant said years ago the state shifted away from oil and gas – another abundant local natural resource – and shut down its fossil-fuel generation capacity to usher in “clean energy”. This is why the pause in Alberta, a renewable energy pioneer, has impacted the whole country. “That’s where most of the growth in solar in Canada comes from currently. In Alberta,” Poissant said.

Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) CEO Vittoria Bellissimo said in August the moratorium was a “mistake” that would impact ratepayers, investors and municipalities.

The comments follow the Paris-based International Energy Agency releasing its survey report of Canadian PV applications in 2022. According to the report, which Poissant co-authored, Canada’s cumulative national installed solar capacity from that year was 4.32 GW – a 12% growth from the year before. Ontario saw the most installations with 2.7 GW, followed by Alberta with 1.3 GW and Saskatchewan with 73 MW.

“To be honest, when I look at the international statistics I have a hard time finding some exciting things to say about Canada. Canada is a very small market,” Poissant said, adding that 2022 was, “not a very special year.”

“There are more than 70,327 PV systems grid-connected in Canada currently. It’s a relatively slow growth but we do see a transition happening.”

Things that helped development, according to the report, include technology advancements being made mainstream, such as the sale of 117,994 electric vehicles. Competitive module prices also helped, with the average price for a standard module crystalline silicon module last year being CAD $0.63 kWh ($0.47) – a jump from the 2021 $0.46 kWh price. The average cost for household electricity was $16.26 kWh with the highest price recorded as $20.98 kWh.

According to the Government of Canada’s sustainable development goals, renewables and non-emitting resources must generate 90% to 100% of electricity by 2030 with coal-fired electricity completely phased out by 2035. “Where we are now?” Poissant asks.

“Most of our electricity in Canada, 60%, is produced by hydroelectricity, which is non-emitting, we have another 15% that’s produced by nuclear, so some provinces like Ontario, and there’s also another nuclear plant in New Brunswick, but mainly Ontario.”

The authors state in the report that solar and wind comprise most of the added electricity generation, with falling prices and capital costs, climate change mitigation policies, and increasing consumer demand making PV one of the most attractive renewable energy options on the market.

“However, PV installations remain variable across the provinces and territories based on their current energy mix and climate change mitigation plan,” according to the report.

Young people are taking governments to court for failing to limit greenhouse gases, and thereby threatening the health of future generations. Recently three justices in Canada ruled that the youth who brought the case are deserving of a trial to determine if Canada is protecting children’s constitutional rights to life, liberty and security of the person.

The justices acknowledged in their decision that climate change is a current and consequential problem and that “it is also beyond doubt that the burden of addressing the consequences will disproportionately affect Canadian youth.” The justices also noted that climate change has had a serious effect on indigenous peoples, “threatening the ability of Indigenous communities in Canada to sustain themselves and maintain their traditional ways of life.”

Saying that climate change could qualify as “special circumstances,” the justices stated that a trial is needed to determine if such circumstances call the government to affirmatively protect the youth plaintiffs. Read the justices’ decision here.

“This decision contains very clear language that a trial is needed to hold Canada to account for its failure to limit GHG emissions,” said Catherine Boies Parker, a lawyer for the youth plaintiffs. “While the Court found that the claim must be amended to more specifically identify the provisions that lead to excess GHG emissions, the Court confirmed the right of these children to challenge Canada’s actions and inactions as causing significant harm to their security of the person.”

The lawsuit joins the list of actions that young people have taken against governments across the U.S. Backed by Our Children’s Trust, a public interest law firm founded in 2010 on the idea that courts are vital to democracy and empowered to protect our children and the planet. In addition to the case in Canada, La Rose v. His Majesty the King, Our Children’s Trust recently filed a federal constitutional climate lawsuit against the EPA. In June the Trust brought a case against the State of Montana. Not only was this the first constitutional climate trial in U.S. history, but the plaintiffs received a landmark ruling declaring Montana’s laws to be unconstitutional.

The Montana case, Held v. State of Montana, was filed three years ago by 16 youth plaintiffs who were not seeking monetary compensation, but sought to declare state laws unconstitutional that permitted agencies from considering climate change or greenhouse gas emissions when permitting fossil fuel activities.

Montana is a state that traditionally has been heavily dependent on fossil fuels. It contains the largest coal reserve in the U.S., amounting to 30% of the U.S. total. According to the Energy Information Administration, Montana obtains 43% of its electricity from coal, 41% from hydro, 12% from wind, and 2% from natural gas and 3% from hydropower. Through Q4 2022, Montana was ranked 44th in the country for solar installations, with only 133 MW of installed capacity, or enough to power 17,410 homes, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. 

Read 50 states of solar incentives: Montana.

On December 13, 2023 the Montana judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in Held v. State of Montana, agreeing that the fossil-fuel dependent state violated their rights to equal protection, dignity, liberty, health and safety, and public trust, predicated on their right to a clean and healthful environment.

The 103-page decision by Judge Seeley sets a new legal precedent for the rights of youth including:

• The State authorizes fossil fuel activities without analyzing GHGs or climate impacts, which result in GHG emissions in Montana and abroad that have caused and continue to exacerbate anthropogenic climate change.
• The order provides meaningful redress to plaintiffs’ injuries because “the amount of additional GHG emissions emitted into the climate system today and in the coming decade will impact the long-term severity of the heating and the severity of Plaintiffs’ injuries”.
• Montana’s GHG contributions are not de minimis but are nationally and globally significant. Montana’s GHG emissions cause and contribute to climate change and Plaintiffs’ injuries and reduce the opportunity to alleviate Plaintiffs’ injuries.

Called a game changing ruling by Julia Olson, chief legal counsel and executive director with Our Children’s Trust, she said “this marks a turning point in this generation’s efforts to save the planet from the devastating effects of human-caused climate chaos”.

“Today, for the first time in U.S. history, a court ruled on the merits of a case that the government violated the constitutional rights of children through laws and actions that promote fossil fuels, ignore climate change, and disproportionately imperil young people,” said Olson.

The legislative and executive branches in Montana are now responsible for conforming their practices around fossil fuels to the judge’s ruling, including the admonition that “[e]very additional ton of GHG emissions exacerbates Plaintiffs’ injuries and risks locking in irreversible climate injuries.” The State has 60 days to decide whether to appeal the decision to the Montana Supreme Court.

Future cases include a federal constitutional climate lawsuit, Juliana v. United States, in which Our Children’s Trust represents the 21 youth plaintiffs based on the question of whether the federal government’s fossil fuel-based energy system, and resulting climate destabilization, is unconstitutional. The Trust also has a case against the Hawaii Department of Transportation, another in Utah and another in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Unprecedented solar and storage growth on horizon with record installations and investments  The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mark an epochal shift in the landscape of clean energy policy, heralding a new era for the solar and energy storage sectors in the U.S.

Adapture Renewables acquires 450 MW solar portfolio in MISO region The developer, owner and operator of solar and energy storage assets announced the acquisition of three projects.

Nova Scotia has the strongest greenhouse gas reductions target in all of Canada, aiming for 53% below 2005 levels by 2030, 80% renewables by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. With the completion of its largest utility-scale solar facility to date, Nova Scotia moves a step further toward these goals.

The 1.9 MW Mahone Bay is one of  the largest operating solar plant in Nova Scotia, with the 2.4 MW Berwick plant also making a significant contribution to cutting greenhouse gases. Both are community solar projects, with the clean energy available to local residents.

The projects are named for and owned by the towns in which they are located, with Mahone Bay being on the south shore of the province and Berwick not far from the north shore. The two projects were developed by AREA, a municipally owned clean energy project developer, along with Goldbeck Solar, an EPC company that specializes in the construction of large-scale solar. In 2022 the Goldbeck Solar Group acquired the North American PV-EPC business unit of GP Joule and is now the sole shareholder of the two North American companies: GP Joule PV Canada Corp. and GP Joule PV USA Inc.

The projects include LG solar modules, SMA Sunny Highpower Peak 3 inverters, and Goldbeck’s own Solar Phlegon fixed tracking system. Goldbeck reports that the Phlegon is designed for “arduous” terrain, as they feature up to 12% slope tolerance in the east-west direction and a 200 km/h wind resistance level.

AREA is owned by the towns of Berwick, Mahone Bay and Antigonish (where a third solar plant is currently under construction). Goldbeck Solar specializes in the construction of commercial rooftop and ground-mounted solar, and has 200 MW installed in Canada and the United States, with a goal to double that in 2024.

“The completion of Mahone Bay and Berwick aligns with our dedication to advancing sustainable energy solutions,” said Aaron Long, general manager from AREA.

The combined energy production of the two plants is enough to power approximately 803 homes annually. The Berwick Solar Garden is estimated to eliminate approximately 3859 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to removing 893 gas-powered cars from the roads.

“These projects, along with the Antigonish solar garden that is still under construction, represent our commitment to the Nova Scotia Renewable Electricity Standard of 80% by 2030,” adds Laurie Boucher, chair of AREA. “AREA, and the municipal electric utilities that it supports, are entirely aligned with the Federal and Provincial ambitions to accelerate the decarbonization of Nova Scotia at least possible cost to ratepayers while simultaneously delivering rural economic development.”

This article was amended to change the stated 4.8 MW size of Mahone Bay facility to 1.9 MW, making it not the largest, but one of the largest in Nova Scotia.

From pv magazine global

Terravis Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian technology company Worksport Ltd., has presented a prototype of a residential air source heat pump intended for use in heating and cooling applications.

“Our heat pump utilizes the phase change of a proprietary fluid to transfer heat,” the company’s CEO, Lorenzo Rossi, told pv magazine. “The prototype is currently undergoing testing in Worksport’s climate chamber in Toronto.”

The company conducted tests at its facility in Ontario to monitor the system performance across a range of 12 temperature points from -10 C to -35 C. It also tested refrigerant pressure zones, airflow, and the energy consumption of all heat pump components. Furthermore, it said conventional heat pumps on the market are not efficient at providing sufficient comfort levels at temperatures under -20 C.

“Our heat pump’s goal is to provide heat to homes in as low as -35 C, which we believe will make us the most effective heat pump technology in the market,” Rossi added.

The heat pump showed a coefficient of performance (COP) of around 1.8 and a seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of approximately 3.0. “It’s essential to note that these values are influenced by our local climate conditions and might differ in other regions”, Rossi explained.

The prototype is currently using R32 refrigerant, which has a global warming potential (GWP) of 675, which the company said aligns with the new mandate for 2024 requiring refrigerants to have a GWP of 750 or less in Canada.

The company also said the heat pump system doesn’t utilize expensive electric resistance heating.

“The price of the Terravis Energy heat pump is expected to align with current market offerings, though it might be slightly higher, in the range of $1,000 to $2,000,” Rossi stressed. “This increase can be attributed to the advanced technology and AI software embedded in the motherboard, as well as the inclusion of new hardware components, which contribute to its advanced features and capabilities.

A Belgian-Canadian research team claims to have found a way to develop gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells at a lower cost while maintaining high power conversion efficiencies.

The scientists said they grew the cell on detachable germanium (Ge) films, which allows the reuse of Ge in other applications, thus reducing production costs. “By ingeniously creating a weak layer between epitaxial layers and a germanium substrate, we unlock the potential for reusing germanium, leading to a significant reduction in both environmental impact and production costs for optoelectronic devices,” Sherbrooke Professor, Maxime Darnon, told pv magazine.

In the paper “High-efficiency GaAs solar cells grown on porous germanium substrate with PEELER technology,” published in RRL Solar, the research team explained that, in order to create this weak layer, it used the so-called PEELER technique, a novel electrochemical porosification technique originally used for silicon wafers.

“The versatility of the PEELER process extends far beyond the realm of traditional solar cell technology,” Darnon said. “From its foundational application in producing high-efficiency solar cells that redefine industry standards to the creation of lightweight and adaptable solar solutions, PEELER opens doors to a myriad of possibilities. Demonstrated with a single-junction solar cell, the concept is applicable to multijunction solar cells. It is perfectly fit for spatial applications where weight and efficiency are paramount. Additionally, the process finds its stride in concentrator photovoltaics, optimizing energy capture in concentrated sunlight environments.”

Utilizing metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), the researchers fabricated a 1 mm2 front-contacted GaAs PV device based on a Ge substrate, the weak Ge layer, an epitaxial Ge layer, the GaAs absorber, a top contact made of nickel (Ni), Ge, and gold (Au), and a contact layer. 

The champion device built with this architecture achieved a power conversion efficiency of 23.1%, an open-circuit voltage of 1.012 V, a short-circuit current density of 26.28 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 81.98%.

“The demonstrated performance of single-junction GaAs photovoltaic cells on porosified 100 mm Ge wafers not only matches but surpasses state-of-the-art GaAs solar cells fabricated on detachable substrate, showcasing the transformative potential of growing high-efficiency optoelectronic devices on detachable Ge films,” Darnon stated.

The academics said their experiment also showed the compatibility of the porous structure with the MOCVD growth technique, which they claimed confirmed the industrial potential of the proposed approach.

The research group was formed by scientists from Canada’s Université de Sherbrooke, Canadian energy project developer Saint-Augustin Canada Electric Inc., and Belgian Germanium materials provider Umicore Electro-Optic Materials.

Canadian Solar reported its Q3, 2023 earnings, noting a surprised miss on revenues and earnings per share.

The major global provider of solar cells and modules and developer of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects recorded an earnings per share of $0.32, falling short of Wall Street expectations by 54%. It also delivered $1.85 billion in revenue, short of the consensus estimate of $2.03 billion.

Solar module shipments totaled 8.3 GW, falling just short of expectations. However, the company’s module shipments have increased 39% on a year-over-year basis. Gross margins were 16.7%, falling short of the range of expectation between 17.5% to 19.5%. Falling module prices are likely driving the shrinking gross margins.

Total operating expenses were $225 million, down 18% year-over-year. Depreciation and amortization charges were $76 million, up from $56 million in Q3 2022.

Canadian Solar’s cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q3 totaled $1.9 billion, up from $981.4 million on Dec 31, 2022. Long-term debts were $1.07 billion, up from $813.4 million on Dec 31, 2022.

The company issued lower-than-expected guidance for Q4, 2023, but has placed optimistic expectations for 2024. Q4 revenues are expected to land at $1.7 billion, significantly lower than prior consensus of $2.7 billion. 

Canadian Solar expects module demand to rise sharply in 2024, with shipments rising roughly 50% year-over-year. Roth Capital Partners warned that this may be a bit optimistic as the company looks to clear excess inventory channels in Europe. Roth expects module demand to raise only 10% to 15% in 2024, driven mostly by utility-scale demand, while residential solar demand may further peel back in 2024.

Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment for growth, management at Canadian Solar sees a very strong growth ramp ahead for solar.

“To give you some color, I have worked in the solar industry for well over 20 years, but only just witnessed total cumulative solar installed capacity finally reach 1 terawatt worldwide in 2022,” said chief executive officer Dr. Shawn Qu on the earnings call.

“As we look ahead, strong global demand is on track to drive that number up to 1 terawatt in annual installations. I strongly believe this can happen before the end of the decade or 2030,” said Qu.

Qu said that even with current high costs of capital, solar and energy storage project returns are more economically attractive today than ever before. He said that this is due to a combination of lower equipment costs and higher electricity prices.

Improvements in efficiency have also supported the transition to solar and energy storage. Over the past 20 years, module conversion efficiencies improved from less than 15% to well over 25% now.

“N-type is the next big technology driver and we have already ramped capacity,” said Qu. “N-type TOPCon cell capacity now accounts for half of our total cell capacity and is expected to reach 60% by the end of this year.”

The company is also investing big in the U.S. domestic solar value chain. It announced a new 5 GW solar cell facility in Indiana, and a 5 GW module factory in Texas. The cell factory is particularly notable, as the United States has large amounts of module assembly plants, but lags in cell production capacities.

(Read: “’The times of supply shortage are over,’ solar giants bet big on U.S. manufacturing”)

Canadian Solar also announced a 5 GW solar wafer facility in Thailand, to supply its cell fabrications with components that are in compliance with updated U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) laws.

“Concurrently, we are adjusting the procurement of our module bill of materials in accordance with the newest regulations,” said Qu.

Vortex Energy Corp, a company focused on acquiring, exploring and developing mineral properties in North America, is partnering with the University of Alberta on research into hydrogen and energy storage at its Robinsons River Salt Project.

The company has committed $300,000 to a research team at the university that is working on designing and implementing the first field trial of hydrogen storage of domal salt in Canada. The partnership is expected to run for two years. 

While hydrogen is a clean and useful energy source, it is complex to store because it is light and can easily escape, Paul Sparkes, CEO of Vortex Energy, told pv magazine USA.

“This is where salt caverns come in. These are natural underground formations created by salt deposits. Scientists have found that these caverns are able to hold on to hydrogen gas for a prolonged period of time,” Sparkes added.

Caverns can be created in salt domes by drilling into them and injecting the rock with water, which dissolves the salt, and the resulting brine is extracted, leaving a large cavity, Sparkes said. Hydrogen electrolyzers can convert water into hydrogen by using renewable energy and this can be stored, and reconverted to electricity when needed over long periods of time, making it more suitable for seasonal or long-term storage needs, Sparkes added. 

Vortex Energy is working on its Robinson River Salt project, which has two of the largest salt caverns discovered in Atlantic Canada that have the potential to be developed for hydrogen or energy storage, Sparkes said. The two salt structures are estimated to hold at least 800,000 tonnes of hydrogen within more than 60 caverns, according to the company. The company plans to begin drilling at the project this November, after which it will re-evaluate further development and field trial application. Pending funding, Vortex Energy hopes to advance toward cavern storage in approximately two to three years, Sparkes said. 

The University of Alberta research time will conduct proof of concept experiments on core samples, to design and implement the first field trial of hydrogen storage in domal salt in Canada, according to Sparkes. The project is expected to last two years, comprising four research phases: optimizing the depth interval of the proposed storage caverns; evaluating the possibility and extent of hydrogen loss through the proposed cavern wall; evaluating the extent of hydrogen contamination; and evaluating the mechanical stability of the proposed caverns, Jason Latkowcer, in corporate development with Vortex, told pv magazine USA. 

Clean hydrogen could play an important role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries. But the more we rely on the resource, the more we’re going to need storage to preserve it, Latkowcer said. 

“The potential market for hydrogen storage in salt caverns is substantial. Green hydrogen storage in salt caverns has a number of advantages, including an indispensable chain link, flexibility, safety, and small footprint,” he said.

Flexrack by Qcells and Alltrade Industrial Contractors, an EPC and construction services company, are partnering on construction of two solar projects in Alberta, both of which feature bifacial solar modules on fixed tilt trackers.

The 81 MW Scotford project is expected to be the largest behind-the-meter solar project in Canada. Additionally, the 101 MW Saddlebrook project includes the future addition of a flow battery energy storage system, projected to be one of the first of its kind in North America.

The projects are currently under construction and are providing hundreds of local jobs. Both projects are expected to complete construction by the fourth quarter of 2023.

The Saddlebrook project will be owned and operated by an energy infrastructure company, with operations in natural gas, oil and power industries. The project is partially supported by $10 million in funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), through their Best Challenge, a funding opportunity launched in 2019 that is awarding $100 million for projects worth a combined value of $600 million. Projects range from new solar opportunities in coal-impacted communities to electrification of transportation to energy storage and more.

Once complete, the electricity produced by the Saddlebrook project will feed into the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES) through a new 138 kV substation located on the project land. In total, the project is expected to directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 73,600 tons of carbon dioxide per year, or the equivalent of taking nearly 16,000 cars off the road.

Alltrade is constructing the Saddlebrook Solar Project in a joint venture partnership with SkyFire Energy, a solar contractor serving Western Canada.

The 81 MW Scotford project is expected to power a global oil producer’s refinery complex, which supports the fossil fuel company in achieving its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The project is expected to contribute approximately $200,000 a year on a levelized basis to the Strathcona County local government and school system.

“We are excited to be able to work alongside our longtime partners at Alltrade in Canada again to both support fossil fuel companies in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions as well as deliver more renewable energy to local communities,” said Ken Mack, Head of Flexrack by Qcells.

Flexrack by Qcells offers custom-designed, fixed tilt ground mount and single-axis solar tracking systems in the commercial and utility-scale solar mounting industries. The company has completed over 4 GW of solar racking installations in over 40 U.S. states, 9 Canadian provinces and across the globe. One of its notable projects is the 1.3 MW Jimmy Carter Sumpter project in Plains, Georgia.

Alltrade provides EPC services, specializing in ground mount solar. The company has 1 GW of utility-scale project experience in Canada.

Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt announced plans to develop a fully integrated lithium-ion battery gigafactory in Quebec, Canada. Located just outside Montréal, Northvolt Six will mimic the sustainability-centered design of Northvolt’s other facilities to accommodate 60GW/h of annual cell manufacturing capacity.  

Northvolt produces lithium-ion cells based on Lingonberry lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide or NMC.They come in cylindrical and prismatic formats. The 2170 cylindrical cells are available in three formats: Energy, Power and Life. Alternatively, prismatic cells are custom-made. The company assembles cells into battery systems for customers in energy storage and industrial markets.

Northvolt reports that it uses wind and hydroelectricity to power battery cell proanganese cobalt oxide or NMCduction. The company pairs its cathode production plant with a wastewater treatment plant, separating ammonia metals and sodium sulfate from wastewater. The pure water is then circulated back into various production practices, while the recovered ammonia is recycled for battery cell production. The sodium sulfate is purified and reintroduced to the battery market. Northvolt also repurposes 95% of the nickel manganese and cobalt in old batteries. The organization hopes to recycle 50% of all raw materials necessary for cell production by 2030.

Northvolt sources raw materials from mines and refineries whose practices adhere to international standards. Moreover, the company reports that it only works with mines and refineries with complete traceability and transparency. The Northvolt Sustainability and Annual Report 2022 states that the organization is building an in-house sourcing process to control mining and refining practices better.

Stakeholders chose to construct Northvolt Six in McMasterville and Saint-Basile-le-Grand just outside Montréal due to its proximity to raw battery materials and renewable energy. The Port of Montréal is a gateway for various minerals necessary for cell production, and it will be located close to many U.S. automotive manufacturers, which are key customers. Furthermore, Quebec hydroelectricity can provide 100% renewable energy to power Northvolt Six’s battery cell production. 

Development of the first 30 GWh phase of Northvolt Six is expected to start before the end of this year, with operations projected to begin in 2026. According to Northvolt, it will cost $5 billion to cover construction and the wages of up to 3,000 people.  The new facility is be ing developed with strong support from the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec. It represents the largest private investment in Quebec’s history, the company reports.

Northvolt uses a combination of customer off-take contracts supply contracts and limited recourse financing to fund its projects. According to Northvolt’s 2022 Sustainability report, customer contracts worth $55 billion of backlog revenue will be allocated toward developments over the next seven years. 

The company is also continuing partnerships within its group of 18 lenders and financial institutions committing credit guarantees to generate funds for future developments. Northvolt’s global shareholders also play a significant role in its execution of development projects. As of 2022, Volkswagen Finance Luxembourg SA Goldman Sachs Asset Management funds and Vargas Holding AB were Northvolt’s biggest shareholders, owning 21.1% 19.4% and 7.3% of the company’s stock, respectively. 

Northvolt co-founder Paolo Cerruti will head this project as CEO of Northvolt North America, headquartered in Montréal. He said that this facility will accelerate Quebec’s emergence as a key actor in the global energy transition. The comopany reports that Northvolt battery cells are currently designed and developed at Northvolt Labs in Västerås, Sweden, and Northvolt Cuberg in San Leandro, California.

The global energy paradigm shift is underway, and by mid-century, renewable energy is expected to be the dominant source of electricity in many major developed countries worldwide.

For the United States and Canada, that paradigm shift comes with a $12 trillion price tag by 2050. And while that sounds like a lot, when compared with the inefficiencies of today’s fossil fuel-based economy, the savings are considerable.

A report from global risk assurance company DNV said that the intrinsic efficiencies brought on by renewable energy will lower the overall cost of energy from 4% today to about 2.5% in 2050 for the United States and Canada.

Capital expenditures for renewables will finally overtake fossil fuel by 2040, said DNV. By then, the firm expects domestic demand for fossil fuels to fall by about 60% by midcentury. Electrification of transportation and the power sector will drive down demand, said DNV, but the firm expects fossil fuel exports to remain relatively stable through 2050.

DNV said consumers burdened with high electricity bills should see significant relief by 2050, with household energy expenditure potentially being cut in half through energy efficiency and a cleaner, more stable energy mix.

Along this path toward more affordable renewable energy, DNV said the U.S. and Canada will need to increase its cumulative renewable energy capacity by 250% by 2050.

DNV warns that bottlenecks in transmission lines are still a major barrier to building more solar and wind projects in North America, but it noted that transmission and distribution system operators will likely be driven by unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on the vast market for renewable power.

“The cost efficiencies of renewable power are proving irresistible even in the land of big oil,” said Remi Eriksen, group president and chief executive officer at DNV.  “The $12 trillion to be spent on renewables and grid infrastructure in the U.S. and Canada should be viewed as an opportunity to put the region at the heart of technologies essential to the global energy transition, such as hydrogen e-fuels, whilst reducing energy bills for households.”

There is still much progress to be made to achieve this renewable energy future. Currently, fossil fuels account for about 80% of the energy supply in the U.S. and Canada. This will drop below 50% in 2050, said DNV. Coal production is expected to decline 85% by midcentury due to its inability to cost-compete, and oil consumption is expected to decline 75% as North America electrifies its vehicles.

DNV said that natural gas consumption has already reached its peak in North America as well and may be halved by midcentury. However, DNV expects both natural gas and oil exports to remain stable through 2050, a boon to the North American economy, but a bane to global efforts to decarbonize.

“Although the policies enacted in North America are accelerating the energy transition, the U.S. and Canada will not reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050,” said DNV. “CO2 emissions are forecast to drop 75% by 2050 as fossil fuels, especially natural gas, will still play a role in the energy mix and the emissions of hard-to-electrify industrial processes like cement production will remain significant.”

DNV said that to remain in accord with the Paris Agreement, North America would have to become net-zero by the early 2040s, a target that is currently unlikely to be hit at current levels of clean energy deployment.

“This would require the type of American focus that ushered in the atomic age and the space age,” said DNV.

Heat pumps are a way to heat and cool homes with electricity, and offer near zero emissions when powered by solar or other clean sources of energy, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA further contends that they result in lower emissions even where electricity is generated by an emissions-intensive source. They can replace oil or gas furnaces, or in very cold climates, households may choose to retain their legacy heating system—just in case. However, recent advances in heat pump technology had made them much more efficient in cold climates, with the leading manufacturers announcing models designed for cold climates that do not need a backup heat source.

Canada, which has extremes of both cold and hot temperatures, has a goal of cutting emissions by at least 40% to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and it passed the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act in June 2021, which calls for a net-zero target by 2050.

A recent report by the Canadian Climate Institute, Heat pumps pay off, states that Canadians are not embracing heat pumps in a way that is consistent with moving toward emissions targets. The report contends that Canadian households need more clarity on costs as well as government policy in order to speed adoption.

Researchers at the Canadian Climate Institute assessed lifetime costs of different heating and cooling combinations in different ages and types of housing across five Canadian cities to determine how heat pumps compare to the common combination of gas heating and air conditioning. They concluded that a heat pump is the lowest-cost option for most households over the lifetime of the system; however, barriers such as high upfront costs, lack of consumer confidence, the complexity of government rebate and loan programs, and the fact that residents usually have to own their own homes in order to benefit from some of the programs, thus eliminating renters, low-income households and others.

Five findings from the report:

1. Heat pumps are the lowest-cost option for most households.
2. The biggest drivers of differing cost competitiveness are regional energy prices and climate conditions.
3. Policy and programming support the cost competitiveness of heat pumps.
4. In most cases, the cheapest backup for heat pump heating is electric, not gas.
5. Provincial and municipal governments should require non-polluting and high-efficiency heating and cooling in new buildings in regions where the all-electric heating scenario is already the lowest-cost option, to avoid creating lock-in of fossil infrastructure and equipment.

Standard heat pumps, as opposed to cold climate heat pumps, were found to be the lowest-cost option for single, detached homes, regardless of the age of the home. For example, the report states that “whether a single-detached house in Montreal was built in 1940 or 2023, heat pumps with electric backup are consistently lower-cost than gas-fired heating with air conditioning”.

Cold climate heat pumps with backup, however, are a costlier option than standard heat pumps. But the report contends that as technologies improve, their upfront costs will fall to be more in line with standard systems.

Barriers to adoption

The report concludes that barriers to adoption include economic, behavioral, and struc­tural barriers. For example, upfront costs can be high, but many people are also reluctant to invest in a new technology. The report authors are optimistic that these barriers will resolve as the heat pump market matures; however, they indicate that the time is now to embrace clean technology. Rather than “locking in another generation of fossil fuel heating equipment,” the authors state that the next few years are a “window of opportunity” to upgrade homes and decarbonize the building stock.

Navigating complex policies

The many programs in place to help Canadian residents decarbonize their households are too complex and “create a substantial administrative burden for households,” the report states. For example to apply for Greener Homes grant and loan programs, home energy audits are required, and households must pay for them without knowing whether they’ll qualify for a grant or loan. The result is that application rates are lagging by one-third of those needed to meet program targets. The report makes several recommendations for enhancing policies, including the suggestion that the government maintain the schedule of planned carbon price increases. It also recommends that it’s important to maintain the existing financial support even as heat pump adoption accelerates—at least in the near term—conceding they may be able to sunset some programming as the market matures and costs fall. A final recommendation is to maintain support for lower-income households.

From pv magazine Global

Researchers at the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in Canada have developed PV-powered water purification technology based on capacitive deionization (CDI), which is a technique being increasingly used for removal of ionic as well as polarizable species from water and is commonly utilized for the desalination of water with a low or moderate salt concentration.

The technology is also claimed to have low operational cost, enhanced energy efficiency, and less water rejection compared to conventional purification techniques.

“Our new technology does not require a storage media in between the PV panel and the CDI desalination cell,” the research’s corresponding author, Alaa Ghamrawi, told pv magazine. “It relies on a dedicated algorithm for the application of Photovoltaic energy to the desalination process, as well as a new MPPT technology based on flow adjustment and not electrical power conversion.”

The system prototype uses a photovoltaic panel equipped with a diode and a shunt resistor. The panel is DC-connected to a membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) cell that creates a short circuit or applies reverse voltage on the electrodes when the maximum concentration of ions is reached during adsorption.

The MCDI cell also uses the flow rate as a control parameter. “The variation of the flow rate will be an essential factor to adapt the
MCDI cell impedance and eventually the load applied on the PV panel,” the scientists explained, noting that they were able to control this flow rate to optimize the power produced by the solar module via a new algorithm, which they called Maximum Salt Adsorption Tracking (MSAT).

After testing the prototype under different operating conditions, the researchers found that the PV-powered MCDI cell was able to produce 28 liters of desalinated water on a sunny summer day, compared to 24 liters for a conventional MCDI unit. They also found that the MSAT tracking efficiency is 98.6%, which they claim is comparable with conventional MPPT.

“Conventional MCDI cells require more costly MPPT controllers for a high performance,” Ghamrawi explained, referring to the economical gains of a direct DC connection. “The battery cost for each CDI cell is about $200 for a 200AH device. Then, there is also the cost of the controller which is approximately around $10 and the MPPT micro-controller costs more than $20.”

The proposed system is described in the paper “Maximum salt adsorption tracking in capacitive deionization cell powered by photovoltaic solar panel,” published in Desalination. “For the time being, we have started the commercial design by developing the electronic board and the system components,” Ghamrawi said.

When it comes to wildfire response, speed is important. German-headquartered Dryad Networks has released its Silvanet Wildfire Sensor to help detect wildfires within minutes, alerting first responders so they can take action to mitigate damage.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “wildfires and volcanic activities” affected 6.2 million people between 1998-2017 with 2,400 attributable deaths worldwide from suffocation, injuries, and burns.

A study by University College London showed that California’s 2018 wildfires alone cost the U.S. economy $148.5 billion. Capital losses and health costs within California totaled $59.9 billion, while indirect losses through economic disruption to 80 industry sectors within the state came to $42.7 billion. Power transmission was affected, as well as road and rail freight transport, pipelines and other infrastructure-dependent sectors.

“Wildfires are responsible for up to 20% of global CO2 emissions,” said Carsten Brinkschulte, chief executive officer, Dryad. “Unless the increasingly severe wildfires we experience every year – and which wreak havoc on our health and our economies – are given sufficient attention and investment, global temperatures will rise by more than 1.5 C.”

The Dryad sensors are small, off-grid plastic devices with a solar cell built into the surface as a power source. The device measures temperature, humidity and air pressure, and contains a low-power air quality sensor with a gas sensing mode. 

It can detect hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other gases that occur during early stages of pyrolysis at the at the ppm level. Each sensor can detect fires in a 100 meter radius for 60 minute detection of a 2 meter by 2 meter fire. The sensor is typically mounted on a tree at 3 meters high. Each device measures 19 cm by 8.2 cm and has a 6 cm by 6 cm solar panel on the surface. The enclosure is IP 67 rated and is weather and UV-proof.

The device is pre-built with artificial intelligence to reliably detect fire and avoid false positive alerts. The sensors connect to a gateway, and each gateway hosts about 100 sensors, depending on topography. LoRaWan wireless data transmission send data from the device to first responders.

Dryad said the device can run maintenance-free for up to 15 years, requiring no batteries and avoiding the use of lithium and other toxic or rare materials. Energy is instead stored in supercapacitors.

The emissions caused by wildfires create a vicious cycle of a hotter, dryer climate in some regions, leading to more wildfires. Data from the UN Environment Program show that burned areas will increase by 62% if global temperatures increase by 2 degrees Celsius, and if the world heats three degrees, that figure rises to 97%.

What’s more, emissions from wildfires are often inaccurately reported or omitted altogether from nations’ carbon reports, written off as natural phenomena.

“With 80% of wildfires caused by humans, added to the fact that carbon neutrality is reliant on forest regrowth – which can take over 100 years – this means that omitting wildfire emissions from global CO2 inventories is inaccurate, and worse, it’s cynical,” said Brinkschulte.

Dryad estimates that deploying 120 million of its sensors worldwide by 2030 could save up to 3.9 million hectares of forest from burning and prevent 1.7 billion tons of CO2 emissions.

From pv magazine global

Buildings powered by solar energy should not exceed 10 floors in height if they have to achieve a net-zero energy performance.

This is the main conclusion of a study by researchers from the University of Toronto, investigating the technical feasibility of solar-powered high-rise nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEBs), specifically residential and commercial buildings that have very low primary energy requirements that are to be met to a significant extent by renewable sources.

In such buildings, the total sum of annual energy use is approximately equal to the total sum of the renewable energy produced on-site. “Net-zero energy performance in all-electric buildings will offset the emissions associated with any energy drawn from the electricity grid and hence achieve net-zero emission status,” stated the Canadian researchers.

The scientists pointed out that most net-zero energy buildings are either single-family homes or low-rise buildings, noting the difficulty of high-rise buildings in achieving NZEB status, due to their large floor area-to-surface ratio, which reduces the space available to deploy solar energy systems. “In a survey of 32 nearly zero energy buildings in Europe, only 4 had five or more stories, with the tallest one having seven stories,” they reported.

The group conducted its analysis by using as a main parameter the maximum energy use intensity (EUI), which is calculated in kWh/m². They investigated different solar system configurations, including both the PV and photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) technologies, evaluating various geographical areas and building geometries.

For their assessment, the academics assumed a 40-floor building with a 40 m² × 40 m² floor area, a 3.8 m ceiling height, and a window-to-wall ratio of 50% on all the walls. “To cover a wide range of locations, climates, and solar potentials, 16 metropolises in North America are studied,” they explained, noting that they considered both PV and PVT collectors under two different scenarios.

In the first scenario, the whole roof area is covered with PV systems and all the walls are equipped with building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) panels. In the second one, all the available areas on the roof and walls are covered with PVT panels. “This study assumes that all the available areas on the roof and the walls, including the north-facing wall, are covered with PV or PVT panels,” the scientists specified, adding that their analysis also does not consider the shadow coming from the urban environment. “This assumption can be impracticable in many cases, especially for the roof, as other systems in a building, for example HVAC, require some of the available areas.”

The analysis showed that, under the first scenario, the maximum EUI permitted for net-zero energy performance ranges from 16.5 kWh/m² to 24.2 kWh/m². In the second scenario, the EUI is between 18.6 kWh/m² and 27.8 kWh/m². “Switching from PV to PVT collectors improves the EUI by 8 to 44% due to PVT being significantly more efficient,” the academics said. “Changing the building’s orientation to a non-square floor shape improves the EUI by up to 52% in PV and 63% in PVT scenario.”

They concluded that, in order to become NZEBs, buildings should not exceed an EUI of 50 kWh/m²a, which they said corresponds to a maximum of 10 floors.  “Conversely, if an energy intensity reduction to only 75 kWh/m²a can be achieved, the building height should be limited to 5–6 floors if it is to be NZEB,” they added.

Their findings can be found in the paper “Feasibility of achieving net-zero energy performance in high-rise buildings using solar energy,” which was recently published in Energy and Built Environment.

Canadian company SumoQuote launched its solar quoting system featuring EagleView TrueDesign as the premium design partner. SumoQuote Solar is a software tool that allows contractors to quote roofing and solar in one place.

SumoQuote Solar, an add-on to the company’s roofing tool that is available through a subscription, enables roofing contractors to offer solar to any roofing quote. Often homeowner’s looking to install solar need to first replace their roof, so this all-in-one tool can be used for both quotes.

EagleView, a specialist in geospatial technology, has a geospatial data and imagery library that the company reports encompasses 94% of the U.S. population. EagleView TrueDesign makes use of the imagery data to help installers create a sales-ready design with accurate PVWatts-backed production forecasts. The platform creates a report for customers, empowering sales representatives to move projects forward. Once the sale is closed, the installer can use the one-button planning process and to generate a CAD design after a few hours of processing. “This is only possible through EagleView’s level of granularity,” Peter Cleveland, Eagleview’s VP of solar sales told pv magazine USA. 

TrueDesign is intended to save installers a lot of time and resources, as a truck roll is no longer necessary to bring a site surveyor to the home. It also minimizes risks for installers who have employees climbing ladders for manual pen-and-paper site surveys on rooftops, as well. Interior structures must still be manually observed, but the shortened site survey time is significant, according to EagleView.

SumoQuote Solar can be added to any paid subscription for an additional $150/month which includes 10 free quotes. Roofing installers who already use SumoQuote will get access to preferred report pricing when they use the EagleView add on.

SumoQuote will host a live web class on why and how to add solar to a roofing business. Register here for “Double Your Revenue: The Roofers Guide to Solar” taking place on Thursday, August 3 at 11 a.m. MST.

From pv magazine global

A U.S.-Canadian group of scientists has suggested using existing fences in animal farms as a low-cost racking solution for solar modules.

“This is perhaps the lowest-cost approach to racking,” the research’s corresponding author, Joshua M. Pearce, told pv magazine. “What we did is show that at least one PV module between two upright posts is mechanically acceptable for every type of conventional farm fencing. In this case, the racking is almost free.”

The researchers identified three main typologies of fencing: fences based on multiple battens placed between the main posts to support the fence wire; fences using posts on which the fence wires or mesh are attached; and fences utilizing prefabricated meshes of various designs suitable to the need and sometimes aesthetics. “Normally for fences, high tensile steel wires and mild steel wire are predominantly used,” they noted. “Their diametric dimensions are generally 4 mm, 3.15 mm and 2.5 mm for high tensile (HT) wire and mild steel wires.”

In order to ascertain if an existing fence may be used for solar deployment, developers should first investigate if the fence can withstand a certain wind load in a specific location with the addition of PV panels, as well as the region’s topological, geographical and climatic challenges. In this regard, the group said special attention should be given to line post size and spacing play, adding that the main factors to be carefully considered are the height of the fence, footing depth, design and size of mesh fabric, as well as the material strength of the posts.

The scientists also explained that wind load measurements should be taken via the Main Wind Force Resisting System (MWFRS) and Components & Cladding (C&C) procedures, as well as by the Open Source Wind Load Calculator, which is a tool used to calculate the wind load on a fence in a given region in the United States. “The program outputs the wind loads in terms of the base shear force in pound force (lbf) and base moment in feet pound force (ft- lbf),” they specified, adding that they calculated for a range of wind loads from 80 mph to 150 mph (129 km/h to 241 km/h).

The academics conducted a series of field tests using three Cheetah HC 72 M monocrystalline PERC panels manufactured by China-based JinkoSolar. They said their installation was performed quickly by two people, with the mounting of a single module requiring seven minutes and a total of four zip-ties.

They also conducted a series of simulations for retrofitting existing farm fencing for a wide range of farms, including sheep, goats, pigs, cows, and alpaca, and found solar projects based on the proposed approach would be economically viable in the United States.

“The cost of the racking retrofit is only the cost of four stainless steel zip ties per module, which can be purchased in 120 packs for $11 or about 37 cents per module,” they explained. “If the modules range in power from 250 to 500 W then the racking cost of an existing fence is less than a penny a Watt.”

Pearce said the research group also laid out what would be an optimal inverter strategy depending on how much energy a farmer would need. “Small-scale farmers can use the free ebook to set up the design for the system, do the install with metal zip ties themselves, and then only need to call an electrician to attach to the grid,” he concluded.

The scientists presented their findings in the paper “The potential for fencing to be used as low-cost solar photovoltaic racking,” published in Solar Energy. “Future work is necessary to determine the full scope of the benefits of this approach of vertical PV agricultural fencing on a global scale,” they said, looking forward to how to improve the proposed methodology.

The research team comprises academics from the Western University in Canada and the Michigan Technological University in the United States.

From pv magazine global

Researchers at the University of Ottawa in Canada have defined a series of formulae for ground coverage ratios (GCRs) in utility scale solar power plants.

In the study “Optimal ground coverage ratios for tracked, fixed-tilt, and vertical photovoltaic systems for latitudes up to 75°N,” published in Solar Energy, the scientists said the new guidelines are applicable to projects based on both monofacial and bifacial modules that are located at latitudes between 17°N and 75°N.

They selected, in particular, 31 locations in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

“Where possible, the locations represent multiple diffuse fractions within a given latitude range, with diffuse fraction defined as the annually-averaged ratio of diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI) to global horizontal irradiance (GHI),” they specified. “The analysis we have presented has been conducted for North American locations, but covers a wide range of operating conditions, including diffuse fractions between 0.23 and 0.55, average GHI-weighted ambient temperatures of −4 C to 31 C, average GHI-weighted albedos between 0.10 and 0.65, and city elevations between 1 and 1600 m.”

The Canadian group used PV performance prediction software Duet, an open-access cloud-based solar project designing tool developed by the University of Ottawa itself, to create 3D models including mounting structures and multiple rows.

“Optical calculations are then completed considering direct beam radiation, anisotropic diffuse sky radiation, and ground-reflected radiation by segmenting the modules, ground, and diffuse sky-dome into patches,” the researchers explained. “A shading algorithm is implemented using a deterministic ray intersection method to capture the effect of objects in the 3D scene.”

The academics said that Duet software is able to translate the irradiance profiles into per-timestep cell I–V curves through a temperature and irradiance-dependent single-diode model, noting that they calculated the effect of ground coverage ratios between 0 and 1 on both monofacial and bifacial fixed-tilt and horizontal single-axis tracked (HSAT) systems.

The research group found that GCR may vary consistently between 0.15–0.68 for fixed-tilt systems and less significantly between 0.17–0.32 for HSAT systems, and said for both cases values depend strongly on latitude. “Similarly, the optimal tilt of fixed-tilt arrays varies widely from 7° above latitude-tilt to 60° below latitude-tilt, depending on the latitude and GCR,” it highlighted, adding that vertical systems are less sensitive to latitude.

The scientists also found that bifacial PV systems require GCRs up to 0.03 lower than monofacial GCRs. “Since latitude was the dominating factor affecting inter-row energy yield loss, our results should provide an estimate of the performance of equivalent PV arrays across the globe,” they concluded.

Direct pay, transferability guidance released for clean energy tax credits The Internal Revenue Service released the rules for which credits and entities qualify for various transactions related to Inflation Reduction Act tax credits.

DOE announces $13.5 million investment in solar energy workforce Twelve projects selected for training partnerships to expand solar energy workforce in underserved communities.

People on the move: Aspen Power, Solar Landscape, CubicPV and more  Job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.

Crow Renewables founded to develop assets upon $16 billion rooftop empire Real estate developer and holding company Crow Holdings founded a renewables arm to develop solar-plus-storage assets on 500,000 square rooftops and in the approximately 25 MW utility scale space.

Solar-plus-storage microgrids to replace diesel generators in Mojave water conservation project  Scale Microgrid will outfit 25 to 30 water wells each with a 1.12 MW ground-mounted solar array paired with a 634 kW / 2.66 MWh battery system, and 380 kW low-emissions combined heat and power generation system.

Longi Solar North America launches Hi-MO 7 solar module in Canada Designed for large-scale solar projects, the bifacial hybrid passivated dual-junction cell solar module has a reported efficiency of 22.5%.

NYC grocer Krasdale Foods becomes first community solar provider in the Bronx Krasdale Foods, the operator of the CTown and Bravo supermarkets in New York City’s five boroughs, has made 1.62 MW of clean power of a 2.68 MW warehouse rooftop solar facility available to 300 low- and moderate-income residents.

Roll-out solar awning with 1000 W for RVs  Made with flexible heterojunction solar cells, the awning from Eco-dynamic comes in customizable color patterns.

SolarEdge to integrate Vaillant, Samsung heat pumps with residential PV SolarEdge is partnering with Vaillant and Samsung to integrate their heat pumps into its home ecosystem. Homeowners will be able to optimize their energy consumption by using excess PV or shifting consumption in accordance with optimal energy rates.

Longi Solar North America announced the availability of its latest solar module, the Hi-MO 7, in the Canadian market.

The Canadian solar market grew by over 75% in 2022 compared to 2021 and is set to accelerate further with the Canadian government’s goal of making its electric grid net zero by 2035, spurring $20.9 billion in tax incentives for clean energy projects over the next six years.

The Hi-MO 7 module was launched globally in May at the SNEC tradeshow in Shanghai. Longi reports that the new product, a 580-Watt module, is based on tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cells, M10 wafers and high-performance hybrid passivity (HPDC) dual junction technology.

It measures 89.68 inches by 44.4 inches by 1.18 inches and weighs 70 pounds. It features 2.0 mm of dual glass, an anodized aluminum frame, and an IP68 rating, which can withstand dust and up to 4.9 feet of water. The temperature coefficient is -0.28% per C.

The new series comes in seven versions, with power outputs between 560 W and 590 W. The power conversion efficiency ranges between 21.7% and 22.8%. The open-circuit voltage ranges from 50.89 V to 51.63 V and the short-circuit current is between 13.89 A and 14.1 38.

The panels can be used in PV systems with a maximum voltage of 1,500 V. The company offers a 12-year product guarantee and 30-year power output guarantee for 88.18% of the initial yield.

“We are thrilled to introduce the Hi-MO 7 PV module to the Canadian market,” said Steven Chan, head of Longi Solar North America. “Canada has emerged as a key player in the global transition to renewable energy, and LONGi is committed to supporting this transition by providing the industry’s highest-quality solar solutions. The Hi-MO 7 module showcases our dedication to solar technology innovation and reinforces our position as a leading provider of PV modules worldwide.”

Longi reports that its Hi-MO 7 module is made using advanced manufacturing processes that include stringent raw materials selection. Hi-MO 7 uses high-quality monocrystalline silicon wafers, optimized module encapsulation and cell paste, SMBB high-precision interconnection, and intelligent automatic junction box welding technology. Longi’s digitalized manufacturing and quality control platforms incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) detection technology, which the company says ensures quality.

The Hi-MO 7 module comes in a high-strength aluminum alloy frame for enhanced durability and load capacity, which Longi reports enables the module to withstand heavy snow loads and high wind pressures, ensuring exceptional performance and durability in the cold weather climates of Canada. Hi-MO 7’s superior HPDC bifaciality is at approximately 80%, which improves power production.

“After Longi’s rigorous 18-month evaluation, development and testing program, this module not only significantly improves module efficiency, but it also brings world-leading product quality and long-term reliability,” said CJ Fu, director of product solutions at Longi Solar North America. “The new design brings down the LCOE by 3%-4% compared to system design utilizing mainstream PERC modules, reducing costs associated with balance of system and AC terminal equipment as well as overall operation and maintenance costs throughout the project lifecycle.”

Despite seeing 2022 pricing pressure as the cost of polysilicon rose, Longi shipped 46.8 GW of silicon modules, representing three years of sequential growth from 24.5 GW shipped in 2020. For Q1 2023, Longi recorded $4.09 billion of revenue, up 52.35% from the comparable quarter a year ago.

Longi is exhibiting at the Global Energy Show 2023 from June 13 to 15 at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park in Calgary at Booth 1227, where Longi experts will be on hand to discuss the company’s complete portfolio, including the Hi-MO 5 and Hi-MO 7 products for various application scenarios. Hi-MO 7 capacity is available for immediate delivery in Canada.

Duke Energy reached an agreement to sell its commercial renewable energy business which comprises close to 3.5 GW of utility solar, wind and energy storage projects for cash consideration of $1.1 billion and the assumption of $1.7 billion total debt.

The North Carolina investor-owned utility initiated a sale process for its commercial renewables business in September 2022 with sellside advisor Morgan Stanley. In November, the company said the value for the renewables business could exceed a book value of $4 billion, and on its Q4 2022 earnings call the company continued to defend the broad valuation of its commercial renewables business.

Despite a back and forth with industry analysts about the division’s valuation on its recent earnings calls, the utility saw a haircut valuation for the commercial division in its announced sale, with the $2.8 billion enterprise value reflecting a 30% discount to the valuation its management discussed on earnings calls.

The utility will utilize sale proceeds to strengthen its balance sheet and avoid additional holding company debt. This will allow the company to focus on the growth of its regulated businesses, including investments to enhance grid reliability and help incorporate over 30 GW of regulated renewable energy into its system by 2035.

In November 2022, Duke launched an auction for its commercial renewable energy platform, which is expected to close in the second half of 2023. The sale is subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

“As one of the country’s largest renewable energy operators, Brookfield has the resources to support the continued growth and success of the Commercial Renewables’ portfolio,” said Lynn Good, president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy. “This sale is an important step in our transition into a purely regulated company with significant grid and clean energy investment plans that will deliver benefits to our customers and stakeholders.”

The primary business operations of Duke’s commercial renewables business will remain in Charlotte, N.C. and the Duke employees that support the business will transition over to Brookfield to maintain business continuity for its operations and customers.

Connor Teskey, chief executive officer of Brookfield Renewable said:

With this acquisition, we are adding a scale operating renewable platform with a full suite of in-house capabilities and a proven management team experienced in operations and development. We are also adding to our pipeline of renewable development projects, solidifying our position as one of the largest renewable energy businesses in the U.S. with almost 90,000 megawatts of operating and development assets.

Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Securities advised Duke Energy on the sale, while Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom was its legal advisor.

Separately, Duke Energy is continuing to progress on the sale process for its distributed generation business, which is also expected to close by the end of the year.

The sales represent a trend over the past few years of regulated utility companies separating their regulated operations from power generation and commercial renewables business assets.

New York’s largest utility Con Edison in October 2022 closed the sale of its 7 GW Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses to German power and utility company RWE AG in a $6.8 billion transaction, which represented the largest corporate solar mergers and acquisition deal of the year.

 Sonnen announced that Jennifer Gallegos has joined its team as senior director of Virtual Power Plant Revenue and Business Innovation. 

Jennifer is Stanford-trained environmental engineer and a strategic sales and marketing leader in the climate tech industry. Prior to joining the climate tech industry, she held roles in project management, building design, sales, and marketing. As Senior Director of VPP Revenue and Business Innovation, Jennifer will be responsible for expanding Sonnen’s footprint in smart, connected ESS solutions to cover a larger range of project scope and grid-supporting business models throughout the western hemisphere.

Derek Gabriel Sr. has been appointed executive vice president & head of originations of Sol-REIT.

Gabriel most recently served as V.P. of Renewable Energy Lending and Business Development at National Cooperative Bank, N.A., where he managed residential, commercial and utility scale solar business development of over $500 million in assets nationwide. He brings 15 years of experience in solar development, origination, solar policy implementation, tax-equity structures, and debt-financing to the Sol-REIT team.

A graduate of Xavier University, Derek’s experience additionally includes policy work, as he has co-authored and pioneered solar farm zoning laws in the Southeast to build one of the region’s largest solar facilities.

More jobs from EnergeiaWorks:

• Mizhi Zhang started a new position as VP of Sales and Marketing, Overseas Business at Hithium Energy Storage
• Steve Levy started a new position as Senior Director of Business Development at Doosan GridTech
• Brad Sherman started a new position as VP of Business Development, North America at GameChange Solar
• Diane-Charlotte Simon was promoted to VP of Project Finance/Sustainable Banking at Credit Agricole CIB
• Shannon Whitworth started a new position as Director of Learning and Development EOps at Sunrun

Technical Support Specialist – Texas

• Dallas, TX
• Permanent
• $95,000 – $110,000 per year
• Solar

The Technical Support Specialist deliver customer support solutions for various solar electrical products and components within the company’s product line. The successful candidate will be a versatile person with both inbound and outbound responsibilities, across both the hardware and software components of solar inverter offerings, and who is able to work effectively and collaboratively in a rapidly changing, dynamic startup environment.

Why you should apply:

• Competitive compensation structure.
• Medical insurance coverage.
• Strong employee engagement and healthy working culture.
• Remote opportunity.

Responsibilities:

• Keep necessary documentation for products clear and organized.
• Manage all customer service efforts including technical literature for consumers, service calls, conducting remote troubleshooting of products and other applications support and occasionally traveling to site for in person service.
• Assisting with the activation of new sites as needed.
• Gather, synthesize, and prioritize actionable product requirements based on input from customers, sales, internal stakeholders and the competitive landscape.
• Coordinate with cross functional teams such as engineering and field technicians to resolve technical issues.
• Provide customer support at all levels from pre to post sales and installation.

Requirements:

• 2-5 years experience in solar installation, technical customer service or related roles.
• Strong knowledge of solar components, electrical systems and their installation process.
• Electrical engineering degree preferred.
• A strong technical aptitude and willingness to get ‘hands on’ with our existing products and technologies, and to interact confidently with both technical and business audiences.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Willingness to travel 30+%

Solar energy has become a significant player in the race to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to several factors. The cost of solar panels has plummeted in recent years, making them more accessible and affordable. Technological advancements have also made solar systems more efficient and reliable, enhancing their appeal as a sustainable energy solution.

Canada and the United States have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. President Biden has set an ambitious target of achieving 100% clean electricity in the U.S. by 2035. To attain this goal, the Biden administration has proposed various measures, including tax incentives, investments in renewable energy infrastructure, and the promotion of community solar projects.

Many companies have stepped up to take advantage of these incentives and to help businesses and organizations achieve net-zero emissions. One key advantage for these companies is the availability of financial incentives for solar and renewable energy projects. In the U.S., federal tax incentives exist for residential and commercial solar installations. The most significant incentive is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which provides a credit of 30% of the installation cost for solar projects in residential and commercial properties. State-level tax credits are also available in many states. New York is particularly attractive for solar developers due to its state tax credit of up to $5,000 for commercial solar installations.

The shift toward net-zero also presents opportunities through community solar projects. These initiatives enable multiple households or businesses to benefit from a single solar project, allowing individuals with space or resource constraints to access solar energy. Community solar projects can also extend the benefits of solar power to low-income households and communities that may otherwise struggle to access renewable energy, leading to long-term cost savings.

Renewable energy credits (RECs) are another avenue for supporting the shift towards net-zero. RECs provide businesses and organizations with a means to support renewable energy projects without directly purchasing the generated electricity. Whenever a renewable energy project produces electricity, it generates RECs, which can be sold to entities seeking to offset their carbon emissions. This creates an additional revenue stream for renewable energy projects, facilitating their continued growth and expansion.

The political momentum toward achieving net-zero targets has profoundly impacted the solar energy market, positioning it as a central player in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Canada and the U.S., in particular, have demonstrated their commitment to these targets through various measures, including tax incentives, community solar projects, and the utilization of RECs. Notably, the responsibility for electricity falls under the jurisdiction of states and provinces in both countries. This means that the demand, supply, and formulation of electricity-related policies and regulations primarily originate at the state and provincial levels. While federal-level incentives, such as the ITC, exist in both countries, reducing federal income tax liabilities for solar system installations, there are also state and provincial incentives specific to each region.

New York sets an example

In the U.S., for example, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers financial incentives for installing renewable energy systems in non-residential, large commercial, industrial, and single-family residential projects within the state. These incentives aim to promote the adoption of renewable energy technologies, including solar.

Similarly, Canada has introduced its own initiatives to support clean technology projects, including solar. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Canadian government has unveiled a 30% investment tax credit for investments in clean technology projects. This tax credit serves as an incentive to stimulate investments in solar and other clean energy projects.

From a policy perspective, solar projects are generally welcomed at the federal level and in select states and provinces. For example, a solar developer can access the NYSERDA grant in upstate New York once the project has obtained full permits and the grid interconnection fees have been paid.

While awaiting further details on the implementation of the IRA, solar companies can generally access funding opportunities at the federal and state levels. The availability of funding for renewable energy projects is relatively straightforward, providing a favorable environment for the growth and expansion of the solar industry.

As an avid traveler, I often engage in discussions about the visible impacts of global warming and the urgent need for action. Among the most frequently mentioned concerns are rising sea levels, intensified hurricanes, devastating floods, and the alarming retreat of glaciers. I had a profound encounter with the effects of climate change when I flew over Greenland in October 2022. Witnessing vast stretches of exposed rocky terrain that were once blanketed with ice and snow was a stark reminder that the ice continues to melt at an alarming rate. These firsthand experiences serve as undeniable evidence that climate change is a tangible reality.

Beyond my personal observations, there are numerous other examples of the visible effects of climate change that people can witness around the world. One prominent illustration is the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires. In regions such as California, Australia, and the Amazon rainforest, devastating wildfires have become more prevalent, destroying vast areas of land, displacing communities, and releasing significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, further exacerbating climate change.

Another visible consequence of climate change is the bleaching and deterioration of coral reefs. These vibrant and biodiverse ecosystems, found in tropical and subtropical waters, are subjected to warmer ocean temperatures and acidification due to higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. As a result, coral reefs are experiencing widespread bleaching, leading to their decline and the loss of critical habitats for marine life.

Furthermore, changing weather patterns, including more frequent and severe heatwaves, droughts, and extreme precipitation events, are evident in many parts of the world. These extreme weather phenomena disrupt ecosystems, harm agriculture, and food production, and pose significant risks to human health and well-being.

It is crucial to recognize that while the effects of climate change are already visible, there is still hope for meaningful action. By collectively embracing sustainable practices, transitioning to renewable energy sources, implementing effective policies, and promoting conservation efforts, we can mitigate the impacts of climate change and work towards a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet.

Dr. Richard Lu is president and CEO of SolarBank. He has over 25 years of global energy experience developing and implementing growth strategies for organizations in North America, Europe, and Asia.

CSI Solar, which consists of Canadian Solar’s module, battery storage manufacturing, inverters, solar system kits and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) businesses, announced the pricing of its Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) initial public offering (IPO) of shares as a new public company traded on the SSE’s Sci-Tech Innovation Board.

Canadian Solar’s global modules, battery and inverter solutions business is issuing 541 million shares, or 15% of 3.6 billion outstanding shares, at 11.10 renminbi ($1.17) per share, raising the equivalent of $848 million in proceeds.

Guelph, Ontario-based Canadian Solar currently owns 80% of CSI Solar’s outstanding shares. Following completion of CSI Solar’s IPO, the parent company will own about 64% of CSI Solar shares. If an over-allotment is exercised, Canadian Solar would own 62% of the new public company.

The companies set a May 31, 2023 issuance and subscription date of CSI Solar’s IPO,  while a final share placement and share allocation will be confirmed by June 5, 2023.

On April 11, Canadian Solar announced CSI Solar’s capacity expansion plans. CSI Solar intends to have 20.4 GW of ingot, 35 GW of wafer, 50 GW of cell and 50 GW of module capacities by the end of 2023 and is expected to have 50.4 GW of ingot, 50 GW of wafer, 60 GW of cell and 75 GW of module capacities by the end of Q1 2024.

In Q1 2023 earnings, Canadian Solar reported a record 6.1 GW of solar module shipments in Q1 2023, a 68% yearly increase over 3.63 GW of module shipments in Q1 2022. The company manufactures solar modules in Canada, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brazil.

“We remain focused on profitable growth and continue to optimize our cost structure through vertical integration. With the imminent IPO of our CSI Solar subsidiary, we will have a new platform to raise investment capital and further strengthen our leading position in solar and battery storage manufacturing,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, president and chief executive officer of Canadian Solar.

The integrated solar company’s shares are listed in the U.S. (Nasdaq), London, Frankfurt and Mexico. Canadian Solar listed as a public company in November 2006 on Nasdaq via Lehman Brothers, Deutsche Bank, Piper Jaffray and CIBC Capital Markets, raising $115.5 million at $15 per share. Today the company traded at $43.56 per share for a $2.82 billion market capitalization.

Rhythmos, a provider of electric vehicle (EV) and commercial fleet charging, and grid optimization technology, announced the addition of Stefanie Padgett as senior vice president of Business Development. In her new role, Padgett will spearhead Rhythmos’ commercial growth expansion in key industry verticals, including utilities, automotive OEMs, and EV fleets, across North America.

Tigo Energy, Inc., a provider of intelligent solar and energy storage solutions, announced that Dr. Jeffrey Sullivan has joined the Company as chief operating officer. In his new role, Dr. Sullivan will assume responsibility for global operations, engineering, and customer success. In this capacity, he will lead the effort by Tigo to scale up production capacity, deliver to customers, grow product development capabilities, and advance operational efficiencies.

Environmental engineering and construction services firm Brown and Caldwell has hired industry leader and former utility executive Pam Elardo as a senior advisor. Elardo will leverage her 40 years of industry knowledge and experience as a public sector executive to help water and wastewater agencies overcome the challenges facing the utility of the future.

More jobs from EnergeiaWorks:

• Jared Porpiglia started a new position as VP of procurement at Greenbacker
• Adam Bernardi started a new position as director of renewables sales  & strategy at Burns & McDonnell
• Balki Iyer started a new position as CCO & executive lead (USA) at e-Zinc
• Armando Solis started a new position as VP of Engineering, Americas at Lightsource bp
• Trudie Wang started a new position as VP of Innovation at Heila Technologies

Engineering Manager | Denver, CO

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Ontario, Canada-based Polar Racking announced it will add two facilities to manufacture solar mounts in the United States. One factory will be located in Michigan, the other in Florida.

A spokesperson for the company told pv magazine USA that it is building up to over 1 GW of tracker and fixed-tilt capacity by mid 2024, with the ability to scale up from there. The company said each site will add 10 jobs, with job opportunity growth as demand increases.

The Michigan facility is currently operational, and the Florida plant is expected to reach commercial production by the end of summer 2023, said the spokesperson.

“Our new U.S. facilities mitigate shipping lead time risks for our customers and gives us additional control over the entire supply chain,” said Pals Saddyappan, director of supply chain and global manufacturing, Polar Racking.

The company currently has a pipeline of 3.4 GW of solar mounting and racking across North America and the Carribean.

Made-in-USA solar components, including racking, trackers, and mounts, are in-demand across the nation, as the Inflation Reduction Act includes a 10% tax credit adder for renewable energy projects that include a certain threshold of domestic content. The Treasury Department recently released guidance on the content requirements, which contain complexities and are actively being evaluated by the industry. The subject of domestic content requirements was a hot topic at the RE+ Southeast renewable energy conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

“The expansion of Polar Racking’s manufacturing operations is in response to our customers’ needs to meet the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) domestic content requirements,” said Vishal Lala, managing director of Polar Racking. “Polar Racking supports the government’s initiative to re-shore the PV supply chain to create local jobs and bolster the local economy.”

Tracker for all terrains

This March, Polar Racking was tapped by OYA Renewables to supply its solar mounts for community solar projects in New York, the nation’s largest community solar market. Polar will supply its terrain-following Axsus series single-axis tracker for the construction of the Camillus Site 1 (6.61 MW), Camillus Site 2 (6.64 MW) and Vernon Site 1 (5.93 MW) community solar projects.

The company’s Axsus Sol-X tracker was developed in collaboration with leading automotive manufacturers to meet the challenge of installing solar on uneven terrain. As of April, Polar Racking has installed 200 MW of the product, with up to 400 MW expected to enter construction in 2023.

By applying automotive manufacturing best practices for a modular, on-site factory process, Polar Racking has increased assembly efficiencies, said Lala.

The Sol-X tracker features independent tables that can hold 6 to 24 modules per table for a total of up to 180 modules per row that are all controlled by a single motor. The table purlin design and flexible drive shaft allow it to follow the undulations of the terrain. Additionally, the Sol-X is can connect directly to various types of foundations, such as ground screws, helical piles, driven piles, and concrete ballasts for landfills. Its purlin table design also allows for greater pile and assembly tolerances that the company says allows for a much simpler and quicker installation.

Canadian Solar, an integrated solar manufacturer and energy storage systems distributor, reported a record 6.1 GW of solar module shipments in Q1 2023, a 68% yearly increase over 3.63 GW of module shipments in Q1 2022.

Canadian Solar manufactures solar modules in Canada, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brazil.

Net revenues of $1.7 billion in Q1 2023 were also a 36% yearly increase from $1.25 billion a year ago, in line with the recent guidance of $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion for Q1 2023.

“We started off the year strong with 36% year-over-year revenue growth and 750% increase in diluted earnings per share. We continue to leverage our premium brand to capture increased solar and battery storage opportunities, while laying the groundwork for future success with strategic capacity expansion,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, chairman and chief executive officer, Canadian Solar.

CSI Solar, which consists of Canadian Solar’s module, battery storage manufacturing, inverters, solar system kits and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) businesses, is planning to list more than 540 million shares on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, an index of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The mainly residential storage and inverter business is reportedly close to concluding the IPO by the end of Q2 2023.

“We remain focused on profitable growth and continue to optimize our cost structure through vertical integration. With the imminent IPO of our CSI Solar subsidiary, we will have a new platform to raise investment capital and further strengthen our leading position in solar and battery storage manufacturing,” Qu said.

Recurrent Energy, the integrated company’s project development business, operated a global project development pipeline of 24.6 GW, which includes 1.7 GW of projects in construction, 17.7 GW of early- to mid-stage projects, and 5.2 GW of backlog projects.

At March 31, 2023, Recurrent had 609 MW of operating solar projects and 280 MWh of storage projects, with a net resale value of approximately $700 million for the solar projects. The company saw a 24% decrease in its operating portfolio year-over-year due to project divestments.

Business outlook

For Q2 2023, Canadian Solar expects total revenue of between $2.4 billion to $2.6 billion. Total module shipments are expected to be in the range of 8.1 GW to 8.4 GW.

For the full year 2023, the company reiterated its prior outlook for total module shipments of 30 GW to 35 GW. Its battery storage shipments are expected to be in the range of 1.8 GWh to 2.0 GWh.

The company increased its full year revenue guidance to $9.0 billion to $9.5 billion from a prior range of $8.5 billion to $9.5 billion.

“We expect significant revenue and profit growth in the second quarter driven by both higher volume in solar module shipments and project sales. In the CSI Solar segment, volume growth is picking up while costs continue to come down, albeit partially offset by gradual average selling price (ASP) declines,” Qu said.

Recurrent Energy expects to close “a major project sale” during Q2 2023, which will have a positive impact on profit, Qu added.

Recent highlights

On April 11, Canadian Solar announced CSI Solar’s capacity expansion plans. CSI Solar intends to have 20.4 GW of ingot, 35 GW of wafer, 50 GW of cell and 50 GW of module capacities by the end of 2023 and is expected to have 50.4 GW of ingot, 50 GW of wafer, 60 GW of cell and 75 GW of module capacities by the end of Q1 2024.

On April 10, Canadian Solar announced the rebranding of its wholly-owned global energy subsidiary as Recurrent Energy. Recurrent Energy, previously the company’s North American utility-scale solar and energy storage project developer, will now include all of Canadian Solar’s global development and services businesses.

Canadian Solar, based in Guelph, Ontario, traded at $38.72 per share today, up 35% from $28.76 per share a year ago, with a current $2.5 billion market capitalization.

SunPower, a residential solar systems provider, announced the appointment of Elizabeth “Beth” Eby as chief financial officer, effective May 30. Eby is a seasoned executive who brings more than 30 years of experience in financial strategy, execution and governance at Fortune 50 and publicly traded companies. As SunPower’s CFO, Eby will play a critical role in developing and implementing the company’s strategic growth plan and leading its financial activities.

Eby joined SunPower after previous CFO Manavendra Sial stepped down from the role in August 2022, before joining Fluence Energy, an energy storage company. Prior to joining SunPower, Eby served as CFO of NeoPhotonics from 2017 to 2022, and before that, held various financial roles at Intel for more than 25 years, including as group CFO of the technology giant’s internet of things

Eagleview Technologies, a geospatial and geographic information system (GIS) mapping company, announced the promotion of Piers Dormeyer to chief executive officer from president of the firm’s commercial group. Dormeyer joined the company ten years ago. As president of its commercial group, Dormeyer built strong customer and partnership relationships and expanded the company’s market presence.

Applegreen Electric, an EV charging network, announced the appointment of Holly Angell as chief executive officer of its U.S. division. In her new role, Angell will lead the U.S. business to grow its presence and build its fast charging presence across the Applegreen network and seek new EV charging business opportunities. Prior to joining Applegreen, Angell was senior vice president of construction, engineering, energy and facilities at 7-Eleven, where she led the development of 7Charge, the convenience store’s EV charging network. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at Dairy Farm Group, Coles, Supervalu and Albertsons in the U.S., Asia and Australia.

The Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC) announced the appointment of Magdalena Wilk as director of NECEC Navigate, an innovation program that provides Clean Technology start-ups access to resources and business support. Wilk will lead the Navigate program during a period of growth in the climate economy as emerging companies seek to rapidly scale operations to meet demand for clean energy and climate-tech solutions. Prior to NECEC, Wilk served as head of sales for Asseco Data Systems, a software provider, and before that, head of business development at Pekao Leasing, both Polish companies, where her duties included partnerships, product development and sales development.

Solar Landscape announced the appointment of Raphaela Hsu-Flanders as director of market development to lead the developer’s expansion efforts in new community solar markets. Prior to joining the New Jersey-based solar developer, Hsu-Flanders was the renewables program manager at the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, where she focused on community solar project partnerships in tribal energy and low-income communities, as well as workforce development initiatives. Prior to BEF, she held various environmental policy engagement roles at the Oregon Environmental Council and its League of Conservation Voters.

Peak Power, an Ontario-based energy storage developer, announced the promotion of Archie Adams to director of business development. Adams joined the commercial storage developer in early 2022 from Nexamp, where he was business development manager.

Additional job moves provided by Energeiaworks:

• Paul Sabbagh started a new position as director of structured finance at Fervo Energy
• Daniel Baruch started a new position as executive director, ClimateTech at J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank group.
• Patrick Allen started a new position as head of business development at SIT Tech Company, Ltd.

Land Agent | New York, NY

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Job Description:

As a Land Agent, you will be responsible for negotiating and securing land agreements in field-based land acquisition to support project development pipeline goals and support field-based land needs for projects in implementation and operations phase. You will also be responsible for land acquisition negotiations, assisting in obtaining curative agreements, developing, and maintaining relationships with local officials or stakeholders, conducting update meetings for stakeholders, and project reporting at the direction of the chief development officer.

Responsibilities:

• Initiate and manage relationships with landowners that will culminate in securing a long-term land agreement for the purpose of using the land for renewable project development.
• Assist in obtaining fully executed documents needed in advanced stages of development including, but not limited to, land leases, land purchases, collection and transmission line easements, access road easements, title curative instruments and crossing agreements, under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Development Officer
• Work with regional teams to implement land acquisition campaigns, including identification of landowners within prospective sites, initiating contact and meeting with individual landowners to articulate the benefits of company’s value proposition, and negotiating contracts with landowners and/or landowner attorneys for participation in proposed renewable energy projects.
• Provide data to CDO, Land Acquisition for weekly updates with Region Development staff regarding priority tasks for projects and submit a weekly status report(s) to maintain up-to-date summary of project activities.
• Under the guidance of CDO, Land Acquisition, conduct Stakeholder meetings, presentations and maintain relationships with Stakeholders throughout the land acquisition and development process.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, business, marketing, or related field is preferred
• 2+ years of related land acquisition experience required with a preference for those with previous renewable energy experience
• RL, RPL, or CPL through American Association of Professional Landmen preferred