Azelio
Date: 2021-03-31
Azelio reports receipt of and order for two of its TES.POD® energy storage units from Swedish-based Industrisi Amal AB.

Azelio's TES.POD will store surplus energy from a 446 kW rooftop solar PV system. The installation will increase the projects renewable energy supply capacity by 24 pct and reduce CO2 emissions from energy use by 168 tpy.

The system will combine the TES.POD with solar PV already installed by Svea Solar -- Sweden's largest solar PV installer and current collaborator with Azelio for joint projects. (Source: Azelio, Website PR, 29 Mar., 2021) Contact: Azelio, Jonas Eklind, CEO, +46 709 40 35 80 jonas.eklind@azelio.com, Ralf Wiesenberg - VP Business Development, +34 699 30 86 36, ralf.wiesenberg@azelio.com, www.azelio.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Azelio,  Energy Storage,  Solar,  

Solar,Solar United Neighbors
Date: 2021-03-24
In Arizona, Solar United Neighbors (SUN) reports Northern Arizona Solar Co-op's 160 members have selected Rooftop Solar to install solar panels.

SUN expands access to solar by educating Arizona residents about the benefits of distributed solar energy, helping them to organize group solar purchases, strengthening Arizona solar policies and building a community of solar supporters. Local partners of the Northern Arizona Solar Co-op include the City of Flagstaff, City of Sedona, and Coconino County.

Not-for-profit Solar United Neighbors works in Arizona and nationwide to represent the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. Solar co-ops are part of the organization's mission to create a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers, maximize the value of their solar investment, and advocate for fair solar policies. (Source: Northern Arizona Solar Co-op, PR, Flagstaff Bus., 21 Mar., 2021) Contact: Rooftop Solar, Derek Turner, VP Marketing, Northern Arizona Solar Co-op, coops.solarunitedneighbors.org; Solar United Neighbors, www.solarunitedneighbors.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Canadian Solar,  Recurrent Energy,  Solar,  

Hawaiian Electric, HECO
Date: 2021-02-17
Driven by higher solar energy and wind production and lower consumer demand, Honolulu-headquartered Hawaiian Electric (HECO) achieved a 34.5 pct consolidated renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in 2020.

The 34.5 pct is the consolidated RPS for Oahu, Hawaii Island and Maui County, up from 28.4 pct in 2019. Hawaiian Electric exceeded the state requirement to reach 30 pct by 2020 and has more than tripled the amount of renewable energy on its electric grids in 10 years, up from just under 10 pct in 2010. Even if electricity use had been the same as in 2019, Hawaiian Electric would have still reached a renewable portfolio standard of 32 pct.

HECO's 2020 RPS highlights include:

Maui County reached 50.8 pct RPS, hitting the 50 pct mark for the first time. With a mix of solar, wind and biofuels, Maui County's RPS represents a nearly 25 pct increase from 40.8 pct RPS in 2019.

Oahu recorded a 30.5 pct RPS, exceeding 30 pct for the first time and up 5 percentage points from 25.2 pct in 2019.

Hawaii Island hit 43.4 pct, compared to 34.7 pct in 2019.

Total electricity generated by renewable energy resources increased 13 pct over 2019.

Some of the factors that drove the year-over-year increase include:

A full year of production from West Loch Solar and Clearway Energy grid-scale solar facilities;

Increased production from private rooftop solar, with nearly 6,000 new systems coming online in 2020. There are 87,848 systems and 3.7 million solar panels, including rooftop and grid-scale facilities, producing electricity on the five island grids;

Higher wind production and lower electricity use due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next RPS milestone required by state law is to reach 40 pct by 2030. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, PR, 15 Feb., 2021) Contact: Hawaiian Electric, Scott Seu, Pres., CEO, Shannon Tangonan, 808.351.4978 shannon.putnam@hawaiianelectric.com, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News HECO,  Hawaiian Electric ,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2021-01-27
Honolulu-headquartered Hawaiian Electric (HECO) is reporting a 55 pct jump in new customer sited rooftop solar systems in 2020 compared to 2019.

In 2020, 5,965 new rooftop solar systems were installed across Oahu, Hawaii Island and Maui Counties up 55 pct from the 3,840 systems in 2019. Of the new systems, 4,624, or 78 pct include battery storage.

At the end of 2020, there were 87,848 private customer systems generating 968 MW connected to HECO's five island grids, including 9,751 with energy storage. In total, about 3.7 million panels are in use.

With this increase, 36 pct of single-family homes on Ohu, 29 pct in Maui County and 21 pct on Hawaii Island have rooftop solar.

For customers who cannot take advantage of private rooftop solar, HECO will soon launch its shared community solar program to extend the financial and environmental benefits of clean energy to a wider range of residents such as renters and customers with low-to-moderate incomes. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, PR, 25 Jan., 2021) Contact: Hawaiian Electric, Peter Rosegg, 808.371.7474, peter.rosegg@hawaiianelectric.com, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News HECO,  Hawaiian Electric,  Rooftop Solar,  Solar,  Community Solar,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2021-01-22
In Honolulu, Hawaiin Electric is launching a new Quick Connect rooftop solar installation program that will accelerate the process for turning on new systems.

For the next 12 months, customers on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii islands installing new systems on circuits where the new program is available will not need the standard approvals before activating their systems.

An approval process that typically takes several weeks or months for each step to be completed can now be handled after the system is built and turned on, substantially reducing the wait for many new solar customers. If successful, Quick Connect may be extended beyond one year.

The program aims to speed connections for customers and increase rooftop solar on those circuits with the most existing capacity while reducing administrative work for contractors and Hawaiian Electric.

Hawaii leads the nation in per capita use of rooftop solar, with over 20 pct of customers, including 36 pct of single-family homes on Oahu, with solar systems connected to island grids, according to the release.

Quick Connect program details and specifications for eligibility are HERE. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, PR, 20 Jan., 2021) Contact: Hawaiian Electric Companies, Peter Rosegg, 808.371.7474, peter.rosegg@hawaiianelectric.com, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hawaiian Electric,  

New Mexico, Renewable Energy
Date: 2021-01-15
In Santa Fe, New Mexico legislators are preparing to introduce a bill in the upcoming 2021 Legislative Session to allow community solar developments in the state.

In the 2020 Legislative Session, lawmakers called for the creation of a community solar working group to study the concept and its application in New Mexico.

The passage of community solar legislation would provide homeowners a larger-scale, cheaper option than individual home rooftop solar arrays and allow widespread use of solar power on a scale smaller than large utilities. (Source: Carlsbad Current-Argus, 12 Jan., 2021)

More Low-Carbon Energy News New Mexico Solar,  Community Solar,  

New Mexico General Services
Date: 2021-01-08
In Santa Fe, the New Mexico General Services Department's $32 million State Buildings Green Energy Project -- an initiative to cut the energy consumption of 30 buildings in Santa Fe and reduce the state government's carbon footprint -- is reporting construction is expected to get underway before the month end on 4 carport solar arrays on government buildings at a total cost of $9.7 million.

The Green Energy Project includes installation of rooftop solar arrays on 16 buildings, the installation of window film, water conservation measures, and upgrades to HVAC systems and controls, lighting, and transformers.

Upon completion, the project is expected to slash electric power bills for the buildings by 50 pct and save the state more than $1 million per year. (Source: New Mexico General Services Department, Pr., Jan. 2021) Contact: New Mexico General Services Department, 505-827-2000, www.generalservices.state.nm.us

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2020-12-11
In Honolulu, the University of Hawaii and Hawaiian Electric have agreed to collaborate on an innovative renewable energy initiative to help the university achieve its net-zero energy goal and bring online more cost-effective, renewable energy resources to benefit the entire state. A request for review and approval of the "green tariff" was submitted to the Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday, 8 Dec.,

The initiative aims to develop a project to lower energy costs for the university and increase overall renewable energy generation for the state. Hawaiian Electric hopes other large institutions will be able to benefit from similar projects identified through competitive bidding that provide renewable electricity at lower rates. Key elements of the proposed program include:

The university will provide a project location at no cost for a renewable energy facility. A university-utility working group is evaluating sites for possible renewable development.

Hawaiian Electric will seek independent developers who will compete to offer the best proposals to build a renewable facility, including energy storage, on that land to provide power to the utility grid on Oahu.

The university will benefit from the lower costs provided by renewably generated and stored electricity produced by the facility. All customers benefit from the availability of an energy storage system on the Oahu grid that can be used, as needed, by Hawaiian Electric.

This effort supplements the university's continuing effort to promote energy efficiency and to use distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar, demand-response grid services and other measures. Under Act 99 (2015) the University of Hawaii has the goal "to become net-zero with respect to energy use, producing as much (renewable) energy as the system consumes across all campuses by January 1, 2035."

Under Act 97 (2015) the Hawaiian Electric Companies must meet a 30 pct renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by 2020, 40 pct by 2030, 70 pct by 2040, and 100 pct by Dec. 31, 2045. By the end of this year, Hawaiian Electric will exceed the 30 pct RPS. (Source: Hawaiian Electric Companies, PR, Dec., 2020) Contact: Hawaiian Electric Companies, Peter Rosegg, 808.371.7474, peter.rosegg@hawaiianelectric.com, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Net-Zero Energy,  Hawaiian Electric,  Renewable Energy ,  

Toledo Solar
Date: 2020-11-16
In the Buckeye State, Toledo Solar Inc. reports receipt of $1.7 million in grant funding from the US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to develop semitransparent cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaics, a solar-cell material that could be suitable for use in windows, building facades, and rooftop solar modules a new solar-cell technology believed to be suitable for integration into building construction.

The company will work with the University of Toledo's Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Center, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), and Project Vision Dynamics Inc. "to complete development of attractive, low-cost, high-efficiency solar window units and solar building facades through manufacturing innovations in CdTe module technology," according to the release. Prof. Michael J. Heben, the managing director of UT's Wright Center for Photovoltaics noted "Previously proposed options for incorporating photovoltaic power into building structures ave not made sense from a manufacturing point of view -- Toledo Solar's approach is entirely novel, and entirely doable, so the University of Toledo is very excited to be part of this effort."

Toledo Solar is the only U.S. manufacturer of CdTe thin film PV for both residential and commercial rooftop markets, according to the company website. (Source: Toledo Solar,PR, Toledo Blabe, 14 Nov., 2020) Contact: Toledo Solar, 567-202-4145, info@Toledo-Solar.com, www.toledosolar-inc.com; US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office, www.energy.gov/eere/solar/solar-energy-technologies-office

More Low-Carbon Energy News Toledo Solar,  Solar,  

Houston Advanced Research Center,International Living Future Institute,
Date: 2020-11-16
In the Lone Star State, the Woodlands-based not-for-profit Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) reports recept of Zero-Energy status from the Seattle-headquartered International Living Future Institute, making it the first commercial building in Texas to accomplish the feat.

Today, 100 pct of HARC's energy is sourced from on-site renewable energy, made possible by a $136,000 Green Mountain Energy Sun Club grant that supported the purchase and installation of additional solar panels, associated inverters and hardware on the roof of HARC's LEED® Platinum building.

The HARC building and campus grounds is 50 pct more energy efficient when compared to LEED® base targets and employs several sustainable features in its design. The building footprint and impervious paving are minimized, bioswales are designed to retain and filter water on-site to reduce the impact to nearby waterways, and the site’s biodiversity is preserved by protecting and restoring native vegetation. The building is also oriented to maximize the daylight reaching the building's interior spaces and rooftop solar installation. Other sustainable strategies include an added high-performance building envelope and rain screen that performs 2.5 times better than a typical enclosure and low-flow fixtures to conserve water while mechanical systems utilize a geothermal heat exchange system for optimal energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and thermal comfort. (Source: Houston Advanced Research Center, PR, Nov., 2020) Contact: Green Mountain Sun Club , Diana Maddock, diana.maddock@greenmountain.com, 713-703-4989 www.gmesunclub.org; International Living Future Institute, 206 223 2028, www.living-future.org; Houston Advanced Research Center, Kacey Wilkins, kwilkins@harcresearch.org , 281-364-6092, www.harcresearch.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Houston Advanced Research Center,  International Living Future Institute,  ,  

Masdar
Date: 2020-10-14
In the UAE, renewable energy developer Masdar -- the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company -- is reporting an agreement with Yas Island developer Miral to develop Abu Dhabi's largest rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) project to date at Warner Bros World™ Abu Dhabi theme park on Yas Island.

Under the agreement, Masdar will provide a full turnkey solution for the 7-MWp project, including the design, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance. The project will incorporate 16,000 solar modules to generate roughly 40 pct of the theme park's annual energy demand when fully operational in Q4, 2021. (Source: Masdar, PR, Website, Construction Week, Oct., 2020) Contact: Masdar, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, +971 2 653 3333, www.masdar.ae

More Low-Carbon Energy News Masdar,  Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  

O2 Power, Ayana Renewable Power
Date: 2020-09-28
India's O2 Power and Ayana Renewable Power have reportedly emerged as the front-runners to acquire Azure Power Global's 305 MW rooftop solar assets valued at in a potential deal valued at roughly $200 million. The deal is reportedly backed by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Canadian pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ).

O2 Power is a $500-million renewable energy platform with an 800 MW solar portfolio in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, according to the company website. (Source: O2 Power, Mint, 27 Sept., 2020) Contact: Azure Power, Ranjit Gupta, CEO, +91-11-4940-9854, pr@azurepower.com, www.azurepower.com; O2 Power, info@O2power.in, www.O2power.in; Ayana Renewable Power, +9180-48511001, www.ayanapower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News O2 Power,  Ayana,  Azure Power,  Solar,  

Hawaiian Electric
Date: 2020-09-18
In Honolulu, Hawaiian Electric has submitted eight contracts for new gridscale renewable energy and storage projects on Oahu and Maui to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for review and approval.

The six projects on Oahu and two on Maui are part of the largest renewable energy procurement ever for Hawaii. If approved and completed, the combined projects are expected to lower electric bills and provide the generation and storage needed to retire the state's only coal plant, the 180-MW plant at Campbell Industrial Park by September 2022.

On Maui, the renewable energy projects will help enable the retirement of the 38 MW oil-fired Kahului plant in 2024.

The eight contracts submitted for regulatory review represent nearly 300 MW of new renewable generation and about 2,000 MWh of storage and If completed on schedule in 2022 and 2023, would add approximately 9 percentage points to the renewable portfolio on the five islands served by Hawaiian Electric.

The company's renewable portfolio is expected to reach 30 pct by the end of this year with the anticipated return to service of Puna Geothermal Venture on Hawaii Island.

At the end of 2019, Hawaiian Electric had 902 MW of solar capacity on its five island grids, including approximately 684 MW of solar capacity from customer-sited rooftop solar systems that now number over 85,000. These new projects, if approved and completed, will increase solar capacity by roughly 35 pct. (Source: Hawaiian Electric, PR, 16 Sept., 2020) Contact: Hawaiian Electric, Jim Alberts, VP Business Development, Strategic Planning, (808) 543-7780, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News HECO,  Hawaiian Electric,  Renewable Energy,  Wind,  Solar ,  

Tucson Electric Power
Date: 2020-08-17
Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is reported to have rejected several new residential rooftop solar installation applications under new Arizona Corporation Commission rules governing the maximum solar generation capacity on any one neighborhood circuit.

The rule is designed to prevent "solar saturation" and protect the system from damage due to an excessive amount of power being exported back onto the power grid.

The neighborhood solar capacity rule has led to the rejection of applications in 11 areas of Tucson that already have reached solar "solar saturation", according to TEP. (Source: TEP, Tuscon,com, Aug., 2020) Contact: TEP, Joseph Barrios , (520) 884-3725, jbarrios@tep.com, www.tep.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tucson Electric Power,  Rooftop Solar,  

Georgia Power
Date: 2020-07-29
Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power reports its Smart Neighborhood Initiative -- a real-world R&D project -- has been recognized by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) as part of its annual awards that celebrate innovation and collaboration of utilities, industry players and individuals shaping the future of energy. The initiative was included in Southern Company's designation as a 2020 SEPA Utility Business Models Power Player of the Year.

Georgia's first-of-a-kind Smart Neighborhood, located in Atlanta, includes 46 technology-enhanced townhomes equipped with battery backed rooftop solar arrays, optimal insulation for maximum efficiency, advanced heating and cooling systems, LED lighting, home automation, including smart thermostats, smart locks and voice control.

The Smart Neighborhood is a real-world research and development (R&D) project, including a supporting partnership with the Southern Company Energy Innovation Center. The company collaborated with U.S. DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) on the initiatives. The information and data collected from the distributed energy resources will provide researchers valuable operational experience as the company continues to evaluate microgrids along with residential battery storage and rooftop solar. Information from the HVAC systems, heat pump water heaters and other technologies will help inform new programs and services for customers.

Georgia Power also offers a full suite of smart-home options, which includes easy access to products and services to help make customers' homes more energy efficient and connected. The company brings together popular products in the Smart Neighborhood, including the latest in smart thermostats and smart home products such as smart filters, lighting, door locks, light switches, vents, smoke alarms and doorbells, to a single online portal.

Download Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood Initiative HERE. (Source: Georgia Power, PR, 28 July, 2020) Contact: SEPA, www.sepapower.org; Georgia Power, www.georgiapower.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Georgia Power,  Energy Efficiency,  

CleanSpark
Date: 2020-07-29
Salt Lake City-based CleanSpark, Inc. is reporting receipt of a contract a contract to provide controls and storage for a commercial microgrid located in Southern California. This microgrid project is designed to provide economic optimization and cost avoidance, as well as energy resiliency for the facility. CleanSpark's patented mPulse controls platform will manage a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) paired with photovoltaic rooftop solar panels.

CleanSpark offers software and intelligent controls for microgrid and distributed energy resource management systems and innovative strategy and design services. (Source: CleanSpark Inc., PR, 29 July, 2020) Contact: CleanSpark Inc., Zach Bradford, CEO, Investor Relations, (801)-244-4405, info@cleanspark.com, www.cleanspark.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News CleanSpark,  Energy Storage,  Microgrid,  

Duke Energy Renewables
Date: 2020-07-15
REC Solar, a subsidiary of Duke Energy Renewables, is reporting completion of a 1 MW rooftop solar installation for the Cincinnati-based grocery chain Kroger Co. The installation is at a 300,000-square-foot bakery facility serving two Kroger subsidiaries in California. The installation includes nearly 3,000 solar panels and can produce more than 2 GWh per year of power -- sufficient to power 240 homes.

The city of La Habra, California, supported the project. (Source: Duke Energy Renewables, PR, Charlotte Business Journal, 14 July, 2020) Contact: REC Solar, www.recgroup.com; Duke Energy Renewables, Rob Caldwell, Pres, (704) 594-6200, rob.caldwell@duke-energy.com, www.duke-energy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Duke Energy Renewables,  Solar,  REC Solar,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2020-07-13
In Washington, DC, City View, a three-story, 58-unit affordable community in the Anacostia neighborhood has received U.S Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Gold certification.

The $12 million project's LEED qualifying sustainable features include: a rooftop solar panel array. Energy Star rated windows; individual energy efficient HVAC and hot water heater units; low-consumption plumbing fixtures and appliances; and others. (Source: USGBC, Multi Housing News, 13 July, 2020) Contact: USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Gold,  Energy Efficiency,  

Hawaiian Electric Company
Date: 2020-07-06
In Honolulu, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) is reporting its 29 grid-scale renewable energy projects planned or under construction on four islands represent between $3.5 billion and $4 billion in investment in the state's clean energy economy.

The number of projects in progress -- 14 on Oahu, 8 on Hawaii Island and 7 in Maui County -- is unprecedented in Hawaii. All but three would be built, owned and operated by independent power producers who will sell their electricity to HECO.

These projects, along with the continued expansion of private rooftop solar, have the potential to move HECO to a renewable portfolio standard of more than 60 pct by the end of 2025, up from about 28 pct today. That would include being nearly 90 pct renewable in Maui County and nearly 100 pct on Hawaii Island.

A number of projects are expected to come online this year, though some are still awaiting final regulatory and governmental approvals. They include: Honua Ola, a 21.5-MW biomass plant on Hawaii Island formerly known as Hū Honua; Na Pua Makani, a 24-MW wind project on Oahu; and, Mauka FIT 1, a 3.5-MW solar project on Oahu. In addition, the 38-MW Puna Geothermal Venture on Hawaii Island is expected to return to service this year after completing repairs to damage caused by the 2018 volcanic eruption.

In addition to reducing the Aloha State's dependence on imported fuels for power generation, these projects also create construction and technical jobs, draw upon goods and services from local businesses, provide lease payments to local landowners and government agencies and generate tax revenue. (Source: HECO, PR, 1 July, 2020) Contact: HECO, Jim Alberts, Snr. VP Strategic Planning and Business Development, (808) 543-7780, www.hawaiianelectric.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Hawaiian Electric Company,  HECO,  Renewable Energy,  Wind,  Solar Hawaii Renewable Energy,  

Solar
Date: 2020-06-29
Valparaiso, Indiana-based real estate developer and home builder Wayne Enterprises reports the commissioning of their 40.33 kW bifacial roof-mount solar energy system for their new downtown Valparaiso Vale View facility.

The system was installed by West Layfayette-based Emergent Solar Energy and is expected to generate approximately 50,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually enough emissions-free, clean energy to offset nearly 2,000 tpy of carbon dioxide -- equivalent to offsetting emissions from 3 million miles driven or the amount sequestered by more than 1,400 acres of U.S. forests. (Source: Wayne Enterprises, PR 27 June, 2020) Contact: Wayne Enterprises, Matthew Welter, CEO, www.wevalpo.com; Emergent Solar Energy, 765-753-9155, www.emergentsolar.energy{

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  bifacial ,  

Enphase Energy
Date: 2020-05-27
Fremont, California-headquartered global energy technology and solar microinverters specialist Enphase Energy, Inc. reports it is using its Enphase Ensemble™ technology to support a University of Washington (WU) initiative to develop control systems for unrestricted penetration of photovoltaic (PV) solar on the grid.

In addition to roughly $1 million in US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), grant funding , Enphase will provide test platforms and invest approximately $420,000 over the project's three-year timeline.

Enphase will run specialized test scenarios and gather data at the Company's single- and three-phase, on- and off-grid rooftop solar R&D facility in Austin, Texas. The test array is equipped with Enphase microinverters featuring the Company's custom ASIC, which powers the software-defined architecture that allows Enphase to reprogram a test fleet of microinverters with control architectures and algorithms developed by the University of Washington. The control architectures and algorithms will be tested to validate controller performance under real-world weather variability.

The Enphase Encharge storage system features embedded grid-forming Enphase microinverters that enable always-on functionality and will be compatible with both new and existing Enphase IQ solar systems with IQ 6™ or IQ 7™ microinverters, providing a simple upgrade path for existing Enphase solar customers. (Source: Enphase Energy Inc., PR, 26 May, 2020) Contact: Christian Zdebel, 484-788-2384, pr@enphase.com, www.enphase.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enphase,  Renewable Energy,  Renewables Grid.Rooftop Solar,  

California Energy Commission
Date: 2020-05-11
In Sacramento, the California Energy Commission (CEC) reports it has approved off-site "community solar" solar projects as an option to its recently enacted rooftop solar requirement for most new homes and low-rise apartments in California to install rooftop solar. With the approval, participating builders are now required to offer home buyers a choice between rooftop or community solar delivered via existing transmission lines.

California's solar mandate, which went into effect on Jan. 1, this year, required most new single-family homes or low-rise apartments to install rooftop solar panels owned by the homeowner or leased from a solar company, that would sell the generated electricity back to the homeowner at a discounted rate. (Source: California Energy Commission, Builder Mag., May,2020) Contact: California Energy Commission, www.energy.ca.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News California Energy Commision,  California Rooftop Solar,  Community Solar,  

Governor Ralph Northam
Date: 2020-04-13
Following up on our 11th March coverage, in the Old Dominion State, the Office of Governor Ralph Northam (D) reports the Governor has signed the Virginia Clean Economy Act into law. The legislation covers energy efficiency promotions and puts a timeline standard stating that coal-fired plants are to close by 2024, and Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power will be 100 pct carbon-free by 2045 and 2050, respectively. Under the Act:

Energy companies will pay penalties for not meeting the Act’s objectives and the revenue from the penalties will go towards job training and programs in disadvantaged communities.;

There will be a reduction of energy burned for low-income users and all energy-efficient standards and pilot programs are to be “in the public interest.”

5,200 megawatts of offshore wind generation to harvest energy for generating electricity is "in the public interest." Distributed generation facilities including solar power, will have 16,100 megawatts of solar and onshore wind generation as it is also considered "in the public interest."

Net metering will be used, which credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid making it easier for the growth of rooftop solar power in the Commonwealth.

The state will establish a carbon cap-and-trade program to reduce emissions from power plants in compliance with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). (Source: Office of Governor Ralph Northam, Website, WAVY.com. 12 April, 2020) Contact: Office of Governor Ralph Northam, 804-786-2211, www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office, www.governor.virginia.gov; RGGI, www.rggi.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  RGGI,  Carbon Emissions,  Renewable Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  

International Living Future Institute
Date: 2020-04-13
Portland-headquartered architecture firm ZGF is touting a commercial, 58,700-square-foot, mixed-use PAE Living Building that broke ground last month in Portland. With an expected opening date of summer 2021, the PAE Living Building is slated to be the largest commercial-use Living Building not only in Oregon but also, as it stands now, in the entire world.

The 5-story building, which meets the highest level of seismic criteria, is on track track to achieve full seven-petal Living Building Challenge certification performance standard established by the Seattle-based International Living Future Institute (ILFI).

The building will include: a five-story vacuum-flush composting waste system, the first urinal-to-fertilizer system, and a photovoltaic-powered battery storage system with a two-way power connection with the city's grid; a 71,000-gallon rainwater collection system that will allow the building to meet 100 pct of its water needs through on-site collection and treatment; a 133 kW on-site rooftop solar array and an 195 kW off-site array that combined will enable the building to produce more than 5 pct of its energy needs over the course of a year.

The PAE Living Building is expected to consume 18.6 kilo-BTUs per square foot per year -- by comparison, 40.8 kilo-BTUs per square foot per year is consumed by new built-to-code Portland office buildings. The building is aiming for net-zero energy upon completion. (Source: ZGF Architects, Architects Newspaper, 10 April,2020) Contact: International Living Future Institute, 206 223 2028, www.living-future.org; PAE Engineers, www.pae-engineers.com; ZGF Architects, www.zgf.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Building,  Living Building,  Energy Efficiency Solar,  

Tata Power
Date: 2020-04-01
In India, Mumbai-based Tata Power subsidiary Tata Power Solar reports it is now offering its rooftop solar installations and related services in 90 Indian cities.

To date, the company has installed more than 375 MW of rooftop projects and 2.76 GW of utility-scale projects in 13 states. The company has also built utility-scale projects in 13 Indian states with a total capacity of around 2.76 GW. (Source: (Source: Tata Power, PR, Mar., 2020) Contact: Tata Power Solar, www.tatapowersolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tata Power,  Tata Renewables,  Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  Indai Solar,  

Tata Power
Date: 2020-03-20
In India, Mumbai-based Tata Power subsidiary Tata Power Solar reports it is now offering its rooftop solar intallations and related services in 90 Indian cities. To date, the company has installed more than 375 MW of rooftop projects and 2.76 GW of utility-scale projects in 13 states. (Source: Tata Power, Various Media, 19 Mar., 2020)Contact: Tata Power Solar, www.tatapowersolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tata Power,  Solar,  Solar India,  Rooftop Solar,  

Virginia Renewable Energy
Date: 2020-03-11
In the Old Dominion State, the recently passed Virginia Clean Economy Act will create a state Renewable Energy Portfolio program requiring 30 pct or more of Virginia's electricity comes from renewable energy sources by 2030. By 2050, the Act requires that 100 pct of the state's electricity will be zero-emissions.

The Act includes measures to harness wind and solar power, expand home rooftop solar and reduce energy waste through mandatory efficiency standards. The act also sets a 5.2-gigawatt offshore wind power target, one of the largest state commitments to offshore wind to date and one with the potential to power up to 1.5 million Virginia homes. The Act also confirms the Old Dominion State's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) cap-and-invest program, which to date has provided net benefits of over $4 billion to participating members, while helping them slash carbon emissions over 50 pct. (Source: PR, Mar., 2020)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Energy,  Wind,  Solar,  Virginia Renewable Energy,  

Australia
Date: 2020-03-09
In the Land Down Under, the Liberal government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison is touting the launch of a $350 million initiative to lead the energy grid away from fossil fuel, promote renewable energy and cut carbon emissions. It will also invest $68.5 million to create the Reliable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 Co-operative Research Centre (RACE for 2030). And, in what seems a contradiction, the government will also fund a $4 million investigation of the economic case for a new coal-fired power station in north Queensland State.

Working with private industry, RACE for 2030 will fund research into a "distributed grid"; a national strategy for charging stations required under the forecast growth in electric vehicles; harnessing rooftop solar and paying householders for their energy; and trial community scale micro-electricity grids.

Under the Paris Agreement, Australia committed to reducing emissions by at least 26 pct on 2005 levels by 2030, but may have to use "carryover" credits gained under the previous Kyoto Protocol to achieve half of its Paris target, according to the Brisbane Times report. (Source: Various Media, Brisbane Times, 8 Mar., 2020) Contact: Office of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP

More Low-Carbon Energy News Climate Change,  Carbon Emissions,  Renewable Energy,  

Virginia Tech
Date: 2020-02-28
In the Old Dominion Sate, Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg reports approval of more than $3.1 million for the 5th phase of the school's ongoing Five-Year Energy Action Plan, a comprehensive blueprint to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption and costs within five years.

One of the cornerstones of the Energy Action Plan is leveraging data to optimize energy usage to achieve energy efficiency at scale on campus. Ten new buildings are added to the university's energy management platform during each phase. Proposed projects under Phase 5 (2019-20) of the Energy Action Plan include:

LED lighting overhaul in a range of buildings

Lab ventilation optimization and retro-commissioning of HVAC energy systems

Power plant compressed air system optimization

Integration of 10 additional energy-intensive

buildings into the university's energy management platform

Ongoing smart metering, meter replacement and maintenance, and

Implementation of a rooftop solar project at the Sterrett Facilities Complex. (Source: Virginia Tech, 25 Feb., 2020) Contact: Virginia Tech, Office of Energy Management, Christopher H. Kiwus, Associate VP, Chief Facilities Officer, 540-231-4300 www.facilities.vt.edu/energy-utilities/energy-reduction-efforts.html, www.vt.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Virginia Tech,  Energy Efficiency ,  

California Rooftop Solar
Date: 2020-02-26
Following up on our Dec. 18, 2019 coverage, the California Energy Commission (CEC) reports it has approved a proposal to amend its mandatory new building rooftop solar program to allow some new Sacramento housing developments to use offsite "community" solar in place of individual building rooftop solar installations.

The new solar rules were approved by the legislature and former California Governor Jerry Brown in 2018, making California the first state to mandate solar. The California Energy Commission (CEC) estimates the new mandates will add about $9,500 to the price of an average house while saving roughly $19,000 in reduced energy bills over 30 years. (Source: California Energy Commission, CalMatters, 23 Feb., 2020) Contact: California Energy Commission, (916) 465-4500, www.energy.ca.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rooftop Solar,  California Rooftop Solar,  Soalr,  Rooftop Solar,  California Energy Commission,  

Safari Energy,Extra Space Storage
Date: 2020-02-03
New York City-based commercial solar developer Safari Energy is reporting completion of its 100th solar projects with Extra Space Storage. Spanning over a dozen states and more than 10 MW of capacity, the projects have, to date, produced more than 33 GWh of solar power, the equivalent of offsetting emissions from 5,000 cars driven each year.

Since 2008, Safari Energy has developed hundreds of commercial-scale solar projects that have generated approximately 300 million kWh of electricity, the largest project being a 531 kW rooftop solar system in Central Valley, New York.

Safari Energy also provides funding for solar projects developed by partners and clients throughout the project life-cycle. (Source: Safari Energy, PR, 31 Jan., 2020) Contact: Safari Energy, John Lind, Bus. Dev., 212-935-2500, info@safarienergy.com, www.safarienergy.com; Extra Space Storage, Joe Margolis, CEO, (888) 609-8483, www.extraspace.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Safari Energy,  Solar,  Energy Storage,  

Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation
Date: 2020-01-22
The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), a Saudi multilateral development bank, is reporting a contract with Dubai-based solar energy and energy efficiency specialist Yellow Door Energy (YDE) for the installation of rooftop solar panels at its headquarters in Dammam.

The solar installation is expected to generate up to 718 MWh of power and cut energy consumption by 35 pct when completed later this year.

YDE is reported to have more than 100 MW of solar assets under development in the UAE, Jordan, Pakistan and Egypt. (Source: APICORP, Renewables, 21 Jan., 2020) Contact: APICORP, www.apicorp.org; Yellow Door Energy, +971 4 454 3033, www.yellowdoorenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation ,  Solar,  Yellow Door Energy,  

New York City
Date: 2020-01-13
In the Big Apple, under recently enacted Climate Mobilization Act legislation, any roof undergoing major construction must now host either solar photovoltaic (PV) panels or a vegetation covered "green" roof system. Construction projects affected include new construction, vertical and horizontal extensions, and major modifications to any roof requiring a permit.

Buildings are responsible for more than 70 pct of greenhouse gas emissions in NYC, according to the Climate Mobilization Act. (Source: silive, 12 Jan., 2020) Contact: NYC Climate Mobilization Act, www.council.nyc.gov/data/green

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Roof,  Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  NYC Solar,  

BOSCH,NEFIN
Date: 2020-01-10
Bosch Automotive Aftermarket (China) Co., Ltd., in partnership with solar developer NEFIN, is reporting completion of the first phase of its solar photovoltaic project at its Nanjing plant.

The project is divided into two phases, the first phase of which began in Aug, 2019, and incorporates 17,422 ground and roof-mounted solar modules producing 7,700,000 kWh solar energy per annum .

Founded by core management team of DuPont Solar Business, legal experts and investment bankers, NEFIN has collectively delivered over 180MW of utility-scale, commercial and industrial rooftop solar systems worldwide. (Source: Viet Nam News, MediaOutreach, 8 Jan., 2020) Contact: NEFIN, nefinco.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  

California Rooftop Solar
Date: 2019-12-18
In the Golden State, on Jan. 1, new state building codes requiring all new new homes constructed in the state to include solar collection panels will come into force on Jan. 1, 2010.

The new solar rules were approved by the legislature and former California Governor Jerry Brown in 2018, making California the first state to mandate solar. The California Energy Commission (CEC) estimates the new mandates will add about $9,500 to the price of an average house while saving roughly $19,000 in reduced energy bills over 30 years. (Source: CEC, CBS SF Bay, 16 Dec., 2019)

More Low-Carbon Energy News Jerry Brown,  Solar,  California Rooftop Solar,  

NV Energy
Date: 2019-12-06
In Las Vegas, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUC) reports approval of NV Energy's Integrated Resource Plan to bring three projects totaling an additional 1,190 MW of new solar renewable energy projects to the state -- sufficient power for 230,000 homes -- and an additional 590 megawatts of energy storage capacity. The three new projects include:

Arrow Canyon Solar Project -- 200 mw solar photovoltaic project with a 75 mw -- 5 hour battery storage system being developed by EDF Renewables North America.

Southern Bighorn Solar & Storage Center -- 300 mw solar array that includes a 135 mw-4 hour Li-Ion battery energy storage system being developed by 8minute Solar Energy.

Gemini Solar + Battery Storage Project -- 690 mw solar PV array coupled with a 380 mw AC battery storage system in Clark County being developed by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners in collaboration with Arevia Power.

The projects, which are expected to be online prior to January 1, 2024, will double NV Energy's renewable energy resources portfolio to include 57 geothermal, solar, hydro, wind, biomass and supported rooftop solar projects both in service and under development. (Source: NV Energy, PR, 5 Dec., 2019) Contact: NV Energy, Doug Cannon, Pres., CEO, Kristen Saibini, Corporate Communications,, 775-834-3891, ksaibini@nvenergy.com, www.nvenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News NV Energy,  Renewable Energy,  Energy Storage,  Solar,  

sPower,Borrego Solar
Date: 2019-12-02
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is reporting its Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park, in partnership with Salt Lake City-based sPower and Borrego Solar Systems, has switched to 80 pct solar power.

The project includes a 7.5 megawatt solar carport rooftop solar array producing 11.9 million kWh of energy annually. The installation will offset 8,400 tpy of CO2 equivalents each year, which is the same as taking 1,800 cars off the road.

sPower is owned by a joint venture partnership between The AES Corporation (AES), a worldwide energy company headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and the Alberta Investment Management Corporation. (Source: Six Flags, Businesswire, PR, 30 Nov., 2019) Contact: Six Flags, www.sixflags.com; Borrego Solar, www.borregosolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News sPower,  Borrego Solar ,  Solar,  

Traverse City Light & Power
Date: 2019-12-02
In Michigan, Traverse City Light & Power (TCL&P) reports its Board of Directors has approved a resolution seeking a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Rural Development's Rural Energy Savings Program.

If granted, the funds would support TCL&P's on-bill financing program allowing customers to borrow up to $30,000 at no interest for 10 years for renewable energy and energy efficiency installations and upgrades. The repayment, plus a $5 administration fee, would be secured through a lien on the property and added to the customer's monthly power billing.

Qualifying borrowers could use the money for everything from insulation upgrades to new windows to renewable energy projects like rooftop solar, as previously reported.

TCL&P executive director Tim Arends previously touted the idea as a way to help curb the utility's peak energy demand. The USDA gave tentative approval to the utility's application, as previously reported. (Source: Traverse City Light & Power, Traverse City Record Eagle, 1 Dec., 2019)Contact: Traverse City Light & Power, Tim Arends, 231-922-4940, www.tclp.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Energy Efficiency Funding,  

US Green Building Council
Date: 2019-11-20
The University of Illinois - Urbana is reporting receipt of its 21st US Green Building Council LEED Platinum certification for its recently completed $98 million Electrical and Computer Engineering Building. The UI campus claims 4 Platinum, 10 Gold and 7 Silver certified buildings.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering Building was cited for: sustainable site development; construction and waste management; water savings; energy efficiency; materials selection; a $3 million rooftop solar array with 950 panels; stormwater storage system; passive heating and cooling features; and various other energy efficient features. (Source: University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette, 18 Nov., 2019) Contact: US Green Building Council, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  LEED Certification,  Energy Efficiency,  

Date: 2019-11-13
In Denver, the Auraria Sustainable Campus Program (ASCP), in partnership with the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) and Namaste Solar of Boulder are reporting the near completion of a 779 kW solar array installation -- the largest single-roof solar array in downtown Denver -- atop the Auraria Library.

The 2,100-panel array will produce roughly 1 million kWh per year -- sufficient power for 2.5 pct of the annual campus-wide power consumption and increasing the Auraria Campus solar capacity to 854 kW.

Namaste Solar designs, installs, and maintains solar electric systems for homeowners, commercial property owners, and utility-scale developers. (Source: Auraria Higher Education Center, PR, Nov., 2019) Contact: Auraria Higher Education Center, Jane Hood , (303) 556.3441, jane.hood@ahec.edu, www.ahec.edu; Namaste Solar, Elliot Abel, Dir of Dev., www.namastesolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  

Sunrun
Date: 2019-09-04
In Chicago, not-for-profit environmental and economic development organization Blacks in Green (BIG) reports it is partnering with residential solar, battery energy storage and energy services company, Sunrun, to expand access to solar energy and jobs in the Chicago area. The partnership aims to to increase opportunities for Southside Chicago homeowners to access solar energy and to increase clean energy career opportunities for residents in traditionally under-served and underrepresented communities.

Under the partnership, Sunrun commits to recruit solar trainees from the BIG network and support BIG at educational events throughout the community so residents can learn about rooftop solar, including the Illinois "Solar for All" low-income solar program to increase access to solar energy for underserved communities. (Source: Blacks in Green, Sunrun, Chiago Defender, 2 Sept., 2019) Contact: Blacks in Green, Naomi Davis, Pres., www.blacksingreen.org; SunRun, Lynn Jurich, CEO, Patrick Jobin, VP, Finance & Investor Relations, (415) 510-4986, investors@sunrun.com, www.sunrun.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  Sunrun,  

Tesla
Date: 2019-08-21
Tesla announced through a series of tweets byTesla CEO Elon Musk, using social media as his messenger, has re-launched its Tesla Solar business by offering "cookie-cutter" solar systems to rent in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Mexico. The rental options range from roughly $65 to $195 per month the following sized unites: Small -- 3.8 kW, ideal for a 1,000- to 2,000-sq-ft home; Medium -- 7.6 kW, ideal for a 2,000- to 3,000-sq-ft home; and Large -- 11.4 kW, ideal for a 3,000+-sq-ft home.

There is no upfront installation cost, no long-term contract, and the monthly rental payment can be canceled at any time. If homeowners want to remove the rented solar system, it will cost $1,500. There is no specification of what happens to the system if homeowners don't want to remove it but also don't want to pay the monthly rental fee. A Powerwall battery unit is not included but can be purchased -- not rented -- separately. (Source: Tesla, Various Social Media, Aug., 2019) Contact: Tesla, www.tesla.com/solar

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tesla,  Solar,  Tesla Solar,  

Lincoln Land Community College,WindSolarUSA
Date: 2019-08-05
In Illinois, the Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield reports it is working with Springfield-based WindSolarUSA and Senergy Electric on the installation of rooftop solar arrays at its Jacksonville and Litchfield campuses.

The Jacksonville campus installation is expected to start immediately for completion in mid-September. The project in Litchfield is presently underway and near completion. When fully operational, the solar installations are expected to offset 75 pct of the school's electrical consumption in Jacksonville and 95 pct in Litchfield. The college expects more than $100,000 in program incentive payments for each of the projects over a period of five years to help cover the cost of installation.

The project is a part of the Illinois Power Agency's Adjustable Block Program, which provides incentives for solar photovoltaic systems to help the state reach its goal of producing 25 pct of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025. Source: Lincoln Land Community College, LMTonline, 1 Aug., 2019) Contact: Lincoln Land Community College, Tim Ervin, Dir. Construction and Environmental Health and Safety, 217-786-2200, www.llcc.edu; WindSolarUSA, (217) 825-4206, www.windsolarusa.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Solar,  Rooftop Solar,  WindSolarUSA,  

Portland General Electric
Date: 2019-07-31
In Oregon, Portland General Electric (PGE) is reporting the launch of a test bed pilot program in three neighborhoods aimed at encouraging residential and business customers to be more proactive in monitoring their energy consumption and cultivating good energy use habits.

As part of the test pilot, residential customers will be given incentives for using smart-home technologies as well as rebates for shifting their energy use during off-peak times. Commercial customers, meanwhile, will have the option of enrolling in PGE's Energy Partner Smart Thermostat program, which offers free thermostats and installation to qualifying businesses. The program will also give payments for businesses participating in load-control events. Other potential energy-saving opportunities include incentives for customers using rooftop solar or smart devices such as thermostats, water heaters and electric vehicle chargers and batteries.

PGE worked the Rocky Mountain Institute and an advisory panel to develop the program. PGE will also utilize the advanced communications capabilities and distribution system upgrades in three Oregon cities: Hillsboro, Portland and Milwaukie which have remote controls and other smart grid technologies installed to increase system reliability.

The launch of the test pilot comes as PGE submitted a new integrated resource plan to the Oregon PUC for approval to add more renewable power, increase energy efficiency and partner with customers to balance energy consumption during peak demand periods. (Source: PGE, PR, Daily Energy Insider, 30 July, 2019) Contact: PGE, Maria Pope, CEO, Steve Corson, (503) 464-8444, www.portlandgeneral.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Portland General Electric,  Energy Consumption,  Energy Use,  Energy Efficiency,  

Artisun Solar
Date: 2019-07-19
In the Show Me State, the Boulevard Brewing Company is reporting Artisun Solar has completed the installation of a 200-kW rooftop solar array at its Kansas City brewery facility.

The new solar installation was financed with CleanView Capital and is additional to Boulevard's existing solar portfolio. (Source: Boulevard Brewing Company, ClearView Capital, PV World, 17 July, 2019) Contact: Boulevard Brewing Company, www.boulevard.com; Artisun Solar, Kirk Kreisel, Pres., 816-265-1786, info@artisunsolar.com, www.artisunsolar.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Artisun Solar,  Solar,  

Rooftop Solar
Date: 2019-07-17
In Alaska, the municipality of Anchorage has unveiled the state's largest, and the municipality's first, rooftop solar project at the Egan Civic and Convention Center.

The array's 216 solar panels are expected to generate sufficient power for up to 10 pct of the convention center's annual electric power consumption and to save the center between $20,000 and $25,000 per year in energy costs. The $200,000 installation was handled by Arctic Solar Ventures. (Source: Municipality of Anchorage, AP, KSFA-FM, July, 2019) Contact: Municipality of Anchorage, www.muni.org; Arctic Solar Ventures, Stephen Trimble, CEO, 907-268-4188, www.arcticsolarventures.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rooftop Solar,  

Entegrity
Date: 2019-07-15
In Little Rock, Entegrity -- f.k.a. Viridian -- is reporting its recent $500,000 office building renovation saves or creates enough power to balance out all of its energy use.

With the energy efficient upgrades, the building has electrochromatic windows that tint at the command of a Wi-Fi signal; composting and recycling; high-control HVAC systems; a rooftop solar array; and all-LED lighting.

The building is "one of the only net-zero buildings in the state. and the second building in the world to get LEED Zero certification, and the first in the United States," according to Entigrity. (Source: Entegrity, USGBC, Arkansas Business, July, 2019)Contact: Entegrity Partners, Rob Guthrie, Bus. Dev., (800) 700-1414, info@entegritypartners.com, www.entegritypartners.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Entegrity Energy,  Energy Efficiency,  LED Light,  

Sunworks,Bright Power
Date: 2019-07-12
Roseville, California-based solar power specialist Sunworks, Inc. reports receipt of an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract from Bright Power to develop a 567 kilowatt roof-top solar PV project for a Northern California residential complex.

Bright Power, which specializes in multifamily apartment buildings, works with building owners to increase their net operating income through energy and water savings while decreasing negative impact on the environment. The project is slated for completion in Q4, 2020. (Source: Sunworks, PR, Yahoo, 11 July, 2019) Contact: Bright Power Inc., 212.803.5868, 415.914.7171, www.brightpower.com, Sunworks, Chuck Cargile, CEO, (866) 600-6800, www.sunworksusa.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Rooftop Solar,  Sunworks,  Solar,  Bright Power,  

NV Energy
Date: 2019-06-26
In the Silver State, Las Vegas-based NV Energy reports it will seek Nevada PUC approval for the addition of nearly 1,200 MW of new solar PV generation along with 590 MW of battery storage to be added to its energy mix in the form of three projects in southern Nevada. With the addition of these new projects, NV Energy will double its renewable energy by 2023.

Each of the three announced projects -- the 200-mw Arrow Canyon Solar Project with a 75 mw battery storage system; the 300-mw Southern Bighorn Solar & Storage Center with 135-mw Li-Ion battery energy storage system; and the 690-mw Gemini Solar + Battery Storage Project with a 380 mw AC battery storage system -- are expected to be online by the end of 2023.

NV Energy's current portfolio includes 57 geothermal, solar, hydro, wind, biomass and supported rooftop solar projects both in service and under development. (Source: NV Energy, PR, 24 June, 2019) Contact: NV Energy, Doug Cameron, CEO, Pres., www.nvenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News NV Energy,  Solar,  

Tesco
Date: 2019-06-21
In the UK, SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust (SEEIT) reports it will install 5 MW of rooftop solar at retail grocery chain Tesco stores across the country.

Under the deal, SEEIT will install, own, and operate up to 5MW of new rooftop solar capacity at Tesco buildings across the UK, with the retailer drawing down the power via a PPA for each site. Renewables developer Kingspan will collaborate on financing, building and operating the sites. Financial terms for the deal were not disclosed.

Tesco is targeting a switch to 100 pct renewable electricity by 2030, as part of its Science-Based Target to reach net zero emissions by 2050. (Source: TESCO, BusinessGreen, 20 June, 2019) Contact: SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust, Jonathan Maxwell, CEO, www.sdcleeit.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Tesco,  Solar,