Solar Industry Magazine

Standard Solar has acquired an 84 MW, 14 project community solar portfolio in Illinois from New Leaf Energy. 

The portfolio consists of three sets of community solar gardens in the state: six sites with a capacity of approximately 47 MW, four sites totaling 12 MW and four sites representing 25 MW. Construction is scheduled to commence this year.

“Closing on this sizeable portfolio exemplifies Standard Solar’s capability to excel even in a demanding economic landscape,” says Mike Streams, chief development officer at Standard Solar. “In an industry where such deals often pose challenges and consume substantial time, our collaboration with New Leaf Energy has been remarkably smooth, thanks to the dedicated transaction teams on both sides. Our relationship with New Leaf Energy is built on mutual goals, and we eagerly anticipate many more successful deals together.”

Including these portfolios, Standard Solar and New Leaf Energy have collaborated on 20 projects in three states.

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The Maryland Energy Administration has announced a fresh round of grant funding through the Community Solar LMI-PPA Grant Program to expand state residents’ access to community solar. 

“This new round of community solar funding underscores our commitment to making Maryland more affordable by enabling all Marylanders, regardless of socioeconomic status, to plug into clean and affordable energy options,” says Maryland Energy Administration director Paul G. Pinsky. “Community solar allows Marylanders who can’t put solar on their homes to source cheaper, cleaner energy from solar installations around the state. It’s a key part of our clean energy future.”

Those receiving incentives from the program use the funds to help offset the costs of providing low-cost community solar subscriptions within the state through PPAs. 

The program received a historic response to its FY23 offering, says the administration, ultimately incentivizing 60 community solar projects at a combined total solar capacity of 69 MW. 

The agency is presently accepting applications for the Community Solar LMI-PPA Grant Program through February.

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SolAmerica Energy has entered into an agreement to procure 205 MW of Series 6 Plus and Series 7 thin-film solar modules from First Solar. 

Atlanta-based SolAmerica intends to deploy these modules across a portfolio of community, commercial and industrial projects, as well as municipal utilities and electric cooperatives.

“We are excited to announce the expansion of our commercial relationship with First Solar and in turn, our commitment to US-developed and responsibly produced solar technology,” says Tully Blalock, SolAmerica Energy CEO. “These modules will be deployed in projects across the country, including the Midwest, where the majority of the modules in the agreement are manufactured. SolAmerica is all-in on buying American solar and this agreement is the centerpiece of that commitment.”

First Solar’s thin film PV modules have the lowest carbon and water footprint of any commercially available module today, says the company. 

The modules are scheduled to be delivered this year and next.

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The Wahoo Utilities solar project, in Wahoo, Neb., has become energized, with the proceeds of the contracted land lease set to fund the Wahoo Public Library.

Wahoo Utilities has leased 10 acres near its substation for the project, with payments directed to a trust benefiting the Wahoo Public Library, where the landowner is director.

A partnership between GenPro Energy Solutions, Sol Systems, Mesner Development and Wahoo Utilities, the project has 6,534 solar panels and a capacity of 2 MW. It began development in late 2020 and was approved for construction in 2022.

“The 2 MW Solar project started from our Board of Public Works’ interest, after seeing many throughout the state,” says Ryan Hurst, Wahoo Utilities’ general manager. “The main benefit of this project and partnership was affordable power very closely priced to what we buy our blended power from the Nebraska Public Power District. The 30-year contract on this Purchase Power Agreement was a way to hedge a portion of our power portfolio affordability for the next 30 years.”

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Qcells has announced a partnership with SOLARCYCLE to recycle the company’s decommissioned, owned and installed solar panels in the U.S.

Recycled materials from Qcells’ panels, such as aluminum, silver, copper, silicon and low-iron glass, are set to be reused in the domestic supply chain for future manufacturing. 

Qcells operates the largest silicon-based solar panel factory in the U.S., based in Dalton, Ga. One in three solar panels installed on rooftops in the country are made by Qcells, says the company.

Qcells will work with SOLARCYCLE to recycle its own installed panels and will also refer its customers to the company. SOLARCYCLE currently operates facilities in Odessa, Texas, and Mesa, Ariz., and says it has inked long-term partnerships with more than 40 solar energy companies.  

“We are proud of the clean energy products we offer, but Qcells is committed to going further than that,” says Kelly Weger, Qcells’ director of sustainability. “We want our solar panels to not only help our customers cut costs and carbon, but also to be a part of building a more sustainable clean energy industry. Our partnership with SOLARCYCLE will give our panels a life after powering homes, businesses and communities, reducing waste and reusing pieces for all types of technology including solar.” 

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The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is seeking developers for a 5.2 MW PV project on two separate parcels at SUNY Oneonta, while also inviting vendors to propose a BESS to operate in parallel with the array.

“The power authority is assisting its customers throughout New York State in incorporating distributed renewable and clean energy solutions to their energy systems,” says Justin E. Driscoll, NYPA’s president and CEO. “This project with SUNY Oneonta shows how we are leading collaborations on distributed energy resources such as solar and storage to make the transition to clean energy as smooth as possible.”

NYPA is requesting proposals from developers to design, develop, construct, install, finance, own, operate and maintain PV systems for the school. Submissions are encouraged to incorporate BESS where possible.

The authority’s preliminary feasibility assessment identified two appropriate sites. The first would host a 3 MW ground-mounted system on 60 acres about a mile from the college. The second site would have a 2.2 MW ground-mounted system on a 7.5-acre parcel accessible from nearby.

Developers are invited to participate in a walk-through at the site on Feb. 12. Proposals are due March 5.

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SOLRITE Energy has partnered with sonnen, a global market leader in smart energy storage and VPP technology, to launch the SOLRITE Virtual Power Plant Power Purchase Agreement (VPA). 

The SOLRITE VPA represents the industry’s first PPA offering leveraging grid services provided by the sonnenConnect VPP Program, says the company. It added that homeowners will have access to backup power and cost savings through sonnenConnect’s daily time of use optimization and bill management, while contractors may be supported by solutions to challenges such as NEM 3 in California via the VPP.

“As more markets are expected to follow California’s lead and alter their net-metering policies, this model enables us to capture the solar + storage market in a way that benefits homeowners, contractors and the grid itself,” says Regan George, CEO of SOLRITE.

“Integration with sonnen’s systems and sophisticated grid service algorithms will make every VPA installation a valuable asset to the local utility or Independent System Operator. Our competitive financing will allow more customers to receive the financial and environmental benefits of solar + storage, amplifying the impact of this program and ushering in the grid of the future.”

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Onyx Renewable Partners and Qcells North America have announced plans to develop two Massachusetts community solar and battery projects, to be developed by Onyx and have a total 6.2 MW.

“Qcells is thrilled to align with Onyx toward building a sustainable future,” says Qcells’ Jin Han. “With Qcells’ cutting-edge solar technology, energy storage hardware and Geli energy management system software, and Onyx Renewables’ project development and execution expertise, our partnership will deliver reliable, cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions that benefit consumers, businesses and utilities alike. We have high hopes for our partnership with Onyx and our projects in Massachusetts are just the beginning.”

The Massachusetts projects benefit from the state’s SMART incentive program and will participate in the state’s Clean Peak Energy Standard.

Both projects will utilize Qcells’ DC-coupled battery storage technology and its end-to-end software solution, Geli Energy Management System, for battery charging and discharging optimization. 

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Sunflower Electric Power is partnering on Boot Hill, a 150 MW solar project near Fort Dodge Station, the company’s electric generating facility one mile southeast of Dodge City, Kan.

The company is a cooperatively operated wholesale generation and transmission utility serving seven member distribution utilities located in western Kansas. The Boot Hill Solar Project, expected to commence operations in 2026, will join Sunflower’s 20 MW Johnson Corner Solar Project, which came online in 2020, and Sunflower’s 20 MW Sunflower Electric Solar @ Russell Project, scheduled for commercial operation next January.

Boot Hill will generate approximately 400,000 MWh annually, says the company, and will have more than 300,000 solar panels mounted on a single-axis solar tracking system. The facility will complement the company’s other generation resources, providing its system with incremental capacity.

The Victory Electric Cooperative, located in Dodge City, joins Sunflower’s six other member-owners in supporting the Boot Hill Solar Project. Sunflower is partnering with Alluvial Power to design and construct the project.

“Each energy generation resource type has benefits, so Sunflower supports an all-of-the-above approach to our generation portfolio,” says Steve Epperson, Sunflower interim president and CEO. “Sunflower’s Board of Directors has carefully analyzed the factors and variables associated with adding more solar energy to our system and believes the time is right to capitalize on the economic efficiencies and other benefits of this project for our members.”

Construction on Boot Hill is scheduled to begin next year.

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Energywell subsidiary Think Community Solar is moving into 10 additional markets, including 18 new utilities, effective this month.

“The Think+ sales channel, focused on educating friends and family about better energy choices, is well positioned to be a market leader in community solar,” says Energywell CEO Michael Fallquist. “We proved the sales model last year, as we enrolled a significant number of customers against a backdrop of being a startup in the community solar space with a limited number of geographies and projects available to our customers.”

Think Community Solar adds Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington, D.C. to its existing presence in New York, New Jersey, Maine and Maryland. It has partnerships with 30 utilities within its coverage areas. 

The company has additionally entered into an agreement to allocate more than 2,500 New York-based customers to existing projects across NYSEG, National Grid, Central Hudson and Orange & Rockland in the coming months.

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Mississippi State University, as part of a 30-year renewable project, has installed the largest on-campus solar facility in the Southeastern Conference.

Located on a four-acre field, the 3,420 solar panel installation is expected to produce approximately 2.4 million kWh hours annually. The school says the project will create an average 2,400 renewable energy credits when connected with retrofit projects and is set to save the institution $885,000 per year.

“We’re taking innovative action now to generate renewable, sustainable power right here on campus. This solar structure is a visible symbol of Mississippi State’s commitment to reach our clean energy goals,” says Saunders Ramsey, executive director of MSU’s Campus Services. “It’s an exciting time and a mission that the entire campus community can champion.”

Upgrades and solar modules combined are expected to help MSU benefit from a 7,548 metric ton annual carbon reduction and save a total of 10,784,865 kWh per year.

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BluWave-ai has signed a contract with the city of Summerside in Canada to deploy and activate its AI-driven Smart Grid Optimizer for Summerside’s solar farm, Sunbank.

Sunbank generates 21.6 MW of solar and a 10 MWh battery, augmenting a 12 MW wind farm supplying the city. Integrated with Microsoft Azure, BluWave-ai’s software solution from BluWave-ai optimizes Sunbank’s operation to make the most of available renewables, which the company says will cut the city’s net energy costs.

“With the Canadian Federal Government’s target for net zero electricity grids by 2035, a key to retiring natural gas peaking plants and coal-fired thermal plants, will be to manage fluctuating renewables in the context of the needs of the grid,” says Devashish Paul, CEO of BluWave-ai. “Leveraging 26 USPTO patents filed in the area of grids and optimization embedded in our AI products, this project at Sunbank will be a key AI-enabled battery dispatch project applicable to smart grids across Canada by 2035.”

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The Connecticut Green Bank has doubled its funding, to $110 million, for commercial-scale PV projects by businesses, towns, schools, non-profits and state agencies. 

Originally approved in 2020 at $49.5 million, the allocation was increased to $110 million due to ongoing demand by customers seeking to utilize solar to reduce their costs as well as take advantage of opportunities created through the Inflation Reduction Act.

To date, the facility has been used for $30 million in capital for over 100 solar projects totaling 25 MW across the state under PPAs with manufacturers, schools, nonprofits and tourist destinations.

“The increased need for funding reflects the success of the state’s Non-Residential Energy Solutions program and the increase in federal incentives that are enabling more investment in and deployment of clean energy in our communities,” says the Green Bank’s Bert Hunter. 

“Businesses, schools, and towns are looking for relief from higher energy costs and protecting themselves against grid outages. At the same time, these projects help achieve the governor’s goal to achieve a zero-carbon electric grid by 2040.”

Also approved was increased funding for state projects under the bank’s Solar Marketplace Assistance Program (MAP). Through the program, the Green Bank assists in site feasibility analysis, incentive procurement and facilitating a procurement process for development and construction. 

Photo source

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Swell Energy has acquired Renu Energy Solutions, with the goal of enabling VPP deployment in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic markets through the combination of Renu’s project development capabilities and Swell’s financing and technology platform.

“With the growing demand for renewable energy in the region, this transaction marks a pivotal milestone for both companies in furthering our shared mission to enable retail customers and utilities to collaboratively benefit from DERs,” says Suleman Khan, CEO of Swell. “With Renu’s market leadership, there is an opportunity for us to work with interested utilities from the outset. Together, we are exploring how virtual power plants can enhance local grid needs and bring cost savings, greater resiliency and climate benefits to the communities we now collectively serve.”

The acquisition includes Renu’s solar and storage maintenance subsidiary, Sun Service Specialists, which maintains distributed energy resources) across the East Coast.

With Renu serving as a regional hub, Swell’s channel partner program provides other residential and commercial solar companies access to certain resources and offerings, including the opportunity to become VPP co-developers.

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SnapNrack has launched its AnchorFoot roof attachment and DeckAnchor fasteners, to be used in conjunction with the company’s Ultra Rail mounting system.

The latest products expand the company’s roof attachment portfolio for direct-to-deck mounting, with AnchorFoot utilizing SnapNrack’s SpeedSeal+ technology that includes a 0.2” thick butyl peel-and-stick pad shipping pre-installed. 

“As installers work on several different roof types, they’re looking for unique solutions that unlock speed and efficiency while also providing industry-leading safety and durability,” says Troy Goeckeritz, VP of Sales at SnapNrack. “AnchorFoot and DeckAnchor improve the installation process and give homeowners the peace of mind of further roof protection.”

Engineered with double the strength of standard wood screws, DeckAnchor reduces the number of fasteners for direct-to-deck mounting while maintaining capability for rafter mounting, adds the company. 

AnchorFoot and DeckAnchor are both TAS-100 certified by Intertek for wind-driven rain.

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Sunstone Credit has announced its new loan product, Express Loan, for small business solar loans under $250,000.

The company says small businesses historically have to pay cash or use traditional financing options for solar installation, adding that its new loan product may give these customers more streamlined access to solar financing.

“Solar energy has traditionally been out of reach for small businesses,” says Sunstone’s Chan Tai. “It requires a significant cash outlay and traditional banks don’t know how to underwrite the loans. Sunstone makes solar accessible to small businesses by providing quick and easy financing options that are often cheaper than what businesses are paying for their existing utility bills. With Express Loan, businesses will have faster access to Sunstone financing, accelerating their transition to solar energy and savings.”

The loan is available to commercial customers of Sunstone’s approved installation partners. Qualifying businesses are for-profit and property companies that have been in business for three years or longer or have co-signers who own the property.

Photo source

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Avangrid has delivered and installed both main power transformers at its True North solar project, as module and racking system installation continues to progress and the company says overall project construction remains on schedule.

The project, a 240 MW solar farm in Falls County, Texas, will supply Meta’s upcoming data center in neighboring Temple with 100% renewable energy.

“We are thrilled to see construction at True North progressing smoothly as we reach this major milestone, despite several challenges facing the solar market,” says Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. “True North will be our largest solar project once complete, and represents Avangrid’s unwavering commitment to accelerating a clean energy transition.”

True North will be Avangrid’s first solar farm in Texas.

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ClearGen and King Energy have announced a collaboration, with ClearGen committing more than $150 million to fund King Energy’s solar projects.

King Energy’s business model involves real estate owners receiving rent for their rooftops, while tenants and common areas receive renewable power at discounted rates. 

“At ClearGen, we are more than financiers; we are catalysts for growth,” says Rob Howard, CEO of ClearGen. “Empowering partners with efficient capital to source new customers and aggressively grow their business is our goal. King Energy’s ability to overcome historical challenges in multi-tenant assets showcases their market leadership. We are grateful to John and the King Energy team for choosing ClearGen as their financing partner.”

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Castillo Engineering has been chosen by Summit Ridge Energy to provide design and engineering services on an 82 MW portfolio of 26 Illinois community solar projects. 

Part of the Illinois Shines or Adjustable Block Program, each of the average 3 MW community solar projects will use bifacial modules mounted on single-axis trackers. A portion of these projects are slated to begin construction during this quarter and are expected to be completed by year’s end. 

“We chose to work with Castillo Engineering on this portfolio of projects due to their extensive community solar experience within Illinois, their project management office, as well as their highly customized solutions,” says Pradeep Mohanraj, Summit Ridge Energy’s vice president of engineering. 

“Throughout our longstanding relationship, Castillo Engineering has provided Summit Ridge and our EPC partners with critical feedback on design improvements, product selection and innovative value engineering ideas, among other deliverables, that enable us to build these projects on schedule and on budget.”

Collectively, Summit Ridge Energy and Castillo Engineering are expected to have an Illinois community solar portfolio of over 500 MW by the end of this year.

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Summit Energy has announced its market expansion and launch into the Pennsylvania solar market, offering its design and installation services to the region. 

“We recognize the rising interest among Pennsylvania residents in renewable energy sources, especially solar,” says Summit Energy’s Dallin Maw. “This expansion aligns with Summit Energy’s commitment to creating a sustainable future, reducing carbon footprints, and providing customers with innovative solar solutions that lead to long-term savings.”

Summit offers solutions for homeowners and businesses in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Utah, New York’s Westchester County and Pennsylvania. 

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