Solar Industry Magazine

Consolidated Asset Management Services (CAMS) says it will provide O&M, asset management, accounting, remote monitoring and related services for REC Solar’s renewables portfolio, including solar and energy storage projects for hundreds of U.S. commercial enterprises, such as manufacturers, retailers, schools, universities and municipalities.

This award increases CAMS’ renewable assets under management to over 5.6 GW throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

“We are thrilled to support REC Solar’s continued expansion within the C&I solar space and look forward to delivering best-in-class services to their operational and in-development assets,” says Brian Ivany, executive vice president of CAMS Energy Transition Services.

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AES Corp. says it completed 3.5 GW of renewables projects in 2023, nearly doubling the capacity constructed compared to the previous year.

“This construction milestone represents a new record and a growth rate of nearly 100% over 2022,” says Andrés Gluski, AES president and CEO. “Including these newly added projects, AES’ portfolio of renewables now reaches 18.4 GW.”

Of the 3.5 GW of projects that AES completed, 1.6 GW are solar, 1.3 GW are wind and 0.6 GW are energy storage. Examples of notable projects completed in 2023 include the following:

• Great Cove Solar, a 220 MW project comprised of two facilities in Franklin and Fulton Counties, Pa., being commissioned in multiple phases. University of Pennsylvania will purchase all electricity produced at the sites. 
• Chevelon Butte Wind, a 238 MW wind project, and Phase 1 of a 454 MW wind facility in Coconino and Navajo counties, Ariz. The project is sited on the Chevelon Butte Ranch, one of the oldest working cattle ranches in Arizona. 
• McFarland A Solar-plus-Storage, a 200 MW solar and 100 MW energy storage project located in Yuma County, Ariz. 

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Skylight Lending has closed on a multi-million-dollar credit facility with M&T Bank, positioning the company for a planned expansion into five states.

“Our long-term relationship not only provides Skylight with the financial resources needed for expansion but also underscores the confidence M&T Bank has in our vision and the potential of the residential solar market,” says Thomas Dungan, CEO of Skylight Lending.

“M&T Bank is thrilled to support Skylight Lending as they continue to advance the adoption of renewable energy solutions by providing accessible, customized financing solutions to consumers,” added Davis Clark, M&T Bank vice president. “This relationship underscores M&T’s Bank’s dedication to supporting initiatives that contribute to a more sustainable future and highlights the Bank’s ongoing commitment of supporting and empowering local businesses.”

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Ørsted has signed an 80 MW PPA with Bloomberg for renewable energy generated by the Mockingbird Solar Center, a 471 MW project currently under construction near Paris, Texas. 

This is the company’s largest solar project in the U.S., as well as the company’s first project to incorporate conservation efforts with the protection of native prairie tallgrass. Bloomberg is one of four corporate customers buying power from the Mockingbird Solar Center, including Covestro and Royal DSM. The agreement brings the Mockingbird project to a fully contracted status for its 471 MW capacity.

One feature of the project is the agreement between Ørsted and The Nature Conservancy to preserve nearly 1,000 acres of rare, native tallgrass prairie adjacent to the project. Ørsted has purchased over half of the Smiley-Woodfin National Prairie Grassland and will donate the land to The Nature Conservancy once the project reaches operation.

“Ørsted’s commitment to the responsible development of clean energy at Mockingbird Solar Center demonstrates that conservation and clean energy can coexist,” says Ørsted’s Monica Testa. “We’re proud to partner with Bloomberg in support of their sustainability goals and thrilled to see companies continue to prioritize the responsible development of clean energy in line with nature.”

The Mockingbird Solar Center builds on the company’s existing footprint in Texas, which includes 12 wind, solar, and storage projects in operation or under construction across the state.

The post Bloomberg, Orsted Announce 15-Year Renewables PPA appeared first on Solar Industry.

Ardagh Glass Packaging and CI Renewables are moving forward with development of a solar project in Madera, Calif., with a capacity of up to 10 MW.

The project, built and operated by VALTA Energy, is set to be completed this year. It will supply electricity to Ardagh Glass Packaging’s Madera manufacturing site and is expected to account for approximately 25% of facility demand.

“We are pleased to see this important solar project for Ardagh move forward,” says Walter Serafyn, managing partner of CI Renewables. “This is the second large-scale solar project we have developed for Ardagh, and we look forward to more opportunities with Ardagh in the future.”

Ardagh Glass Packaging’s Madera manufacturing site supplies glass containers for the U.S. wine market.

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Amazon invested in more than 100 new solar and wind energy projects last year, becoming the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy for the fourth year in a row, says the company. 

The company now has more than 500 wind and solar projects globally, and once operational, are expected to generate more than 77,000 GWh each year.

“Amazon’s investments in solar and wind projects are helping power our operations, while also providing new sources of clean energy to the grid, spurring economic growth and supporting jobs in the communities where our customers live and work,” says Adam Selipsky, CEO of Amazon Web Services. 

“More than 90% of our operations were powered by renewables last year, but we’re not done. We’re focused on continuing to find innovative ways to bring new projects online, address grid constraints, and work with policymakers to mitigate the impacts of climate change, all of which is helping Amazon move closer to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2025.”

To date, the company has expanded its renewables portfolio into 27 countries and more than 20 U.S. states.

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Mercom Capital Group has released its annual report on funding and M&A activity for the solar sector, finding that total corporate funding, including from VC, public market and debt financing, increased 42% year-over-year in 2023. 

The report further found $34.3B was raised in 160 deals, compared to $24.1B in 175 deals the previous year. Almost 45.4 GW of large-scale projects were acquired in 2023, with 35% of these being acquired by project developers and IPPs. Investment firms acquired 23%, followed by utilities with 17% of acquisitions.

“Investments into solar continue to defy expectations,” says Raj Prabhu, Mercom Capital Group CEO. “Despite high-interest rates and challenging market conditions, corporate funding in the sector was the highest in a decade. Debt financing also hit a decade high, and venture capital investments and public market financing recorded the second-highest amounts since 2010. Driven by the Inflation Reduction Act, the global focus on energy security and favorable policies worldwide, solar continues to attract significant investments.”

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Paz Oil, Arava Power and Menora Mivtachim have closed on a tax equity bridge loan of $144M for the 272 MW Sunray Project located in Uvalde County, Texas.

The financing will support the project’s continued construction and operation.

“We are delighted to have reached another significant milestone in the financing of Project Sunray and are honored by the close partnership and continued support of Nomura,” says Ilan Zidkony, CEO of Arava Power. “It’s deeply gratifying to see our debut project in the US progress so successfully towards commercial operation.”

The project has become eligible for the 10% community energy adder enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act. The additional tax equity commitment was provided by a U.S.-based financial institution which also gave the original tax equity commitment together with an unnamed technology company.

Nomura Securities acted as bookrunner and coordinating lead arranger, underwriting the tax equity bridge loan financing.

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Ice Industries has been awarded an additional long-term contract supplying panel components to First Solar and plans to invest nearly $10M in a Louisiana facility to supply steel back rails for modules produced by First Solar’s vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, expected to start commercial shipments by 2026.

Ice’s Louisiana facility is the company’s second roll forming facility dedicated to supplying First Solar with back rails for its Series 7 modules. In 2022, Ice established its Bowling Green, Ohio facility to supply First Solar’s manufacturing facility in Lake Township, Ohio with back rails made with domestic steel.

“First Solar already sets the bar for domestic supply chains in the solar industry, as we produce our Series 7 modules with 100% U.S.-made glass and steel and source the majority of our components from our network of domestic suppliers,” says Mike Koralewski, First Solar chief supply chain officer. 

“And as we scale, our supply chains must scale with us, supporting our expansion in Louisiana and Alabama while also supplementing the impact of investments by creating jobs and economic value.”

Ice plans to initiate production in the first half of next year, with site selection process underway.

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The Department of the Interior (DOI) has updated its roadmap for solar development across the U.S. West, designed to improve production in more states and efficiency in renewables siting and permitting on public lands. 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also announced next steps on several projects in Arizona, California and Nevada, representing more than 1,700 MW of potential generation and 1,300 MW of potential battery storage capacity.

“The Interior Department’s work to responsibly and quickly develop renewable energy projects is crucial to achieving the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, and this updated solar roadmap will help us get there in more states and on more lands across the West,” says Laura Daniel-Davis, DOI acting deputy secretary,.

The BLM has also published a draft analysis of the updated Western Solar Plan, streamlining the bureau’s framework for siting solar energy projects.

The proposal is an update of BLM’s 2012 Western Solar Plan, which identified areas in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah with high solar potential and low resource conflicts in order to guide responsible solar development and provide certainty to developers. The updated roadmap refines the analysis in the original six states and expands it to include Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.

The BLM is currently processing 67 utility-scale onshore clean energy projects proposed on public lands in the western U.S. This includes solar, wind and geothermal projects, as well as gen-tie lines vital to clean energy projects proposed on non-federal land. These projects have the combined potential to add more than 37 GW of renewable energy to the Western grid. 

The BLM is also undertaking the preliminary review of over 195 applications for solar and wind development, as well as 97 applications for solar and wind energy site area testing.

The post DOI, BLM Announce Next Steps in Promoting Solar Energy Development  appeared first on Solar Industry.

The Raymond Corporation has finalized deployment of a full-scale BESS, solar microgrid array and warehouse energy management system at its distribution warehouse in Greene, N.Y. 

“With the implementation of behind-the-meter storage at our distribution center, we have gained insights into the benefits of the system in material handling applications specifically related to alleviating increased demand associated with charging of advanced power solutions including lithium,” says Raymond Corporation’s Jennifer de Souza. “We are excited to continue to demonstrate a new energy storage process and solution for warehouse energy management that will reduce utility costs for warehouse owners.”  

This energy storage program began as a joint project in March 2019 with Binghamton University and was partially funded by a $1M award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. 

The first phase included the installation of a 200 kW PV system and 250 kW BESS at Raymond’s distribution warehouse. The second and third stages of the project developed and demonstrated the installation of advanced lithium-ion battery chargers utilizing proprietary software to balance grid and microgrid charging.

Raymond is now deploying the installation of a front-of-the-meter rooftop system at its Syracuse, N.Y. parts distribution facility.

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Ameresco has completed a 26.3 MW solar farm in DePue, Ill., consisting of 65,832 PV panels installed on ballast blocks above ground and is estimated to produce 37,000 MWh in its first year of operation.

The company has served as developer, builder and owner of the solar farm on the brownfield site and began development plans in 2019. It will provide maintenance and support services for the life of the facility.

“We’re so glad to have seen this important renewable energy project through to completion and commend the village of DePue and the state of Illinois for their commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future,” says Lou Maltezos, executive vice president of Ameresco. “We look forward to seeing the economic and environmental benefits of this new solar farm for years to come.”

With the project’s completion, DePue will benefit from a portion of the energy generated for facility usage, in addition to permitting fees collected throughout the site’s development. Bureau County will collect increased property tax revenue from the project’s completion.

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Scale Microgrids has entered into a definitive agreement with Gutami to acquire 500 MW of distributed solar and storage projects across multiple states, including California and New York.

Building on their existing 100 MW New York partnership, the companies have executed an expansion agreement under which Gutami will develop 500 MW of energy transition infrastructure assets, which Scale will then acquire, finance and own.

“As we kick off 2024, we’re thrilled to announce continued progress on our company’s rapid growth,” says Scale CEO Ryan Goodman. “This expansion of a successful relationship is central to our mission of powering the world with clean, distributed energy. Community solar continues to be a priority for Scale for both its inclusivity and ability to provide more options to our microgrid customers. Community solar is a great option for those who are unable to install rooftop solar because they are renters, can’t afford solar or because their property is not suited for it.”

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Maxeon Solar Technologies has introduced its new commercial partner program aimed at domestic solar installers and dealers. 

The company is offering providers joining the program access to its high-efficiency modules, warranties and sales support, along with other features.

“We know how important it is for our partners to thrive, and the Maxeon Commercial Partner Program empowers U.S. solar providers to successfully address a dynamic market for renewable energy solutions by offering premier products, training, services and the marketing support they require to capture new business,” says Vikas Desai, Maxeon SVP and general manager. 

“When it comes to our partners, we’re committed to delivering what they need—when they need it. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of solar products, tools, and support, along with the industry’s best reliability and warranty, to help installers meet their goals.”

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Alliant Energy has completed its Beaver Dam project, a 50 MW solar array in Dodge County, Wis. spanning 350 acres, as well as its Crawfish River project in the Jefferson County town of Jefferson. 

Beaver Dam consists of nearly 120,000 solar panels and can produce enough energy to power approximately 13,000 homes annually, says the company, while the 75 MW solar array at Crawfish River consists of more than 200,000 solar panels and can produce enough energy to power approximately 20,000 homes annually.

“I started farming early on in my life,” says John Butterbrodt, one of the participating landowners. “When I was the president of the largest dairy co-op in the country, my friends and family all called me ‘The Dairy Farmer.’ Now when we get together, they call me ‘The Solar Farmer’ and I’m proud of that. In recent years, the corn grown on this land went to the ethanol plant. Now with solar panels, the electricity will help power homes and electric cars. It’s a new way of getting energy for the future of our country. This project is a great economic benefit to the community. It’s good for the taxpayers and it’s good for the future generation of our family.”

Construction on Beaver Dam began in September 2022 and employed over 120 carpenters, electricians, operating engineers and laborers. Construction on Crawfish River began in spring 2022 and employed over 400 workers at its peak. 

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Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and UniSource Energy Services are seeking new generation facilities, energy storage systems and other resources through a joint all-source request for proposals (ASRFP) seeking submissions by March 8.

The joint ASRFP, issued in December, targets resources to support the companies’ integrated resource plans (IRPs) from last year, describing how each company plans to meet customers’ future energy needs.

“We’re looking for opportunities to add reliable, cost-effective resources to satisfy the growing energy needs in communities we serve,” says Susan Gray, TEP president and CEO. “As in our previous ASRFP, we’re particularly interested in resources that can provide service during the late afternoon and early evening hours of summer, when our customers typically use the most energy.”

In the ASRFP, TEP and UniSource are seeking bids for all resource types. The companies will review proposals before summer and anticipate selecting successful proposals this fall. Both companies are seeking resources that can commence service as soon as 2026 but no later than 2027. Projects with combined technologies are eligible for consideration.

The ASRFP process is being supported with evaluation and independent monitoring services provided by Sargent & Lundy. 

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Solar racking specialist Unirac and solar attachment solutions provider S-5! say they are partnering to help advance solar mounting standards and further develop mutually beneficial technologies.

S-5! has extended its UL 2703 certifications for its clamps and brackets, which are now listed under Unirac’s certifications – an important compliance requirement increasingly demanded by Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) nationwide. This certification ensures that these clamps are now fully approved for use with Unirac’s NXT UMOUNT and SolarMount systems.

The companies say they are also actively working to incorporate each other’s solutions into their respective design tools – Unirac’s U-Builder and S-5!’s Solar Calculator. This integration is designed to streamline the solar project design process, making it more efficient and user-friendly.

“Our partnership with S-5! enables us to deliver solutions that not only boost efficiency and ensure code compliance but also reflect our unwavering commitment to our customers’ success,” says Ernest Gallegos, director of products at Unirac. “We see this as a significant advancement in our ongoing efforts to provide the best experience for our customers and to offer peace of mind to consumers adopting solar energy.”

Mark Gies, director of product management at S-5!, adds, “We are excited about taking our partnership with Unirac to a new level by incorporating our solar attachment solutions into their project design tools and technical certifications, making it easier and more efficient for design and permitting systems that utilize their rails and our clamps.”

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Ojjo says its patented Earth Truss System is now compatible with solar trackers from PV Hardware (PVH), providing more flexibility to utility-scale developers and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firms.

Ojjo’s Earth Truss foundation is designed to mitigate subsurface risk, improve installation accuracy, eliminate costly predrill and remediation processes, and reduce site grading requirements.

“We believe the combination of technologies is a huge asset to the industry,” says Will Cabana, vice president of sales, U.S. “Ojjo’s novel foundation system will allow our customers to overcome increasingly demanding soil and grading challenges, which is critical as we continue to expand in the U.S.”

Ojjo says it takes a supplier-agnostic approach to supporting solar tracker systems and is compatible with many leading manufacturers. The company engineers mating hardware for each tracker’s bearing componentry, allowing seamless integration without modifications to the tracker’s core system.

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EDF Renewables North America and Enbridge have announced that Phase 1 of Fox Squirrel Solar in Ohio is operational and delivering electricity to the PJM grid. 

Fox Squirrel Solar, a ground-mounted solar facility with total capacity of 749 MW, is being constructed in three phases in Madison County, Ohio. The initial phase generates 150 MW, says the company.

Comprised of 1.4 million panels and 159 inverters in total, the project represents the largest onshore renewable energy project developed and built by EDF Renewables North America. 

During peak construction of the first phase, 650 workers were onsite installing 10,000 panels per day. 

Enbridge invested in the first phase and plans to reach final investment decision on the following phases through this year, assuming certain conditions are met. The project has secured 20-year PPAs with an investment-grade counterparty for the full generation capacity.

“We are pleased to bring into service the first phase of the Fox Squirrel solar project as part of our expanded strategic partnership with EDF Renewables,” says Enbridge’s Matthew Akman. “The development of this project will support local communities and deliver clean power for our customer. The project underscores our energy transition leadership and highlights our rigorous capital allocation process which targets projects that are immediately accretive to DCF per share and complementary to our growth outlook.”

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Sunlight Financial Holdings has partnered with Cross River Bank to sell a pool of approximately $300M in solar loan assets, acquired by an international investment entity.

“The quality and performance of Sunlight’s solar loan assets are a testament to the company’s diligence and innovative approach,” says Noah Cooper, Cross River CIO. “This transaction affirms investor trust and ongoing value in the residential solar sector.”

Coupled with the recent capital infusion, this move signals Sunlight’s intent to set the stage for renewed expansion. Looking ahead, the company says it is poised with a pipeline of financing solutions.

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