What’s New In Solar?

Industry Experts, Technological Leaders. Renewable Solar is at the forefront of industry advancements, and quick to offer new technologies to clients. The articles below are intended to help you stay abreast of changes in the industry, product enhancements and key issues within the legislative environment.

Sungage Financial Increases Solar Financial Loan Cap for Large Projects

By Ariana Fine | SolarIndustryMag.com

To help installers meet the growing demand for more complex solar and storage systems, Sungage Financial is providing residential solar financing for up to $200,000 per project. The need derives from increasing demand for large solar systems with significant energy storage capacity often found in multigenerational households.Read More


Supply Chain Issues Caused New-Build Solar Costs to Jump 14 Percent Since 2021

By Ariana Fine | SolarIndustryMag.com

The latest BloombergNEF (BNEF) analysis shows the cost of new-build onshore wind has risen 7% year over year, and fixed-axis solar has jumped 14%. The global benchmark levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) has temporarily retreated to where it was in 2019. Cost rises are linked to increases in the cost of materials, freight, fuel and labor.Read More


US solar installs tumble on AD/CVD investigation, supply chain issues

By Jonathan Tourino Jacobo

The US solar market experienced its worst quarter for installations since the start of the pandemic in Q1 2022, weighed down by regulatory and supply chain issues.

During Q1 2022 the US solar industry installed 3.9GWdc of solar capacity, a 24% drop from Q1 2021 and a reduction of more than half from the previous quarter, according to the US Solar Market Insight report produced by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie.Read More


Rallies expected in California as CPUC meets to discuss NEM3.0

By Liam Stoker

Rallies are set to be held in San Francisco and Los Angeles as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) meets to discuss controversial net metering proposals for the state. In what’s being billed as the largest ever submission of live and pre-recorded public comments in the CPUC’s history, hundreds of solar stakeholders are expected to converge tomorrow (2 June 2022) upon CPUC’s headquarters in San Francisco, at LA’s Grand Park performance lawn to deliver comments relating to the commission’s NEM3.0 proposals.Read More


US House representatives join chorus of opposition to solar AD/CVD proceedings

By Jonathan Tourino Jacobo

More than 80 US House representatives have joined a chorus of lawmakers opposing the solar tariffs investigation and pressed US President Joe Biden to expedite it.

In a letter signed by 85 members of Congress’ lower chamber, US President Joe Biden and the Department of Commerce were asked to expedite a preliminary determination to the alleged circumvention of antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) by solar manufacturers in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.Read More


CPUC admits defeat on NEM 3.0, seeks feedback on new proposals

By Sean Rai-Roche in PV-Tech.org

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has admitted defeat regarding its contentious proposed changes to the state’s net metering laws and has asked for feedback on how a better designed system could work as it seeks to reboot the process.

Dubbed NEM 3.0, the proposed changes would have slashed solar export credits by about 80% and added a US$57 per month fixed charge for the average residential system, partially offset by a US$15 per month credit for ten years. Wood Mackenzie said it would have cut the state’s solar sector in half.Read More


SEIA calls AD/CVD case ‘monumental loss’ for US as it slashes solar forecasts by 24GW and warns of 100,000 job losses

By Sean Rai-Roche

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has slashed its US solar installation forecasts by 24GW over the next two years following the US government’s decision to investigate the circumvention of duties in Southeast Asia, claiming 100,000 solar jobs will be lost as a result.

A SEIA survey of 700 US solar companies also revealed that 83% of module purchasers have had shipments either delayed or cancelled, while 70% of respondents said at least half of their solar workforce was at risk as the damaging impact of the case continues. Read More


COVID lockdowns in China exacerbating solar and energy storage shipping crisis

The Port of Shanghai (pictured) is the world’s busiest container port, but is experiencing major delays as a result of lockdowns in Shanghai. Image: Alex Needham.

Story By Liam Stoker

COVID-related lockdowns in China are causing port congestion and delays to shipments of clean energy materials, exacerbating an already tight supply chain situation.

COVID-19 infections have spiraled in China in recent weeks, with both Shanghai and Ningbo having been placed into stringent lockdowns. Shanghai and Ningbo are also the locations of two critical ports and sea freight hubs and combined are said to handle the significant majority – upwards of 90% – of solar module export volume from China.Read More


Scoop: Bipartisan senators to rebuke Biden on solar tariffs

Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) are introducing a bill to repeal President Biden’s solar panel import rules and create a Department of Energy program to enhance domestic production and manufacturing of solar panels and other components.

Why it matters: The legislation is a rebuke to the Biden administration and represents a bipartisan effort to prioritize the U.S. solar industry.Read More


Biden Issues Proclamation Extending Tariffs on Imported Solar, But Bifacial Still Excluded

President Joe Biden has determined that the safeguard action on imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) cells, whether or not partially or fully assembled into other products, continues to be necessary to prevent or remedy the serious injury to the domestic industry, and that there is evidence that the domestic industry is making a positive adjustment to import competition.Read More