Harvesting More Energy from Photons
Researchers at MIT and elsewhere have found a way to significantly boost the energy that can be harnessed from sunlight, a finding that could lead to better solar cells or light detectors.
Read MoreSolarFeatured
Has Renovate America Figured out How to Expand Residential PACE?
In November, Renovate America, the San Diego-based Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program administrator, passed a major milestone – funding over $1 billion in residential installations.
Read MoreCommercial Solar in 2016—Opportunity for a Better, Stronger Industry
In December, leaders from across the globe met at the Conference of Parties 21, coming to agreement that the world needs to collectively limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius – an ambitious objective, but not an impossible one.
Read MoreHow Hawaii Has Empowered Energy Storage and Forever Changed the U.S. Solar Industry
Over the past two years, Hawaii has been ground zero of a historic battle between solar and utilities.
Read MoreMaking Sense of the ITC Extension for Wind, Solar (and Bioenergy, Too)
Tuesday December 15 was a good day for U.S. renewable energy companies. In a landmark deal that could mark the first time the Senate and House democrats and republicans were able to compromise on anything at all, the two parties released an omnibus spending bill that lifts the 40-year U.S. oil export ban and gives a five-year extension of renewable energy tax credits for wind and solar.
Solar Industry Exuberant
The bill extends the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar until 2021. It was originally expected to sunset at the end of 2016, which was forcing developers to rush to finish projects. In a session last week during Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo, Julie Ungerleider of Coronal Group explained that because of the hard stop that the ITC created, solar projects that were not already “fully baked” were unlikely to be able to be built by 2016. She said material shortages were rampant with the rush to build now. This extension should relieve some of that pressure.
The ITC will be extended until December 31, 2019 in its current form. After that projects that start construction in 2020 and 2021 will receive 26 percent and 22 percent, respectively. All projects must be completed by 2024 to obtain these elevated ITC rates. For residential solar, a similar tax credit phase-out applies until December 31, 2021, after which the tax credit scheme ends.
Read MoreMaking Sense of the ITC Extension for Wind, Solar (and Bioenergy, Too)
Tuesday December 15 was a good day for U.S. renewable energy companies. In a landmark deal that could mark the first time the Senate and House democrats and republicans were able to compromise on anything at all, the two parties released an omnibus spending bill that lifts the 40-year U.S. oil export ban and gives a five-year extension of renewable energy tax credits for wind and solar.
Solar Industry Exuberant
The bill extends the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar until 2021. It was originally expected to sunset at the end of 2016, which was forcing developers to rush to finish projects. In a session last week during Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo, Julie Ungerleider of Coronal Group explained that because of the hard stop that the ITC created, solar projects that were not already “fully baked” were unlikely to be able to be built by 2016. She said material shortages were rampant with the rush to build now. This extension should relieve some of that pressure.
The ITC will be extended until December 31, 2019 in its current form. After that projects that start construction in 2020 and 2021 will receive 26 percent and 22 percent, respectively. All projects must be completed by 2024 to obtain these elevated ITC rates. For residential solar, a similar tax credit phase-out applies until December 31, 2021, after which the tax credit scheme ends.
Read MoreMapping Solar Potential in India’s Energy Portfolio
With the rise in India’s energy demands, leading organizations have confirmed that a wide-ranging portfolio of cost-competitive technologies will be needed to satisfy increasing demand for energy while meeting climate policy and other societal goals.
Read MoreEnergy Storage Moves from an ‘Emerging’ to ‘Emerged’ Technology
Energy storage is no longer an emerging technology, Audrey Fogarty, VP of product management for energy storage integrator Younicos, said on Dec. 8.
Read MoreListen Up: PACE Financing for Homes and Businesses with Cisco Devries
A rooftop solar system is an expensive up-front investment. The typical 5 kW system costs about $20,000 – or $14,000 after the 30 percent investment tax credit, which expires on Dec. 31, 2016.
Read MoreA Cap on Solar Is Not the American Way
As a conservative, I’ve got my eyes on New Hampshire right now, a state that is buzzing with presidential hopefuls and the energy of a burgeoning solar industry. But the Granite State needs strong conservative leadership to ensure its energy future remains poised for jobs and economic growth.
Read More