First Solar lands 378 MW order from Scout Clean Energy; OGUSA and Oriden to co-develop 700 MW solar and storage in the US; 19 US governors want Commerce Department to expedite anti-circumvention solar tariff case; Axium has acquired BlueWave.
Scout Clean Energy contracts First Solar: First Solar, Inc has secured an order to supply its modules to Scout Clean Energy for 378 MW capacity. Renewable energy developer Scout plans to use the modules for some of its late stage projects that are due to begin operations in 2024. It is actively developing a portfolio of over 12 GW PV, battery storage and onshore wind projects in 21 US states.
Partnership for 700 MW DC solar and storage in the US: Osaka Gas USA Corporation (OGUSA) and Oriden LLC will jointly develop a portfolio of over 700 MW DC/600 MW AC of utility scale solar and storage projects throughout certain US markets, the former announced.
19 US governors demand speedy investigation: A bipartisan group of 19 governors have written to US President Joe Biden and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to expedite the review of its anti-circumvention solar tariff case. They refer to 'significant' market disruption caused by the case and its damaging impact on the workers and businesses in their states. The US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) says this represents 43% of the total US population. "As a direct result of this baseless tariff case, the United States is now on track to install more solar under President Trump than President Biden," stressed President and CEO of SEIA, Abigail Ross Hopper. "We urge the Commerce Department to issue a negative preliminary decision as soon as possible." Recently, consultancy Rystad Energy estimated solar deployment in US to decrease to 10.07 GW AC in 2022, the lowest annual since 2019, as opposed to 27 GW AC it was expected to install this year, thanks to US Department of Commerce (DOC) probe into solar panel imports from Southeast Asian nations (see US Could End Up With 10.07 GW AC Solar In 2022).
Axium acquires BlueWave: A fund managed by Axium Infrastructure has acquired Boston, US based solar and energy storage developer BlueWave. For Axium, the acquisition helps it significantly grow its renewable energy portfolio while for BlueWave, it provides financial support and enable it to not only develop, but also own and manage the projects, the latter stated.