Solar PV manufacturing in the US: For the upcoming RE+ event in California, TaiyangNews has partnered with EUPD Research and RE+ to host a 1-day conference on Solar Made In USA How to manufacture solar wafers, cells & modules competitively in the United States. At this event on September 9, 2024, TaiyangNews Managing Director Michael Schmela will be in conversation with Talon PV CEO Adam Tesanovich, Kiwa PI Berlin MD Terry Jester, and NorSun’s Regional Director of America Todd Templeton in a panel discussion on how to speed up ingot/wafer and cell production projects. Register for the event here.
BLM’s PEIS for 31 million acres: The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has proposed to open 31 million acres of additional federal land for utility-scale solar energy projects. Its final environmental review of the Western Solar Plan or the Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) specifies that the solar development can take place across 11 western states, driving development closer to transmission lines or on previously disturbed lands. This plan updates and expands the original 2012 Western Solar Plan to reflect the changes in technology and meet higher demand for solar energy development. It analyzes 5 additional states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, in addition to the 6 states analyzed in the original plan. BLM surpassed the goal of permitting more than 25 GW of clean energy projects on public lands earlier this year (see BLM Updates Western Solar Plan To Make Way For More). It has now exceeded awarding close to 29 GW capacity for clean energy projects. A final Record of Decision and Final Resource Management Plan Amendments once it receives feedback on the proposed updates.
The Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Ben Norris welcomed the BLM update, but added, “While this is a step in the right direction, fossil fuels have access to over 80 million acres of public land, 2.5 times the amount of public land available for solar.”
IRA tax credit for JinkoSolar: Solar PV manufacturer JinkoSolar has secured tax credit under the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for its 400 MW module production facility in Florida. The company shared this information with the investors during its H1 2024 financial report announcement. JinkoSolar had earlier shared that it plans to dismantle the 400 MW solar cell and module line in Jacksonville, Florida with advanced equipment and expand it to an annual production capacity of 1 GW (see North America Solar PV News Snippets). The management also shared with its investors that JinkoSolar plans to actively pursue subsidies for its new 2 GW capacity in the US. It sees an opportunity for the US market that requires domestic production of solar cells.
PSEI on board California solar and storage project: The renewable energy infrastructure investment group of Power Sustainable (PS), Power Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Inc. (PSEI), and EDF Renewables North America have completed phase I of a strategic investment. Under this, PSEI has acquired a 50% stake in the 300 MW solar PV project combined with a 150 MW/4-hour battery energy storage system (BESS). The Desert Quartzite Solar+Storage Project is located in Riverside County, California. It is currently under construction and is estimated to be completed by 2024-end. Power generated is contracted to be delivered to the Clean Power Alliance under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA). The investment was executed together with Potentia Renewables Inc.