North America PV News Snippets

Sunnova wants to build solar and storage micro utility; Arevon gets $400 million facility for 6 GW solar and storage pipeline; Duke Energy completes 700 MW solar portfolio; USITC initiates investigation into Ampt's complaint; Convalt's 900 MW solar module fab expected to come online in Q3/2023.

Sunnova proposes solar & storage micro utility: US residential solar power company Sunnova has reached out to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) with a proposal to develop a solar and storage focused micro utility in the state. It will be tasked with constructing and operating microgrids under Section 2780 and Section 1001 of California Public Utilities Code. Sunnova Community Microgrids California (SCMC), a Sunnova subsidiary, will own and operate energy-as-a-service (EaaS) offerings in new communities including energy generation, storage and distribution infrastructure. It will focus on newly constructed homes and work with developers to design and implement distributed solar-powered microgrids for communities that will be called Sunnova Adaptive Communities. "The Sunnova Adaptive Community™ will provide consumers with the ability to produce, share, and deliver power when it's needed most," said company's Founder and CEO William J. (John) Berger.

Arevon raises $400 million green loan fund: Renewable energy company US, Arevon Energy has raised $400 million green loan credit facility from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) and KeyBank. It plans to use it to finance the development of 6 GW solar and storage pipeline of projects in the Midwest, Southeast and California. Arevon's CFO Brian Callaway said, "Complex financial engineering and access to facilities like this are a key part of our competitive advantage." Arevon Energy was created by Capital Dynamics in August 2021 after it spun off its Clean Energy Infrastructure (CEI) team and combining it with Arevon Asset Management. It was said to be owned by an investor group comprising APG, CalSTRS and ADIA (see Capital Dynamics Launches Renewables Company).

Duke Energy achieves 700 MW solar milestone target: US utility Duke Energy has commissioned the last of its 10 solar sites project with the completion of 74.9 MW Charlier Creek Solar Power Plant in Hardee County. It is the 10^th project under the company's multiyear plan to deliver 700 MW solar generation between 2018 and 2022 that it filed with the Florida Public Service Commission. All the 10 solar facilities are spread across Florida and together will generate enough clean energy to offset CO2 emissions equivalent to consuming about 140 million gallons of gasoline every year, stated Duke Energy. By 2024, it targets to develop about 1.5 GW solar power capacity equipped with 5 million solar panels.

USITC to launch investigation into Ampt's complaints: US International Trade Commission (ITC) has agreed to launch an investigation into the complaint of patent infringement filed by local company Ampt, LLC against SolarEdge Technologies (see Patent Lawsuit Against SolarEdge Technologies). According to the USITC Notice of Institution of Investigation, the enquiry will focus on certain solar power optimizers, inverters and components of SolarEdge that Ampt claims infringes on its patents. The case will be assigned by the USITC Chief Administrative Law Judge to one of its administrative law judges (ALJ) who will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337 to be reviewed by the commission. If the final decision is against SolarEdge, the Israel headquartered company may be barred from selling its products in the US. A happy Ampt welcomed the move, and said it expects a decision in 2023.

Convalt planning New York fab to come online in 2023: Convalt Energy says its solar panel manufacturing fab with up to 900 MW capacity in New York's Watertown is expected to come online in Q3/2023. It had purchased manufacturing assets of SunPower Corporation and relocated the automated assembly lines from Hillsboro, Oregon to New York. It has also signed a non-binding term sheet with GigInternational1, Inc which will lead to Convalt becoming a publicly traded renewable manufacturing and power generating company. "Convalt is dedicated to bringing the manufacturing of the critical components of the solar supply chain back to American soil prior to December 2024," said Convalt Founder, Chairman and CEO Hari Achuthan.