North America Snippets:CanREA,Clearway,Brighten,Sun&Wind

• Rooftop solar can save Ontario's consumers CAD 250 million annually, finds CanREA study
• Clearway Energy has picked up remaining stake in 530 MW Utah solar portfolio
• Brighten Haiti said it is working with partners in Haiti to deploy solar panels to 109 schools
• Sun&Wind Belt initiative aims to work with German and US policymakers with concrete proposals to ensure energy transition

CanREA study on rooftop solar: The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) has released a solar study that estimates huge savings for homeowners in Ontario in their electricity bills. If Ontario's solar generation capacity is doubled from current total—adding 3 GW of new solar capacity, it would help reduce costs of the whole energy system by up to CAD 250 million annually by 2030, reads the study titled Impact of Behind-the-Meter Solar in Ontario. Commissioned by CanREA and conducted by Power Advisory LLC, the study has modelled different scenarios for the adoption of rooftop solar PV for homes and businesses here.

There won't be any need to invest in new electricity grid infrastructure, and also reduce the need for additional, expensive power procurements in the future. "Ontario currently has approximately 3,000 MW of solar PV. Doubling it by 2030, as per the study, would mean installing rooftop solar on 19,000 homes and 175 big-box stores each year for the next decade," said CanREA's Director of Distributed Energy Resources, Nicholas Gall. The report can be found on CanREA's website.

Clearway Energy to completely acquire 530 MW in Utah: Renewable energy company Clearway Energy has entered into an agreement to acquire the remaining 50% equity interest in Utah Solar Portfolio, representing 530 MW of capacity for $335 million. It already owns a 50% stake in this 7 utility scale solar farms portfolio. It plans to fund the acquisition with new non-recourse project level debt in part. "With this transaction, Clearway will invest in new growth at attractive economics, increase its long-term contracted cash flow from utility-scale solar, and further diversify its portfolio on a regional basis," said Clearway Energy's President and CEO Christopher Sotos. The company had acquired close to 4.7 GW utility scale solar power development pipeline from SunPower in 2018 (see Clearway Acquires SunPower's 4.7 GW PV Pipeline).

Solar power for Haiti schools: Devastated by a massive earthquake of 7.2 magnitude followed by storm Grace recently, Haiti has some ray of light coming in. An Oregon, US based non profit called Brighten Haiti has said it will install solar PV systems for 109 schools in rural Haiti, starting from January 2022. It added that this would be the largest deployment of solar to schools in the nation's history. All schools will receive a 6 kW PV system which will power a computer lab, efficient lighting, fans and additional devices. "I'm thrilled we have found a way to install PV on schools in Haiti at a fifth the typical cost. The generosity of our solar partners has made it possible to install a 6 kW system for about $6,000, where we would normally see that same system installed at about $30,000. That's $1 per watt, installed. And we are able to provide installation training giving people access to long-term solar jobs," explained Kevin Keen of Brighten Haiti. The non-profit said it has created a bridge between 'need in Haiti and the US solar industry'.

New initiative for solar and wind in Germany and US: A new 'transatlantic initiative' that touts its purpose as to promote green transformation and enhance mutual business, and calls itself Sun&Wind Belt, it aims to engage with politicians in Germany and the US through concrete proposals to promote solar and wind energy in respective nations and implement energy transition. The 'company-driven initiative held a kick-off event on August 16, 2021. Founder of the initiative is Milan Nitzschke who is the President of EU Prosun, a joint initiative of EU solar manufacturers.