Virtual power plants (VPPs) are moving from concept to broad deployment throughout many countries worldwide, aiming to get the most out of distributed energy resources (DERs) in these regions. Recent efforts include Statkraft’s 1-GW VPP in the United Kingdom, Tesla’s 250-MW VPP in South Australia, and China’s first VPP, theRead More

Although self-evident in retrospect, game-changing innovations are rarely immediately obvious. Velcro bindings, wheelie suitcases, and the now-ubiquitous InstaPot are all modest examples of refinements to products that existed for decades before anyone thought, “Couldn’t this be better?” The drive for reliable renewably sourced energy is at a similar crossroad. AlthoughRead More

Many residential solar installation companies do not have a high-efficiency solar panel strategy other than offering a premium, high-efficiency panel that can be optionally installed at a higher system dollar per Watt price. This is understandable. Running a solar installation company requires sales and installs to be happening like clockwork,Read More

  The following is a summary of research conducted by Nielson Scientific, NREL, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and ARPA-E. For further insight into why this data matters and how it should affect your solar installation business, check out our accompanying webinar this week: The Solar Study: How to Value High EfficiencyRead More

Solar trackers are proving to pencil out positively for smaller and smaller solar project sites, which is drawing more interest from developers and EPCs. A problem these interested developers run into though is the lack of interest on the part of larger legacy tracker brands which are scaled to focusRead More

As the lifeblood of a solar company’s operations, your suppliers must be fully reliable, and that means being financially stable and secure. Making sure your suppliers are fully vetted for reliability and financial stability could actually be the most important task undertaken to ensure business success and growth in theRead More

Intersolar North America has a new home and time — set for San Diego from Feb. 4-6. Yes, it is right around the corner! For those attending, be sure to kick off your Solar+ Decade the right way and check out what’s new at the booths below. Then maybe comeRead More

Along with the doubling of the U.S. residential solar + storage market last year, new system providers have cropped up like spring weeds, helping to make the consumer decision about which to select a more difficult proposition. Many of these new providers are banking on well-known brands, strategic acquisitions andRead More

Nonprofit organizations make our communities better. They provide vital services and bridge gaps that business and government cannot. These organizations need electricity to operate, just like the rest of us, and many have implemented or are considering implementation of on-site solar projects. Several financing solutions for nonprofits have proven effectiveRead More

Solar Builder is teaming with ARPA-E to detail academic research into the value of high-efficiency solar panels in residential applications. The findings will be in an article in our Q1 print issue (subscribe here), but the researchers will also be explaining their findings (and taking questions) in a Solar BuilderRead More