Note: News items remain on our Solar News of Note page for approximately three months and are then moved to this archives page, dating back to 2016.
Texas
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2018
First PACE financed solar system approved for Bastrop county
Bastrop County recorded a “first” in December as Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy (TX-PACE) financing for the Elgin General Store solar system was secured. The $120,000 PV system will generate over 94,000 kWh of electricity annually and demonstrates the value PACE provides for rural communities and small businesses.
Beginning in December, CPS Energy will modify its solar rebate program to a flat rate for residential installations with a $500 bonus for locally sourced modules and a 25 percent penalty for using a non-local installation company, reported pv magazine. After the first $9 million is spent, the second $5 million is reduced to $1,500 per project. The program previously offered a per watt rebate.
As per this December pv magazine report, the 100 MW 15-year solar PPA leveraged the buying power of five participating municipal utilities that reviewed a diverse mix of proposals from 37 companies. NBU says that with this record low solar purchase, 40% of their electricity will come from renewables: wind, hydro, landfill gases, and of course solar power.
CoServe, based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, said it will buy an additional 26.5 MW of power from a facility to be built in west Texas that will deliver power under a more flexible and shorter-term contract than a typical PPA, reports Platts in December. A unique contract provision is that 7X will remove intermittent variability associated with solar generation from the facility by delivering fixed hourly blocks of energy.
This November pv magazine article notes how wind and solar are bringing down wholesale power prices and making them more stable. The fundamental magic of this, as detailed in The Economic Value of Renewable Energy to Texas, is the phenomenon of zero marginal cost which will increasingly drive more expensive and uncompetitive conventional power plants off the grid in wholesale power markets.
Georgetown, TX wins $1 million Bloomberg grant to install distributed solar+storage
A plan to lease rooftop space on homes and businesses for solar panels has earned the city of Georgetown $1 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies as part of the U.S. Mayors Challenge according to this October article. While Georgetown is the first and largest city in Texas to secure 100 percent of its purchased power from renewables, there are concerns related to transporting that energy over long distances. City officials say installing distributed solar+storage will bolster cost efficiency and reliability of the city’s renewable energy sources.
Austin approves another 144 MW solar project located close to home near Pflugerville
The Austin City Council greenlighted another major solar deal in October under a 15-year power purchase agreement at a cost below peak market prices, according to Solar Industry magazine. The large utility-scale project is located near Austin, thereby avoiding congestion issues or loss of power in transmission. When the project is completed in 2020, Austin will have nearly 940 MW of utility-scale solar under contract and will generate more than 52% of all energy demand from renewable energy sources.
Five Texas municipal utilities announce plans to partner to develop 500 MW of solar farms
New Braunfels Utilities (NBU), Bryan Texas Utilities, Denton Municipal Electric, Garland Power and Light, and the Kerrville Public Utility Board have teamed up to create the purchasing power necessary to fund their commitment to renewable generation. With the exception of Denton Municipal Electric, this is their first entry into large scale solar, according to this September pv magazine report.
The most recent Generator Interconnection Status Report (GIR) from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) shows future generation assets dominated by wind and solar. Of 80 GW of projects at various levels of approval, 38 GW are wind power, 30 GW are solar, 12 GW are gas, with zero coal. Although some of these projects may never be built, this August pv magazine article indicates how rapidly the Texas power grid is going green.
Along with peak midday demand records in July comes peak midday prices, with wholesale electricity hitting the maximum legal price of $9.00/kWh! This pv magazine article suggests the Texas marketplace is prepping for this new normal with large-scale solar+storage.
If our readers ever tire of reading Texas solar superlatives, we will stop reporting them. Until then, Canada’s Innergex announced the July acquisition of the currently largest Texas solar facility, reports pv magazine. The Phoebe project is located in Winkler County and will use First Solar’s Series 6 thin-film modules, which do not incur import duties. Executive Director’s note: 7X Energy, an Austin based utility scale solar developer, was the original developer of the Phoebe project, later partnering with Longroad Energy prior to the recent sale.
Texas will soon see its largest battery coupled with its largest solar plant
Texas is finally getting some Texas-sized energy storage – and it is being added to Texas’ largest solar power plant. This June pv magazine article reveals that Vistra Energy plans to add a 10 MW / 42 MWh lithium-ion battery adjacent to the 180 MW-AC Upton County Solar 2 power plant. The record-setting solar facility went into operation on June 4 and the storage is scheduled to come online in Q4 2018.
The city’s Public Utilities Board voted unanimously to approve a 15-year contract with NextEra for the output of the 100 MW Bluebell 2 solar plant to be built northwest of San Angelo. This May pv magazine article says the project will be completed by November and that power purchase agreement (PPA) costs are in line or below average wholesale electricity rates.
Community solar farm and batteries test power of Austin’s electric grid
One of the remarkable things about the La Loma community solar farm is where it’s located. Just a short drive east of Austin’s downtown, it’s the type of place you’d expect to see new homes going up. Instead, these 16 acres hold enough panels to power 440 households and is part of a unique experiment that could help utilities store more electricity in the future, according to this April Austin Monitor article.
Solar capacity within Dallas city limits grew by more than a third in 2017, according to this April Dallas Morning News article. Yet, differences in electricity markets have created a solar split in Texas, with large cities like Dallas and Houston trailing smaller towns like Austin, El Paso, and San Antonio in local solar adoption.
Houston grows rooftop solar 19 percent in 2017, but still lags San Antonio and Austin
Houston rooftop solar rose to 9.5 megawatts of solar power, up 19 percent from 8 megawatts in 2016, ranking 34th according to the April Environment America survey. The Houston Chronicle says solar has advanced slowly in the city because Texas does not offer incentives to residents and businesses installing panels. The state, however, is seeing rapid growth in large, utility scale solar power. ERCOT expects solar capacity to reach about 2,000 megawatts by the end of 2018.
San Antonio moves up to 6th in the country for installed solar capacity within city limits
An analysis by Environment America shows San Antonio moved up two spots to rank number six in solar capacity within the city limits, trailing only Los Angeles, San Diego, Honolulu, Phoenix, and San Jose. Designated a “Solar Star” city, this April Rivard Report article shows San Antonio installed 44 megawatts of solar capacity in 2017 and is the only Texas city to rank in the Top 10. Austin trails San Antonio in 17th place, the only other Texas city in the Top 20.
Solar and smart homes converge in Texas
Texas has made remarkable strides in recent months as a national leader in both solar energy adoption and smart home creation. This March Texas Tribune article highlights how these technologies complement each other and promise Texas homeowners added energy efficiency and new benefits in comfort, convenience, affordability and reliability.
ERCOT expects Texas solar capacity to nearly double in 2018
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas expects total solar power capacity to reach about 2,000 megawatts by the end of 2018, up from 1,100 megawatts last year and just 15 megawatts in 2010. Rapid solar growth could further upset the state’s power mix and add to the downward pressures on prices that have buffeted merchant power companies, according to this March Houston Chronicle report.
Hotter summers, more air conditioning, and economic growth will result in record peak electricity demand this summer, pv magazine reports in this March article. Fortunately, a boom in large solar projects in west and north Texas is adding capacity at a rapid pace. ERCOT expects utility-scale solar will be the largest source of new generation by summer to help keep the AC running.
‘Demand flexibility’ is Rocky Mountain Institute’s term for the capability of water heaters, air conditioners, plug-in electric vehicles, and other loads to provide a massive set of benefits to the grid — if they’re smart enough to handle it. This February Greentech Media article reports Texas could avoid $1.5 billion per year in annualized generator, transmission, and distribution capital costs, along with $400 million in avoided fuel costs.
Talent base provides lift to Houston’s renewable energy sector
Houston, home to some of the largest oil and gas companies in the world, is finally finding a niche in attracting renewable energy companies. Overshadowed by the city’s fossil-fuel heritage, it has become home to wind project developers, renewable energy transmission companies and residential solar firms that together employ thousands according to this February Houston Chronicle report. The city’s deep talent pools are skilled at putting together large energy projects and managing electricity supplies on the grid.
How the new tariff will affect San Antonio’s solar
Solar energy is still a great investment in San Antonio despite the recently imposed tariffs by the Trump administration, according to a February analysis by the Rivard Report. CPS Energy also announced plans to ask its board of trustees for an additional $15 million for its solar rebate program and released a Request for Proposals for the next phase of the successful 2015 Roofless Community Solar program.
Mission Solar to open a new module manufacturing facility in San Antonio that will double capacity
A February report from pv magazine indicates that Mission Solar Energy will double its manufacturing capacity to 400 MW per year by opening a new facility in San Antonio. The article states that the company will soon be one of the largest module makers in the United States, another indication that the new solar tariff may boost U.S. manufacturing.
The 182-megawatt Midway facility, the largest solar plant in Texas, breaks ground in Pecos county
A subsidiary of Hanwa Q Cells, the Korean solar manufacturer, broke ground in January on Texas’ largest solar plant consisting of 685,000 tariff-free modules, pv magazine reports. Austin Energy will purchase the power over a 25-year contract period. The Midway facility will boost the Austin utility-scale solar plant fleet to over 600 MW when completed later this year.
San Antonio’s Mission Solar Energy is boosting module production in wake of tariff decision
Mission Solar Energy announced in January that it will hire 50 new employees to fulfill product demands this year, according to Renewables Now. The announcement came the same day President Trump approved recommendations to impose tariffs on imported solar cells and modules, exempting 2.5 gigawatts of imported solar cells.
2017
Analyst estimates the Austin 150 MW solar contract is the lowest solar PPA price the U.S. has seen
Austin’s municipally owned utility, Austin Energy, did not offer exact details on the megawatt-hour price for the December solar agreement. However, based on some back-of-the-envelope calculations, GTM Research estimates the record low cost hovers between $23.50 and $27.25 per megawatt-hour. It could even be as low as $21 per megawatt-hour.
Austin Energy currently produces enough renewable electricity to meet 40 percent of its 475,000 customers’ power needs. This latest December power purchase agreement of 150 MW from Intersect Power will increase Austin Energy’s utility scale solar capacity to 792 MW and is projected to have a beneficial impact on customer bills, according to pv magazine. Along with 1,400 MW of wind power, Austin Energy is expected to become 51 percent renewable in 2020.
This December pv magazine article indicates that the compromise approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Texas allows the utility to impose a $30 minimum bill on new customers – the highest seen to date anywhere in the nation. However, the plan grandfathers current solar customers for 20 years from having to pay the minimum bill. In addition, solar customers will not be slotted into a separate rate class.
Houston solar project produces two important “firsts” for Texas PACE financing
The Texas PACE Authority reports on the December closing of financing for a 45 kW solar power system for the Regency Inn & Suites in Houston. This is the first Texas hotel to utilize PACE financing and the first PACE solar project for the City of Houston. The availability of incentives and tax deductions are further motivating hotels around the country to invest in solar.
Large, 30-megawatt Texas project drives 3rd quarter U.S. storage surge
A December GTM Research report reveals that a Texas storage project dominated the 41.8 megawatts that power companies and utilities installed in the 3rd quarter, a 46 percent year-over-year surge. Prices for lithium-ion battery packs have fallen 24 percent from 2016 levels, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
Tariff threat puts $100 million solar farm near Fort Stockton on hold
With the final recommendations of the International Trade Commission just a few days away, this November pv magazine article reports that the contractor engaged to build the project has been told not to start construction until the price of modules has been clarified at the federal level. Although the project has not been canceled, a company spokesman has seen other projects canceled amid uncertainty surrounding module prices.
Have UT-Austin engineers discovered an important advance in Li-ion batteries?
Researchers in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered a family of anode materials that can double the charge capacity of lithium-ion battery anodes — a breakthrough that may open the door to cheaper, smaller and lighter batteries. This October article states the process saves time and materials, producing an anode with twice the charge storage capacity of a typical lithium-ion battery anode, using only two simple steps instead of the multiple steps traditionally required.
Texas PUC to decide tricky market issue: should storage defer transmission?
Transmission provider AEP has proposed to defer transmission upgrades for less costly Li-ion battery storage, as reported in this October Utility Dive article. The case is specific to Texas, but the issue is shared in many states like Texas that operate both regulated and deregulated power markets. Energy storage is both load and generation, which creates tricky challenges for regulators.
Additional Texas coal plant retirements create more opportunity for solar
Luminant’s October announcements of the closure of two economically challenged power plants in Central Texas and another in northeast Texas will remove 4.1 GW of coal-powered capacity. This pv magazine article suggests the retirement of these plants bodes well for the state’s solar market. About 25 percent of the 24 GW of solar projects in the state’s interconnection queue are expected to be completed.
“Bizarre” Oncor proposal to penalize Texas solar customers finally withdrawn
A long and contentious rate case was finally settled in favor of solar customers, according to this October pv magazine article. Dallas-based utility Oncor agreed to withdraw its plan to add bizarre fixed charges and a byzantine rate structure to the bills of solar consumers. The utility did secure a 3.4% base rate increase for all residential ratepayers. Oncor serves 10 million customers in north and west Texas, including the Dallas/Ft. Worth metro area.
Texas enjoys strongest quarter ever, ranking second among states in installed solar capacity in second quarter 2017
Texas added 378 MW in 2Q17 in its strongest quarter ever, placing it second among states in installed solar capacity. Texas is also projected to be the second largest state over the next five years, according to this September Solar Industry magazine article. Solar ranked second to natural gas in the first half of 2017 in new electric capacity, registering 22 percent of the total.
PACE expands to Navarro County
El Paso Electric proposes new rate schedule that blocks solar growth
This July pv magazine article discusses a discriminatory El Paso Electric rate proposal for solar system owners. Customers with solar panels will suddenly be hit with a higher monthly customer charge, as well as a new charge, a demand charge. Last year, a similar proposal by the investor owned utility was rejected.
City of San Antonio adopts SolarHost program on municipal buildings
The City Council has decided to host solar on 5 city buildings under the CPS Energy SolarHost program. According to this July pv magazine article, the City will receive a 3¢ per kWh credit for the solar energy produced, saving almost $12,000 each year. PowerFin Partner installs and maintains the systems at no cost to the city.
Fort Hood wind and solar hybrid microgrid to save taxpayers $168 million
Fifteen-plus MW of on-base solar and 50 MW of wind, the first hybrid renewable project to serve the U.S. Army, was put in service in June at Fort Hood, north of Killeen. Investorideas.com notes the system design includes microgrid-ready capabilities, providing the ultimate energy security of independence from the grid, as the military leads the march toward energy independence.
Garland municipal utility taps into west Texas solar facility
As the latest development in the boom taking place across Texas, Southern Company announced the commissioning of the 102 MW Lamesa solar plant, according to this May pv magazine article. ERCOT had previously listed Lamesa as one of 19 solar projects with interconnection agreements and anticipates 879 MW of utility-scale solar will come online this year.
San Antonio wins SolSmart award for supportive solar program adoption
The City of San Antonio announced in May that it, and CPS Energy, San Antonio’s municipally owned utility, have been selected for national recognition for programs and practices that make it faster, easier, and cheaper to go solar. A SolSmart designation is a signal that the community is “open for solar business,” helping to attract solar industry investment and generate economic development and local jobs.
ERCOT projects Texas solar to contribute to meeting peak summer demand amid fossil fuel retirements
Texas solar is beginning to move the ERCOT needle, according to this May pv magazine article. After hitting a record peak demand last August of over 71 GW, ERCOT is planning for 73 GW of capacity for summer 2017. Of this, utility-scale solar is expected to provide 603 MW, a small but growing contribution. ERCOT expects another 879 MW of solar PV will come online in 2017 and 976 MW by next summer.
New Toyota headquarters in Plano installing 8.79 MW solar carport structure
Over 20,000 SunPower 20-percent efficient E-Series solar panels are being installed in April on steel carport structures at the new Toyota North America headquarters in Plano, Clean Technology Business Review reports. The facility will be the largest Texas corporate office on-site solar installation, among non-utility companies, and will provide approximately 33% of the headquarters’ energy needs.
San Antonio auto plant hosts one-half acre solar facility
CPS Energy, Toyota and PowerFin Partners teamed up to debut a half-acre solar facility at the San Antonio auto plant in early April, as per the San Antonio Business Journal. The SolarHostSA program allows residents and businesses to get solar panels installed for free and credits on their electric bill in exchange for leasing their rooftop or acreage to the program. Toyota expects to save $15,000 per year.
Austin brings on more solar energy
Approximately 1.2 million solar panels officially came online today, according to this April 5 announcement by Southern Company. The East Pecos solar facility will provide Austin Energy 120 MW of solar power via a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement. The facility supplements the 158 MW Roserock solar farm inaugurated in December, bringing Austin one step closer to its target of 55 percent renewable energy by 2025. You can view in real-time Austin’s renewable power generation.
Oncor proposes bizarre fixed charges for solar customers
Serving 10 million customers in north and west Texas, including the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, Oncor has proposed a weird mix of demand charges and fixed charges for its residential PV customers, according to pv magazine. This March Madness intended to stop distributed solar with rate design is the latest utility incursion into territory that regulators tend to forbid.
Google’s “Project Sunroof” finds Houston is top U.S. city in energy potential
With an estimated 18,940 gigawatt-hours of rooftop solar generation potential per year, Houston leads the nation according to a March 14 analysis. The Houston Business Journal reports that Google calculated how much solar power could be collected if rooftop solar panels were installed at more than 60 million buildings nationally. San Antonio ranked fourth among cities with the most solar potential.
City of Houston to increase solar energy purchases by two-thirds
On February 22 the Houston City Council voted to increase the size of its power purchase agreement with a solar farm near Alpine from 30 to 50 megawatts in return for an 8 percent price reduction for each kilowatt-hour purchased. With 10.5 percent of the City’s electricity needs now powered by solar, Houston leads all municipal governments in the U.S. for such purchases.
Solar rebate extension announced by San Antonio municipal utility
Under a renewed rebate plan, the San Antonio Business Journal reports that CPS Energy set aside $15 million for residential and commercial solar projects. Beginning February 3rd, the utility will rebate 60¢ per watt to promote rooftop solar and an additional 8¢ per watt for modules made by local manufacturer Mission Solar Energy. Inverters made locally by KACO new energy will receive another 2¢ per watt rebate.
First small commercial retailer in Texas closes on PACE financing
A Bryan family-owned retailer, RDM Pros, became the first business in Brazos county and the first retailer in Texas to use PACE. The loan will finance a 20.8 kilowatt solar system and other efficiency upgrades. This project represents an inflection point in the Texas PACE program, as small retail properties make up 99% of commercial buildings in Texas, according to this January pv magazine article.
Mission Solar Energy announces 2nd round of San Antonio layoffs
As CPS Energy is nearing completion of the build-out of its west Texas solar farms, their supplier, Mission Solar Energy, has turned its attention to selling modules to the residential and commercial markets. The exact number of layoffs will be not be made public until February 3, 2017, according to the San Antonio Business Journal.
Hayes County connects with PACE
Ringing in the 2017 new year, Hays County joins Travis and Williamson counties to form a three-county central Texas PACE region. Businesses and non-profits in communities including Buda, Dripping Springs, Kyle, and San Marcos can now access property-assessed clean energy financing.