• July 11, 2025

The first phase of the Nexus project aims to combine renewable energy with water resource conservation through the use of solar covered canals. This phase has been completed and the second phase is progressing smoothly. The Nexus project is led by the University of California, Merced and implemented in the Tlok Irrigation Area (TID), aiming to explore the potential of solar covered canals in optimizing land use. This innovative method not only generates clean energy, but also reduces water evaporation. The project aims to collect key data on energy production, water conservation, and operational efficiency, laying the foundation for future large-scale implementation. The benefits of solar covered canals go far beyond electricity generation. Research shows that installing solar panels on California's canals can save 63 billion gallons of water annually, enough to meet the water needs of 2 million people. Other advantages include: Reduce algae growth in the canal by blocking sunlight exposure. Utilize existing infrastructure to produce clean electricity. Minimize land use conflicts and protect farmland and natural ecosystems as much as possible. Help regulate the temperature of solar panels. Since its launch, the Nexus project has made substantial progress in demonstrating the feasibility of canal solar power generation technology. The first phase covers a narrow canal, which has been put into operation and started generating electricity, demonstrating the structure and power generation potential of this model. At present, the project is expanding its scale by installing solar panels on a wider span of the canal to further test its adaptability. One of the companies supporting this progress is BEI Construction, an experienced renewable energy contractor. BEI is responsible for the electrical integration of the project, utilizing field validated expertise to ensure seamless and efficient installation. This project also presents unique challenges, especially for BEI's safety team, as water-based operations require new regulations compared to land-based solar power plants. One major challenge is to apply engineering solutions to a 250 mile canal system, where different widths require different structural methods. The second phase of the project alone has expanded from 20 feet (about 6 meters) in the first phase to 110 feet (about 33 meters), requiring customized installation methods. In addition, safety is of paramount importance - construction personnel must work on water and implement specialized preventive measures such as work platforms, fall prevention systems, and advanced electrical safety measures to ensure a safe installation environment. Dominic DiMare, CEO of BEI Construction, said: "At BEI Construction, we take pride in solving complex infrastructure challenges. Our work on the Nexus project demonstrates our commitment to breaking through the boundaries of renewable energy integration while maintaining the highest safety standards. ” As th...

• July 10, 2025

Invenergy announced on July 9th that the 250 MW Fairbanks Solar Center located in Sullivan County, Indiana, has entered commercial operation. Invenergy led the development and construction of the facility, which has been acquired by Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPCO). Michael Kaplan, Senior Vice President of Development at Invenergy, stated, "We are honored to collaborate with North Indiana Public Service Corporation (NIPCO) and the local community to put the Fairbanks solar project into operation - the first of multiple projects developed by Invenergy in Sullivan County. Indiana is leading the energy future with diversified energy technologies, thereby enhancing the power grid and local economy. ” The Fairbanks solar project provides enough electricity to meet the electricity needs of over 50000 American households and businesses, and has created nearly 275 local jobs during construction. Invenergy Services provides operation, maintenance, and factory services for the facility and employs four full-time employees. The facility will also invest over $125 million in the local community of Sullivan County throughout its entire lifecycle. Sullivan County Commissioner Bob Davis said, "By bringing more investment and funding to Sullivan County, Invenergy's project enables us to fund county-level services and better serve local communities. I am pleased to see Sullivan County playing a greater role in Indiana's energy leadership. ” Fairbanks Solar is Invenergy's second solar power plant in Indiana.

• July 09, 2025

DSD Renewables (DSD) and General Energy Corp. have completed a 674.96 kW rooftop solar installation for Elmhurst Park, Illinois. The system is located within the Courts Plus entertainment facility and will meet 50% of the district's energy needs with clean energy. During the 20-year agreement period, the district is expected to save approximately $307000. This milestone reflects our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint while serving the community, "said Angela M. Florentino, Director of Construction for the Elmhurst Park Referendum Project. This solar project represents our investment in parks, people, and the planet, not just infrastructure upgrades. We believe it will have a positive impact on the Elmhurst community for a long time to come General Energy began construction of the project in September 2024 and achieved mechanical completion by early July 2025. The Elmhurst project has avoided the upfront costs of construction and development in the region through a 20-year PPA financing, while also saving monthly energy expenses. Tony Jaswar, Vice President of General Energy, said, "This project demonstrates how investing in solar energy can truly improve public spaces and integrate sustainability into the daily lives of communities. DSD is our trusted partner, and we are proud to work together to bring such an impactful project to the public. ” General Energy is part of the DSD Developer Network, a channel partner program aimed at providing regional developers with the tools and resources needed to successfully develop more projects. DSD will have long-term ownership and operation of the project. Katherine Lillydahl, Senior Account Manager of DSD Developer Network, said, "Elmhurst Park District sets an example for public organizations on how to lead the application of clean energy. Such projects strengthen our commitment to helping communities build a more sustainable energy future and accelerate the adoption of clean energy nationwide

• July 08, 2025

Recurrent Energy, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, is a leading global developer, owner, and operator of solar and energy storage assets. Its 1200 megawatt hour Papago energy storage facility located in Maricopa County, Arizona, has achieved commercial operation. The project is currently dispatching stored electricity to Arizona Public Service Company (APS), the largest power company in Arizona, to meet the growing demand for electricity during the summer season. The Papago energy storage project is the first of three projects that Recurrent Energy has signed a fee agreement with APS to be put into operation. These three projects will provide a total of 1800 MWh of battery energy storage capacity and 150 MWAC of solar power generation. After all projects are fully operational, they will store and deliver sufficient electricity to provide four hours of electricity for 72000 households, while providing enough solar power to support the annual electricity consumption of approximately 24000 households. Derek Seaman, Director of APS Resource Procurement, said, "Summer has arrived and we are ready to provide APS customers with the energy they need at any time. The Papago energy storage project is part of our diversified and balanced energy structure, which helps us continue to provide top reliability and affordable services to Arizona. ” In addition to enhancing the reliability of the power grid, the project also contributes to the local community through taxation and direct support. Recurrent Energy has provided donations to the Hakuahara Fire District and Arlington Elementary School in Maricopa County through its Community and Renewable Energy (CaRE) project. ESSTORAGE, the holding subsidiary of Atos Sunshine Power, serves as the turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction provider for the project and will continue to provide support to Papago Storage under a long-term service agreement. Ismael Guerrero, CEO of Recurrent Energy, stated, "The launch of Papago Storage marks a significant milestone in our partnership with APS to strengthen Arizona's energy infrastructure. We are honored to provide flexible capacity to meet the growing energy demand of the state, and thank APS for their continued cooperation. At the beginning of our operation, we will continue to be committed to creating long-term value for the local community and partners

• July 07, 2025

In this industry where trust and accuracy are crucial, a senior solar sales representative posed a thought-provoking question: "Why not use drones Dar Hubsch is an outstanding sales representative at Cape Fear Solar Systems, and he speaks frankly about the role of drones in solar energy sales. Any salesperson who wants to achieve excellent sales performance and doesn't have a drone in their trunk at all times is like lifting a rock and hitting their own feet This is a bold statement, but supported by practical experience and convincing results. With the continuous development of the solar energy industry, forward thinking solar sales representatives have found that integrating drone technology into the sales process can not only maintain a leading position, but also fundamentally change the customer experience and ensure their commissions. The real cost of remote design Traditional solar energy sales often heavily (or even completely) rely on remote imagery and LiDAR data for initial system design. Although this method is fast and convenient, there are also significant risks involved. Remote images may become outdated by 1-2 years, have deviations or blurs, resulting in inaccurate evaluations and ultimately leading to order changes, which may result in commission losses. Imagine a scenario where a sales representative uses satellite imagery for contract design, knowing that the team needs to make adjustments upon arrival at the site. The promised 100% compensation was reduced to 80% after precise measurement. What was the result? Customer disappointment, reputation damage, and even contract cancellation and commission losses may occur. Drones: Making Accuracy the Best Closing Tool What I mean is, it's not difficult or complicated, "Hubsch explained. I spent $700 on a refurbished DJI Mini drone at Best Buy. If you earn money through commissions, doing it in the right way from the beginning is a worthwhile investment for your own business. ” Drones are changing the solar energy sales process: Establish an instant reputation Comparing two salespeople - one appeared with a drone and demonstrated a commitment to accuracy, while the other relied entirely on remote imagery - the homeowner's choice was obvious. As Hubsch said, "This is a great soft selling method. It's the natural next step, without any financial commitment Drones have become a powerful differentiating advantage, creating unforgettable moments in sales visits. Once or twice a week, I encounter some great moments where someone watches me operate the drone and the children come out to play with me, "Hubsch shared. Once, I was operating a drone for a potential client when a couple who had just signed a contract two weeks ago walked over and said, 'Well done, someone from the neighbor's house is starting to use solar energy again!' Such moments are often when people sign contracts Cancel the change order and protect the commission By obtaining accurate real-time data during the initial on-si...

• July 04, 2025

The total cost of installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system on a roof depends on factors such as system design and engineering, solar panels, inverters, monitoring equipment, logistics, installation hardware, and labor. Other fees such as licenses and inspections will also affect the total price. Compared to the entire system, the total hardware cost may only account for 5-7% of the final cost, but it should be carefully considered as they will also affect labor, shipping, equipment, and other logistics costs from an overall analysis. From a broader perspective, if you can reduce your working hours by 20% or more, you can accomplish 20% more work. This will also increase revenue and ultimately boost profits. You may want to know how to reduce costs and save time on projects. One approach is to use trackless installation solutions for each metal roof project. Over the years, the trackless installation method of metal roofs has become increasingly popular for obvious reasons. Advantages of trackless systems Trackless systems are much lighter than traditional rail systems, which helps reduce your shelf costs. A high-quality and carefully designed trackless installation system is 85% lighter than most rail systems. Due to an 85% reduction in hardware weight and a significant decrease in shipping costs, the project's carbon footprint and environmental impact have also been significantly reduced. When installing photovoltaic panels, this weight reduction measure is crucial for controlling the budget and meeting the allowable additional load limits of the building structure. Trackless solutions can reduce transportation costs by up to 60% while minimizing the need for on-site loading and unloading and material transportation equipment. The trackless solution adopts a pre assembly method, requiring only three components, while the rail system requires ten or more components, so there are fewer parts to manage from start to finish. In addition, once the installation personnel master the "install and use" installation method, the installation of each module only takes about 90 seconds. S-5! The PVKIT solution is a trackless DirectAttach ™  Solar bracket, suitable for upright locking edges and exposed fixed metal roofs. By utilizing the integrated "guide rails" on the roof, PVKIT solar brackets can be installed quickly and efficiently. This method can also reduce the weight of the support system and use fewer components, achieving a 25% load distribution optimization. PVKIT and all S-5! The fixture is compatible and can be used with almost any S-5! Use in conjunction with the connecting bracket. This affordable and lightweight bracket can replace traditional rail installation, saving time and cost for your next project. The total weight of trackless systems is much lower than that of rail systems, which can significantly save transportation costs. In fact, the components of the 50 kW system are very compact and can even fit into the trunk of a car.

• July 03, 2025

The Oregon State Legislature has overwhelmingly passed a strategy to establish a national first regulatory framework for microgrid construction, making the state a leader in energy resilience. Microgrid is a localized, self-sufficient energy system designed to operate independently of large power grids (known as the "islanding effect") or in coordination with them. This allows the system to continue supplying power even during power outages. Microgrids can also fill capacity shortages during peak demand periods by supplying power to the grid, benefiting not only local communities but also the entire region. There are currently no community owned or operated microgrids in Oregon, and this legislation (HB 2065 and HB 2066) will enable communities to plan, build, own, and evaluate local microgrids and connect them to the main grid. Microgrids can use multiple power sources, but typically rely on local clean energy sources such as solar energy, energy storage, micro hydro power, biomass energy, or wind energy. This is unique in the United States, as most microgrids are currently owned by utility companies, governments, or private enterprises. When we explore how to improve the resilience of the power grid - in response to natural and other disasters - microgrids will play a critical role. If we really want to establish community owned resilience at the community level, we must address this issue, and [HB 2066] will require the Oregon State Public Utilities Commission to do so, "said Congressman Mark Owens of the 60th district. The functions of HB 2065 and HB 2066: ● Request the Oregon State Public Utilities Commission to develop a roadmap and regulatory framework for the construction, ownership, and evaluation of microgrids in Oregon ● Allowing communities to hire third-party experts for grid interconnection research will reduce delays in building microgrids and small-scale renewable energy ● Improve clean energy deployment, power system reliability, and grid modernization ● Improve rural energy independence, power services, economic development, and the ability to cope with power outages ● Reduce rural energy costs during the period of soaring electricity prices ● Reduce the pressure of building expensive transmission infrastructure

• July 02, 2025

Deal Orchards is located in the foothills of the Brushy Mountains in North Carolina, and is a family run orchard that has been passed down for three generations, recognizing the value of creating a more sustainable future. As a result, the company included some of its stone fruit and apple planting areas in the EcoCertified program in 2024. This project is a rigorous, science based commercial fruit tree planting method aimed at protecting pollinating insects, beneficial insects, and environmental resources. Deal Orchards is the first orchard in the southeast to receive ecological certification. Now, the company can include using on-site solar energy to meet 75% of its energy needs in its list of environmental sustainability practices. Pisgah Energy collaborates closely with Deal Orchards to design, develop, and install rooftop solar projects in their roadside markets and packaging plants. The total power of the system is 77 kilowatts, using Qcells and SolarEdge products, and will be used for on-site power generation, generating over 95000 kilowatt hours of clean renewable energy annually. Alan Deal, President of Deal Orchards, said: "We have decided to install solar energy for two very practical reasons - to reduce our carbon footprint and energy costs. Heritage is important to us, and we are able to do the right thing for the future of our community and environment while also saving costs, which is fantastic. We are very grateful for everything Pisgah Energy has done to achieve our vision. ” We are delighted to collaborate with the employees of Deere Orchard, "said Evan Becca, President of Pisga Energy. It's really encouraging to see them expand their management philosophy and incorporate the production of renewable energy. They have set an example for other orchards in the region

• July 01, 2025

The Ohio Power Site Selection Committee approved the 120 MW Fraser Solar Project located in Knox County, Ohio on Thursday. The approval of the Fraser solar project today is a turning point for the clean energy future of Knox County and even Ohio. The decision of the Ohio Power Site Selection Committee comes at a time when the demand for the power grid continues to grow and Ohio leaders are concerned about insufficient energy supply in the state, "said Karin Nordstrom, a clean energy lawyer at the Ohio Environment Commission. Frasier's developer, EPC, and operator, Open Road Renewables, submitted a project proposal to the Ohio Public Utilities Commission in October 2023. According to the project brief, Open Road will construct the array on approximately 840 acres of land in Clinton and Miller towns. The array will adopt a single axis solar tracker project and require additional construction of public facilities such as transmission lines and channels. This project will integrate agricultural photovoltaic practices, including grazing sheep and planting local plants on site. Through Fraser's construction and operation, the local community is expected to receive investments in schools and public services. Nordstrom said, "Through projects such as Fraser Solar, Ohio is taking a bold step towards reducing air pollution and addressing climate change, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future for future generations