Easing Vermont’s Utility Poverty Crisis with Shared Solar Gardens

RREAL, a #solar panel unit installation company, and SEVCA, a non-profit #energy assistance provider, are two companies that are passionate about helping low-income families pay their utility bills more easily. Leaders at both companies are eager to see changes made to Vermont’s utility problem in the coming years with the help of solar power. The solutions offered by solar-powered community gardens, in particular, may be the answer to multiple problems. 

Community solar gardens have become increasingly popular in recent years, due to their flexibility and versatility. Solar gardens work by offering solar energy utility to multiple homes out of one centralized location. By connecting various homes to one primary community solar garden, it omits the need for families to individually purchase and install solar panels. For low-income families, especially, installing solar panels may not be an option. The community solar gardens take care of this problem and share the solar energy among multiple homes. 

Alleviating Energy and Utility Burdens 

According to Rural Renewable Energy Alliance director and creator Jason Edens, community solar gardens are the most easily integrated form of solar technology to combine with utility assistance programs. Having received federal low-income utility assistance himself in the past, creating RREAL was important to Edens. He experienced first-hand the difficulty of not being able to pay his energy bills and it inspired him to create RREAL. Originating in Minnesota, Edens started RREAL in his garage, along with several other dedicated volunteers. Alleviating energy burdens for others has always been important to him and teaming up with SVECA is just another way he and his team can help lower-income households through the use of solar energy. 

Steve Geller, Southeastern Vermont Community Action’s Executive Director, knows full well the extent of the impact that Vermont’s energy crisis has had on residents. For over 14 years, he has been working with SEVCA to implement programs that ultimately will benefit residents struggling to pay their utility and energy bills. Teaming up with RREAL to build the solar community garden is not SEVCA’s first attempt at using solar energy to help Vermont residents, but it is the most promising.  

Vermont’s Fuel Poverty Problem 

Currently, the fuel poverty levels in Vermont are quite high. One-fifth of Vermont residents spend more the 10 percent of their monthly income on utilities, thus experiencing what is known as fuel poverty. LIHEAP, or the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, helped 26,557 households in Vermont alone to pay their monthly utilities from 2016 to 2017, totaling nearly 20 million dollars. Annually, LIHEAP’s annual budget totals 3.5 billion dollars, but profits are starting to dwindle. Since the 2008 recession, funding for LIHEAP has decreased by 1 billion dollars. The program is also not doing an adequate job, as less than one-fifth of households that qualify for LIHEAP ever actually receive the benefits. 

Providing a Solution with the Stability of Solar Energy 

Community solar gardens are just some of the solar energy projects being used nationwide in low-income neighborhoods. Working to alleviate utility burdens by integrating smart solar solutions with local assistance programs is a transition that will ultimately benefit those with lower incomes. The more sustainable solar solutions are used, the better off our environment and neighborhoods will be.  

RREAL intends to expand their solar energy solutions to other partnerships and work with other non-profit organizations and energy providers nationwide. They aim to work with community agencies that not only want to see solar energy integrated into their communities, but also want to grow and expand their own missions to provide energy assistance for needy families. RREAL is also propositioning local and state government agencies for partnerships that will help such agencies implement solar technology at the lowest possible risk.  

For more information about the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance and their programs in the solar energy sector, check out their website here: https://www.rreal.org/ 

Learn more about Southeastern Vermont Community Action Here: https://www.sevca.org/ 

Resource:

https://energynews.us/2019/01/04/northeast/minnesota-vermont-partnership-will-offer-solar-power-to-low-income-families/ 

 

Following Fires, Solar Advocates Seek Bigger Part in California Electric Grid

Out in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, a man named Côme Lague started to reconsider #energy requirements at the vineyard and winery he owns after receiving a notice from #Pacific Gas and Electric Co. He ultimately decided to strongly focus on #solar power.

A Solar Solution

According to the notice Lague received, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. could shut off power lines during harsh weather conditions because of the risk of wildfires being sparked by utility equipment. In the past, a planned power outage had not been done by this company, but it is being considered as a last resort for the future.

Lague was worried about how this might impact his vineyard and winery, #La Mesa Vineyards. Knowing power is crucial for keeping his business up and running, he knew he would need a plan. Lague decided to make some solar changes.

A Complex Solar Installation

Lague had a solar system on his property but he was still worried about having to depend on a generator. His decision was ultimately to expand the solar system so if power were to be shut off to stop a fire from occurring, his business could still “power on.”

Solar power advocates believe technology can play a large role in the state of #California’s electric grid. While the likelihood of harsh weather conditions is increasing due to climate change, and the risk of fueling horrible wildfires is there, it is important to come up with feasible alternatives.

California could take what Lague is doing with his winery and solar power, and essentially use this as a blueprint. Solar panels and batteries could be used to create and store power, letting businesses as well as homes keep their lights on without relying on a generator.

In California, there has been a lot accomplished to expand the usage of solar power. There are laws requiring solar panels on new homes. Of course, if you ask the California Solar and Storage Association, there is still room to do more.

As per the industry group’s executive director, Bernadette Del Chiaro, it’s been thought for quite some time that distributed solar is a crucial component to stopping some of the impacts of climate change. There is a sense of urgency regarding the wildfires and the role of the grid. Unfortunately, utilities can be reluctant to embrace distributed energy.

James Noonan, spokesperson for Pacific Gas and Electric Co., claims the utility has a commitment to solar power. New legislative proposals would need to be reviewed before a position is held on them.

More than 360,000 solar customers have been connected to the energy grid, which Noonan said represents “roughly a quarter of private rooftop solar in the USA.” Each month, the utility connects approximately 5,000 new solar customers to the grid.

Solar Plans for the Future

There are six solar projects scheduled to come online in 2019 thanks to PG&E. They will generate 325 megawatts of power, as per Noonan. Utility projects like these are helping California fulfill its climate goals, including the goal of 9 gigawatts of new solar power projects installed by 2030, in accordance with vice president for state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association, Sean Gallagher.

Gallagher wants to see the state’s lawmakers discover a way to get the procurement on track for new solar projects. He also wants to see efforts made toward a comprehensive community solar program that would let customers who can’t have their own solar system subscribe to a piece of a bigger project.

Sunrun, a leading residential solar company, sees an opening in California because of the wildfires. The company is paying attention to state regulators’ attempts to put together new rules regarding planned power outages and plans to have involvement in those measures in the future.

Côme Lague made the decision to personally supervise all aspects of his solar expansion. He did not want to depend on fossil fuel-powered generators to sustain his winery. Previously, his vineyard had an 8-kilowatt solar panel system. This solar system was able to generate enough energy to break even on his electric bill but it was not enough to power his entire property if Pacific Gas and Electric Co. lines were to be turned off.

Expanding the system and adding 39 additional solar panels made sense. This expanded solar system will be able to power 75 percent of what the vineyard and winery would utilize at the “worst time” for its electricity requirements. Lague has turned everything into a company called Sun Safe Power.

Follow solar news to stay in the know regarding new developments in the world of solar! It is fascinating to learn what innovative individuals are coming up with to keep things up and running using the power of the sun.

Sources:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/After-the-fires-solar-power-advocates-seek-13504557.php

http://www.govtech.com/fs/infrastructure/California-Fires-Add-Fuel-to-the-Push-for-More-Solar-Energy.html

Global Solar Installations to Reach 123 Gigawatts in 2019, As Per IHS

via Sundrenched News http://bit.ly/2LXTUhp

Global Solar Installations to Reach 123 Gigawatts in 2019, As Per IHS

#IHS Markit’s chief clean #energy forecasters released a new #solar PV installation calculation which anticipates seeing 2019 deliver the highest level of new solar capacity installed over the course of one year. The expectation is that annual installations are going grow by 18 percent and will reach 123 gigawatts (GW). Wow!

It hasn’t been easy over the last year and a half to predict the global solar PV market. Why? Mainly because everything is based off guesses which don’t necessarily account for mid-year shifts in policy, such as the one in 2018 in China.

What Exactly Happened in China?

China’s government, back in June, made an announcement that in 2018, it would cap new solar projects and lower the solar Feed-in Tariff, without any additional general solar capacity planned for the remainder of the year.

Of course, this move caused analysts to adjust their estimates of another hugely prosperous year for the global solar industry. The expectations for China’s solar industry did not ineludibly come to pass; consequently, IHS Markit changed its solar PV forecast for 2018 upward to 40 GW, after it had dropped earlier estimates from 50 GW to 38 GW.

China accounts for somewhere between 40 and 50 percent of new solar capacity installed, but this is something that is starting to change. As per the most recent solar forecast from IHS Markit for 2019, roughly 67 percent of installed global solar PV generation capacity is going to come from places outside of China. This solar report was published by Edurne Zoco, Ph.D – IHS Markit’s research director, solar and energy storage.

The expectation, according to IHS Markit, is that Egypt, Argentina, Spain, South Africa and Vietnam together will represent roughly 7 percent of 2019’s total solar installations. This translates to 7GW of total demand growth. There will be solar increases in the United States, too, as demand is expected to increase by just under 30 percent year-over-year as creators are looking to finish a share of their pipeline projects before the end of 2019.

Get Ready for #123 GW of New Solar Capacity

As a whole, IHS Markit anticipates yearly global solar PV installations in 2019 to increase by 18 percent and to end up with 123 GW of new solar capacity installed by the end of the year.

In addition to all of this, a third of solar capacity additions in 2019 will still be connected to China as a result of policy decisions made through the second part of 2018 – there is a strengthened belief in China’s solar industry. Of course, this past fall, China’s National Energy Administration detailed information regarding phasing out power generation subsidies for solar technologies, and making an effort to lessen the fiscal stress subsidies were placing on the country.

Not long after detailing this information, China’s National Energy Administration discussed possibly expanding the solar target of the country to 210 GW by the year 2020, highlighting the possibility of pushing it up to 270 GW. Of course, this would hugely impact global solar capacity figures.

Edurne Zoco, Ph.D discussed how module costs fell in the second half of 2018, however, current strong demand outside China, in places like Vietnam, Mexico and Spain, has put the brakes on price erosion for shipments in the early part of 2019.

A Market Shift

In a nutshell, we might be seeing a market shift, if you will, away from China. Overcapacity is expected to ease up. There has been greater than 20 percent growth in terms of yearly solar PV installations in 45 country markets, as per Zoco. Where does the United Stands stand? It is, at present, the second biggest solar PV market, and solar installations will still grow throughout the New Year.

Solar news is worth paying attention to. Consider the changes being made across the globe in relation to clean energy. The moves currently taking place, and expected to take place in the future, can make a world of difference for the world we live in. Stay in the know – learn what is going on with #solar power and other sources of clean energy. You might even discover changes being made in your own neighborhood!

Sources:

https://cleantechnica.com/2018/12/27/ihs-predicts-global-solar-installations-to-reach-123-gigawatts-in-2019/

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2018/12/19/2019-pv-installations-to-hit-123-gw-global-balance-shifting-says-ihs/

Flexible Solar Panels Being Used for Search and Rescue Vehicles

via Sundrenched News http://bit.ly/2EVRy1H

How Freedom Forever Became One of the Top Solar Energy Companies

Managing a #solar #energy company today is unlike operating a traditional business or utility company. Due to the many challenges and rapidly accelerating developments that occur monthly in the solar energy field, businesses in this sector must have leaders on staff that know how to navigate accelerated growth and continual advancements. Those currently successful in the solar energy industry have a strong background in business, but also the flexibility to grow a company as the field continues to change rapidly.  

One particular solar energy company known as Freedom Forever is an excellent example of integrating sound business management with creativity in order to handle rapid changes and growth in the field. Freedom Forever and their staff are all too familiar with the challenges that come about when working in business management. CEO of Freedom Forever, Brett Bouchy, with his former experience as a private equity executive for Arena Football League, is well versed in management and organization. His business sense and leadership style has grown nearly as much as the solar industry itself, making him the perfect fit for this ever-growing solar company. 

Leading and Serving the Solar Industry 

In a recent interview with Chief Executive, Bouchy detailed the personal leadership philosophies he adheres to in order to maintain Freedom Forever’s position in the solar energy industry. As the revenue for Freedom Forever has doubled every year since 2017, Bouchy has stuck to two primary processes in order to help perpetuate this growth in the solar field. Primarily, he believes working as a team is the best way to help the company flourish. He shies away from embodying the traditional CEO or head manager stereotypes. Instead of telling his team what to do, he works with them to solve problems unique to their role in the solar industry. He deeply values the idea that, “the best way to lead is to serve everyone around you,” and it is from this perspective that Freedom Forever has become such a positive entity in the solar energy field.  

His second focus is on standardization. This is primarily because standardized processes will allow Freedom Forever to maintain consistency. When Bouchy first joined Freedom Forever back in 2015, he was taken aback by the lack of processes surrounding cash flows and general customer relationship management. These are especially critical for solar energy and solar utility management companies and some of the first processes he implemented. 

Focus on Employee Well-Being 

Another secret to this solar energy company’s success is focus on employee morale. Freedom Forever is unlike any other solar energy business. Located right in their building, will find a 6,000 square foot space known as the Fun Room. Filled with 60 retro arcade-style video games, ping-pong tables, and foosball tables, here employees can take a mid-day break to truly relax and have fun. Bouchy expressed that it is important to him that he knows his employees enjoy their time while they are there. 

It is truly remarkable that Bouchy has been able to enter into the solar energy field for the first time in his career and establish processes in Freedom Forever’s financial and customer management systems that work efficiently, build rapport with Freedom Forever’s solar energy customers and associated solar utility networks, and grow the company beyond expectation. Additionally, Bouchy has been able to create a culture within a solar energy company unseen by any other competitor. The focus on practical, effective business strategy, as well as knowing how to keep customers and employees happy, has created the perfect environment for Freedom Forever to thrive.  

Serving Solar Energy Customers 

Freedom Forever helps solar energy customers find ways to lower their utility bills through solar energy utility investments. Their dedication behind-the-scenes allows them to help solar utility customers in the best possible ways. They primarily help solar energy customers manage and take advantage of tax credits. Freedom Forever also works with their customers to help them choose the best possible solar utility investments, as well as providing exceptional warranties. Saving their customers money, as well as creating a positive experience with solar energy, are goals all solar energy companies should aspire to achieve. 

Resources 

https://chiefexecutive.net/freedom-forever-ceo-brett-bouchy-talks-solar-energy-success/ 

https://freedomforever.com/ 

 

Flexible Solar Panels Being Used for Search and Rescue Vehicles

A #solar #energy technology provider in California known as Sunflare has made headlines recently due to the creation of their innovative solar panels and the flexibility their panels provide. Sunflare has been working closely with the King County Search and Rescue team in Bellevue, Washington this past year. Their primary mission has been to place solar panels on search and rescue vehicles and test the efficiency of the solar panels in a wilderness setting. Initial tests for the solar panels have been done using a former Swiss Army Pinzgauer vehicle. The electronics inside the interior of the vehicle will be powered using the solar panels, as well. Prior to the solar panels being used to power such vehicles, the electronics and vehicle itself were powered via gasoline. 

How the Panels Work 

Sunflare’s solar panels are flexible, light, thin, and precisely engineered to produce the best possible reliability and performance. The solar panels are known as copper gallium indium diselenide solar panels, or CIGS for short. These solar panels can be placed on different surfaces such as plastic, glass, steel and aluminum. Compared to traditional silicon solar cell panels, CIGS solar panels are more efficient.  

CIGS solar panels do not require the same maintenance or procedures that traditional solar panels do. There is no need to mount the solar panels or frame them and no glass or silicon purification processes are needed for the panels to work. Additionally, traditional silicon solar cells are made from grains melted down from high temperatures, whereas gallium is a by-product of mining other metals. 

Sunflare’s Mission in the Solar Energy Field 

Getting the CIGS solar technology perfected took over a decade. It was not until recently in the last two years that Sunflare was able to mass produce CIGS solar panels and offer this technology on a larger, commercial scale. For their search and rescue vehicles, Sunflare placed ten 12-cell panels on the rooftop within a stainless-steel frame. If the team were to have placed traditional solar panels to the rooftop of the vehicle, nearly 100 pounds of extra weight would be added. With Sunflare’s panels, however, the vehicle only carries an additional 22 pounds. According to Sunflares’s CEO, Phillip Gao, traditional silicon solar panels would not just add extra weight, they would not last long in the rugged terrain required to be searched by rescuers.  

Branden”Ben” Powell, a volunteer for King Country Search and Rescue and operator of one of Sunflare’s solar-powered vehicles, mentioned to Forbes.com this winter that having the vehicle has made his experiences much more positive. He remarked that the solar-powered vehicle is quieter and cleaner than other vehicles he has used in the past for rescue missions. He also stated that the vehicle adds new positivity to the work that he already does. Powell is thrilled to be able to help individuals and families return home safely and in the most efficient way possible. 

Luckily, most of those who go missing are found within 24-hours. Having a solar-powered vehicle this efficient may just enable rescuers to reach those who need it most even faster. The most common kinds of calls Powell receives for search and rescue missions include finding and assisting injured or lost hikers, finding missing children that may have wondered of, working with authorities to investigate crime scenes, and helping with aircraft crash recovery. 

Sunflare’s Other Innovative Projects 

In addition to their incredible and admirable work with Washington search and rescue teams, Sunflare has multiple goals in sight for how they plan to continue to excel in the solar realm. Their solar energy solutions are primarily targeted at helping businesses implement this kind of technology. Business owners who want to take advantage of CIGS solar technology have hired Sunflare to help them make the switch from traditional utility to solar technology. Sunflare has also worked with RV companies and recreational boat manufactures to use their solar energy technology for other kinds of transportation. Sunflare also has covered parking solutions where they can place their solar panels on existing covered parking structures. Many businesses are opting for covered parking solar panel installations due to the money and space it saves. 

To find out more about Sunflare visit their website here: http://bit.ly/2EUM5HF 

Resources 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkart/2018/12/21/rugged-solar-panels-power-up-search-and-rescue-missions