The Solar Value Chain: a Study in Competitive Destruction

By |2018-08-10T13:44:39-04:00December 12th, 2015|Company Update|

SolUnesco presented at the New York InfoCast Energy Project Finance conference December 10th. Our presentation the Economics of Renewable Energy Business Models focused on the trends impacting margins along the value chain.  If you have earned a living in solar for more than a few years, you have seen innovation, unsustainable margins and then dramatic margin compression.  I don’t think anyone is surprised given low barriers to entry and generally commodity like products and services. The presentation (click here) makes

UVA PROFESSOR FINDS NUMEROUS ERRORS WITH AND REVERSES THE FINDINGS OF A REPORT CRITICAL OF EPA’S CLEAN POWER PLAN

By |2018-08-10T13:38:21-04:00July 30th, 2015|Company Update|

Last week, UVA Professor William Shobe, Ph.D. released a report that assessed the methodologies, assumptions and conclusions in a report critical of the Clean Power Plan. Virginia’s Center for Coal and Energy Research (CCER) produced a report as part of the Governor’s Energy Plan that concluded that a large amount of money would be needed to change the energy infrastructure in Virginia to comply with the Clean Power Plan, and the consequences of this change would be negative. In his

VIRGINIA’S COMPETITIVE SOLAR INDUSTRY MAY HAVE PRIED OPEN SOME MARKET ACCESS, BUT THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS

By |2018-03-05T20:11:30-05:00July 22nd, 2015|Virginia Solar|

In the State Corporation Commission (SCC) hearing last Thursday, Francis Hodsoll on behalf of MDV-SEIA (the local solar association) testified to the benefits from competitive third-party solar. Mr. Hodsoll has 20 years’ experience in the energy industry including leadership positions in both the private and public sectors. He compared costs, risks and likely future deployments of solar energy from competitively procured solar power in contrast to a plant built and operated by the regulated monopoly Virginia Electric Power, Dominion’s Virginia

Community solar programs are here…. But where are the projects?

By |2018-08-10T13:29:41-04:00June 1st, 2015|Industry, Policy, Virginia Solar|

Virginia Market No enabling legislation to allow the private market to participate in community solar Pent-up demand for solar in Virginia is creating a specific demand for community solar Community solar options are being pursued by cooperatives and investor owned utilities at various levels Absence of a competitive market will not allow best pricing for consumers of these utility owned options  DC Market Final of regulations for Community Renewable Energy Act Rooftop leases Low income segment not being adequately served

Hodsoll: Cut carbon to boost Virginia’s economy

By |2015-04-15T17:53:01-04:00April 15th, 2015|Policy, Virginia Solar|

Yesterday, in advance of Governor McAuliffe’s meeting with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Virginian-Pilot published an op-ed by VAEIC board president, Francis Hodsoll. Echoing last week’s report by VAEIC and the Advanced Energy Economy Institute, the op-ed highlights the economic opportunity the Clean Power Plan represents for Virginia. An excerpt: “This summer, we expect a final Clean Power Plan rule, the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s requirement that states reduce carbon pollution from electricity generation. The big question for Virginia:

Virginia small business owners voiced their support for federal Clean Power Plan

By |2014-11-22T17:49:34-05:00November 22nd, 2014|Industry, Policy, Virginia Solar|

Fifty business leaders sent Governor McAuliffe a letter supporting new reductions in carbon pollution through the use of clean advanced energy technologies.  These business leaders stated “we urge your administration to develop a strong plan to implement the recently proposed Clean Power Plan which facilitates a clean energy economy through the reduction of carbon pollution from power plants.” Virginia Business reported the letter was released “[j]ust in time for today’s Virginia General Assembly hearing on the federal Clean Power Plan

LET THE VIRGINIA ADVANCE ENERGY INDUSTRIES BUILD IT

By |2018-08-10T13:16:18-04:00March 21st, 2014|Industry|

LET THE VIRGINIA ADVANCE ENERGY INDUSTRIES BUILD IT (not Dominion), AND THEY WILL COME It is a basic desire of all Americans (and Virginians) to live our lives as we wish; working, employing, purchasing goods, real estate, services, and recreating, each in our personal search for fulfillment.  For some, this may take the form of owning a small business and relaxing at a mountain cabin.  For others, it may be teaching 8th graders how to solve simultaneous equations and scrapbooking

Green Roofs and Solar

By |2018-08-10T12:42:27-04:00April 20th, 2013|Industry|

If you are employed in the construction industry, you certainly have heard the first two terms and know what they mean.  The third term may not be as familiar, but should be self-explanatory.  GRIPV systems integrate solar, or photovoltaic systems, directly into the green roofing on a project.  Although not a system prevalent in the US, these systems are being installed in Germany as competition for roof space between these eco-friendly installations increases. The main benefit of a GRIPV system

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