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Sep 10 2018
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BREAKING: California Governor Signs SB100 for 100% Renewable Power by 2045

By Solar Incentives by State No Comments


California legislators are making strides in fulfilling their commitment to electricity generated from zero-carbon sources. The new deadline? 2045.

After Governor Brown’s signature today, Senator Kevin de León has set a new state target through SB 100 to hit 100% renewable electricity by 2045. This motion further reinforces California as a leading state in progressive energy policy.

Here’s the California Clean Energy Fund‘s Danny Kennedy celebrating the history and outlook for SB100 at Solar.com’s HQ in the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator:

 

What exactly is California’s Senate Bill 100?

SB 100 is the legislative brainchild of California Senator Kevin de León to accelerate renewable energy adoption by instating new, more aggressive, standards.

This bill also replaces SB 315, passed in 2015, which set a renewable target of 50% by 2030. This bill now sets the higher standard of 60% by that date.

CALIFORNIA’S NEWEST RENEWABLE TARGETS

 

Target Date 2017 2020 2026 2030 2045
RPS Goal 20% 33% 50% 60% 100%
Year Passed 2002 (SB 1078) 2011 (SB 21X) 2018 (SB 100) 2018 (SB 100) 2018 (SB 100)

 

The end goal of the program is to require all electric utility providers to eventually transition to 100% carbon-free electricity sources by 2045. Other notable milestones include an updated target of 50% energy meeting renewable energy standards by the end of 2026 and 60% by 2030.

Aside from achieving a sustainable renewable energy portfolio, other potential benefits to this initiative include streamlining electrical grid integration and stabilizing retail rates for electric service.

How are interest groups responding to SB100?

Among many clean energy advocates, Kathryn Phillips, the director of Sierra Club California posits:

“Getting 100 percent renewable is 100 percent possible and 200 percent necessary. SB 100 responds to what survey after survey shows that Californians want: clean energy, clean air and a future for the next generation.”

Danny Kennedy, Managing Director of the California Clean Energy Fund, notes in his remarks today:

“In order to achieve 100% renewable power in California, we need to have electrified everything by the time we do.”

Due to the unpredictable nature of forecasting technological development, the bill doesn’t attempt to penalize utility agencies for not going completely renewable by 2045. In fact, the fine print suggests that the power simply has to be “carbon-free,” meaning that electricity production should not emit specific greenhouse gases. Newer technologies will certainly work within that definition, but there is also room for traditional methods like hydropower generated by dams to still be part of the picture, despite not being counted as renewable energy as it’s termed in the bill.

shutterstock_120170554

Hydropower generation in Los Angeles

By painting a clear target and while offering execution flexibility, SB 100 opens the door for other initiatives to construct the most efficient road map. Future legislation can address bottleneck issues and market forces will inevitably drive more resources into funding the creation and adoption of clean energy technology.

How does this target shift current industry efforts?

SB100 targets are considered highly achievable. In fact, industry efforts are already on pace to meet these standards. California has consistently met its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) since its inception in 2002. Statewide efforts achieved 20% by 2010 and it’s easily on track to reach 33% by 2020. The new target of 50% by 2026 keeps with current adoption rates.

In terms of industry focus, California is the climate innovation goldmine, with 57.2 percent of the $2.5 billion invested in clean energy technology throughout the US flowing into California companies. As market cap growth continues to exceed expectations, there are virtually no signs of slowing down for this industry.

How will SB100 affect general consumers?

The bill notes a couple of things for the end-users of California’s electricity:

  1. Renewable electricity improves public health and air quality, especially in disadvantaged neighborhoods that are disproportionately affected by pollution from fossil-fuel based power plants.
  2. The California Energy Commission has been tasked with ensuring that electricity rates are still “just and reasonable,” even as utility companies will need to invest more in renewable power.

Generally speaking, these new standards will be great for going solar in California. Here are a few tips to stay ahead of the curve:

  1. More renewable energy investment will likely mean more options for consumers to choose clean energy
  2. Utilities will likely revamp or introduce new incentives for consumers who are looking to go solar or install other clean energy devices
  3. Use our online platform to stay up-to-date on the latest solar offerings. We offer unbiased price comparisons, end-to-end expert advice to navigate the web of options, and solar starter tutorials to cover all the bases.

The Golden State got even sunnier today! This is a positive step for the adoption of sustainable technologies everywhere.

Cover image source: California Senate Democrats / YouTube

Sep 10 2018
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Comprehensive Review of CanadianSolar Panels

Canadian Solar: The Comprehensive Review

By Solar Panel Efficiency - Pick the Most Efficient Solar Panels No Comments


While there are numerous solar panel companies on the market, Canadian Solar is definitely a top player in the industry.

Beyond manufacturing quality panels, Canadian Solar also manufactures and sells solar parks around the world. In fact, they recently sold three solar farms in Japan totaling 30.4 MW at peak performance.

While the company might have global name recognition, do they make the right solar panel for your home? We’ve written a comprehensive breakdown of Canadian Solar to help you make the best decision. Read on to learn about bankability, price, efficiency, and warranty of Canadian Solar panels.

Canadian Solar – A Solid, Bankable Brand

The Ontario based company, which was founded in 2001, is well-regarded throughout the world for its high-quality panels. According to Bloomberg, the company has operations in Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. With over 405 gigawatts of solar panels installed globally, Canadian Solar is currently one of the largest panel companies in the market.

Canadian Solar Project

Canadian Solar donated panels for this Extreme Makeover project  in Georgia (source) 

Though the company has not been around for as long as others, like Panasonic, it has almost two decades under its belt. As a publicly traded company, their financial information is available. While the fact that the company only manufactures solar panels might be a risk in terms of product diversity and industry dependence, their reporting indicates that they have a pretty strong financial position.

Canadian Solar’s Module Lineup

Here’s a full list of Canadian Solar’s module offerings:

Name Power (W) Efficiency Size (in) Weight (lbs) Features
HiKu 320/405 17.65-18.33% 83 X 41.3 X 1.6 54.9 High output poly module
BiKu 280/380 17.54-18.29% 79.3 X 39.2 X 0.33 64.6 Bifacial modules add 30% power
HiDM 320/335 18.98-19.86% 66.9 X 39.1 X 1.38 42.3 High density mono module
Ku Modules 350/365 17.64-18.40% 78.7 X 39.1 X 1.38 49.6 Modules with low internal current
Dymond 315/340 17.33-17.94% 65.4 X 39.2 X 0.33 50.7 Most durable module offering
MaxPower 310/340 17.49-18.00% 77.2 X 39.1 X 1.38 49.4 Highest energy yielding module
All-Black 265/295 17.72-18.33% 65.0 X 39.1 X 1.38 40.1 Canadian’s aesthetic offering
Standard 260/285 16.50-17.11% 65.0 X 39.1 X 1.38 40.1 Canadian’s standard offering

Tier-One Solar Panels at Tier-Two Prices

While its corporate headquarters are in Ontario, many of the company’s manufacturing centers are located in China. In fact, it wasn’t until 2011 that Canadian Solar actually opened a manufacturing plant in Canada.

Low production costs in China have allowed the company to maintain high production values at a low cost. While Canadian Solar is a tier-one ranked panel company, it sells its panels at second-tier or third-tier prices. The company gets big points for its low costs, made even cheaper when applicable state and federal incentives are applied. Low costs mean an even faster return on your investment and a greater bang for your buck.

Lower Efficiency than Market Average

Though Canadian Solar panels offer a good price, they have lower efficiencies than other modules on the market. With an average efficiency rating of 16.6% across their product line, their efficiency is lower than many of Panasonic or Sunpower’s offerings. For homeowners who are seeking higher efficiencies, Canadian Solar’s new HiDM panel offers a maximum module efficiency of 20.16%.

Canadian Solar HiDM Panels

The Canadian Solar HiDM Module

However, efficiency should generally only be the concern of homeowners with very limited roof space. For homeowners with ample roof space, higher efficiencies won’t make much of a difference in meeting your energy needs.

Canadian Solar Warranty is Average Among Manufacturers

Like many other companies in the industry, Canadian Solar offers a standard ten-year warranty. While the warranty only covers a decade, the panels will likely continue producing power for an additional two to three more decades.

Though Canadian Solar’s warranty is similar to many other companies in the market, other well-known module manufacturers surpass their coverage. For example, Panasonic offers a 15-year product guarantee for physical defects and a 25-year power production warranty for 80% or rated output.

No matter which company you choose, homeowners who utilize Solar.com’s free marketplace platform can take advantage of the TriGuard Guarantee for three layers of coverage at no additional charge.

The Full Breakdown on Canadian Solar Panels

Canadian Solar has a strong history of producing quality panels with the economic backing to likely ensure they fulfill their warranties. The fact that they are globally recognized and consistently one of the top three module manufacturers is a result of their workmanship. Though not all their products boast extremely high efficiencies, they offer lower prices and standard warranties that will meet many homeowners’ needs.

Still not sure if Canadian Solar has the right panels for your home? Here are a few tips when considering this brand:

  1. Do you need high-efficiency panels? If you don’t have a lot of roof space with good sun exposure, you may want to consider higher output panel brands like Sunpower or LG.
  2. Do you care about the look of the panels? If aesthetics are a concern for you (if the face the street, for instance), you may want to look at models that are all-black or frame-less.
  3. Get multiple offers from providers. Use Solar.com’s online marketplace to look at competing quotes from vetted installers. Our experts will remotely design your system and help you compare Canadian Solar to other brands. Free! Learn more here.