Below are the key takeaways from the week in solar, grid edge, energy storage, and other energy news.
Solar News
$1
The new annual salaries for SolarCity's CEO Lyndon Rive and CTO Peter Rive, reduced from $275,000 per year each. The symbolic restructuring comes as SolarCity announced a net loss of $250 million and planned layoffs, both announced on its earnings call last week. (story)
Speaking of SolarCity's earnings call, the company also announced it would begin developing a BIPV product for rooftops. That caught the attention of Eric Wesoff, who this week penned a cautionary letter to the brothers Rive and Elon Musk on the pitfalls of the BIPV market. (story)
65 Megawatts
The amount of residential solar capacity that Sunrun installed in Q2 2016, outpacing investor expectations. (story)
$0.11 per Kilowatt-Hour
The RPS credit for solar customers in Arizona proposed by the state's Corporate Commission. The RPS credit is part of a string of recent pro-solar decisions by the commission, which include the rejection of utility proposals to raise customer rates, implement new demand charges, and reduce net metering compensation. (story)
100-120 Microns
The thickness of 1366 Technologies' new "3-D" solar wafer, roughly 80 microns thinner than the industry standard. (story)
Grid Edge News
52 Megawatts
The amount of load that New York utility Con Edison is planning to defer as part of the Brooklyn Queens Demand Management project. This week, Katherine Tweed details the clearing prices and the winning bids from the BQDM auction that took place last month. (story)
20,000 Customers
The number of customers in Xcel Energy's Colorado territory that will participate in a new time-of-use rate program in 2017. The program is part of a settlement between the utility, public advocates, and the private sector that avoids proposed grid-use fees. (story)
11 Companies
The number of companies that are protesting the California's DRAM auction. According to the protesters, the state's three IOUs did not auction off as many demand response megawatts are they were mandated to by the state's PUC. Jeff St. John breaks down the controversy this week. (story)
1,000 Solar-Plus-Storage Systems
The number of residential systems that will be part of a AU$15 million virtual power plant in Australia. AGL Energy is developing the project and it is expected to come on-line in Q2 2018. (story)
$1.7 Billion
The amount paid this week by advanced water treatment company Xylem to acquire smart meter manufacturer Sensus. (story)
Energy Storage News
50 Megawatts
The cumulative capacity of energy storage projects that are being fast-tracked by SCE and SDG&E in California. The utilities are working at a feverish pace to bring the projects on-line by the end of the year to make up for capacity losses from the impending shutdown of the Aliso Canyon natural-gas storage facility. (story)
$1.1 Billion
The amount paid by oil and gas giant Total to acquire battery manufacturer Saft earlier this year. This week, Julian Spector looks at how other oil majors can take a page out of Total's playbook and diversify their energy portfolios. (story)
Other Energy
Zero Emissions
The emissions requirement for new construction in the city of Vancouver, Canada by 2030. Julian Spector outlines how Vancouver intends to execute the ambitious plan -- and its potential costs. (story)
10 Years Old
The age of RGGI, the U.S.' first carbon-trading scheme currently adopted by nine Northeastern states. Since its inauguration in August 2006, carbon emissions have dropped 36 percent in RGGI states. (story)
900 Bills
The number of renewables-related bills introduced into U.S. state legislatures in 2016. This week, EQ Research gives Squared members a snapshot from a busy year in state-level policy. (story)
106%
The percentage of Scotland's electricity demand met by wind power earlier this month as a result of a violent wind storm that hit the country. (story)
43 Days
The average number of days it takes to close a home in the Chicago market when energy consumption information is disclosed, compared to 63 days for homes where no energy data is disclosed. This week, Nate Adams of Energy Smart Home Performance presents the argument for making energy an integral part of the real estate market. (story)
