Solar Love
  • Rooftop Solar
    • Energy Storage
  • Solar Panels
  • Policy
  • Research
    • Science
    • Market Research
    • Solar Perceptions & Polls

Solar Love

  • Rooftop Solar
    • Energy Storage
  • Solar Panels
  • Policy
  • Research
    • Science
    • Market Research
    • Solar Perceptions & Polls
Energy StoragePVRooftop SolarSolar $Solar Policy

California Grid Operator Approves Solar Power Bundling

by Steve Hanley July 29, 2015
written by Steve Hanley July 29, 2015
California Grid Operator Approves Solar Power Bundling

For the first time anywhere in the United States, a grid operator has approved rules that allow companies to buy electricity from numerous homes and commercial power systems, then bundle it to meet the threshold needed to sell energy on the wholesale market. The move approving solar power bundling means electricity from individual rooftop systems could be shared with utility customers in other states.

cps energy distributed rooftop solar program © cps energyAccording to the Chicago Tribune, the California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) will now permit companies to consolidate the output of rooftop solar systems, batteries, and even plug-in electric vehicles. The rules apply to utilities as well as private companies and individuals. The shift demonstrates that small-scale power sources are becoming a more critical part of the state’s energy mix.

“This is an important win for California energy users,” said Ken Munson, chief executive officer of Sunverge Energy, which aggregates power from solar panels and batteries installed in homes and businesses. “It paves the way for consumers to play a more active role in the generation and distribution of the energy we use every day.”

Residential solar has been the fastest growing segment of the California solar industry. With an increase of 50% in 2014, it outpaced utility-scale solar, which expanded 15%, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

The move by the grid operator “could ultimately benefit providers of distributed solar, because it creates the opportunity for an alternative source of revenue outside of net metering,” said Madeline Yozwiak, a Bloomberg analyst. SolarCity, the biggest residential rooftop solar owner in the state, sees the Thursday decision as an “important first step toward expanding access for distributed solar and storage in wholesale markets,” according to an e-mail from company spokesman Jonathan Bass.

“Historically, residents haven’t been able to participate in wholesale markets; they have been ring-fenced,” says Alan Isemonger, founder of Energy Market Expertise in Fair Oaks, California. “Now they will have more opportunities to participate.” He was formerly a manager in market operations at the California ISO.

California wants to get 33% of its power from renewable sources by 2020 and 50% by 2030 as part of its overall plan to meet the challenge of impending climate change. Hopefully, the decision by the California ISO will spur interest in aggregating solar power in other states, leading to more competition and lower prices for consumers.

bundling solar powerCalifornia ISOdistributed renewableselectric vehiclesNet MeteringSolarCitySunverge
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterest
Steve Hanley

writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his home in Rhode Island. You can follow him on Google + and on Twitter.

previous post
Kyocera Backing Floating Solar In Japan
next post
Renewables = 78.4% Of New Electricity Capacity In 2015

You may also like

India’s NTPC Offers Solar Project Management Services To...

June 9, 2019

Neighborhood Power Installing 10 Megawatt Solar Bifacial+Tracker Project...

November 20, 2018

EDF Renewables Commissions 110 Megawatts Of Solar In...

October 30, 2018

Maui Switches On Another 2.87 Megawatts Of Solar...

October 8, 2018

Capital Dynamics Acquires 121 Megawatt Springbok 3 Solar...

September 27, 2018

EnSync Energy Sells CAL FIRE Solar PPA Project...

August 20, 2018

Solar Bids In India Decline After Duty Reprieve

May 16, 2018

India Plans 20 Gigawatt Solar Tender To Circumvent...

May 16, 2018

Invenergy Signs PPA With Georgia Power For 160...

May 14, 2018

California Solar Mandate Bumps Solar Forecast By 14%...

May 14, 2018

Follow Me

Facebook

Recent Posts

  • Meet PVCase: A 3D Solar Design Software That Every PV Designer Should Consider

    June 12, 2019
  • Mitsui To Partner With Indian Company For Distributed Solar Projects

    June 10, 2019
  • India’s NTPC Offers Solar Project Management Services To ISA Members

    June 9, 2019
  • Equinor & Scatec Solar Complete 162 Megawatt Brazilian Solar Plant

    November 29, 2018
  • Gamesa Awarded 400 Megawatt Solar Project In Egypt

    November 29, 2018
  • Facebook

@2019 - All Right Reserved solarlove.org


Back To Top