Empowering Utilities to Participate in the Clean-Energy Transition

March 1, 2019 | 106 views

One of the central challenges in transitioning to a more distributed and decarbonized energy grid is supporting utilities to actively engage and lead by example and innovation, rather than have them remain on the sidelines. This is the emphasis of a large portion of the work of Rocky Mountain Institute’s (RMI’s) Electricity program, and can be observed most directly at the institute’s annual Electricity Innovation Lab (e–Lab) Accelerator event.

Spotlight

SunSmart Technologies

Welcome to SunSmart Technologies, Kansas City’s fastest growing #1 residential and commercial solar energy provider. From the time we earned our first customer in August of 2012, we have delivered the freedom of solar energy to thousands of clean energy fans throughout Missouri and Kansas.

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STRATEGY AND BEST PRACTICES, INDUSTRY UPDATES

A vision for renewable energy

Article | August 16, 2022

Right now, renewable energy makes up a very small part of the entire energy sector of Bangladesh. But as we move into the future, and concerns about the environment become too great to ignore, exploring cleaner and greener sources of energy becomes the need of the hour. Our economy is booming, and our population is growing, so it goes without saying that our energy requirements are immense. There is plenty of scientific evidence that burning fossil fuels indiscriminately is not sustainable in the long term, so we do need to up our game in looking at alternatives.

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ENERGY

2020: The Year of Convergence in Corporate Renewables

Article | July 16, 2022

The rapid growth of corporate renewable procurement has been nothing short of a buyer-driven revolution in the United States’ electric sector. Almost 20 gigawatts (GWs) of corporate power purchasing agreements (PPAs) were completed in 2019 across the globe, up from 13 GWs of corporate PPAs in 2018 and triple the numbers from 2017.1,2 And the majority of this growth has come from the United States. Fortunately for those of us committed to renewable energy, we expect this trend to continue. But as should be expected in such a dynamic, buyer-driven sector, we are starting to see some noticeable shifts in the marketplace as it evolves and grows. I wanted to highlight some of the trends Constellation is watching for this year.

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SOLAR+STORAGE, STRATEGY AND BEST PRACTICES

2020 Trends That Will Make Waves In The Energy Industry

Article | September 17, 2022

In the renewable world, energy is generated by weather and the amount of energy that can be produced depends on the current conditions. Energy storage can ensure a power supply is maintained when weather conditions are not optimal for generating energy. While energy storage products have already been introduced to all levels of the market there are several technology hurdles to overcome before energy storage will reach maximum potential. We believe there will be great advancements in 2020 on:

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Solar Power, Great For The Environment? Or Is It The Last Thing We Need?

Article | February 10, 2020

Solar power is an undeniably a green, renewable form of electricity generation - but many organisations with questionable motives (even here in New Zealand) are trying to persuade the public (and Government – hi lobbyists!) that solar power isn’t that environmentally friendly, and that it's even harmful. At the expense of bullish corporate profits, solar power is often thrown under the bus. This article lists the facts - putting an end to the negative spin on solar so often found in the media. When solar panels produce power, they do not; create any air pollution, use zero water, create carbon emissions, noise pollution, and they won’t disturb surrounding ecosystems. Solar power is a renewable energy source, the sun’s rays are infinite, fill your boots.

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Spotlight

SunSmart Technologies

Welcome to SunSmart Technologies, Kansas City’s fastest growing #1 residential and commercial solar energy provider. From the time we earned our first customer in August of 2012, we have delivered the freedom of solar energy to thousands of clean energy fans throughout Missouri and Kansas.

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SOLAR+STORAGE, ENERGY

Intersect Power Achieves Commercial Operation of 310 MWp Athos III Solar Project in CA

Intersect Power, LLC | January 13, 2023

Intersect Power, LLC announced that its Athos III solar project in Riverside County, California, will start making money on December 22, 2022. The Athos III solar project was constructed by union workers, with solar panels, batteries, and steel piles made in America. This means that it is expected to comply with the domestic content and prevailing wage requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Athos III solar project (Blythe Mesa Solar II) is generating 224 MWac/310 MWp of dependable solar energy to power about 94,000 households and features 448 MWh of co-located storage. Sheldon Kimber, Intersect Power CEO, stated, "Today marks a major milestone for the Intersect Power team and our impact as a clean energy developer, owner, and operator." Source – Cision PR Newswire Intersect Power's Athos III solar project is part of its near-term portfolio, which includes 2.2 GW of solar photovoltaic and 1.4 GWh of co-located storage. The majority of the portfolio will go live in 2023. As a result, the Athos III solar project generated 500 peak union positions. Funding for the project's operations and construction was secured as part of the expanded portfolio financing announced in November 2022, when Intersect Power closed on commitments from critical financial institutions and investors for portfolio-level term loans, tax equity, and construction finance. HPS Investment Partners provided the portfolio term debt. The tax equity was delivered by Morgan Stanley Renewables Inc. The construction debt was provided by coordinating Lead Arrangers Santander Corporate & Investment Banking and MUFG. Along with Cobank, Helaba, KeyBanc Capital Markets, and Nord LB as joint lead arrangers. About Intersect Power Intersect Power is a clean energy firm that provides retail and wholesale energy markets with innovative and scalable low-carbon solutions. The corporation produces some of the world's most significant clean energy resources, supplying North American clients with low-carbon power, fuels, and related products. Intersect Power's base portfolio consists of 2.2 GW of solar PV and 1.4 GWh of co-located storage that are either under development or in service. The company's business model calls for expanding grid-connected renewables and large-scale clean energy assets like green hydrogen.

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STRATEGY AND BEST PRACTICES,ENERGY

New Palmetto Platform Revolutionizes Residential Clean Energy

Palmetto | January 12, 2023

On January 11, 2023, Palmetto, the leading clean energy technology company, announced the strong results of its new Clean Energy Operating Platform, which is transforming the end-to-end consumer solar journey, allowing sales partners to achieve their growth potential, creating operational efficiencies, and most importantly, providing the best industry customer experience (CX) with a 70 or higher Net Promoter Score. The redesigned Palmetto platform, released in 2022, has proven to streamline customer transactions experience and automate end-to-end operations, from sales to design, installation, and system activation. In addition, the company's all-in-one sales tool has resulted in a faster, more efficient process for sales partners, ultimately leading to satisfied clients who become solar energy ambassadors in their communities. Palmetto cites several key performance indicators to indicate the success of its enhanced operating system. Streamlined automation and procedures and improved turnaround times accelerated the installation rate. This expedited the installation of household solar systems by 37 days compared to the previous average. Palmetto's total installations surged 75% YoY, and system activation grew 82% YoY as a result of the company's already robust growth trajectory over the last year. Palmetto Founder and CEO Chris Kemper said, "We are passionate about delivering an exceptional customer experience and removing friction from the sales process. The Clean Energy Operating Platform gives us greater opportunities to achieve those goals." Source: Cision PR Newswire The platform provides a seamless, nationwide fulfillment network, serving homeowners with local sales and installation professionals to boost the clean energy economy in communities around the country. In addition, Palmetto's energy intelligence models and stimulates the energy load profiles and solar potential for 84% of U.S. roofs, including local requirements for 130+ utility service areas and building-level data. About Palmetto Palmetto, a leading clean technology software and fulfillment firm headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, is dedicated to developing The New Utility, a distributed, decentralized energy source that will replace The Old Utility's fossil-fueled, centralized energy paradigm. The company aims to democratize energy by returning power and control to consumers and empowering them to make ecologically responsible decisions.To achieve this objective, Palmetto has established a clean energy marketplace with patented technologies meant to make it simpler and more economical for homeowners to get their energy from renewable sources, such as solar power. In addition, the company has created products that cut expenses and promote the mass distribution of simple energy management solutions.

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PRODUCTS,MARKET RESEARCH,INDUSTRY UPDATES

NextEra Energy Partners, LP announces offering of $500 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2026

NextEra Energy Partners, LP | December 08, 2022

NextEra Energy Partners, LP today announced an offering of $500 million in aggregate principal amount of its convertible senior notes due 2026 (the "notes") in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Holders may convert all or a portion of their notes at any time prior to their maturity date in principal amounts equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. Upon conversion, NextEra Energy Partners will pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be converted and pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, NextEra Energy Partners common units or a combination of cash and common units, at NextEra Energy Partners' election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of NextEra Energy Partners' conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the notes being converted. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP, a direct subsidiary of NextEra Energy Partners. NextEra Energy Partners intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund a portion of its previously announced acquisition of a 1,080-megawatt net interest in a renewable portfolio, to repay a portion of the borrowings under the corporate revolving credit facility, to pay the initial cost of the capped call transactions described below and for general partnership purposes. In connection with the offering of the notes, NextEra Energy Partners intends to enter into one or more capped call transactions with the initial purchaser of the notes or its affiliate or other financial institutions. If, upon conversion of the notes, the price per unit of NextEra Energy Partners common units during the relevant valuation period is above an agreed strike price, the capped call transactions are expected to generally result in a payment to NextEra Energy Partners (if the partnership elects to cash settle) or to reduce the potential dilution to NextEra Energy Partners common units (if the partnership elects to settle in NextEra Energy Partners common units). The offer and sale of notes, the guarantee and NextEra Energy Partners common units, if any, issuable upon conversion of the notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction. Accordingly, the notes are being offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The notes, the guarantee and NextEra Energy Partners common units issuable upon conversion of the notes are not transferable absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of any such jurisdiction. NextEra Energy Partners, LP NextEra Energy Partners, LP is a growth-oriented limited partnership formed by NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). NextEra Energy Partners acquires, manages and owns contracted clean energy projects with stable, long-term cash flows. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, NextEra Energy Partners owns interests in geographically diverse wind, solar and energy storage projects in the U.S. as well as natural gas infrastructure assets in Texas and Pennsylvania.

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SOLAR+STORAGE, ENERGY

Intersect Power Achieves Commercial Operation of 310 MWp Athos III Solar Project in CA

Intersect Power, LLC | January 13, 2023

Intersect Power, LLC announced that its Athos III solar project in Riverside County, California, will start making money on December 22, 2022. The Athos III solar project was constructed by union workers, with solar panels, batteries, and steel piles made in America. This means that it is expected to comply with the domestic content and prevailing wage requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Athos III solar project (Blythe Mesa Solar II) is generating 224 MWac/310 MWp of dependable solar energy to power about 94,000 households and features 448 MWh of co-located storage. Sheldon Kimber, Intersect Power CEO, stated, "Today marks a major milestone for the Intersect Power team and our impact as a clean energy developer, owner, and operator." Source – Cision PR Newswire Intersect Power's Athos III solar project is part of its near-term portfolio, which includes 2.2 GW of solar photovoltaic and 1.4 GWh of co-located storage. The majority of the portfolio will go live in 2023. As a result, the Athos III solar project generated 500 peak union positions. Funding for the project's operations and construction was secured as part of the expanded portfolio financing announced in November 2022, when Intersect Power closed on commitments from critical financial institutions and investors for portfolio-level term loans, tax equity, and construction finance. HPS Investment Partners provided the portfolio term debt. The tax equity was delivered by Morgan Stanley Renewables Inc. The construction debt was provided by coordinating Lead Arrangers Santander Corporate & Investment Banking and MUFG. Along with Cobank, Helaba, KeyBanc Capital Markets, and Nord LB as joint lead arrangers. About Intersect Power Intersect Power is a clean energy firm that provides retail and wholesale energy markets with innovative and scalable low-carbon solutions. The corporation produces some of the world's most significant clean energy resources, supplying North American clients with low-carbon power, fuels, and related products. Intersect Power's base portfolio consists of 2.2 GW of solar PV and 1.4 GWh of co-located storage that are either under development or in service. The company's business model calls for expanding grid-connected renewables and large-scale clean energy assets like green hydrogen.

Read More

STRATEGY AND BEST PRACTICES,ENERGY

New Palmetto Platform Revolutionizes Residential Clean Energy

Palmetto | January 12, 2023

On January 11, 2023, Palmetto, the leading clean energy technology company, announced the strong results of its new Clean Energy Operating Platform, which is transforming the end-to-end consumer solar journey, allowing sales partners to achieve their growth potential, creating operational efficiencies, and most importantly, providing the best industry customer experience (CX) with a 70 or higher Net Promoter Score. The redesigned Palmetto platform, released in 2022, has proven to streamline customer transactions experience and automate end-to-end operations, from sales to design, installation, and system activation. In addition, the company's all-in-one sales tool has resulted in a faster, more efficient process for sales partners, ultimately leading to satisfied clients who become solar energy ambassadors in their communities. Palmetto cites several key performance indicators to indicate the success of its enhanced operating system. Streamlined automation and procedures and improved turnaround times accelerated the installation rate. This expedited the installation of household solar systems by 37 days compared to the previous average. Palmetto's total installations surged 75% YoY, and system activation grew 82% YoY as a result of the company's already robust growth trajectory over the last year. Palmetto Founder and CEO Chris Kemper said, "We are passionate about delivering an exceptional customer experience and removing friction from the sales process. The Clean Energy Operating Platform gives us greater opportunities to achieve those goals." Source: Cision PR Newswire The platform provides a seamless, nationwide fulfillment network, serving homeowners with local sales and installation professionals to boost the clean energy economy in communities around the country. In addition, Palmetto's energy intelligence models and stimulates the energy load profiles and solar potential for 84% of U.S. roofs, including local requirements for 130+ utility service areas and building-level data. About Palmetto Palmetto, a leading clean technology software and fulfillment firm headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, is dedicated to developing The New Utility, a distributed, decentralized energy source that will replace The Old Utility's fossil-fueled, centralized energy paradigm. The company aims to democratize energy by returning power and control to consumers and empowering them to make ecologically responsible decisions.To achieve this objective, Palmetto has established a clean energy marketplace with patented technologies meant to make it simpler and more economical for homeowners to get their energy from renewable sources, such as solar power. In addition, the company has created products that cut expenses and promote the mass distribution of simple energy management solutions.

Read More

PRODUCTS,MARKET RESEARCH,INDUSTRY UPDATES

NextEra Energy Partners, LP announces offering of $500 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2026

NextEra Energy Partners, LP | December 08, 2022

NextEra Energy Partners, LP today announced an offering of $500 million in aggregate principal amount of its convertible senior notes due 2026 (the "notes") in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Holders may convert all or a portion of their notes at any time prior to their maturity date in principal amounts equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. Upon conversion, NextEra Energy Partners will pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be converted and pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, NextEra Energy Partners common units or a combination of cash and common units, at NextEra Energy Partners' election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of NextEra Energy Partners' conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the notes being converted. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by NextEra Energy Operating Partners, LP, a direct subsidiary of NextEra Energy Partners. NextEra Energy Partners intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund a portion of its previously announced acquisition of a 1,080-megawatt net interest in a renewable portfolio, to repay a portion of the borrowings under the corporate revolving credit facility, to pay the initial cost of the capped call transactions described below and for general partnership purposes. In connection with the offering of the notes, NextEra Energy Partners intends to enter into one or more capped call transactions with the initial purchaser of the notes or its affiliate or other financial institutions. If, upon conversion of the notes, the price per unit of NextEra Energy Partners common units during the relevant valuation period is above an agreed strike price, the capped call transactions are expected to generally result in a payment to NextEra Energy Partners (if the partnership elects to cash settle) or to reduce the potential dilution to NextEra Energy Partners common units (if the partnership elects to settle in NextEra Energy Partners common units). The offer and sale of notes, the guarantee and NextEra Energy Partners common units, if any, issuable upon conversion of the notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction. Accordingly, the notes are being offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The notes, the guarantee and NextEra Energy Partners common units issuable upon conversion of the notes are not transferable absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of any such jurisdiction. NextEra Energy Partners, LP NextEra Energy Partners, LP is a growth-oriented limited partnership formed by NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). NextEra Energy Partners acquires, manages and owns contracted clean energy projects with stable, long-term cash flows. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, NextEra Energy Partners owns interests in geographically diverse wind, solar and energy storage projects in the U.S. as well as natural gas infrastructure assets in Texas and Pennsylvania.

Read More

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