Installation of a Solar System in 2021

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS FAST-FORWARDS GREEN ENERGY 10 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE

Article | April 6, 2020

As businesses shut down and many work from home around the world, electricity demand has reduced in COVID-19 hotspots. This could have a knock-on effect for the renewable sector. China, where the outbreak first took hold, is the world’s biggest electricity consumer. Output from factories has been substantially diminished with many unable to return to their jobs in manufacturing. Due to the curtailing of industrial electricity use, cuts in energy consumption for 2020 could be equivalent to the power used by the whole of Chile, according to IHS Markit. In Europe, peak power consumption has also gone down. Italy, Spain, and the UK have all seen an average 10 per cent drop in energy usage with bars, restaurants, offices and factories, which remain closed as social distancing measures continue.

What It Really Means When Google and Apple Say They Run on 100% Renewable Energy

Article | April 8, 2020

Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft — the five companies that arguably make up “big tech” — say they are either already powered by 100% renewable energy or are close to getting there. Together these companies own and operate more than a hundred data centers (each the size of multiple football fields), close to a thousand offices, and countless other buildings, making them some of the most power-hungry companies in the world. Given this, running on 100% renewable energy is a significant achievement. But there are plenty of critics who argue that these claims are misleading. Some say carbon offsets might do more to assuage guilt than they do to help the environment. To understand where these arguments come from, let’s start with the basics.

The Impact on Clean Energy

Article | March 21, 2020

Senate’s coronavirus stimulus package fails to address challenges for renewables, and WoodMac lowers its 2020 global wind forecast. Follow the latest developments here. For all their momentum, the clean-energy sectors — solar, wind, energy storage, and companies transforming the power grid — will not escape the COVID-19 downdraft. These industries face daunting questions about every aspect of their business, from supply chains to potential workforce shortages, to broader questions about the economy, demand for energy and the availability of finance.

Will the Coronavirus Bring Clouds to this Solar Energy ETF?

Article | April 1, 2020

The capital markets are well aware of the stress and strife that coronavirus is putting on oil prices as the commodity continues to test new lows. One byproduct of the pandemic, however, that might not be getting enough coverage is the cloudy doom and gloom that the virus is bringing to the solar energy space. Solar energy businesses are also feeling the pinch, but not getting the support they desire from the federal government. “As Congress continues to address the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, we appreciate that they are prioritizing relief for families and small businesses,” said President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association Abigail Ross Hopper. “There are several elements in this legislation that can help solar businesses and solar workers, including long-term unemployment insurance, business loans and provisions that support employee retention and other employee protections. We will be working to help our members understand what resources are available to them as a result of this legislation and how they can use those resources to help get through this difficult time.”