Bits & Peices of Clean energy & living

largest floating solar power plant Duke Energy Largest floating solar power plant in the Southeast at Fort Bragg June 13, 2022 Part of larger energy services contract with Duke Energy Project also includes a 2-MW battery   CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Southeast’s largest floating solar plant will be producing power soon at the U.S. Army’s Fort Bragg in North Carolina after a major utility energy service contract with Duke Energy and its prime contractor Ameresco. The 1.1-megawatt solar facility is part of a $36 million contract that focused on energy resilience and security at Fort Bragg, including infrastructure modernizat...

Speaking of electric vehicle chargers, expect to see EV-charging capabilities as one of the most requested features for solar and battery installations. The same 40-amp backfeed circuit breaker needed for a standard solar install can also feed an electrical vehicle charger. In fact, some new inverters actually have a dedicated connection for EV charging, which lowers the cost while simplifying the wiring, permitting, and controls for solar contractors.

Among all solar energy trends, this one might impact the industry the most. Solar might be the fastest-growing industry in new energy generation, but battery storage is one of the fastest-growing asset classes. In fact, over 170 GW of new renewable capacity is scheduled for construction by 2025. There’s a big reason for that level of growth. Energy storage is seeing huge advances in efficiency and affordability. Now, energy storage is not just an economical addition for solar installs. It’s also the most flexible, allowing energy storage to provide multiple functions, like ancillary grid services and on-demand power. McNamara believes that batteries are the natural progression to advance solar energy.    “As batteries have become more efficient and more affordable, the benefits they offer outweigh the means,” McNamara said. “From a utility perspective, batteries help stabilize the grid and reduce wasteful production. From the homeowner perspective, ba...