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Principal Solar Institute

A community for solar development professionals.

 

The Principal Solar Institute – Advancing the Solar Profession

Members of the Principal Solar Institute seek to learn:
  • How do you develop solar projects with long-term financial success?
  • What are the best solar technology products in the market – today and tomorrow?
If you are searching for these answers – whether from the perspective of technology, finance, or policy, then you should subscribe to our FREE email list to receive updates from the Principal Solar Institute here:
About the Principal Solar Institute
Our online reference center and resource guide is for solar development and installation professionals who make system component design recommendations and purchasing decisions in the commercial and utility scale market. Blockchain technology will be playing a very important role in the renewable energy industry by making energy grids accessible using real-time data-sharing. As cryptocurrency is built on blockchain, it is the safest and fastest transaction mode. Investors looking for new crypto coins to invest in can try Monero. Read the wo monero kaufen blog to learn more about the platform.
  • PSI Ratings – Unbiased Ratings for Solar PV modules
  • Webinars – Browse our list of online events for solar professionals
  • Resource Guide – Find organizations in the solar industry, and compare products by category
  • Whitepapers – Download whitepapers from industry experts
 
Webinars

Next Webinar Starts In:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Date & Time (EST) Title Presenters
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
9:30am – 7:30pm		 An Introduction to NC Renewable Energy Project Development (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association) –
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
9:00am – 1:00pm		 Energy Storage Association 25th Annual Conference (Energy Storage Association) –
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Whitepapers 

 

  • Investing in the Power of the Sun – The Capitalist Case for Solar Energy By: Michael Gorton, Chief Executive Officer / Chairman, Principal Solar and Dan Bedell, Executive Vice President – Marketing & Corporate Development, Principal Solar
    This paper examines the recent past and potential future of photovoltaic (PV) solar in terms of how it has compared with traditional generation and how, even without government subsidies, solar utility scale projects will reach a price per KWh that will be at – or less than – traditional generation, possibly as soon as 2014. Now is the time for traditional conservative thinking to re-examine the facts about solar energy and explore its potential for not only delivering more efficient and less costly power, but also for creating jobs and opportunities that jump-start economic growth. This jump-start would be possible because electricity drives… More »
    Investing in the Power of the Sun - The...
  • Solar Industry Goes Mainstream: Revolutionary PV Module Rating System Empowers Solar Professionals By: Ken Allen, COO, Principal Solar; Rick Borry, CTO, Principal Solar; Dan Bedell, Executive Vice President – Marketing & Corporate Development, Principal Solar; Kirk Blankenship, Institute Development, Principal Solar Institute; and Matthew Thompson, Executive Director, Principal Solar Institute
    The Principal Solar Institute (PSI) has launched the PSI PV Module Rating, the industry’s first and only comprehensive, independent rating standard for comparing PV modules. The rating method is constructed without bias: PSI has no affiliation with any PV module manufacturer and no interest in promoting one over another. The ratings are designed to allow large-scale solar consumers to make informed, intelligent comparisons and decisions when selecting PV modules. The PSI PV Module Rating is a comparative number that can be used with pricing information to provide power plant designers, buyers and financiers with a consistent basis for choosin… More »
    Solar Industry Goes Mainstream: Revoluti...
  • Solutions for the Texas Energy Shortage By: Ron Seidel, Principal, RBS Energy Consulting
    In the summer of 2011, Texas experienced extremely low reserve margin periods throughout the state…causing average wholesale electricity prices to skyrocket to more than twice their normal level. Given that Texas is expected to add another 14 million to its population between 2010 and 2030,1 these shortages raise alarms about the state’s ability to meet future energy demand. Success will depend upon finding the most effective way to incent the development of more capacity. Unlike many other states, Texas has had a competitive retail market for electricity since 2001, replacing the traditional cost of a service-based regulated ma… More »
    Solutions for the Texas Energy Shortage
  • Technological Niches: Concentrated Solar Thermal vs. Photovoltaic Solar By: Rick Borry, CTO, Principal Solar
    Concentrated solar thermal and photovoltaic solar technologies have evolved independently for decades, and both are approaching “grid-parity” power prices in many applications today. This paper will explore the different situations where each technology succeeds or fails in today’s electric power generation marketplace, specifically excluding non-electric applications such as solar hot water heating. As of 2012, PV has come to dominate all smaller-scale solar electricity applications, while retaining the majority market share even in commercial and utility-scale applications. CSP retains a strong niche at the utility-scale and in combined hea… More »
    Technological Niches: Concentrated Solar...
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  • New PV and Natural Gas Electric Capacity – US
    This interesting graph shows the growth of utility-scale solar PV, as compared to natural gas. Download it now to see the details. You should also register for our free live/recoreded webinar: As Coal Dims, Will Solar Shine? Perspective on a Changing Electricity Industry Thursday, August 21, 2014 2:00pm – 3:00pm CDT More »
    New PV and Natural Gas Electric Capacity...
  • New PV compared to new coal plants in USA
    This graph dramatically shows the extinction of coal generation in the US. Solar continues to climb. Hear more about this at a free live/recorded webinar: As Coal Dims, Will Solar Shine? Perspective on a Changing Electricity Industry Feel free to download our analysis and use it in your presentations and discussions. More »
    New PV compared to new coal plants in US...
  • Texas and Germany: Energy Twins?
    There are surprising similarities in the way German and Texas think about their electricity markets. Both are fully deregulated and competitive. Both have large and growing amounts of wind and solar power. Both have economically-efficient “energy-only” markets, where power producers get paid for their energy, not for providing stand-by capacity. And both have questions about market structures and avoiding blackouts. Presented by The University of Texas Energy Institute, Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, Heinrich Böll Foundation, and CleanTX. Click the download button for more information and to register for this live ev… More »
    Texas and Germany: Energy Twins?
Documents  Feed-In Tariffs: The Proven Road Not Taken… Why Not?
March 7, 2013 2:16pm
Documents  Navigating by the Sun: U.S. Department of Defense Takes Aggressive Lead as Early Adopters of Solar Energy
March 7, 2013 11:28am
Documents  Energy Efficiency & Sustainability in Organic Food Supply
March 7, 2013 10:52am
Documents  Next Generation Vehicles: Addressing Air Quality, Fuel and Efficiency
March 7, 2013 10:51am
Documents  Interfacing with the Electrical Grid
March 8, 2012 4:05pm
Documents  Navigating Environmental and Regulatory Issues to Reduce Risk
March 7, 2013 10:44am
Documents  Shining Light on Renewable Energy in Developing Countries
March 8, 2012 4:04pm
Documents  Turning Green into Greener
March 8, 2012 4:03pm
Documents  Introduction to PSI Ratings
August 31, 2012 10:44pm
Documents  U.S. EIA Forecast for Solar
May 25, 2014 9:37am
Documents  Principal Solar Institute Power Plant Ratings
August 31, 2012 10:24pm
Documents  Webinar Q&A; with Peter Lynch: Why Not? The Case for an American Feed-In Tariff
October 11, 2012 6:59pm
Documents  Mineral Issues’ Impact on Solar Energy Development in Texas and Other States
April 30, 2013 12:21am
Documents  Webinar Slides: PACE Comes To Texas
September 26, 2013 4:12pm
Documents  Principal Solar Institute Resource Guide Rate Card
October 14, 2013 11:49am
Documents  Webinar Proposal Form
November 18, 2011 11:24am
Documents  Vendors – Why Join the Principal Solar Institute?
November 18, 2011 11:28am
Documents  Solar Calculators
May 1, 2014 9:47pm
Documents  EIA-860 Instructions
August 19, 2014 1:47pm
Documents  EIA-860 Survey Form
August 19, 2014 1:51pm
Documents  2014 SPI Poster
October 20, 2014 8:25am
Documents  How to Find the Pot of Gold: Closing the Gap between Solar Developers and Investors
November 10, 2014 2:32pm
News: Principal Solar Institute 
  • The Spill at Dan River December 8, 2014 7:30pm The Spill at Dan River: Lesley Stahl reports on how Duke Energy is handling over 100 million tons of coal ash waste in North Carolina I grew up in South Carolina with Duke as my utility and my impression was that they are well admired as a utility, community citizen, and employer.  But they clearly could do better with coal ash, and I think that solar will be part of their solution. They did a good job today of providing more information to those who want to solve the problem, and not just ye…
    View this post
  • A Deeper Look into Yieldco Structuring October 7, 2014 10:25am A Deeper Look into Yieldco Structuring: Yieldcos seem to be the renewable energy financing mechanism in vogue lately. As the newest 2014 headliners, TerraForm Power and NextEra Energy attract media attention, and NRG Yield continues to exceed expectations, many industry stakeholders are asking: what is a yieldco and why is it attractive from an investment and finance perspective?
    View this post
  • SEIA calls for investment tax credit rethink March 28, 2014 11:29am SEIA calls for investment tax credit rethink: The Obama administrations budget proposal allows the U.S. Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to expire on December 31, 2016.  The 30% ITC will be replaced with a Production Tax Credit (PTC) equivalent to $0.022/kWh. Fuel cell and small wind project investors will also lose out on the 30% tax redemption offered by the ITC with geothermal, microturbines and combined heat and power projects set to lose a 10% allowance under the credit, at the end of 2016. U…
    View this post
  • Solar Less Than 5¢/kWh In Austin, Texas! March 28, 2014 11:21am Solar Less Than 5¢/kWh In Austin, Texas!: Solar power is apparently going to be sold to Austin Energy for a tiny bit less than 5¢/kWh under a new 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with SunEdison. It’s from two solar power plants totaling 150-megawatts of capacity — a 350,000-panel, 100-megawatt facility; and a 150,000-panel, 50-megawatt facility nearby. Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2014/03/13/solar-sold-less-5%c2%a2kwh-austin-texas/#3FQ4PQOmDw7piuBw.99 This is incredible new…
    View this post
  • Anatomy of a Deal: 4-Cent-per-Kilowatt-Hour Solar in Palo… March 21, 2014 11:56am Anatomy of a Deal: 4-Cent-per-Kilowatt-Hour Solar in Palo Alto “The PPA takes advantage of the usual 30 percent investment tax credit, plus a generous five-year, 29-cent-per-kilowatt-hour performance-based incentive (PBI).” “Rubin revealed that the project sold for $2.87 per watt and had a sub-$2.50-per-watt installed cost.” This project was 398 kW distributed on 12 rooftops.
    View this post
  • Why We Need Edward Snowden in Solar and The Market for Lemons February 28, 2014 12:06pm Why We Need Edward Snowden in Solar and The Market for Lemons: I’m glad to see things like Mercatus Single Point of Truth, TruSolar’s uniform credit screening, Energy Sage’s consumer research and Principal Solar Institute’s PSI ratings. These can all serve useful purposes,  in the same way the used car industry has Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds.com and Carfax these are all ways to decrease information asymmetry. Nice to see the PSI Rating’s becoming part of the conversation!
    View this post
 

Network Information

Contacts

  • Matthew Thompson
    Matthew Thompson
    Executive Director
    Principal Solar Institute
    Austin, Texas


     
     
  • Laura Carabello
    Laura Carabello
    Media Relations
    CPR
    Elmwood Park, NJ


     
     
  • Dan Bedell
    Dan Bedell
    Executive Vice President – Marketing & Corporate Development
    Principal Solar
    Dallas, Texas


     
     

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