Abengoa to Develop New Solar-Thermal Storage Technology

Abengoa, together with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), has been selected by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a new solar storage technology for thermo-electric plants. The program will last for two years and will require an investment of EUR1.3 million by the US Department of Energy.

Terra-Gen to Sell 947-MW Alta Wind Power Portfolio to NRG Yield

Terra-Gen Power (Terra-Gen), an affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners and Global Infrastructure Partners, signed a purchase and sale agreement with NRG Yield for the sale of its 947-MW Alta Wind I-V, X & XI, and Realty projects (Alta Wind). Terra-Gen expects to close the transaction in the third quarter of 2014, pending customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approval by FERC and the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.

Jim Spiers to Lead NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) named Jim Spiers v.p. of technology, engineering and economic analysis. In this position, Spiers will lead NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network (CRN). Spiers currently serves as senior v.p. of business strategy/chief technology officer for Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.

First Wind to Sell Power from Utah Solar Projects to Rocky Mountain Power

First Wind finalized seven 20-year PPAs with Rocky Mountain Power, a division of PacifiCorp. As part of the purchase agreements, Rocky Mountain Power will buy the output of the planned 20-MW Seven Sisters projects under its obligation from the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA. The Seven Sisters portfolio includes seven separate solar photovoltaic projects, four of which are to be sited in Beaver County and three to be located in Iron County, Utah.

Seattle City Light Embarks Upon its Largest Community Solar Project to Date

Seattle City Light, the Woodland Park Zoo and the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) installed Washington state's largest community solar project to date. The Community Solar on Phinney Ridge project is designed for a 73 to 74 kW system on the roofs of two buildings at the zoo and PNA's Phinney Center. Anyone with a Seattle City Light account can purchase part of the array's output and the cost of which can be added to a participant's electric bill and paid in two installments.

GE, Princeton Power Systems, Partners Build Solar Power Microgrid in Africa

The government of Equatorial Guinea selected MAECI Solar, a division of Management and Economic Consulting, Inc., in collaboration with GE Power & Water and Princeton Power Systems, to install a 5-MW solar microgrid system on Annobon Province, an island off Equatorial Guinea in west central Africa. The solar microgrid will feature 5-MW solar modules and system integration by MAECI, an energy management system and controls from Princeton Power Systems and energy storage from GE.

Rock the Rooftop: Wellinghoff's Plan to Set Solar Straight

Former FERC Chair Wellinghoff: let utilities own solar behind the meter, within service territory, with rate base treatment.

When Jon Wellinghoff sat as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, he guaranteed open access to electric transmission lines. Marketers, traders, merchant power producers, owners, demand response aggregators - each could share in a slice of the grid, courtesy of FERC.