Some lighter moments at SPI 2013 in Chicago yesterday masked the serious trade and policy issues dominating the US solar scene. But at least the mood was lightened by a buoyant mood among the investor contingent, writes Felicity Carus from Chicago.
Day two of Solar Power International saw varying predictions of the big opportunities for solar. Reporting from the event, Felicity Carus discovers where the hidden growth markets of the US are and hears how energy storage could be key to attracting solar finance.
Clean Power Finance yesterday announced its launch of an online product to match vendors with system service agents - a move that could soothe investor concerns over risks associated with long-term operations and management of residential solar systems.
Although the solar market in the US has reached 10GW, size has not led to a consistent decrease in prices for consumers, even in leading state California. Felicity Carus looks at the drivers behind America's patchwork PV market.
Silicon Valley's Palo Alto, home to the semi-conductor industry, practises what it preaches by being a big solar user. Felicity Carus looks at the drivers for PV adoption in the city.
The solar industry's drive to reduce soft costs continues to gather pace with the announcement this week of the acquisition of one of California's largest distributed energy companies by Solar Universe, a franchise that leases and sells rooftop systems.
Two engineers working on First Solar's Desert Sunlight Solar Farm were killed yesterday when their plane crashed near the construction site close to Joshua Tree National Park.
Arnold Schwarzenegger may have retired to Hollywood, but the actor-turned-governor still pushes his image as a climate hero and clean energy champion, says Felicity Carus.
SunEdison's share price surged today on news that the company would spin off its semiconductor business from its PV development business. Shares peaked on the New York Stock Exchange at US$8.34 each.
