Renewable, unstoppable: What we learned at #SPIcon 2019

October 3, 2019
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Alex Au, CTO of NEXTracker, used a panel discussion to make a passionate case for solar to find its rightful place on the grid. Image credit: Andy Colthorpe

Ok, my colleagues and family are bored of hearing how great Solar Power International / Energy Storage International was in Utah last week and indeed, of how welcoming Salt Lake City was to the 12,000+ renewable energy industry professionals and interested parties that attended. Below are the leading themes from the show in order of narrative, if not in order of importance: 

1. The capacity factory – how and why tomorrow's solar-plus-storage can be an equal on the grid to today's fossil fuels 

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

2. LFP vs NMC – reaction to safety fears provokes new turn in the discussion 

3. Energy storage-as-infrastructure – creating an asset class for the 'workhorse' of the grid 

4. #StorageITC – a market accelerator, not a market saviour 

5. Is software actually the single most important 'component'?

6. Renewable, unstoppable: Why solar's journey to the core of the US energy system matters

7. Bifacial – The strengths and shortcomings of the emerging technology after its import tariff exemption

You can read the takeaways for each theme here, as originally published on Energy-Storage.news

Read Next

January 20, 2026
CleanPeak Energy has completed the acquisition of five solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) development sites in New South Wales from Fortitude Renewables, adding 25MW of solar capacity and 100MWh of battery storage to its portfolio.
January 19, 2026
Solar PV has met two-thirds (61%) of the US electricity demand growth in 2025, according to a report from think tank Ember.
January 19, 2026
I Squared Capital has launched ANZA Power, a new IPP aiming to deliver reliable and sustainable energy across Australia & New Zealand. 
January 16, 2026
Canada-based solar mounting systems provider Polar Racking has entered the Australian market through its involvement in the 240MW Maryvale solar-plus-storage project in New South Wales, marking the company's first project deployment in the country.
January 14, 2026
DNV has forecast that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will add 860GW of new solar PV by 2040.
January 14, 2026
SynergyRED, a wholly owned subsidiary of Synergy, has secured environmental approval for a 2GW solar, wind and battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Western Australia.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA