Commercial Solar Guy’s Post

Did some speculating for a story I wrote for pv magazine USA recently, and I'd like to see if my logic put forth makes sense. Pine Gate Renewables is developing six 200 MWac blocks at a new solar plant, recently approved, in northern Oregon. The facility has a 1.2 GW grid connection. The documentation for the project says the overall system may total 4 million solar modules - 610 watts each - totaling just over 2.4 GW of solar capacity. My rough math says from May through September, and of course peaking somewhere around end of June - the system will deliver a maxxed out 1.2 GW of electricity from early morning until deep into the night, possibly all the way to midnight. Does this jive? Maybe the people at Solesca can do a follow up model of the project to see if generation projections make sense, and then ask the folks at Fluence to model the energy storage side and see if I have a clue. And if so - then we drink some beers and be happy that Pine Gate sees the future. #solar #renewableenergy #energystorage #electricity

Here is a great article written by our GM, John Fitzgerald Weaver that shows how utility scale solar farms can use excess electricity to feed battery storage for use when the sun isn't shining.

Pine Gate Renewables is turning heads with a massive solar project in northern Oregon - six 200 MWac blocks, 4 million 610W modules, and a total capacity of 2.4 GWdc. When pv magazine USA speculated on how this project might perform, we couldn’t resist jumping in to see if the numbers stack up! At Solesca, we specialize in pre-CAD modeling for projects of any scale. Here’s what we found: ⚡ What Solesca Found: Using the proposed 2.4 GWdc setup (Yes, Solesca can handle projects this large!) and VSUN 610W modules paired with a Power Electronics inverter (as shown at the end of Exhibit B of the project description), we ran the math for July 15, the project’s peak performance month. Here’s how it shakes out: • DC Gross Production: Over 25 GWh (meanwhile, January is just chilling at 5 GWh). • AC Clipping: With a 1.2 GWac limit, this will accumulate nearly 10GWh, more than the 7.2GWh of storage available. 🔋 Battery Power Flex: • The battery starts pitching in at 6:30 PM, fully taking over by 8:30 PM, with 5.6 GWh still in the tank. • That reserve keeps the power flowing at 1.2 GWac for 4.5+ hours, pushing clean energy into the grid until 1 AM local time.And here’s a fun fact for the energy nerds: 2.4 GWdc with a 1.25 LR churns out over 4 TWh annually. That’s a lot of sunlight doing a lot of work. 🔥 Big Takeaway: Pine Gate isn’t just seeing the future – they’re building it. Pairing large-scale solar with battery storage is how we power through the night. Major kudos to their team for this bold vision – and to John Fitzgerald Weaver for sparking the conversation. Got bold ideas or a spicy take? Drop them below #renewableenergy #solardesign #energystorage #solar

If all goes well, the Sunstone Solar Project, located in Lexington, Oregon, will become the largest solar and storage project  in the U.S., featuring 2.4 GW of solar modules and 7.2 GW of energy storage. The project is purposely oversized with extra solar modules. Its 2:1 DC-to-AC ratio allows for increased electricity generation and nighttime usage by capturing excess energy. Located near renewable assets, Sunstone's batteries can recharge with surplus wind energy at night to meet morning demand, exemplifying the trend of maximizing renewable energy output and storage efficiency. https://lnkd.in/eP-2wEHG #solar #bess #solarfarm #sinovoltaics #InnovativeInsider #QA #QualityAssurance  

A massive 2.4 GW solar power plant with a 2:1 DC-to-AC ratio, coupled with six hours of energy storage, is approved in northern Oregon. #EnergyStorage #Installations #MarketsPolicy

Spread it: Solar, energy storage, and wind are slowly but surely replacing our energy mix. WoodMac now predicts that new wind and solar installations will reach a cumulative global total of the two technologies to 8 TW by 2033. Energy storage capacity, excluding pumped hydro, is also expected to grow by more than 600% over the same time period, with almost 1 TW of new capacity set to come online. "If Wood Mackenzie’s predictions are accurate, cumulative installed global solar capacity will nearly quadruple between 2024 and 2033." #DriveEnergyForward. https://lnkd.in/gzVpNMb2

Experts say total electricity generation from solar reached a little more than 8 percent in June, up from 6.7 percent during the same month last year. "Utility-scale battery storage for solar has also grown dramatically, allowing power providers to better match solar supply to times of high consumer demand." https://bit.ly/4cDLEOy #buildings #controlbuildings #energy #grid #modularbuildings #powertransmission #renewableenergy #renewables #solar #solarenergy #substations #TeamParkline #utilities

Exciting developments in the U.S. solar sector! Recent data from Reuters shows California's once-dominant share of national solar electricity has fallen below 30%, with Texas now leading in total clean electricity generation. Top states like Florida, North Carolina, and Nevada continue to expand their solar capacity, while states such as Virginia and Ohio have made significant leaps in rankings. With projections pointing to record highs in solar power contributions to total electricity generation in 2024, it's clear solar energy is driving a sustainable energy future across the country. https://lnkd.in/gP-h5AS6

Excellent news for those considering solar PV! Britain's electricity market is seeing record highs in solar output and a significant drop in gas generation. In Q2 solar generation surged by 174%, highlighting the growing reliability and importance of renewable energy. As gas prices rise and fossil fuel use declines, now is the perfect time to consider solar PV systems to reduce your energy bills and contribute to a greener future. Please click the link below to read the article and learn more about the benefits of solar power. #SolarPV #SolarEnergy #SolarInstallation

The Sunstone Solar Project, the largest approved solar and storage facility in the U.S., is breaking new ground with a “hidden” second power plant. Featuring 2.4 GW of solar modules paired with 7.2 GW of energy storage, this innovative design feeds into a 1.2 GW grid interconnection—delivering clean energy long after sunset. By leveraging a higher DC-to-AC ratio (2:1 vs. the typical 1.25:1), the project captures excess solar energy that would otherwise be wasted and stores it in advanced batteries for evening use. This approach reduces costs, maximizes output, and highlights how advancements in solar panels and energy storage are reshaping the clean energy landscape. 🌞 Unlocking Solar's Hidden Potential ⚡ https://lnkd.in/eUMZXeHj #SolarEnergy #EnergyStorage #Innovation #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability