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Freyr Battery has entered the solar manufacturing business by acquiring Trina Solar's 5 GW solar module manufacturing facility in Texas for $340 million. The facility is expected to reach full production in 2025, with 30% of production volumes secured by contracts with U.S. customers. Freyr plans to establish a vertically integrated U.S. solar manufacturing footprint, including building a 5 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in the U.S. starting construction in Q2 2025. This move aligns with the industry's push for a complete domestic solar supply chain to reduce dependence on Chinese solar products. [Extracted from the article]

The North Carolina Utilities Commission has approved Duke Energy's plan to add 3.6 GW of gas-fired capacity and 7 GW of renewables, including solar, battery storage, wind, and advanced nuclear generation. The plan, resulting from a settlement agreement, allows Duke to delay its carbon reduction target to 2030. The order also includes retiring coal-fired units, offshore wind development, and other renewable energy procurements. The Southern Environmental Law Center criticized the order for not prioritizing more solar, wind, and battery storage options. [Extracted from the article]

The upcoming U.S. presidential and congressional elections will have significant implications for energy legislation, particularly regarding the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and permitting reform. The fate of the IRA, which may face partial repeal due to the expiration of the Trump tax cuts, is tied to potential changes in Congress. Permitting reform, spearheaded by Sen. Joe Manchin, may face challenges depending on the election outcomes, with bipartisan support needed for legislative progress. The need for grid resilience and transmission reform is underscored by recent extreme weather events, highlighting the importance of congressional action in these areas. [Extracted from the article]

Avangrid Renewables and Invenergy NE Offshore Wind secured the first-ever Gulf of Maine offshore wind leases, totaling 6.8 GW in potential capacity. The auction, which netted over $21.9 million, marked the first sale of a floating offshore wind lease in the Atlantic. The purchase of these lease areas aims to advance floating wind technology and position Maine as a hub of innovation in offshore wind development. Additionally, the auction resulted in commitments to invest in workforce training, domestic supply chain development, and fisheries compensatory mitigation. [Extracted from the article]

The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for renewable energy technologies, particularly wind and solar, is decreasing globally, with North America seeing a 4.6% decline in 2024. Wood Mackenzie predicts a 60% drop in utility-scale solar LCOE by 2060 due to technological advancements and increased production capacity. While onshore wind LCOE is expected to decrease by 42% and offshore wind by up to 67% by 2060, renewable energy is on a path to outcompete traditional fossil fuel sources. Prices for renewable power purchase agreements in North America have risen, influenced by factors such as project scarcity and interconnection queues. [Extracted from the article]

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released final guidance confirming that solar ingot and wafer manufacturers are eligible for the 48D Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit. This credit aims to support domestic semiconductor production and reduce reliance on Chinese manufacturers. The Solar Energy Industry Association has been advocating for incentives to establish ingot and wafer production facilities in the U.S. to create a vertically integrated solar supply chain and compete with China's dominance in the global market. [Extracted from the article]

The Department of the Interior has approved the 2-GW Fervo Cape Geothermal Power Project in Beaver County, Utah, covering 631 acres, with 148 on public lands. The project by Fervo Energy aims to accelerate the discovery of geothermal resources using advanced drilling techniques. The Bureau of Land Management is proposing a new categorical exclusion to streamline the permitting process for geothermal resource confirmation operations, potentially benefiting states like Nevada with significant geothermal potential. [Extracted from the article]

In the third quarter of this year, federal and state efforts propelled the offshore wind industry forward, setting the stage for growth, while private investment slowed down, partly due to the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Despite a decrease in private investment, states are reorganizing project portfolios, securing new offtake agreements, and advancing construction of deep-water ports and transmission projects. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has permitted 10 offshore wind projects with a total capacity of 15 GW, with state efforts continuing to drive the market forward by agreeing to new offtake agreements and transitioning to the second phase of the U.S. offshore wind market. [Extracted from the article]

Dominion Energy plans to add 21.1 GW of new clean energy capacity by 2039, including offshore wind, solar, battery storage, and small modular nuclear reactors. The company also intends to deploy 5.9 GW of gas-fired generation to meet growing demand. While some critics argue that Dominion's plan does not prioritize renewables enough, the company emphasizes the need for a diverse energy mix to address increasing power demand. Dominion's approach aims to balance reliability and sustainability in response to significant growth in energy needs. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses how tribal nations in the U.S. are facing challenges in accessing utility-scale clean energy due to high upfront costs and delays in the interconnection process. These costs and delays are hindering tribal communities from transitioning to renewable energy sources, which could provide economic opportunities and reliable energy to remote areas. Efforts are being made to address these barriers, including petitions to waive commercial readiness deposits and the establishment of funds to support tribal clean energy projects. The federal government is increasingly investing in tribal energy projects, but regulatory uncertainties and financial barriers continue to pose challenges for tribes in pursuing clean energy initiatives. [Extracted from the article]

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has released a draft strategic plan for expanding the state's renewable energy resources. The plan proposes 40 projects, including solar, onshore wind, and battery energy storage systems, with a total capacity of 3.5 GW. NYPA's expanded authority also allows for workforce training in the renewable energy sector and the establishment of a program to provide bill credits for low- and moderate-income ratepayers. However, the Public Power NY Coalition criticized the plan as inadequate, stating that it falls short of the state's legal mandate for 70% renewable generation by 2030. NYPA has responded by stating that the proposed projects are only the first phase and that further projects will be considered. The draft plan is open for public comment for 60 days. [Extracted from the article]

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced preliminary duties on solar cell imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam as part of a countervailing duty investigation. These countries are also under investigation for illegal dumping and will face a preliminary anti-dumping determination in November. The American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, a group of solar companies, petitioned Commerce to investigate the alleged illegal government subsidies benefiting these companies. The duty rates are expected to increase as Commerce continues to investigate. The final determinations for both the anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations are set to be released in April. [Extracted from the article]

Eversource Energy has sold its 50% stake in the South Fork Wind and Revolution Wind projects to Global Infrastructure Partners' Skyborn Renewables. The sale resulted in a net loss of $520 million for Eversource, as they sold the interests for $745 million instead of the expected $1.12 billion. The South Fork Wind project has already completed construction, while the Revolution Wind project is expected to be operational by 2026. Eversource has now divested all ownership interests in the offshore wind business. [Extracted from the article]