The Downside of Growth Solar Employers Are Enjoying the Industry’S Rapid Rise but Struggling to Find Qualified Workers
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Volume 10, Number 6 ● July 2017 The Downside Of Growth Solar employers are enjoying the industry’s rapid rise but struggling to find qualified workers. page 30 California CALSEIA calls for “massive” energy storage development in the state. page 20 Trade Case Will the U.S. government put new global trade tariffs on solar imports? page 22 a_1_SI_1707.indd 1 6/22/17 4:08 PM b_7_19.37_44_SI1707.inddUntitled-17 1 2 6/22/17 1:34 PM 6/15/17 2:35 PM Untitled-17 1 b_7_19.37_44_SI1707.indd 3 6/22/176/15/17 1:352:35 PMPM ✹ Contents R Features 20 California Spotlight 20 Massive Storage Development Needed In California CALSEIA underscores the importance of supporting more energy storage in the solar-heavy state. Trade Case 22 Is A New Trade War Near? The U.S. International Trade Commission is investigating whether to recommend global measures on foreign-made cells and modules. Project Design 26 Knowledge Is Power: Designing Solar 22 Arrays On Challenging Sites Check out some tips on how information, planning and communication can lead to successful ground-mounted projects. Workforce Development 30 The Big Solar Workforce Gap Unprecedented jobs growth has left solar companies struggling to fill positions with qualified workers - which can seriously hurt their bottom lines. Concentrating Solar Power 34 Harnessing Sunlight With CSP Researchers are pushing toward higher temperatures, greater 26 efficiencies and lower costs for concentrating solar power and energy storage. 34 30 ✹ Departments 6 Sun Dial 8 New & Noteworthy 18 Projects & Contracts 37 Policy Watch 40 Products & Technology 42 Sundown 4 Solar Industry b JULY 2017 d_2_6_SI1707.indd 4 6/23/17 12:52 PM 1 0 0 % L The easiest solar e mounting solution a for k Asphalt Shingle -P Roofs! Q r SIMPLY: o u of i M c icr 1 k oFl BO ashing Drill LT 2 Seal Intersolar Booth #9645 2017 NABCEP-Intersolar Technical Workshop Making Solar More Affordable Through Innovation 3 Thursday, July 13th Mount 10:15am-12:15pm Workshop Room I (9030) www.solarroofhook.com SolarRoofHook_1707.indd 1 6/20/17 3:18 PM ✹SunDial As Of Press Time www.solarindustrymag.com n the past, I’ve been dragged by friends or family members to see [email protected] psychics and get my fortune read. Despite the clairvoyants’ prom- 100 Willenbrock Road, Oxford, Joseph Bebon ising prophecies, though, I have yet to randomly receive “a very CT 06478 I Toll Free: (800) 325-6745 large sum of money,” marry a super model, or become a rock star with my amateur guitar skills. Granted, there’s still time and lots of hope, but I’ve come to a more Phone: (203) 262-4670 Fax: (203) 262-4680 likely conclusion: No one can predict the future. And that certainly applies to editors, such as myself, as well as underscores why we often use the phrase “as of press time” in articles. MICHAEL BATES Like many other magazine publications, we at Solar Industry have a print and online Publisher & Vice President presence. Each medium has its unique benefits and inherent challenges, but I truly believe [email protected] NEW & NOTEWORTHY both types of media remain essential and serve a different purpose. JOSEPH BEBON Published by Zackin Publications cut the line, they need to pay for that to the future development of solar. customers in Indiana and Michigan, Editor There’s no denyingconnection.” that we live in an increasinglyAs DG solar continues digital, to fast-paced penetrate, has world announced full its of plans notifica to build and- www.solarindustrymag.com [email protected] tions, e-mails, buzzes Interesting and times dings. can be We’re a curse asan information-hungrythe need to handle overcapacity society,and operate which five solar is greatgeneration - infacili- - (203) 262-4670, ext. 221 well as a blessing, however. Tim Lar- intermittency will demand sufficient ties as a pilot project. The company [email protected] formation can leadrison, to vice educated president at Yingliopinions Green andstorage thoughtful resources to take decisions. up excess Ideally,says this willhowever, add another online emission- Shipping Address: 100BE WillenbrockTSY LILLI Road,A Oxford,N CT 06478 news sites allow youEnergy to Americas, get information said tariffs on Chi -notdemand only and as fill soon in when as renewables possible, free but source also of aspower accurately to its genera - Mailing Address: nese solar cells are not only imposing lag behind. - Michael Puttré tion portfolio, which already includes AssociateP.O. Box 2180, Waterbury,Editor CT 06722 as possible. It is thisadditional publication’s costs on PV generation, job and my personal mission to keepnuclear, you, wind the and hydro.reader, in- Toll Free: 800-325-6745 formed about thebut solar also squelching sector innovationwith complete by accuracy. Our website is Ifupdated approved by dailythe Indiana to Utilitylet Phone:AMA (203)ND 262-4670A FA •V Fax:A (203) 262-4680 reducing research and development Washington Utilities Get Regulatory Commission, the Clean Editorial Assistant you know what legislators,budgets and preventing companies new tech and- other industry players areEnergy doing Solar and Pilot saying. Project will Al have- PAUL ZACKIN Publisher nologies from reaching key markets, Energy Storage Grants a combined generation capacity of DAWN S. HOWE though we rarely use the “as of press time” phrase online, it comes in handy when we’re in a [email protected] particularly in the U.S. Three Washington utilities have about 16 MW, producing energy Creative Director equivalent to powering more than rush to post breaking “The news irrational but behavior still [onwaiting tar- beenon awardedadditional $14.3 million details in match or- comments. MICHAEL BATES Managing Editor iffs] has been shocking to me,” Larri- ing grants from the state’s Clean 2,500 homes for a year, the utility ANGEL L. HERNÁNDEZ We typically aim to keep online posts a bit shorter, because let’s be honest - when on your [email protected] son said, especially given the volumes Energy Fund to lead energy storage says. Graphic Artist of PV products large Chinese manu- projects with ties to federally funded I&M’s Clean Energy Solar gen- smart phone, you might not want to read a 3,000-word analysis, which could seem infinite MICHAEL PUTTRÉ Editor facturers represent. “It’s not a good research at the U.S. Department of eration facilities will be located in SANDRA MINCK or daunting whileidea scrolling to kill the supplier.on a small You need screen. Energy’s You (DOE) want Pacific succinct Northwest but differentsufficient areas ofinformation the company’s ser - (203) 262-4670, ext. 243 and to be able toyour continue supplier for your the 25 busyyears of day,the whetherNational Laboratory it be (PNNL).at work, at homevice territory or, in in thesome two states. lucky Con - [email protected] Coordinator warranty.” According to the PNNL, the struction is tentatively scheduled to instances, on a well-deserved Over and above vacation. the effect of reOf- course,three utility-led given projects the ever-changinginclude the begin in internet early 2016, withand completion news DAMASBETSY LILLIANE C EditorialARON Assistants flow, blink and youstrictive might trade policies,miss anLarrison online said story,following: which is why we also offerexpected a latertwice-weekly that year. The utility e- InformationLAUREN TYLER Systems Manager Chinese solar cell manufacturers ■ Spokane-based Avista Utili- notes the $38 million project would mail newsletter tohave provide wrung about you all withof the costa chance out ties to received catch $3.2 up. million. Its proj- result in a minimal impact on cus- CHERYLDAWN HOWE S AM CreativeIDE Director of their products, and those hop- ect includes installing a UniEnergy tomer rates of less than 1%. Office Manager Nonetheless, print allows you to slow down and read longer, more in-depth analyses and ing for additional LCOE efficiencies Technologies (UET) flow battery in I&M operates 3,595 MW of DAMASE CARON Graphic Artists get further informedwill have when to look the elsewhere. time is Citing right. Pullman,It also Wash., provides to support us Washing and -third-partycoal-fired generation experts inan Indiana, ad- ANGEL L. HERNÁNDEZ ditional opportunityhis company’s to cover 12 straightrelevant quarters topics ton every State University’smonth dictated (WSU) smart not 2,110necessarily MW of nuclear by the generation daily in Advertising Sales of financial losses, he said he could campus operations. The PNNL will Michigan and 22 MW of hydro gen- ARLENEROB SORRENTINO SIMO AdvertisingNELLI Coordinator news cycle but by nottheir imagine ultimate where such need cost savings to be addressedcollaborate withfor WSUthe industryto develop overall.eration in Plus, both states. call Theme company old- Account Executive could come from on the cell produc- a control strategy for this project. also provides its customers with 250 SANDRA MINCK Production Coordinator fashioned, but as tiona former front. English major andAvista long-time is participating bookworm, in the Pacific I thinkMW of purchasedthere’s windsomething generation. [email protected] satisfying about the Nevertheless, texture of he paper: remains It’s “very almost Northwest as if Smartyou canGrid Demonstrafeel the -weight I&M of says the it will words. also use the solar (562)PHILL L431-1630EGAULT Information Systems bullish” on the U.S. market - particu- tion Project and previously received pilot project as an opportunity to Manager As an editor, however,larly the residential producing and commercial a print a DOEmagazine Smart Grid comes Investment with Grant. challenges.study firsthand My the variousteam facetsand of I put together eachsectors month’s - which willmagazine be a core busi a -couple■ Bellevue-basedweeks before Puget the Sound issue designing,makes constructingit to your and mail operat- - CHERYL SAMIDE Office Manager ness for Yingli going forward.