DERS! - TX PUC OKs 80 MW DER Pilot; SunRun Plans 17 MW Puerto Rico VPP

Avangrid presses for renegotiation on 1200 MW offshore wind proj, utilities say no, & Gov Baker says “talk” but don’t re-open process; BOEM finalizes 2 offshore wind areas in Gulf of Mexico off TX & LA, at over 680,000 acres; Q3 rough for U.S. renewables, w/supply chain a crippling factor; Google to sign 942 MW PPA w/SB Energy for supply from 4 Texas solar projects; DTE Electric files IRP w/$9 billion of expenditures on renewables & storage. Will also convert 1,270 MW of coal to gas by 2025/2026, and retire two more coal units totaling 1,535 MW in 2028; Xcel Energy to stop using coal across 8-state territory by 2030, accelerate closure of coal units at 1,067 MW plant in Texas by 2028; KB Home partners w/SunPower/others to build community microgrid w/219 solar & battery-powered homes, backed by larger shared community battery; Texas PUC OKs 80 MW DER pilot; SunRun to create 17 MW VPP in Puerto Rico from 7,000 residential solar & storage installations; EV charging co Wallbox opens charger manufacturing plant in TX.

1) Avangrid seeks delay in contract decision, citing cost increases. Utilities say no, and Gov Baker says time to talk, but do not re-open procurement.

2) US Bureau of Ocean Energy Mgmt finalizes two Gulf of Mexico offshore wind energy areas at over 680,000 acres off TX & LA.

3) Renewables stumble in Q3, w/only 3,400 MW of capacity commissioned, & 14,000 MW of projects delayed. Solar supply chains a key challenge. Only battery storage installations thrive, up 227% YOY.

4) Google to ink 942 MW PPA w/SB Energy from four SB TX-based solar projects, using First Solar's thin film panels, supplying Google's Midlothian, TX Data Center by mid 2024.

5) DTE Electric files IRP w/$9 bn for 4,400 MW of solar, 1,000 MW of wind & 760 MW of battery storage over next decade. Also to convert 2 coal units at 1,270 MW Belle River Power Plant to gas by 2025/2026, and retire 2 more coal units totaling 1,535 MW in 2028.

6) Xcel Energy to quit coal across 8-state territory by 2030, hasten closure of coal units at 1,067 MW Tolk station in TX by 2028, 4 years early, replace asset w/wind & solar.

7) SunPower, U of California, Schneider Electric, SoCal Ed work w/KB Home on energy-smart connected communities in CA. 219 all-electric residences to be solar powered w/SunPower solar and 13 kWh battery systems connected to a micro grid with its own shared larger community battery.

8) TX PUC OKs 80 MW DER pilot, w/state utilities participating. Customers w/gen, storage, & controllable load < 1 MW can play in wholesale markets.

9) SunRun to develop 17 MW VPP in Puerto Rico from 7,000 residential solar & storage installations, to minimize outages and improve power quality on grid.

10) EV charging co Wallbox commissions plant in Texas, to produce over 250,000 units in 2022 and 1 million by 2030. Wallbox demonstrates 400 kW fast DC charger offering 100 miles of range in five minutes.