Michael Puttre
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Articles by Michael Puttre
Un empresa de EE. UU. incorpora robótica asistida por IA para hacer frente a la reducción de la fuerza laboral del sector solar
Los robots son más eficaces en laboratorios o entornos controlados, como las plantas de fabricación. Cuando se utilizan para automatizar tareas al aire libre, la variedad de aplicaciones se reduce debido a la cantidad de variables que encuentran. Por esta razón, las obras de construcción siguen siendo lugares que requieren mucha mano de obra y se resisten a la robotización.
Un empresa de EE. UU. incorpora robótica asistida por IA para hacer frente a la reducción de la fuerza laboral del sector solar
Los robots son más eficaces en laboratorios o entornos controlados, como las plantas de fabricación. Cuando se utilizan para automatizar tareas al aire libre, la variedad de aplicaciones se reduce debido a la cantidad de variables que encuentran. Por esta razón, las obras de construcción siguen siendo lugares que requieren mucha mano de obra y se resisten a la robotización.
U.S. startup launches 200 kWh flywheel energy storage pilot
Sacramento-based Qnetic has begun low-speed testing of its flywheel energy storage system at its technology center in Shanghai, China. The prototype unit, dubbed Pulsar, represents a continuation of the company’s mechanical storage architecture that is expected to have an initial capacity of 200 kWh and expandable to 500 kWh with the same platform, which would enable four-hour storage at a nominal discharge rate of 125 kW. Flywheels store energy in rapidly spinning rotors as kinetic motion.
Gritt Robotics brings AI-assisted robotics to bolster shrinking solar workforce
Robots are most effective in laboratories or controlled environments, such as a factory floor. When robots are required to automate tasks outdoors, the range of applications narrows with the number variables encountered. For this reason, construction sites remain labor-intensive locations resistant to robotics. Solar construction sites may admit more automation than other sorts because of the regularity and essentially two-dimensional aspect of their layouts.
Gritt Robotics brings AI-assisted robotics to bolster shrinking solar workforce
Robots are most effective in laboratories or controlled environments, such as a factory floor. When robots are required to automate tasks outdoors, the range of applications narrows with the number variables encountered. For this reason, construction sites remain labor-intensive locations resistant to robotics. Solar construction sites may admit more automation than other sorts because of the regularity and essentially two-dimensional aspect of their layouts.
U.S. startup launches 200 kWh flywheel energy storage pilot
Sacramento-based Qnetic has begun low-speed testing of its flywheel energy storage system at its technology center in Shanghai, China. The prototype unit, dubbed Pulsar, represents a continuation of the company’s mechanical storage architecture that is expected to have an initial capacity of 200 kWh and expandable to 500 kWh with the same platform, which would enable four-hour storage at a nominal discharge rate of 125 kW. Flywheels store energy in rapidly spinning rotors as kinetic motion.
Virtus Solis signs PPA to supply space-based solar power to datacenter developer Brae Systems
The power purchase agreement (PPA) is an important indicator that a proposed renewable energy project is worth financing. Two companies have signed an unusual PPA where the producer and the off-taker represent developing technologies that, if successful, point the way to new paths of solar power development.
Una potente temporada de El Niño altera las previsiones mundiales sobre el recurso solar
Como se había previsto a principios de año, el patrón meteorológico de El Niño de 2026, más intenso de lo habitual en el Pacífico, ha contribuido a cambios significativos en los patrones históricos de irradiancia solar a escala mundial. Esto ha dado lugar a importantes variaciones regionales en el desempeño de los proyectos de generación fotovoltaica respecto de las proyecciones de referencia. Algunas regiones registraron resultados mejores de lo habitual y otras, peores.
Una potente temporada de El Niño altera las previsiones mundiales sobre el recurso solar
Como se había previsto a principios de año, el patrón meteorológico de El Niño de 2026, más intenso de lo habitual en el Pacífico, ha contribuido a cambios significativos en los patrones históricos de irradiancia solar a escala mundial. Esto ha dado lugar a importantes variaciones regionales en el desempeño de los proyectos de generación fotovoltaica respecto de las proyecciones de referencia. Algunas regiones registraron resultados mejores de lo habitual y otras, peores.
A powerful El Niño season upends global solar resource assumptions
As predicted earlier in the year, the more powerful than usual 2026 El Niño weather pattern in the Pacific has contributed to significant changes in historical solar irradiance patterns on a worldwide basis. This has resulted in major variations in regional performance of photovoltaic power generation projects from baseline projections. Some regions did better than usual, others did worse.
Heliene taking commercial delivery of U.S.-sourced solar glass from Stewart Glass
Canada-based solar panel maker Heliene is poised to add U.S.-sourced solar glass to its products manufactured south of the 49th Parallel. Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene, told pv magazine USA that it is receiving the first commercial shipments from Stewart Glass’ new production facilities in Ohio. The output will feed Heliene’s U.S. module factories in Minnesota. Heliene has invested resources and research in Stewart’s effort to become a U.S. manufacturer of solar glass.
CleanCounts to roll out enhanced attribute tracking for high-value solar RECs
Minnesota-based clean energy registry CleanCounts has been tracking renewable energy credits (RECs) since 2008, and says it is now the largest such registry in North America, issuing more than 40% of RECs. Significant changes in the marketplace, notably the withdrawal of many government renewable energy mandates, has made the attributes identifying the conditions under which those RECs are generated more important and valuable.
Solar projects find new sources of financing through VPPAs and ‘high-impact’ RECs
As industry analysts have pointed out, the fundamental economics of solar power projects don’t change. If a particular facility is built with the expectation of a 30% federal investment tax credit, the absence of that credit may mean it doesn’t get built. It may be the case that off-takers will have to bear more of the financial burden for new projects in the form of higher power purchase agreements (PPAs) in order for developers to attract financing to start construction.
Recycled solar panels could be a source of strategic materials
As a relatively new source of energy generation, photovoltaic solar’s success is often highlighted by how much new capacity comes online. For environmental reckoning, such accounting is measured against how much legacy fossil-fuel generation is retired as a result. At the same time, PV plants have been around long enough for midlife repowering and even pending decommissioning to become relevant issues.
Sunset of ITC means solar PPAs will do more heavy lifting
The long goodbye of the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for renewable energy projects under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is now playing out, with various timelines proceeding according to stages of construction. Canada-based Enverus Intelligence Research (EIR) has issued a report on the what the current class of projects sprinting for the wire will need if they miss the final deadline.
Cómo cuantificar los efectos de El Niño ayuda al financiamiento y la operación de proyectos solares
Se espera que el denominado episodio de El Niño “Godzilla” de 2026 modifique los patrones globales de irradiancia solar, incrementando de forma significativa las desviaciones respecto de la cobertura nubosa regional promedio.
Cómo cuantificar los efectos de El Niño ayuda al financiamiento y la operación de proyectos solares
Se espera que el denominado episodio de El Niño “Godzilla” de 2026 modifique los patrones globales de irradiancia solar, incrementando de forma significativa las desviaciones respecto de la cobertura nubosa regional promedio.
Quantifying El Niño effects help solar project financing and operations
The so-called “Godzilla” El Niño weather event of 2026 is expected to impart changes to global solar irradiance patterns that will significantly increase deviations from average regional cloud coverage. The effects of these periodic climate phenomena, spawned by higher surface water temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean, are enough to significantly alter the expected output and thus economic performance of solar power facilities worldwide.
As rooftop solar grows, industry expert warns of rising fire risks
Lawrence Shaw, chief engineer, solar power systems, and sole owner at Arizona-based installer Higher Powered LLC, is worried that incidents like the recent warehouse fire in Los Angeles attributed to and complicated by the facility’s rooftop PV array could be part of a troubling trend. “The Boyle Heights fire is on everyone’s radar at the moment,” Shaw told pv magazine USA.
Smart meter app developer Sense helps utilities cut back on vegetation-related outages
Boston-based energy applications developer Sense is working with the utilities of Southern Company to develop grid monitoring capabilities for detecting anomalies before they turn into outages. One area of particular interest is compiling and verifying a database of signals from residential smart meters with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) 2.0 architecture that pinpoint where vegetation is encroaching on power lines.
Anza introduces real-time intelligence platform for PV modules and markets
California-based solar and energy storage analytics company Anza has released a PV module intelligence system that provides real-time pricing, supply-chain information, and policy and trade updates. The Anza Pulse platform is intended to provide developers; engineering, procurement and construction firms; and other stakeholders on-demand access to a battery of information useful for project planning and deployment.
Anza introduces real-time intelligence platform for PV modules and markets
California-based solar and energy storage analytics company Anza has released a PV module intelligence system that provides real-time pricing, supply-chain information, and policy and trade updates. The Anza Pulse platform is intended to provide developers; engineering, procurement and construction firms; and other stakeholders on-demand access to a battery of information useful for project planning and deployment.
Complex solar portfolios fragment O&M data, threatening asset returns
One of the outgrowths of the pending sunset of the Federal Investment Tax Credit and a slowdown in new large-scale solar projects entering service is that existing assets, both in service and under construction, may become more valuable. Buyers are active and owners are putting together larger and more diverse portfolios of PV projects.
July 4th is coming but it’s not the final countdown for the ITC
On July 5th, there will be a morning after. While solar developers may be scrambling to meet federal requirements for the 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC), the fact is all is not lost if they don’t make the July 4th start of construction deadline.
Star Catcher is building a space-based solar grid for orbital infrastructure
Star Catcher, a Florida-based developer of orbital solar collection and transmission technologies, recently increased its total capital raised to $88 million after receiving $65 million in financing from a group of investors led by California-based B Capital. Comparatively speaking, this is a lot of money for space-based solar development, if rather modest by terrestrial standards. At the same time, space is booming and may become a solar market driver.
24 GW of new electrification load demand has regional implications and opportunities for solar
Energy load growth in the U.S. is distributed across many sectors beyond data center requirements, EV charging and onshoring manufacturing. A recent report from Alberta-based Enverus Intelligence Research projects that the transitions from fuel-based technologies for many industrial and residential applications, such as space heating, will add 24 GW of load in the continental U.S. and 78 GW by 2050.
Integration and commissioning support helps complete 220 MW BESS project in Texas
In April, Oregon-based storage developer and power producer GridStor and Axpo, a Switzerland-based energy company, signed an energy storage agreement for the Hidden Lakes Reliability Project, a 220 MW, 440 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Galveston County, Texas. GridStor says the partnership supports energy pricing stability for the Houston-area grid. According to GridStor, the company pursued a “self-integrated” model for the Hidden Lakes project.
Cost-effective hail resistance comes from R&D and insurance feedback
Hail awareness is now a front-and-center concern for the utility-scale solar industry, with insurers, engineering firms and owner-operators all confronting hail-related damage, energy production shortfalls and financial liability. Industry reports show that hail is now the number one cause of financial loss for PV projects and this has only increased in recent years. The problem was a long time coming.
Smart-meter-enabled partnership aims to integrate solar, storage and EV charging to lower grid costs
The recently announced partnership between Boston-based Sense and California-based ev.energy integrates the former’s household smart meter data application with the latter’s distributed energy resource (DER) management system to give utilities more reliable information for planning and response. The deal reflects the reality of home solar and storage penetration as well as the more the seven million electric vehicles on U.S. roads.
Manufacturing partnership brings new PV technology to U.S.-sourced solar
From pv magazine USA The agreement between two U.S. solar technology companies to produce new generation photovoltaic modules will expand the output of products using domestic-sourced components, including cells, frames and glass. The principals said the partnership between solar manufacturer Solx and perovskite glass-maker Caelux will meet U.S demand for domestic content while producing more powerful modules that will compete internationally beyond the sunset of federal tax credits.
Terabase Energy advances automated PV construction with robotics, AI tools
From pv magazine USA California-based engineering and construction technology firm Terabase Energy says its new Terafab V2 automated solar array construction system has completed field testing and is ready for commercial service. The Terafab process solar panel and tracker torque tube assemblies onsite and deploys them on prepositioned tracker mounts using AI-assisted robotics.
Terabase Energy invests in automation and engineering to streamline solar construction
California-based engineering and construction technology firm Terabase Energy says its new Terafab V2 automated solar array construction system has completed field testing and is ready for commercial service. The Terafab process solar panel and tracker torque tube assemblies onsite and deploys them on prepositioned tracker mounts using AI-assisted robotics.
Quino signs joint development deal with Jena for flow battery energy storage
California-based Quino Energy has signed a joint development agreement with Germany-based Jena Flow Batteries to provide the former’s electrolyte for the latter’s energy storage hardware. Quino’s electrolyte chemistry is based on quinone, an organic compound, and is intended to replace vanadium in flow batteries to compete with lithium-ion batteries for grid energy storage.
Building-integrated solar roof provider makes U.S. debut
Estonia-based installer of building-integrated PV (BIPV) energy systems Roofit Solar has completed its first project in Michigan as a prelude to its expansion into the North American market. The residential installation, accomplished in partnership with ArcEdge Power and regional installer Agathon Solar, uses modules integrated into a solar roofing construction.
Interconnection queues cut across new renewable and fossil source timelines
According to Texas-based energy consulting and services firm Enverus, interconnection queues remain one of the most significant barriers to bringing new generation capacity online. The company’s 2026 interconnection outlook report says a number of factors are complicating what was already a backlogged process, with new load demands and utility priorities.
VDE Americas upgrades hail risk model for utility-scale solar
From pv magazine USA VDE Americas, a California-based solar technical services and analysis firm, has developed an enhanced version of its proprietary Hail Risk Model incorporating newly analyzed wind speed data. According to VDE, severe storms with wind-driven hail struck dozens of utility-scale solar arrays in 2025.
REC Solar prepares to start 3.3 MW rooftop solar array for self-consumption
San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based developer REC Solar has contracted with Arctic Cold on a 3.3 MW ballasted rooftop PV project at the cold storage and logistics company’s new location in Santa Maria, Calif. REC will own and operate the project as part of its independent power producer portfolio. Arctic Cold’s Santa Maria facility primarily provides cold storage for fresh and frozen fruits distributed to regional food service companies, big-box retailers and other providers.
Battery storage management keeps solar in the energy mix
If the story of increasing electricity demand, with growth conservatively forecast to increase 34% by 2050, is to include renewable energy, it will necessarily feature battery-based energy storage systems (BESS). In fact, energy storage is likely be a key player in any future energy mix. North Carolina-based energy management and services firm FlexGen is planning for massive increases in BESS capacity in the U.S., primarily driven by loads from new data centers.
Reliability over rates: U.S. power markets pivot as demand surges 34%
Alberta-based Enverus Intelligence Research (EIR) projects that expected increases in U.S. energy demand combined with federal policy changes and delays in interconnection queues are tightening the economics of renewable energy projects, particularly solar. As a result, developers have to make new cases for keeping solar a major player in the generation mix going forward.
Solar streetlight provider Streetleaf teams with homebuilder Lennar Homes
Florida-based Streetleaf, a provider of solar-powered streetlight services, has launched a national vendor agreement with Lennar Homes, one of the largest home builders in the U.S. The agreement streamlines the process for Lennar to incorporate solar-powered streetlights into new communities. According to Lemnar, approximately 3,000 Streetleaf streetlights have been installed in 56 of its community developments to date.
Behind-the meter generation is scaling up to meet “hyperscale” US demand
From pv magazine USA Electricity demand is here and climbing, and solar generation is being pressed on reliability and affordability like never before. Developers are looking at opportunities pragmatically and investing in generation to meet demand using the most cost-effective solution for the location. Solar is showing that it can still perform on its own merits. Beyond the availability of fuel sources is the issue of interconnection and grid availability.
Behind-the meter generation is scaling up to meet “hyperscale” demand
Electricity demand is here and climbing, and solar generation is being pressed on reliability and affordability like never before. Developers are looking at opportunities pragmatically and investing in generation to meet demand using the most cost-effective solution for the location. Solar is showing that it can still perform on its own merits. Beyond the availability of fuel sources is the issue of interconnection and grid availability.
Arizona project to incorporate 300 MW solar with 1,200 MWh of battery storage
Virginia-based Fluence Energy is supplying its Gridstack Pro battery-based energy storage system (BESS) for the Pioneer Clean Energy Center solar project in Yuma County, Arizona. The facility, under development by BrightNight and Cordelio Power, will supply 300 MW of solar power plus 1,200 MWh of storage to bolster local infrastructure. The Pioneer Clean Energy Center will operate under a long-term tolling agreement for Arizona Public Service (APS) utility customers.
Beyond the tariff wall: How Heliene is navigating the 2026 regulatory pivot
Whatever one thinks of the term “vibe shift,” there is definitely something in the air of the PV industry. Developers are rushing to meet federal tax deadlines. Engineering, procurement and construction companies are scrambling to secure U.S.-sourced components. Manufacturers are building production facilities inside the tariff wall.
Ascent Solar expands frontiers for thin-film PV in space
Photovoltaic solar power has long been a foundational technology for space operations, particularly for those focused on Earth. Depending on the orbit, energy from the sun is dependable: unobscured by weather and constant outside of Earth’s shadow. Solar has powered satellites and other space vehicles long before it was commercially viable.
Companies turn to agrivoltaics to differentiate their products
One aspect of agrivoltaics, the incorporation of photovoltaic generation into productive agricultural land, is to improve solar energy’s acceptance by skeptics in the community. Another, perhaps more ambitious goal, is for producers of agricultural products to make solar a positive part of their marketing to consumers.
Rute SunTracker opening cattle grazing land to solar power
From pv magazine USA Oregon-based Rute SunTracker has commissioned its first commercial solar photovoltaic project designed for cattle ranchland. The 120 kW, one-acre solar array is deployed on an Angus ranch in Jackson County Oregon and is interconnected with the Pacific Power grid. The project is another example of how agrivoltaics is benefiting farmers and the solar sector alike.
RUTE SunTracker opening cattle grazing land to solar power
Oregon-based RUTE SunTracker has commissioned its first commercial solar photovoltaic project designed for cattle ranchland. The 120 kW, one-acre solar array is deployed on an Angus ranch in Jackson County Oregon and is interconnected with the Pacific Power grid. The project is another example of how agrivoltaics is benefiting farmers and the solar sector alike.
Power producers and portfolio owners face the facts of life with PV repowering
If there was a solar word of the year for 2025, it would be “repowering.” Manufacturers, project owners and power providers, and operations and maintenance companies all seem to be either thinking or talking about replacing components and systems to improve the power output of PV plants. Rather than being some new marketing meme, experts say repowering is a fact of life with so many pioneering large PV projects now approaching middle age.
EVs as key players in distributed energy networks and grid modernization
Battery-based energy storage systems serve the grid primarily in the form of stationary facilities. At the same time, the proliferation of mobile batteries for electric vehicles has created both new demands on generation and potential new sources of grid-connected power. The need to manage EVs and the grid has spurred the development of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies and policies.
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