Wildfire Smoke Cuts New England Solar Output by 40 Percent

Wildfire smoke from Canada cut solar production across New England by as much as 40 percent, according to ISO New England, a loss of 2,500 megawatts at peak hours compared to the forecast. 

Tim Montague and John Weaver dig into that data, including John's own project numbers, on the Clean Power Hour Live. They also cover a massive BYD battery storage deal in Abu Dhabi, a new gas car ban in China, rising copper prices, and a wave of new battery products hitting the market. 

Whether you're an installer, developer, investor, or simply following the clean energy transition, this episode covers the trends you need to know.

In this episode:

• BYD secures an 11.275 GWh battery storage contract for one of the world's largest clean energy projects. (BYD Energy press release)
• Wildfire smoke cuts solar production by up to 40% in parts of New England. (WBUR)
• China's Hainan province set a 2030 deadline to ban new combustion engine car sales, with plans for new energy vehicles to reach 45 percent of the province's fleet. (Dialogue Earth)
• Massachusetts expanded its vehicle-to-grid and virtual power plant programs through the ConnectedSolutions initiative (regional VPP program).
• SEIA data shows utility-scale solar occupies just 0.07% of America's prime farmland. John Weaver corrects the math live, and SEIA's own figures show roughly 43 acres of abandoned prime farmland for every acre solar currently occupies. Tim and John debate the politics behind the farmland argument. (PV Magazine)
• Octopus Energy launches the Nook Cube smart battery for renters. (Renewable Energy Magazine)
• Copper prices continue climbing and what that means for future solar project costs. (BlueSky)

This episode fits solar developers, battery storage professionals, EPCs, and clean energy investors tracking both hardware innovation and real-world grid risk. The BYD deal and Octopus battery launch show where storage economics are heading, while the wildfire smoke data is a preview of a grid challenge more regions will face. Anyone pricing projects around copper costs or watching global EV policy will find useful detail here.

Support the show

Connect with Tim  

Clean Power Hour 
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn 

Email [email protected] 

Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com