Comments on: The Real Reason PG&E Wants to Own Solar Projects: Startups Are Risky

By: Utilities Poised to Brighten U.S. Solar Market

Utilities Poised to Brighten U.S. Solar Market — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:01:30 +0000

[...] and Power, as well as all three of the state’s investor-owned electric utilities — Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric — have announced PV initiatives. [...]

By: PG&E To Own More Clean Power — This Time It’s Wind

PG&E To Own More Clean Power — This Time It’s Wind — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:00:24 +0000

[...] Some of the startups that are building these clean power projects can also be risky. Take PV solar maker OptiSolar, which sold off to First Solar a coveted 550 MW solar project that was supposed to supply PG&E with solar power, and then eventually shut down manufacturing and cut staff. Working with a company that goes out of business is probably something PG&E wants to avoid. [...]

By: First Solar Buys Ausra Solar Project; PG&E Power Purchase Deal Is Off

First Solar Buys Ausra Solar Project; PG&E Power Purchase Deal Is Off — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:58:54 +0000

[...] deal with First Solar also reinforces part of why the utility wants to take ownership of solar power plants. At the beginning of this year, more than 1.5GW of the solar power PG&E had agreed to buy ahead [...]

By: murugesh

murugesh — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:46:06 +0000

any project ckt & idea detail please

By: OptiSolar Crashes « shankarsoma; Change the View

OptiSolar Crashes « shankarsoma; Change the View — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:56:58 +0000

[...] It must have been sheer desperation on PG&E’s part, struggling to meet its state renewable portfolio standard, that encouraged the utility to make a contract with such a young company with such massive ambitions. As we indicated, it was probably contracts like that that in turn motivated PG&E to start investing in its own solar projects — as a means of insurance. [...]

By: OptiSolar Crashes: Lessons for Greentech

OptiSolar Crashes: Lessons for Greentech — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:18:46 +0000

[...] It must have been sheer desperation on PG&E’s part, struggling to meet its state renewable portfolio standard, that encouraged the utility to make a contract with such a young company with such massive ambitions. As we indicated it was probably contracts like that that in turn motivated PG&E to start investing in its own solar projects — as a means of insurance. [...]

By: PG&E to Announce Solar Investment? « Earth2Tech

PG&E to Announce Solar Investment? « Earth2Tech — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:31:30 +0000

[...] at 9:30 am in Energy The CEO of Northern California utility PG&E Peter Darbee, has been very vocal about his company’s desire to invest in and own solar projects, and suggested last month that [...]

By: Travis Randolph

Travis Randolph — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 07:12:24 +0000

Pg&E you have been around a long time, the rest of us in america are young. You should do more to encourage young american companies. stop complaining. You could help with financing and spouncer tax credits in many different ways, but you dont.

By: Ed Gunther

Ed Gunther — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:01:45 +0000

I foresee PG&E making equity investments in projects with proven solar technologies. Start-ups need to first demonstrate at Big Solar scale their technologies are competitive and reliable. Near term, PG&E might seek an equity interest in projects similar to the SunPower 250MW California Valley Solar Ranch project in San Luis Obispo County based on crystalline silicon or a First Solar module based project. A PG&E equity investment in a CSP plant is also possible once these are proven at scale. CIGS and CPV based technologies are on the cusp of inclusion in the equity investment list.

Perhaps solar technologies only becomes utility investment grade after the start-up goes public.

By: Katie Fehrenbacher

Katie Fehrenbacher — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:14:56 +0000

Ed, I think they'll be able to plead their case to CPUC, but it's still a PR nightmare not to meet it, given they're one of the most progressive utilities in the most progressive state. Also, I think PG&E has little desire to invest in unproven technologies, as they need to provide stability, but it just happens to be a relatively new area. And also are you saying PG&E doesn't really intend to own plants? If so, interesting, I would love to hear your thoughts on that more . . .