Solar Industry News
1100 GW solar and 1000 GW storage now await transmission interconnection
Solar, wind and battery storage accounted for nearly 95% of the capacity in transmission interconnection queues as of year-end 2023.
Walmart just funded 15 community solar projects across the US
Walmart is investing in 19 solar projects under development across the US, including 15 community solar projects.
Italian municipality offers free EV recharging via off-grid PV shade
The municipality of Falconara Marittima, Italy, has installed a free off-grid PV shade for electric vehicle charging at no cost to users.
A solar-power plane being tested off the Mississippi coast is pushing the limits of flight
Skydweller has the wingspan of a 747 jet, only 5,000 lbs., will fly without a pilot at speeds of around 35mph and altitudes up to 40,000ft.
Floating solar array is designed to take the rough stuff
The idea of floating solar panels on reservoirs and other calm waters has already taken hold. Sending them off to sea is another matter of next-level engineering.
Hydrogen facility proposed in western Kern would run on solar power, wastewater
Wastewater, PV solar arrays & available space may come together to create renewable fuel for California's nascent hydrogen fuel cell market.
Reshaping the solar landscape with aerial imagery
Aerial imagery provides location intelligence and detailed insights, empowering engineers to design solar farms with laser-sharp precision.
Solar and green steel: A growing symbiotic relationship
The photovoltaic and steel industries can work together to meet climate targets and develop a greener manufacturing environment.
California approves use of DER schedules to avoid grid impact
The CPUC issued a significant decision allowing renewable energy systems to be approved to interconnect to the electric grid using LGP.
Largest floating solar array in Southeast US unveiled in Central Florida
The largest floating solar array in the Southeast US is officially generating clean energy in Central Florida.
Sicily produces photovoltaic energy and good wine together
The Cantine Vaccaro vineyard lives in perfect harmony with photovoltaic panels, a part of the “Agrivoltaico Open Labs” initiative in Italy.
First Solar invests $450M into thin film PV module R&D
First Solar is spending $450M to establish a research and development center focused on the production of thin film photovoltaic modules.
Istanbul hub to become 1st airport powered entirely by solar energy
Istanbul Airport will have its entire electricity needs met by a solar energy plant that is slated to be launched by the end of the year.
US states to conserve land, water with solar on canals
Three large projects in CA, UT, and OR will cover water reclamation facilities with solar panels for energy production and water conservation
New Jersey farm studies agrivoltaics with vertically mounted solar
The Sunzaun vertical racking system will hold bifacial solar modules that produce energy from both sides of the vertically oriented array.
Photovoltaics for elevated metro stations
Elevated metro stations may highly benefit from rooftop solar power generation combined w/ battery storage, new research from China suggests.
New canal project expands on UC Merced solar research
Federal & state government officials announced a new project to place solar panels on the water in the Delta-Mendota Canal.
This California city is trading an old gas plant for a giant grid battery
Calpine’s billion-dollar, 680-megawatt project in Menifee will be one of the biggest batteries in the U.S. when it comes online this summer.
Residential heat pumps linked to solar-plus-storage achieve higher seasonal performance factor
Researchers at Germany’s Frauhofer ISE analyzed the performance of a residential heat pump connected to a rooftop PV system w/ battery storage
California’s new rules allow solar and batteries to help out the grid
Utilities tend to treat solar & batteries as threats to their power grids. CA’s policy will now tap their flexible power to benefit the grid.
Self-cleaning solar panels boost efficiency with wind power
A research team at DGIST in South Korea has unveiled an ingenious device that enhances solar power generation by keeping panels clean.