Solar Industry News
Corn, millet and … rooftop solar? Farm family’s newest crop shows China’s solar ascendancy
The Shi family is on the leading edge of a solar boom in China, which has long dominated global solar manufacturing.
California is now a batteries-included rooftop solar market
About 60% of customers have included battery energy storage with their rooftop solar installation, up from roughly 10% prior.
Google signs Japan solar farm deals to power data centers
Google signed corporate PPA with CEC and Shizen Energy, marking the first time the company signed such contracts on Japanese soil.
California exceeds 100% of energy demand with renewables over a record 30 days
In a major clean energy benchmark, wind, solar, and hydro exceeded 100% of demand on California’s main grid for 69 of the past 75 days.
CAISO board approves $6.1B transmission plan, with focus on access to clean energy
CAISO expects its resources will be able to meet forecasted demand plus an 18.5% reserve margin for all summer months
US Department of Energy invests $71M in solar energy manufacturing projects
The US DOE unveiled a $71 million investment today, with $16 million allocated from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Smelting steel without fossil fuels: Solar power shatters the 1,000°C barrier for industrial heating
Swiss researchers have developed a solar energy method using synthetic quartz to achieve temperatures above 1,000°C for industrial processes
City of Arvin, California & Veolia North America break ground on innovative solar energy installation
Solar energy installation will decarbonize the city’s wastewater treatment plant and meet all its power needs
Solar was almost 100% of new electrical capacity added in the US in March
In March alone, solar accounted for 99.7% of capacity added, marking the seventh month in a row in which it provided more new US electrical generating capacity than any other energy source.
Israel to deploy 250 MW of floating solar, agrivoltaics
The Israeli authorities have proposed a plan to deploy 250 MW of floating solar & agrivoltaics through 4 PV plants in the Negev Desert.
California bill would undo rules making it hard for schools to go solar
State regulators slashed solar programs that school districts rely on to cut energy bills and finance sustainability projects. A new bill could fix that.
How Amazon is harnessing solar energy, batteries, and AI to help decarbonize the grid
Artificial Intelligence is helping solar-plus-storage projects provide power even when the sun isn’t shining.
California is showing how a big state can power itself without fossil fuels
For part of almost every day this spring, California produced more electricity than it needed from renewable sources.
More than $7 million to bolster clean domestic manufacturing in USA & support small-and medium-sized businesses
US DOE announced more than $7.3M from the IAC Implementation Grants program for 37 small- and medium-sized manufacturers across the country
First of 140 solar roofs gets installed in South L.A.
South L.A. Ecolab is a $35M initiative that aims to transform a 4-square-mile area of South LA into a model of sustainability
Driving on sunshine: Car cover charges EVs with solar power
GoSun’s solar charger can generate about 1,200 watts of energy, which is enough for most people’s daily commute to work.
EU launches European Solar Academy to boost renewable energy workforce
The European Commission has unveiled the European Solar Academy bolstering the continent’s expertise in solar PV technologies.
Ampion enrolls 130+ Wendy’s restaurants to community solar projects
Community solar provider Ampion Renewable Energy is partnering with The Wendy’s Company to help Wendy’s restaurants source renewable energy.
Ferrari’s new solar-powered e-building opens ahead of first EV sports car debut
Ferrari’s new e-building, entirely powered by renewable energy, is set to launch the first Ferrari EV sports car.
Milan’s sustainable tower generates enough energy to power 300 homes
Gioia 22 was the first building of its size designed and constructed according to Near Zero Energy Building standards.
Solar is growing faster than any electricity source as Big Tech seeks clean energy for data centers
CEOs in the renewable energy sector believe the industry is at inflection point, as Big Tech seeks carbon-free energy to power electricity-intensive data centers.