Solar Industry News
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.
Energy projects aim to strengthen California farms
USDA is investing close to $6M in 9 renewable energy projects throughout CA to lower energy costs, generate new income, and support farmers & rural small business
California grid operator proposes $6.1 billion in transmission projects
California’s grid operator proposes $6.1B in transmission projects aimed at increasing reliability and providing access to solar, geothermal & wind resources in AZ, NV, NM and offshore.
Off-grid solar bench with wireless charging and Wi-Fi
California State University – Dominguez Hills has new off-grid solar powered benches on its campus that provides off-grid wireless charging.
America’s solar and wind energy hotspots, mapped
CA, TX and FL are leading the country in solar power generation, while TX, IA and OK are the leaders in wind energy, per a new analysis.
Wheat grows better in agrivoltaic facilities
Researchers in Italy have conducted a series of experiments to assess the quality of wheat growing under elevated agrivoltaic systems.
Battery-powered California faces lower blackout risk this summer
California expects to avoid rolling blackouts this summer as new solar plants and large batteries plug into the state’s grid at a rapid clip.
Austrian startup offers double-axis tracking system for agrivoltaics
Austrian startup Anywhere.solar has released a new double-axis tracking system for applications in agrivoltaic projects.
Solar-powered floating islands could help to regrow coral reefs
A trio of hexagonal islands could generate solar electricity to power a process that accelerates coral growth.
J.P. Morgan commits $680 million tax equity financing for solar and storage
J.P. Morgan made the tax equity investment, comprised of production tax credit and investment tax credit assets available through the IRA.
PepsiCo invests USD 2M in photovoltaic panels at Romanian sites
PepsiCo has completed a new green energy initiative by installing photovoltaic panels at three sites in Romania.
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.