Solar Industry News
New tower in China brings us a step closer to space-based solar power
Researchers at Xidian University ran a successful test of the “world’s first full-link and full-system solar power plant” on June 5
US Army deploys its first floating solar array
The US Army recently unveiled the largest floating solar power plant in the Southeast, located in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Wind and solar powered home shows what is possible for eco-conscious homeowners
A Calgary resident recently showed off his fully wind and solar powered home with 17 solar panels on the roof and thermal solar panel on the side.
Energy secretary talks US plan to boost solar production
NPR speaks with U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm about the Biden administration's actions that could triple solar manufacturing by 2024.
US DOI approves construction of two solar projects in California
The Department of the Interior has issued final approval for construction of the Arica and Victory Pass solar projects near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County.
The US solar boom is back on track
The recent decision by the Biden administration to waive tariffs on solar panels from Southeast Asia gave the industry a much-needed boost
Lightyear’s solar-powered car will go into production later this year
EV startup Lightyear revealed its first solar-powered car, which has 388 miles of range, 44 of which are derived from solar power alone.
The world’s largest solar-powered steam plant will be built in Saudi Arabia
A Saudi Arabian mining company and a US solar energy solutions provider have inked a deal to build the world's largest solar steam plant.
India’s first 24/7 solar-powered town enabled with battery storage and smart controls
Modhera is India's first fully solar powered town, utilizing battery storage that enables 24/7 clean energy and rural access to electricity.
Floating solar power could help fight climate change
Covering 10% of the world’s hydropower reservoirs with ‘floatovoltaics’ would install as much electrical capacity as is currently available for fossil-fuel power plants.
NASA to reexamine space-based solar power
NASA plans to reexamine the feasibility of space-based solar power, an approach that is finding new support based several beneficial factors.
Electric farms are using solar power to grow profits and crops
Growing crops beneath solar panels is an innovative way to use farmland to generate renewable energy in countries with limited space.
Indian camel herders cash in with solar-powered coolers
Instant milk chillers powered by solar panels are helping pastoralists in India’s Thar Desert to keep their dairy fresh as temperatures rise.
KFC installs solar-powered drive-thru in California
KFC installs a solar-powered drive-thru in Bakersfield, CA to protect workers from the sun, and to save the unit $400,000 over its lifespan.
European solar and wind surpass gas power for the first time
Wind and solar produced more than a fifth of the EU’s electricity last year, for the first time delivering more power than natural gas.
Groundbreaking new solar panels can generate electricity in the dark
Scientists at Stanford University created a solar panel that works in the dark and discovered how to modify installed solar panels to generate power at night.
California town to get solar-powered EV charging stations
Carlsbad, California will install five solar-powered, covered EV charging stations under a proposed agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy.
As solar power booms in the US, a key part of its history lies at Unity College
Displayed on a pedestal on the campus of Unity College is a solar panel that Jimmy Carter installed on the White House on June 20, 1979.
How states are reimagining power grids to take advantage of wind and solar
States are turning to transmission lines, substations, and transformers to get electricity from wind farms and solar plants into homes and businesses.
Construction begins on 3GW transmission line between Arizona and California
A 500kV, 125-mile transmission line between CA and AZ broke ground to give over 3GW of renewable energy capacity to the US Desert SW region.
As solar + storage ready becomes a title 24 mandate, smart technology helps flatten the complexity curve
With the new Title 24 solar + storage mandate for 2023, new technologies are helping to simplify the learning curve of implementation.