Solar News From Solar Daily - 24/7 News Coverage of the Solar Energy Industry

Optimizing Grid Integration for California's Energy Future
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 06, 2024 On May 1, 2024, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) hosted the third workshop of the High DER Future Grid Study, which assembled stakeholders and experts virtually to develop solutions for enhancing grid operations with a high volume of distributed energy resources (DERs). The workshop aimed to align California's grid modernization initiatives with its climate and equity goals.

NREL's laser technology simplifies solar module recycling
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 03, 2024 Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a new method using femtosecond lasers to create glass-to-glass welds in solar modules, significantly simplifying the recycling process. This innovation replaces the traditional use of plastic polymer sheets, which complicates recycling efforts. By eliminating polymers and employing las

Enhancing solar power access in Southern California's underserved communities
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 29, 2024 The Clean Power Alliance of Southern California has released its quarterly report highlighting progress in its Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariff and Community Solar Green Tariff programs. These initiatives aim to extend renewable energy's benefits to low-income and disadvantaged areas, supporting California's goals for social equity and environmental sustainability. While no new proje

Estimating cultivable land at photovoltaic sites for dual-purpose use
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Madrid, Spain (SPX) May 02, 2024 Researchers at the University of Cordoba have developed a new model to calculate the cultivable space within solar farms equipped with two-axis photovoltaic modules, aiming to facilitate the transition to agrivoltaic systems where agriculture and solar energy production coexist. In Alcarras de Carla Simon, the Sole family is reconsidering their underperforming peach plantation due to the e

Microsoft makes renewable energy deal with Canada's Brookfield
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
San Francisco (AFP) May 1, 2024 Microsoft and Canada's Brookfield Asset Management have struck an agreement for the development of renewable energy that could make one of the biggest corporate purchases of green energy to date, the companies said on Tuesday. Under the "first of its kind" agreement, Brookfield said it plans to develop over 10.5 gigawatts of new wind and solar farms for Microsoft as the tech giant looks to p

Why energy storage is key to global renewable goals
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Paris (AFP) April 30, 2024 G7 environment ministers committed on Tuesday to ramp up the production and deployment of battery storage technology, an essential component for increasing renewable energy and combating climate change. Here is how and why batteries play a vital role in the energy transition: - Growing demand - Batteries have been central to the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) but are also critical

Salt battery enhances osmotic energy capture from river-sea convergence
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 26, 2024 Estuaries, where freshwater rivers meet the sea, are not only ideal for birdwatching and kayaking but also serve as potential sources of renewable, "blue" osmotic energy. A recent study published in ACS Energy Letters highlights a breakthrough in this field, involving a semipermeable membrane designed to harvest osmotic energy from the salt gradients between these waters, effectively converting

Survey reveals broad support for solar projects among nearby residents
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 26, 2024 A national survey conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan reveals that Americans living close to large-scale solar (LSS) farms generally view them favorably. The survey, which queried nearly 1,000 residents within three miles of LSS installations, indicated that positive attitudes towards these projects are nearly three times

Super grids could stabilize Caribbean power during hurricanes, study finds
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 26, 2024 The potential for "super grids" to stabilize energy supply during hurricanes is being explored by researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Caribbean islands, traditionally reliant on expensive imported fossil fuels, are transitioning to harnessing local solar and wind resources. However, the prevalence of hurricanes poses significant challenges to solar

Chinese astronauts repair space station's solar wings after debris impact
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 25, 2024 The crew of the Shenzhou XVII, stationed on China's space station, successfully repaired damage to the core module's solar wings caused by space debris. This repair was accomplished during the country's inaugural mission involving extravehicular maintenance, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The astronauts are set to return to Earth on April 30, following the completion of their

Solar energy adoption challenges in rural Ethiopia
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 22, 2024 Despite decreasing costs and increasing accessibility of solar home systems, significant obstacles hinder their widespread use in remote areas of developing countries, such as Ethiopia, where they could greatly improve health and education. Inexpensive, yet uncertified and inferior solar panels, along with limited government engagement in rural energy transition, impede access to dependabl

The role of Floating Solar in achieving Africa's energy targets as an alternative to dams
5 May 2024 at 6:57pm
Madrid, Spain (SPX) Apr 22, 2024 Researchers from Politecnico di Milano have identified floating solar photovoltaics (FPV) as a viable alternative to traditional hydropower in meeting Africa's energy goals, according to a new study published in Nature Energy. The study shows that FPV installed at existing major reservoirs could generate 20-100% of the electricity projected from planned hydropower dams across Africa. The r


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Global Renewable Energy Capacity Surging to New Heights
21 Jul 2023 at 12:53pm
by Ryan Regan
Russia’s prolonged war in Ukraine roiled global energy markets, forcing fossil fuel prices up, and helped cement energy security as a dominant policy area focus in Europe and beyond. These trends and the continued price competitiveness of renewable energy are combining to boost global solar and wind capacity to historic heights. IEA Report Outlines Record […] The post Global Renewable Energy Capacity Surging to New Heights appeared first on Solar Tribune.

Texas Emerges as Solar’s Latest Hotspot As Legislative Threats Emerge
16 May 2023 at 1:51pm
by Ryan Regan
California has long been the state where the solar industry has shined the brightest across residential, commercial, and utility-scale markets. That fact largely remains true today, but Texas is emerging as an ascendant solar energy powerhouse that is poised to give a major lift to national renewable energy generation goals. Texas Solar Capacity Hits Peak […] The post Texas Emerges as Solar’s Latest Hotspot As Legislative Threats Emerge appeared first on Solar Tribune.

Solar Manufacturing Growth Picks up in U.S.
6 Feb 2023 at 7:04pm
by Ryan Regan
Manufacturers of solar panels, inverters, and related solar energy components have overwhelmingly been based in China over recent decades as few countries around the World could compete with China’s combined natural resource and low-cost manufacturing advantages. While China’s supply chain stranglehold is likely to persistent for some time, recently announced investments by solar manufacturers in […] The post Solar Manufacturing Growth Picks up in U.S. appeared first on Solar Tribune.

Floating Solar Panels Sail Forward
7 Dec 2022 at 3:43am
by Ryan Regan
As solar energy has become more mainstream, solar panels have found their way onto more and more unique places, from theme parks to airports to old landfill sites. Floating solar panels offer an even more creative use for solar that fundamentally alters conventional assumptions about solar generation opportunities. How Do They Work? Solar panels themselves […] The post Floating Solar Panels Sail Forward appeared first on Solar Tribune.

NIMBYism Threatens to Stymie Solar Progress
27 Oct 2022 at 5:32pm
by Ryan Regan
The solar industry has arguably never been in a better position in the wake of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). A rise in NIMBY-inspired land-use policies, however, is threatening to disrupt some of that optimism. A Worrying Trend The passage of the IRA is a seminal moment for the solar industry that […] The post NIMBYism Threatens to Stymie Solar Progress appeared first on Solar Tribune.

IRA Passage Ushers in New Era of Stability for Solar Industry
13 Sep 2022 at 5:50pm
by Ryan Regan
It only took Congress 34 years, but a federal law to meaningfully address the harmful effects of climate change – the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – finally passed the body and was signed into law by the President just weeks ago. The first congressional hearings on climate change were held way back in 1988, and […] The post IRA Passage Ushers in New Era of Stability for Solar Industry appeared first on Solar Tribune.

Global Heat Wave Puts Solar Panels to the Test
2 Aug 2022 at 5:27pm
by Ryan Regan
July was a scorcher of a month, with many countries and prominent cities across the world experiencing record-breaking temps. You may think that this was good news for the world’s solar industry as the Sun was seemingly working in overdrive, but in fact, blazing temps can greatly complicate solar generation efforts. This year’s hot summer […] The post Global Heat Wave Puts Solar Panels to the Test appeared first on Solar Tribune.

Rooftop solar: Good for the economy, good for the grid
27 Jul 2022 at 4:29pm
by Rebecca Snow
Solar continues to create jobs, investment, economic development and grid resilience while reducing energy costs for utilities, businesses, industry and consumers. It reduces the environmental impact on air, water and carbon.  And amazingly, it can be placed atop your house. Guest Post by Tim Echols, Originally posted in the Athens Banner-Herald Tim Echols is Vice-Chair of the Georgia Public Service […] The post Rooftop solar: Good for the economy, good for the grid appeared first on Solar Tribune.

Solar Panels Helping Old Landfills Embrace a Greener Future
30 Jun 2022 at 12:53pm
by Ryan Regan
As the solar industry has matured over recent decades, solar panels have found their way onto more and more unusual places. Cars, lakes, airports, and Disney World are just a few examples. Although notably less sexy than those examples, solar arrays placed on capped landfills are definitely becoming “a thing” that continues to gather more […] The post Solar Panels Helping Old Landfills Embrace a Greener Future appeared first on Solar Tribune.

The Rise of Agrivoltaics
3 Jun 2022 at 6:18pm
by Ryan Regan
Once upon a time, a common argument by solar energy skeptics was that expansive solar farms would overtake large swaths of American farmland, to the eventual detriment of American farmers seeking to grow crops or raise livestock. The industry has grown and matured in such a way that not only rebuffs this concern but shows […] The post The Rise of Agrivoltaics appeared first on Solar Tribune.

The Solar Powered Cars are Coming…Sort of
4 May 2022 at 6:26pm
by Ryan Regan
The electric vehicle and solar energy markets are both simultaneously growing at record clips, which begs the question, why haven’t cars powered entirely by the sun taken root as the next big thing? On the surface, the prospect of a car powered by an infinite and free power source that is never “off” sounds like […] The post The Solar Powered Cars are Coming…Sort of appeared first on Solar Tribune.

Cleaning Innovations Key to Solar PV Efficiency
2 Apr 2022 at 1:30pm
by Ryan Regan
The efficiency of a solar energy system’s individual PV panels and the amount of sun exposure that said panels receive play a pivotal role in the system’s over ability to harness solar energy. Keeping the surface of the solar panel clean is critical to achieving optimal efficiency and getting the most out of your system. […] The post Cleaning Innovations Key to Solar PV Efficiency appeared first on Solar Tribune.


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