Solar power

A 605 megawatt (MW) project in Germany has claimed the title of Europe’s largest solar farm, bumping a PV plant in Spain out of the top spot.

The US Department of the Interior has now permitted more than 25 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy projects – surpassing its original 25 GW by 2025 goal.

Avangrid (NYSE: AGR), one of the US’s largest clean energy operators, has begun construction on its first solar farm in California.

Solar is forecast to displace natural gas in the middle of the day and in the summer on the Texas grid, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

A total solar eclipse will bring complete darkness to 12 US states today – watch live to see its effect on solar power and the grid across all 50 US states. 

Solar topped coal’s output in Texas for the first time in any month, sending 3.26 million megawatt-hours (MWh) onto the grid vs. coal’s 2.96 million MWh in March.

Virginia has approved over a dozen new solar projects that will significantly boost Dominion Energy’s clean energy capacity.

Solar capacity additions hit the ground running in 2024, pushing renewables’ installed generating capacity past coal, according to new US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) data. 

Both of New Hampshire’s coal plants are shutting, making New England the second coal-free region in the US.

All US-made solar panels featured only imported solar cells until now, but two US manufacturers just struck a three-year, $400 million deal. 

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is a “free electric bank account with your name on it.” It’s packed with rebates and tax credits that will help Americans purchase everything from EVs to solar and electrical appliances to heat pumps. Check out this easy-to-use IRA savings calculator from Rewiring America that tells you what you get – and when.

Walmart is investing in 19 solar projects under development across the US, including 15 community solar projects. 

After one of my most recent Alibaba import adventures, I was left with a shipping container in my yard. These engineering wonders are great for many uses outside of merely transferring goods around the world, with one of the most common secondary uses being watertight storage units. That seemed like a great idea to put to use for all of my electric “toys”. Between my electric bikes, e-motorcycles, e-ATVs, electric tractors, and a few other things I’m probably forgetting, having a weather-sealed, solar-powered off-grid charging shed would be a big benefit. And if I could add an air-conditioning unit to keep the machines from baking in the sun (and function as a dehumidifier at the same time), then all the better. As it turned out, the project was a lot easier than I expected. Here’s how I did it.

Ohio has green-lit what will be the state’s largest solar farm – and the US’s largest agrivoltaics project.

Power-hungry Texas needs solar and battery storage to help meet demand and balance the grid, so its largest utility-scale storage operator is delivering.

China’s LONGi Group is laying off up to 30% of its workers to accelerate cost-cutting, according to Bloomberg.

Arizona’s largest battery storage system is now online and, along with solar and wind, will help power a new Google data center – here’s why that matters.

The British military has placed a $1 million order for San Diego-based Beam Global’s (Nasdaq: BEEM) off-grid solar EV chargers.

Solar developer Primergy Solar has closed commitments for $588 million in debt financing for a 408-megawatt (MW) solar farm south of Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas.

Oh, and did I mention it can park itself? Bowlus revealed its most rugged travel trailer yet, the off-grid Rivet. The Bowlus Rivet features a “yacht-quality” battery and solar power system that allows “indefinite time off-grid in all conditions.”

The US added a record-setting 32.4 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in 2023, according to a new report, but 2024 will bring challenges to the industry.