Author: solarenergy
Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the Lower Bills and Local Power Act (LBLPA) as part of the Moore-Miller Administration’s 2026 legislative agenda. The legislation introduces measures to secure financing for local clean energy projects, modernize the electric grid, and provide additional direct energy bill discounts to Maryland families. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks at a news conference in January. Pat Siebert “Energy policy is about more than megawatts and transmission corridors – it’s about whether Maryland families can afford to live in their homes,” Moore said. “That’s why our administration is committed to providing real relief, focusing on lowering the…
Penn Engineers have proposed a solar-powered orbital data center architecture that can scale to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence without drawing electricity from terrestrial networks. The concept uses flexible, tether-based structures in orbit to house thousands of computing nodes for AI inference, relying on established space tether technology rather than massive rigid platforms or huge constellations of independent satellites. The design resembles a green plant, with multiple stems containing computer hardware and branching, leaf-like solar panels. Each trunk is essentially a long cable, populated with identical nodes containing computer chips, solar power systems and cooling hardware, forming a modular…
The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) has announced the lineup for Sun battle between the bands (SBOB), a semi-regular music competition with groups consisting of American solar workers. Sun battle between the bands The event returns to Moonshine Flats in San Diego on Thursday, February 19, following the second day of the Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA). SBOB is co-organized by CALSSA and IESNA and is an important fundraiser for CALSSA. This year’s band lineup includes Rapid Shutdown, a new group Baker Home Energy, “Café Negro” by Avila Solar and Flywheel Renewables, The Lagging Indicators by New…
GIST researchers have developed a perovskite mini-module with an efficiency of 22.56% by enhancing the SnO₂ electron transport layer with PEI, reducing defects and electron loss. The module retained 94% of its performance after 500 hours, highlighting the potential for scalable, stable perovskite solar cells and modules. January 29, 2026 Emiliano Bellini A research team led by South Korea The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) has fabricated a mini perovksite module with an active area of 24.8 cm2 and an energy conversion efficiency of 22.56%. The researchers explained that as the surface area of a solar cell or…
By pv magazine USA In the residential solar sector, the industry has long sought the ‘holy grail’ of vertical integration, creating a single point of contact for hardware, software and energy management. While Tesla has been a dominant player in storage with the Powerwall, a market leader with its inverter, and in electric vehicles, the company has historically relied on third-party solar panels. With the launch of the Tesla Solar Panel (TSP-415 and TSP-420), the company closes that circle. The company’s new modules, assembled at its Gigafactory in Buffalo, New York, represent a significant shift toward a proprietary, integrated ecosystem…
Britain’s Octopus Energy has agreed to set up a joint venture in China focused on spot energy trading, in a bid to scale up renewable electricity volumes as market reforms and demand growth accelerate. January 30, 2026 Brian Public Octopus Energy Group said it is partnering with China’s PCG Power to establish a new company, Bitong Energy, which will trade renewable energy on the Chinese electricity market. The joint venture was announced during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing in the last week of January. Bitong Energy will combine PCG Power’s experience in commercial and industrial renewable energy…
A solar energy generation technology once considered limited in its potential is poised for significant growth in the United States. That’s the conclusion of a team of scientists who analyzed the prospects for cadmium telluride solar photovoltaics in research published in the peer-reviewed journal Joule. Physicists from the University of Toledo, including Dr. Michael Heben, a distinguished university professor and McMaster chair and director of the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, collaborated with partners from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Colorado State University, Sivananthan Labs and First…
Researchers in South Korea improved the performance of tin monosulfide (SnS) solar cells with a potassium fluoride-assisted post-treatment and vapor transport deposition process. The treated solar cells had an energy conversion efficiency of 4.10% and reduced recombination sites, compared to 3.42% for untreated devices. January 30, 2026 Valerie Thompson Research led by Chonnam National University in South Korea has improved the performance of tin monosulfide (SnS) solar cells with a potassium fluoride-assisted (KF) post-treatment and a vapor transport deposition (VTD) process. The treated solar cells had an energy conversion efficiency of 4.10% and reduced recombination sites, compared to control devices.…
The British perovskite solar PV specialist has announced a new metrological research project with Swansea University and a new development agreement with Renolit, a German plastic films, sheets and polymer solutions company. January 30, 2026 Valerie Thompson Power Roll, a British perovskite solar PV specialist, has announced a new metrology research project with Swansea University and a joint development agreement with Renolit, a German plastic films, sheets and polymer solutions company, which will begin with an outdoor field trial in Germany. In Britain, samples of Power Roll’s patented flexible perovskite solar PV film with microgrooves will be provided to researchers…
After years of relative quiet, the Tesla factory in Buffalo, New York, has been repurposed for its original purpose: making solar panels. The 1.2 million ft2 facility got an almost Investment of 1 billion dollars from upstate New York, and local organizations have questioned Tesla’s employment figures since day 1. Originally built for Silevo in early 2010, the Buffalo factory ended up in SolarCity’s fold in 2014 after the solar installer acquired the panel manufacturer. Then Tesla bought SolarCity and took over the factory. Tesla first partnered with Panasonic to make solar cells at the factory, but Panasonic left in…