Author: solarenergy

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…

Residential solar energy company Renewbrook energy has acquired the majority of PosiGen Solar’s residential project portfolio following the company’s bankruptcy at the end of 2025. PosiGen was a multi-state solar energy contractor that underwent several employee layoffs in 2025 before closing. The company missed an interest payment on a credit facility in August 2025 after expanding its operations earlier that year, ultimately laying off hundreds of people to make up for costs. Renewbrook is a newly formed subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management, an investment firm that has lent Posigen $600 million since 2023. During the bankruptcy proceedings, Renewbrook acquired those…

By pv magazine USA Silver has become one of the most important materials in the transition to clean energy. It is essential for solar photovoltaics, and solar energy is no longer a small consumer of silver. It is becoming one of the biggest drivers of demand, while at the same time ore grades are declining and supply is becoming increasingly difficult to expand quickly. In other words, even as solar energy becomes cheaper and more efficient, the material base is tightening. This is not just an academic concern. The price of silver reached a record high this month ($95 per…

Sunlight has a wide range of wavelengths, but many solar technologies utilize only part of that spectrum, limiting their efficiency. Researchers have now shown that small self-assembled gold spheres known as supraballs can capture almost all wavelengths in sunlight, including those that conventional photovoltaic materials often miss, and can significantly increase the absorption of solar energy when used as a coating on standard devices. Gold and silver nanoparticles are attractive for solar energy applications because they are relatively simple and cost-effective to produce. However, the light absorption of conventional metal nanoparticles is largely limited to visible wavelengths, meaning they affect…

The first six solar systems in a 15-system portfolio have now been completed in Wayne County, West Virginia. The systems are installed by Solar shout for the Wayne County School District. Always greena marketplace that enables companies of all sizes to participate in the energy transition through the purchase and sale of long-term renewable energy certificates (RECs), has aggregated the corporate buyers for the portfolio. Recognizing that rooftop solar could reduce long-term energy costs and redirect savings back to education, the Wayne County School District entered into a PPA with Solar Holler to lock in a long-term energy rate. To…

Researchers at McGill University used deep computer vision to analyze 719 solar energy projects in the western US. The study establishes a new ‘land-saving’ benchmark, providing developers with accurate data to balance rapid capacity expansion with conservation and land use priorities. February 27, 2026 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA With solar expected to become the world’s leading renewable energy source by 2029, competition for land has become a bottleneck for utility-scale developers. By applying deep learning neural networks to high-resolution aerial imagery, a McGill University-led team led by Associate Professor Sarah Marie Jordaan has successfully mapped 13,272 MW of…

By pv magazine USA Demand for transformers and other grid connection infrastructure is currently in a “super cycle,” according to Bruno Melles, general manager for transformers at Hitachi Energy. “The massive electrification of industry and transportation, the integration of renewable energy into the power grid and the explosive growth of AI data centers are forcing us to rethink energy,” Melles said. pv magazine. “That is why Hitachi Energy invests in production capacity, R&D and engineering.” He said Hitachi Energy has invested $1.5 billion to increase production and footprint of its transformer business, as part of a total investment of $9…

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…

The British manufacturer has expanded its Ecomod 290HT range with a new 65 kW monobloc air source heat pump using R290 refrigerant, with supply temperatures up to 70 C, a COP of 4.6 and cascade options of up to 7 units. February 27, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Heating specialist Ideal Heating has expanded its Ecomod 290HT heat pump line with a new 65 kW model to meet the demand for higher efficiency systems. “The new Ecomod 290HT 65 kW has a maximum supply temperature of 70 C and an excellent coefficient of performance (COP) of up to 4.6, which means it…

REC solar energy And Ventura energy have completed a 1.73 MW solar project in Farm irrigation company’s Santa Paula site. Two rooftop solar panels were installed on newly constructed reservoir covers, a key part of Farmers Irrigation Company’s broader infrastructure modernization to transition water distribution from a gravity-fed system to a pressurized system. Motivational energy acted as EPC partner for the project. This project reflects a successful collaboration between strategic partners, combining REC Solar’s long-term ownership and operating model under a 25-year PPA with Ventura Energy. Together, the partners have delivered a customized clean energy solution designed to generate approximately…