solar energy

China has become the first country in the world to surpass 1,000 gigawatts of installed solar power capacity, a milestone in the global energy transition. The achievement underlines the scale of China's investment in renewables, far outpacing other nations and cementing its lead in solar manufacturing and deployment.

Farmers are installing solar panels on farmland while continuing to use the same ground, grazing sheep beneath and between the arrays and in some cases growing crops alongside them. The approach, known as agrivoltaics, allows agriculture and power generation to share land, giving farmers extra income from electricity while keeping land in production. Coverage is highlighting which setups work best and why sheep in particular suit the panels.

Renewable sources supplied a record 80% of electricity demand on Australia's national grid, with solar and wind generation combining to reach the milestone. The result is being cited as evidence that renewables can carry a large share of a major advanced economy's power system, adding to ongoing debate in Australia about the pace of the energy transition and the future role of coal and gas.

An analysis by SolarPower Europe has found that solar and wind generation made Europe's electricity 25% cheaper and saved the continent more than €100 million per day by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The report frames the shift as 'decoupling from fossil fuel shocks', arguing renewables are now delivering measurable savings for consumers and energy systems across Europe.

Nevada is outperforming expectations on solar energy growth, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The state, long associated with vast desert landscapes and abundant sunshine, is seeing notable advances in solar deployment and capacity. The development is drawing attention as the US pushes to expand renewable energy and states compete to lead the transition away from fossil fuels.

Japan is converting disused golf courses into large-scale solar farms as the country struggles to find open land for renewable energy. With mountainous terrain, limited flat space and growing pressure to cut emissions, developers see retired golf facilities, many closed after declining demand, as ready-made sites with existing grid access for solar panels.

Australia's main electricity grid has recorded 80% renewable energy across consecutive days, with rooftop solar at times supplying more than half of demand. The milestone highlights how quickly household solar and other renewables are displacing coal and gas generation in the national market, drawing attention as one of the fastest energy transitions among advanced economies.

Renewables covered a record 80% of electricity demand on Australia's main grid, according to a report picked up by international outlets. The milestone, driven by solar and wind output, highlights how far the country's clean energy transition has progressed and is drawing attention as an example of high-renewable grid operation.

Used electric vehicle batteries could be given a second life as large-scale storage, helping Europe hold on to the solar and wind power that is currently wasted when supply exceeds demand. Reporting describes the retired batteries as 'a gold mine' for the energy transition, since they can store cheap renewable electricity and release it when the grid needs it, easing curtailment and supporting Europe's shift away from fossil fuels.

Ukraine is relying increasingly on distributed renewable energy to keep power flowing despite Russian strikes on its centralised grid. Small-scale solar, wind and other decentralised installations are harder to knock out than large power plants, allowing hospitals, communities and businesses to maintain electricity through attacks. The approach is being highlighted as a model of wartime energy resilience.

Germany has generated 90.2 terawatt-hours of solar power through September, already surpassing its total solar output for all of 2025. The milestone underlines the pace of the country's solar expansion and its growing reliance on renewables in the power mix.

Germany has reached record levels of solar energy production, with photovoltaic output hitting unprecedented highs. The milestone underscores the country's continued expansion of renewable capacity as it works to phase out fossil fuels. Observers are highlighting the achievement as a sign of Germany's progress toward its climate and energy transition goals.

Saudi Arabia's pipeline of solar and wind energy projects has surpassed 44 gigawatts, underlining the kingdom's rapid buildout of renewable capacity as it pursues its Vision 2030 diversification goals. Energy sector watchers highlight the scale of the programme, which places Saudi Arabia among the most ambitious renewable energy markets in the Middle East.

Researchers report a new perovskite solar cell reaching 30.1% efficiency, achieved by engineering smarter perovskite layer structures to reduce energy losses. The result marks another step toward making perovskite-based panels competitive with, or better than, conventional silicon technology, and is drawing attention in the renewable energy field.

Kenya has begun construction on a project to produce green fertiliser using solar power, according to a report by Renewables Now. The initiative combines renewable energy with agricultural input production, aimed at reducing dependence on imported synthetic fertiliser and cutting emissions from farming. Details on the project's size, location and backers were not provided.

Japan is converting disused golf courses into large-scale solar farms, reusing cleared, open land for renewable energy generation. With many courses closing as membership declines, the sites offer ready-made space for panels without competing with farmland. Observers see it as a practical model for other countries with aging leisure facilities and growing clean-energy targets.

Australia's most powerful battery has been completed and is now operating as a giant shock absorber for the electricity grid, according to Renew Economy. The project is designed to smooth out sudden fluctuations in supply and demand as the country relies more on variable wind and solar power. The news is being shared in renewable energy and climate circles, with commenters highlighting it as a milestone for Australia's clean energy transition and grid stability.

Japan is converting disused golf courses into large-scale solar power sites, easing the country's shortage of open land for renewable energy. As golf's popularity declines, closed courses offer flat, sunny, pre-cleared terrain well suited to panels. Bloomberg reports the trend is accelerating as Japan pushes to expand renewable capacity to meet its climate and energy security goals.

Researchers have reported using solar panels to convert plastic waste into hydrogen fuel, according to a new report. The approach could offer a double benefit: reducing plastic pollution while producing clean energy. Details on how the process works are drawing interest, with the method combining sunlight-driven technology with plastic recycling to generate hydrogen.

A large battery storage facility is being built in Waltrop, Germany, at a cost of around 500 million euros. It will use 800 containers of lithium batteries to store up to 1,800 megawatt hours of electricity and deliver up to 900 megawatts of power, allowing surplus wind and solar energy to be fed into the grid later.

An agrivoltaics project in Minnesota is showing that farmland can host solar panels while crops continue to grow, according to an Associated Press report. The setup allows farmers to generate electricity and income from the same land they cultivate, and supporters see it as a model for expanding renewable energy without taking farmland out of production.

Bulgaria is benefiting from its investment in solar power as drought reduces output from hydropower and strains electricity grids across the wider region. With water levels low affecting neighbouring countries' energy supplies, Bulgaria's growing solar capacity is helping keep power flowing, highlighting how renewable build-out can cushion countries against climate-related disruptions to traditional energy sources.

Chinese solar manufacturer Longi has set a new world record of 28.29% efficiency for a single-junction silicon solar cell, according to pv magazine USA. The figure marks a milestone for crystalline silicon photovoltaics, pushing closer to the technology's theoretical limits. Industry observers see such records as key to lowering solar power costs and strengthening Longi's position in the fiercely competitive global panel market.

Japan is building solar farms on disused golf courses because the country lacks open land for large-scale renewable projects. As golf's popularity declines, operators are converting closed courses into solar generation sites, offering a rare spacious alternative in a densely populated nation where flat, unused land is scarce.

Argentina has put its first solar train into service, running on batteries charged by solar power in the Andean region. The initiative is being shared as an example of renewable energy applied to public transport, with coverage from Euronews drawing attention to the use of Andean sunlight as the train's power source and the project's significance for sustainable transit in the country.