solar energy

China has passed 1,000 gigawatts of installed solar capacity, the largest amount ever built by any country. Observers note the total roughly equals the entire electricity generating capacity of the United States from all sources. The milestone highlights the pace of China's renewable energy build-out and its widening lead over other nations in solar deployment.

California is testing solar panels built over irrigation canals, a design that generates renewable energy while shading water and reducing evaporation. Early lessons from the pilot projects are emerging, and observers are weighing whether the approach could scale across the state's extensive canal network as part of its clean energy and water conservation efforts.

New figures on the global electricity mix show coal produced roughly 34% of the world's power in 2024, while wind and solar together accounted for 15%, up sharply from 4% a decade earlier. The data, presented as charts mapped directly onto regions, is drawing attention to how slowly coal's share is declining despite rapid renewables growth.

Google has announced Project Suncatcher, an initiative to place machine learning infrastructure in space, with details published on the company's research blog. The announcement is drawing attention among technologists debating the feasibility and costs of running data centers off Earth, powered by solar energy in orbit. Discussions center on how satellite-based compute could scale and whether the idea is realistic.

New figures show the world added around 690 gigawatts of solar power capacity in 2025, according to reporting by pv magazine. The total underscores the continued rapid expansion of solar energy worldwide, as installations keep outpacing forecasts driven by falling costs and strong demand in major markets. Industry observers are weighing what the record-scale buildout means for grids, fossil fuel demand and global climate targets.

A space-based power experiment is set to test whether lasers can beam energy collected in orbit back to Earth for the first time, Wired reports. The idea, long a staple of science fiction and speculative engineering, would allow solar power gathered in space, where sunlight is constant, to be transmitted to the ground. Supporters see it as a potential clean-energy breakthrough; skeptics point to huge technical and cost hurdles.

Growth in solar and wind power is limiting the use of natural gas in the United States even as overall electricity demand increases. The finding suggests renewables are increasingly meeting new consumption needs that would previously have been covered by gas-fired generation, a notable shift in the US energy mix.

Renewable energy developer Low Carbon has announced plans to build a 500MW solar-plus-storage project in the UK, combining large-scale solar generation with battery storage. The project would be one of the bigger schemes of its kind in the country, supporting the UK's push to expand renewable capacity and grid flexibility. No further details on location or timeline were given.

Spanish developer Grupo Enhol has secured financing from France's Proparco and Santander for a 467MW solar PV project in Peru. The deal, reported by PV Tech, adds to a wave of large-scale renewable energy investments in Latin America, where developers and development finance institutions are backing utility-scale solar to meet growing demand and decarbonisation goals.

Elgin has acquired a 200MW solar PV project in Ireland from German developer GP Joule. The project is described as late-stage, meaning it is advanced in development and closer to construction. The deal adds to growing solar activity in Ireland as developers position for the country's expanding renewable energy pipeline, though financial terms and a construction timeline were not disclosed.

Solar panel deliveries have begun under supply agreements worth roughly $240 million between TOYO and U.S. buyers. The milestone marks the start of shipments under the contracts, which support American solar project pipelines amid growing demand for domestically supplied panels. The announcement drew attention from energy and markets watchers tracking TOYO's expansion in the U.S. solar supply chain.

A debate is underway in Florida over which energy source — fossil fuels or solar power — would deliver lower electricity bills for residents. As the state weighs its energy future, the question of cost has become central, with natural gas long dominant but solar capacity growing rapidly in the Sunshine State.

Israeli businessman Ofer Yannay is seeking to raise $200 million for Nofar Energy's legacy solar operations, according to Calcalist. The reported fundraising effort concerns the established solar business of Nofar, the renewable energy company, as Yannay looks to secure backing for the unit. Further details on investors, valuation or the intended use of the funds were not disclosed, and the company has not publicly commented on the reported move.

Trials are underway in Australia on wireless telecom towers wrapped in solar panels, a design that could let towers generate their own power and cut reliance on the grid. Industry coverage is focused on whether the solar-wrapped approach can withstand real-world conditions and how much energy it could realistically produce for network operators.

Howard County, Maryland is considering a moratorium on new solar projects after residents of Woodbine raised complaints about developments in their community. The debate puts clean-energy expansion against local concerns over land use, aesthetics and the pace of installations, and county officials are weighing a pause while they review the rules.

The Department of Energy has cleared a floating-solar test project for a small reservoir in Colorado, according to Circle of Blue's Federal Water Tap roundup dated September 28, 2026. The approval allows a pilot installation of solar panels mounted on water to move ahead, a technology that generates renewable power while reducing evaporation from reservoirs.

The New York Power Authority is set to take a majority ownership stake in a new solar facility planned for Canton, New York. The arrangement makes NYPA the lead owner of the project, which will add renewable generating capacity in the North Country. Local coverage highlights the authority's deepening role in state-backed solar development and what the facility could mean for the region's energy supply.

Building materials manufacturer CertainTeed has announced Landmark PWR, a new addition to its solar solutions lineup, expanding its offering for residential roofing that integrates solar technology. The launch signals the company's continued push into the growing home solar and energy market, giving roofers and homeowners another integrated product option. Trade coverage so far has focused on the product introduction itself, with further details on pricing and availability still limited.

Elgin has acquired a 200-megawatt solar project in Ireland that is at a late stage of development. The deal adds significant capacity to Elgin's renewables portfolio and signals continued investor interest in Irish solar energy as the country works to expand clean power generation. Details on the seller, price and construction timeline have not been disclosed.