solar panels

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.

Japan is converting disused golf courses into large-scale solar power sites, as the country searches for open land to expand renewable energy. Many courses have closed as membership declines, leaving flat, sunny, already-cleared land that suits solar panels. Bloomberg reports the trend is emerging as a practical answer to Japan's land scarcity for clean energy projects.

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.

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 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.

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.

SoFab Inks has received a $300,000 grant from the US National Science Foundation to develop lower-cost perovskite solar cell layers. The funding will support the company's work on ink-based manufacturing methods aimed at making perovskite solar panels cheaper to produce, a key step toward wider adoption of the emerging solar technology.

Reports highlight India's rapid rise in solar manufacturing, crediting domestic production policies for building a homegrown industry capable of supplying solar panels at scale. India has become one of the world's fastest-growing solar manufacturing hubs, reducing reliance on imported Chinese modules while creating jobs and supporting its clean energy targets. Commentators point to it as a model for how emerging economies can industrialise around renewables.

EWS reports winter wheat yields 14% higher at its Austrian agrivoltaic site, where solar panels are installed over farmland. The findings are being cited as evidence that renewables and agriculture can work together, with similar integration possible for trees in livestock, horticulture and arable systems through agroforestry, so farming and energy generation need not compete for land.

Hanwha Solutions shares jumped 12% after solar panel prices in the United States surged. The South Korean energy company, a major solar module supplier through its Q Cells business, is seen as a beneficiary of higher U.S. pricing. Investors bet the rally will boost margins and demand for its American-market products.

A solar farm in Texas is grazing sheep beneath its panels while generating millions of dollars in local tax revenue, according to Energies Media. The dual-use approach lets land serve both energy production and agriculture, a model known as solar grazing that is drawing attention as large renewable projects expand across the state and rural counties weigh the trade-offs.

University of Alberta researchers are developing methods to help native grasses establish themselves on solar farm sites, pairing renewable energy infrastructure with native plant restoration. The work aims to make solar projects more environmentally beneficial by supporting groundcover beneath and around panels. It highlights growing interest in combining clean energy development with land stewardship.

Cleveland is moving to install solar panels on two city-owned landfills, turning unused municipal land into renewable energy sites. The project reflects a growing trend among US cities of repurposing closed landfills for solar generation, and it is drawing attention from clean energy observers as an example of practical local climate action.

Scientists have produced solar power from panels placed 10 metres underwater, according to a report by Euronews. The experiment suggests solar panels can work effectively below the sea surface, where water cools the equipment and space is abundant. If scalable, underwater solar could open new sites for renewable energy generation, though costs, maintenance and efficiency underwater remain open questions for the industry.

KeyBanc has upgraded its rating on First Solar, telling clients that the solar panel maker's current valuation limits further downside risk. The call comes as investors weigh the outlook for US solar manufacturers amid shifting policy and demand conditions. Analysts' comments suggest the stock's recent weakness has already priced in much of the negative news.

Green advocates in Pittsburgh have organized a group purchasing program for solar panels, allowing residents to buy systems together at a discounted rate to cut their energy bills. The initiative aims to make renewable energy more affordable for households across the city by pooling demand to negotiate lower installation prices.

A small village in Ohio has installed 9,222 solar panels on top of its reservoir, a floating solar project that gives the community 13 times more solar capacity per resident than the Ohio average. The project is being highlighted as an innovative use of unused water surface, providing clean energy without taking up farmland or open land.

Construction has begun on a community solar project in Northeast Portland, Oregon. Community solar projects allow residents, including renters and those who cannot install rooftop panels, to subscribe to a shared solar installation and receive credits on their electricity bills. The project adds to Portland's growing portfolio of renewable energy initiatives as Oregon pushes to expand clean power access across the state.

Suntech presented its photovoltaic modules and energy storage solutions at Solar & Storage Live UK, one of Britain's main renewable energy trade events. The company's focus on combined solar-plus-storage offerings reflects growing demand in the UK market, where installers and developers are increasingly pairing panels with batteries as grid connection costs rise and households seek energy independence.

Altus Power and The Arc of Rensselaer County have announced a community solar partnership in New York's Capital Region aimed at lowering energy costs for participants while also supporting the organization's employees. Community solar allows subscribers to benefit from solar energy without installing panels, and the arrangement is intended to reduce electricity bills and provide workplace support for staff of the disability services organization.

The city of Bloomington has launched a program providing fully funded solar panel installations to homeowners who meet income eligibility requirements. Eligible residents can have solar systems installed at no cost, reducing their energy bills and expanding access to renewable energy. Local coverage highlights the initiative as part of broader efforts to make clean energy affordable for lower-income households.

A free software tool can now calculate how many solar modules fit on a rooftop using just a photograph. The tool is aimed at helping homeowners and installers quickly assess a roof's solar potential without a site visit, by estimating available space and panel count from images.

CPS Energy, the municipal utility serving San Antonio, has brought back its community solar program, which lets residents subscribe to solar power without installing panels on their own homes. The utility is explaining how enrollment works, with subscribers typically receiving credits on their bills for the energy produced. The relaunch gives customers another option to support renewable energy and potentially lower costs.