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solar panels
Trends
- 1California studies solar panels over irrigation canalsโWhat California is learning from solar panels built over irrigation canals
California is testing and evaluating solar panels built over irrigation canals, an approach that generates renewable energy while shading water and reducing evaporation. Early lessons from pilot projects are offering insight into how the technology performs at scale, and the findings are drawing attention as the state weighs ways to expand clean energy and conserve water at the same time.
- 2SoFab Inks wins $300K NSF grant for cheaper solar techโผSoFab Inks lands $300K NSF grant for cheaper perovskite solar layers
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.
- 3First Solar Shares Rise After KeyBanc UpgradeโFirst Solar Shares Rise After KeyBanc Removes Underweight Rating
Shares of First Solar rose after KeyBanc removed its underweight rating on the solar panel maker. The move by the brokerage signaled a more neutral or positive stance on the company, prompting investors to buy the stock. First Solar, a major US-based solar manufacturer, has been closely watched amid shifting policy and demand dynamics in the clean energy sector.
- 4Land Scarcity Pushes Solar Power Into Unlikely SpacesโผSpace Squeeze Forces Solar Power Into Tight Corners
Reports highlight how shrinking availability of open land is pushing the solar industry to install panels in tighter, less conventional spaces. As large-scale solar farms compete with agriculture and development for ground, developers are turning to rooftops, car parks, and other constrained sites. Commentators in the energy press say land constraints are becoming a defining challenge for solar expansion worldwide.
- 5Researchers work to restore native grasses on solar farmsโผResearch powers up to help native grasses take root on solar farms
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.
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Wireless telecom towers wrapped in solar panels are being trialled in Australia, a test of whether the technology can cut tower energy costs and support network power needs. The concept has drawn attention in the telecom infrastructure industry as operators look to reduce reliance on grid electricity and diesel for remote sites. Details on results, partners and rollout plans have not yet been released.
- 7Pittsburgh green advocates launch group solar panel purchaseโGreen advocates organize group buy of solar panels for Pittsburghers to save on energy bills
Green advocates in Pittsburgh have organized a group-buy program for solar panels, allowing residents to pool their purchasing power to lower installation costs and reduce energy bills. The initiative aims to make solar energy more accessible and affordable for everyday households in the city, as communities look for practical ways to cut household expenses amid rising energy prices.
- 8Farmers combine sheep, crops and solar panels in dual-use schemeโWhy some farmers are pairing crops and grazing sheep with 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.
- 9Tongwei unveils 24.5%-efficiency rooftop solar moduleโTongwei launches TNC 2.0 FULLX G12R-48 rooftop solar module with 24.5% efficiency
Chinese solar manufacturer Tongwei has launched the TNC 2.0 FULLX G12R-48, a rooftop solar module built on its tunnel oxide passivated contact (TNC) cell technology. The company says the panel reaches 24.5% efficiency, a figure that would place it among the more efficient mainstream rooftop products on the market. The announcement adds to intensifying competition among Chinese module makers racing to commercialise higher-efficiency cell formats.