Solar panel efficiency has increased dramatically in recent years as the technology advances. But a much more mundane problem persists: solar panels cannot effectively absorb sunlight when dirty. Compounding the problem...
“It never rains in California,” sang Albert Hammond in 1972. Such words may explain why some 4,000 miles of canals throughout California are needed to help supply water in a state known for its agricultural industry, which...
In recent years there has been an increased emphasis on green energy and environmentally friendly technology development. As a result, the solar power industry has grown exponentially, and workers must be aware that hazards...
According to an August 2021 report from Pecan Street, a residential electricity research firm based in Austin, Texas, electric service panels in up to 48 million U.S. single-family homes will need to be upgraded to fully...
As the coupling of solar panels with battery storage technology becomes more proficient, more customers and service providers are plugging in. On June 2 Houston-based Sunnova Energy International Inc. announced an expansion...
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), to achieve the President Joe Biden’s goal of 100% clean energy by 2035, hundreds of gigawatts of solar energy will need to be installed, and as much as five times faster than...
Oregon State University’s Nexus of Energy Water and Agriculture Laboratory (NEWAg), Corvallis, Ore., is partnering with the Oregon Clean Power Cooperative to build an agrivoltaics research farm that will co-develop land for...
In the pursuit of renewable energy, states with the most abundant resources have often shown the greatest tendencies toward innovation. Hawaii has embraced one of its most plentiful resources with a proposal that will create...
Powerhome Solar, which provides solar energy services for residential customers and business owners in nine states, is working to bring up to 100 jobs to Knoxville, Tenn. The solar energy and efficiency service company...
According to a recent report by the Department of Energy’s U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), “U.S. Shipments of Solar Photovoltaic Modules Increase as Prices Continue to Fall,” sales of solar panels continue to...
In April 2019 the New York City Council passed The Climate Mobilization Act with the goal of reducing greenhouse gases released from city buildings, which requires the city to implement green roofs, miniature wind turbines or...
To make solar power more efficient, researchers are looking to nature for inspiration. Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) developed a bio-mimicking material that bends to gather more sunlight, just...
According to a Dec. 17 report from the Pew Research Center, an increasing number of U.S. homeowners are contemplating the installation of residential solar panels. The report is based on a survey conducted in October of over...
Solar power has been one of the leading technologies in renewable energy growth. Recently, the industry broke yet another record with residential photovoltaics (PVs) leading the way. According to the most recent U.S. Solar...
On Oct. 9, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced a once-exempt type of solar panel will now be subject to a tariff. The technology, called bifacial solar panels, will be subject to a 25% tariff...
Just saw a play in New York, “Two’s a Crowd.” The songs by Jason Feddy were terrific. Set in a Las Vegas hotel, the lead actor played an electrical contractor from Cleveland. I cheered out loud when he said that. I asked the...
In a historic move, California became the first state in the U.S. requiring solar power to be installed on all new homes and residential buildings built in 2020 and beyond. This so-called solar mandate, passed in early...
For decades, California has led the country in its commitment to clean energy production and energy reduction, adopting solar rebate and net metering programs, and regularly updating its 30-plus-year-old energy efficiency...
In January, President Trump approved major import tariffs on solar cells and modules. The executive decision elicited protests from some quarters and cheers from others. Three weeks later, projections of what impact the...
According to the latest report from the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA), the June 2017 (latest data available) estimate for small-scale (less than one megawatt in capacity) solar photovoltaic...
