John Fitzgerald Weaver
Beaming radio frequency solar power from space
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology successfully beamed solar power from space to Earth in July. The experimental microwave-beaming satellite was tested for eight months, uncovering existing strengths and weaknesses that will guide future developments of space solar power.
On the floor at RE+ NE 2024: Concrete racking, no caulk needed, basketball, and more
RE+ Northeast 2024 showcased a plethora of solar innovations and industry advancements, from concrete ballast racking systems to cutting-edge battery technology, as 3,500 industry professionals gathered in Boston despite the cold weather.
Reducing cost of residential solar financing with virtual power plants
Solrite Energy says its new power purchase agreement has more agreeable finance terms due to the ability of distributed solar-plus-storage to make money as part of a virtual power plant.
A retirement boom for fossil fuels
Since early 2003, the United States has retired the same amount of fossil fueled electricity generation capacity as it has installed, even while the size of the economy has grown by two thirds.
South Dakota solar up 3600% in 2023, doubling again in 2024
South Dakota had a solar energy surge with the activation of its first utility-scale facility, an 80 MWac project. The state anticipates a doubling in capacity by 2024, with the addition of a second 128 MWac utility-scale solar facility.
Agriculturally integrated solar takes flight
Mindful land management in solar power development can enhance nearby land productivity, potentially garnering broader local approval, as emerging research underscores the financial and ecological benefits for neighboring agricultural operations.
U.S.-made optimizers to maximize manufacturing tax credits
Solar optimizer manufacturer, Enteligent, is transitioning its production facilities to the United States in a strategic move aimed at enabling inverter manufacturers to fully capitalize on the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) $0.11/W transferable tax credit.
Solar and storage accounts for one-third of transferable tax credit market in 2023
Crux, a marketplace for transferable tax credits, released a survey of 150 tax credit participants, estimating that $7 billion to $9 billion in total transferable tax credit transactions occurred in 2023, with the market expected to about triple in 2024.
Solar season slows, wind power rises
From January through October 2023, solar photovoltaics contributed 5.78% to U.S. electricity, with just over 6% coming from the source in October alone.
Solar workers furloughed days after unionizing
EmPower Solar executives have furloughed 21 workers citing a market slowdown. Furloughed team members say that these firings are retaliation for a pro-union vote taken just one week earlier by 49 workers.
