John Fitzgerald Weaver
U.S. solar up 52% in 2023 as nation deploys 35.3 GW of capacity
Bloomberg NEF says U.S. clean energy generation grew by 0.9%, with wind and hydro generation falling and solar generation growing 15.4%.
Solar at “twice the natural capacity factor of the sun”
Eland Solar 2 and Skeleton Creek are two high-capacity factor renewable power plants moving through development.
California needs 10 GW of solar deployment in five years, 57.5 GW of new solar added by 2045
For context, the state has about 43 GW installed cumulatively to date, according to SEIA. The state’s new 2035 electricity emissions goals include 19 GW of new solar power, 20.6 GW of new wind and 15.7 GW of new battery power.
Millions in government funding to advance batteries for planes, trains, and maritime transport
Arpa-e announced twelve research awards totaling $15 million to develop electric airplanes, electric railroads and ships servicing the continental U.S.
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.
