Also on the rise: Equitable access to solar is part of DOE-backed plan. One to six million metric tons of lithium may lie beneath the Salton Sea. Adopting standards for EVs will accelerate the path for these vehicles. Solar tracker manufacturers can expect a boom in the US through 2025. Heliogen plans concentrated solar power manufacturing facility. IBM, ABB, and Worley team up to help energy companies build and operate green hydrogen facilities.

Also on the rise: LONGi modules detained under Hoshine WRO released. IBC solar cells shows efficiency potential of over 29%. SPI to begin manufacturing in former Sunergy plant. Is accelerated interconnection possible? Build Back Better now or later.

Also on the rise: Perch Energy to bring community solar to Massachusetts. US start-up mPower Technology is scaling up its flexible crystalline silicon solar module technology for spatial and terrestrial applications. Popular mid-Atlantic restaurant and convenience store chain, Sheetz, has come to a long-term renewable energy supply agreement with Constellation. Ohio regulators approve 325MW solar project. The Massachusetts Solar Technical Assistance Retrofits program has committed to 3MW of development. Despite Q4 loss, REC Silicon has big plans for US polysilicon manufacturing.

Also on the rise: Soltage invests in new community solar projects. Appalachian Power seeks 150MW of solar in West Virginia. Breaking research reveals solar cells can be used as lens-free, high-speed optical detectors in underwater environments. Duke looking for 1.1GW of renewables in Indiana. Community solar project in Virginia launches 25% renewable energy option for a small premium. Convergent’s battery storage facility is up and running in the LA Basin.

Also on the rise: Fire alarms shut down Moss Landing Energy Storage facility. SolarEdge reports record revenue. Mosaic custs costs of solar loans. Policies are working in Illinois, where solar is surging. Wave energy isn’t expected to rival solar or wind power, but NREL sees use cases for the technology. Canada-US-Mexico panel says Section 201 tariffs violate agreement.

Also on the rise: Oregon-based Powin Energy announced major supply deals covering a 5.8GWh pipeline of energy storage projects in the US and Taiwan. Trade groups raise concerns over interconnection queues. CleanCapital acquires a 39-project, 65.3MW portfolio of solar assets spanning 12 states. Enphase Energy enters agreement to participate in Swell Energy’s virtual power plant (VPP) program in Hawaii, New York, and California. First in the nation green bank surpasses $2 million total investment. PECO releases RFP seeking Pennsylvania solar energy credits. A look at mounting systems for PV on metal roofs.

GE, the global industrial giant, is entering the U.S. residential solar inverter market with technology that already has made its mark in Australia and Brazil.

In the first installment of a new monthly blog by IHS Markit, Edurne Zoco, executive director for clean energy technology, writes that high prices and increased freight costs are putting solar PV procurement teams under extreme pressure, particularly those teams with connection deadlines this year that were anticipating a more favorable pricing and logistic environment in the second half of 2021.

Across seven categories, pv magazine’s award winners for 2020 demonstrate high levels of technical expertise, creativity, mass production capabilities, and real market impact from PV and power electronics companies big and small.

Five articles (well, six, since news about Tesla made it twice) that captured the imagination of our audience during 2020.