Solar generation up 26%, but electricity demand outpaces growth
In 2024, the U.S. power grid’s electricity generation increased by over 109 TWh through the end of July, marking a 4.5% growth. This surge was led by a 52 TWh increase in methane generation, while solar power contributed an additional 36 TWh.
Solar levelized cost of electricity 56% lower than lowest-cost fossil fuels
The International Renewable Energy Agency shared that in 2010, solar was four times as expensive as the lowest-cost fossil fuel. Today, generating electricity from solar is less than half as expensive as the lowest-cost fossil alternative.
Shuttered coal plants to provide solar energy, recreation and wildlife protection
Groups in Michigan partner with utility to reclaim wetlands in 85 MW solar plan.
Solar-plus-storage dominating future U.S. power grid
A report from Berkeley Lab reveals a significant expansion of solar-plus-storage facilities in the U.S. power plant market, highlighting an evolution from frequency to arbitrage and curtailment mitigation markets. The best is yet to come, as ongoing price decreases are still being absorbed by the market and are already being used to fill the interconnection queues with terrawatts of capacity.
How BLM balances conservation with solar development
A massive federal plan to build solar projects on 31 million acres of public lands was proposed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Government nuclear sites across U.S. going solar
Hecate Energy is working on a 1 GW solar facility at Hanford, a former nuclear weapon manufacturing site, while NextEra is negotiating to build solar at a nuclear storage facility in New Mexico. Both companies aim to develop solar projects on government lands that were formerly and are still used for nuclear weapons and energy infrastructure.
Construction begins on 400 MW solar and storage project in Utah
Developed by rPlus Energies, the clean energy project that represents an investment of over $1 billion will include 400 MW / 1,600 MWh of battery energy storage.
BLM seeks comment on two large-scale solar projects
Cowboy Solar is a 200 MW project in New Mexico and Copper Rays is a 700 MW project in Nevada.
World now has five times more PV than nuclear power
According to the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2024, the world had 408 operational reactors producing 367 GW in the middle of the year, which is significantly less than installed capacity predictions for solar by the end of the year and five time less the world’s cumulative PV capacity.
Sunrise brief: 2.8 GWh collocated battery storage project lands U.S. government approval
Also on the rise: Jackery, Geneverse present new residential energy storage system. Silfab launches 640 W utility-scale solar panels. And more.
