Atmospheric river cuts irradiance across Western North America
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, reports that solar irradiance levels were well below average in western and northern United States in November, while southern parts of the country and Mexico enjoyed strong positive anomalies.
Demand diligence from U.S. battery integration
Tariffs continue to reshape the U.S. storage market. Rising costs for overseas systems have created new incentives to integrate equipment domestically, and many developers are turning to US firms to assemble battery systems. Integration capacity can scale faster than battery cell manufacturing, but not without risk. Unlike cell plants, where automated processes keep variations in check, battery assembly and integration depends on people, as Jeff Zwijack from Intertek CEA explains.
People on the move: Silfab Solar, SEIA, Logical Buildings
Job moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and energy transition finance.
Congress urged to reform “nearly complete moratorium” on U.S. solar projects
A coalition of 143 solar companies signed a letter requesting reforms to solar project permitting, as Trump administration executive orders have led to an effective shutdown of all projects under Department of Interior purview.
DOE removes “renewable” from National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The US Department of Energy (DoE) has renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado as the National Laboratory of the Rockies, a change it says aligns the institute’s mandate with the Trump administration’s applied energy priorities.
Study finds Terrasmart solar trackers demonstrate labor efficiency
Third-party consulting company Eclipse-M found the company’s racking solutions require less labor hours than the average tracker solar racking solution.
Startup Raya Power poised to offer its plug-in solar and storage solution in Puerto Rico and California
The solar tech startup with a mission to “democratize solar energy,” is preparing to launch its all-in-one home solar and storage appliance in early 2026.
Civ Robotics unveils AI-powered navigation tool to automate solar construction processes
Civ Robotics’ artificial intelligence (AI) powered navigation system tool is currently being tested at several large solar parks in the United States. The company says it eliminates the need for manual surveying with a sensor device fitted on a construction machine to guide operators to precisely place piles, pallets and PV modules.
U.S. extends solar manufacturing tariff exclusions
The U.S. Trade Representative has extended the exclusion of 178 items from the Section 301 import tariffs that were put in place by the prior administration in 2024. The still standing tariffs include a 50% increase on solar cells
California lawmakers urge CPUC to enforce utility interconnection timelines
A coalition of 18 California legislators has formally urged the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to enforce regulations under “Rule 21” regarding the interconnection of customer-sited solar and energy storage systems.
