California’s transmission delays persist despite surge in projects driven by state policy
PG&E’s most frequent reason for delaying projects is “prioritization,” which added an average of 8.4 years to the project time, an analysis from the nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists found.
Solar, wind and storage reliably power Texas grid during unexpected coal shutdown
Solar and wind generated 40.2% of the ERCOT grid’s electricity this year through June. When coal plants shut down for unexpected maintenance, solar and wind stepped in, providing about 50% of generation during peak summer demand in the highest electricity consuming state in the union.
Agrivoltaic shading, full-sun fields gives farmers the power to pivot
Research conducted at the oldest agrivoltaic research site in the United States found year-to-year weather variability impacts agrivoltaic crop production, emphasizing the importance in conducting studies across multiple years.
Clean energy could meet growing electricity demand, study suggests
While a government report suggests keeping coal units online and adding gas units to meet electricity demand, a GridLab and Telos Energy study suggests that building and connecting clean energy projects now awaiting interconnection could serve near-term demand growth.
Gaining the competitive edge for battery storage in CAISO and ERCOT regions
A new GridBeyond report finds that succeeding in saturated markets requires software-led agility and real-time decision-making.
Low-cost alternatives to solar-stalling “direct transfer trip” requirements
The solar trade group Coalition for Community Solar Access reports that a utility requirement to use “direct transfer trip” often makes solar projects uneconomical, while both CCSA and the renewable energy research group IREC find that the hazards targeted by direct transfer trip can be met effectively with far less costly options.
NREL, CubicPV achieves 24% efficiency for perovskite mini solar module
A U.S.-based collaboration between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and CubicPV has yielded a perovskite minimodule with certified efficiency of 24.0%. The two noted that it is the first time a U.S. effort has set a record in the perovskite mini module category.
First Solar to integrate quantum dots to boost efficiency
Quantum dot technology promises to boost bifacial solar module output. The company entered into a supply agreement with specialist UbiQD.
DOE bets on fire-resilient batteries in latest $15M storage awards
Non-lithium chemistries stand out as attractive options for fire-resilient batteries.
“Grid-forming technology is no longer experimental – it’s here and working”
In grids increasingly dominated by renewables, grid-forming technology is emerging as critical tool for maintaining stability and ensuring reliable power system operation. In this interview with ESS News, Rui Sun, Sungrow’s Deputy General Manager-Grid Technology Center, explains how grid-forming works, why it matters, and where the technology is already proving its value. He elaborates on technical challenges, regulatory gaps, and why grid-forming could soon become the new industry standard.
