Data centers are outgrowing the grid. Solar is filling the gap.
Faced with an increasingly congested grid and skyrocketing energy demands, data center developers are shifting toward solar-plus-storage as a logistically viable, essential solution for securing reliable power on a market-ready timetable.
Solar developer seeks connection to wrong powerline, delays project five years
The OFW Solar Project in Virginia submitted an application to connect to powerlines run by the wrong power company, instead of a second set of nearby transmission lines, necessitating a total restart of the PJM interconnection process that could push construction back to 2032.
New York SEIA says flexible interconnection could enable 3.3 GW more community solar
Much more community solar could be built in upstate and western New York to bring solar bill savings to more customers, if utilities offered flexible interconnection as an option for solar developers, NY SEIA has projected. Retail battery storage hosting capacity could more than double in ConEdison territory with flexible interconnection, the group said.
As battery lifespans approach 25 years, leasing will become the dominant financial model, says Unigrid CEO
Battery technology company Unigrid has developed a sodium-ion chemistry that can theoretically last for more than two decades while retaining more than 80% of its initial energy storage capacity. Company CEO Darren Tan says that will inevitably lead to a new zero-down leasing model that locks in a long-term source of revenue while delivering benefits to end users.
Smart-meter-enabled partnership aims to integrate solar, storage and EV charging to lower grid costs
Sense and ev.energy open windows on ratepayer and utility sides of distributed energy resource management.
Western grid enters new era as CAISO launches Extended Day-Ahead Market
The May 1 go-live of the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) marks the first time Western utilities can coordinate large-scale solar and storage resources 24 hours in advance, a move projected to significantly slash curtailment and boost regional reliability.
More than 67 GW storage, 14 GW solar seek interconnection in PJM’s reopened queue
Grid operator PJM has reopened its standard interconnection process to new generation projects, after closing the standard process to new applicants in 2022 to completely clear its backlog.
Enphase announces distributed solid-state transformer for AI data centers, targets 2028 for volume deliveries
The announcement of the company’s latest module power electronics project came alongside Q1 2026 earnings that showed a 20.6% decrease in year-over-year revenue numbers amid a steep decline in domestic demand.
For solar advocacy work, it’s “AI or die,” says leader of Puerto Rico solar group
Artificial intelligence came through at a crunch time for SESA-PR President PJ Wilson. The veteran solar advocate makes the case in an interview for solar and storage policy advocates to make good use of AI resources.
Meta signs with Overview Energy to power AI datacenters with space-based solar
The agreement aims to bypass terrestrial grid constraints by beaming near-infared light from space to terrestrial solar plants to power high-density AI workloads.
