Survey highlights technology shift in utility-scale solar
Bifacial PV modules, string inverters and advanced trackers are becoming the preferred technologies in utility-scale solar project design, according to new data from RatedPower.
U.S. solar industry adds 43 GW in 2025, leading capacity additions for fifth consecutive year
The latest Solar Market Insight report from SEIA and Wood Mackenzie reveals that solar and energy storage accounted for 79% of all new U.S. electrical capacity in 2025 even as installation volumes fell late in the year, while domestic manufacturing reached major milestones despite uncertain federal policy.
Repowering: A smarter path for aging renewable infrastructure
Many GW of aging U.S. solar installations will require electrical upgrades in the coming years, and smart owners will turn to repowering and cable rejuvenation as cost-effective ways to extend the lifespan of aging infrastructure at a fraction of the cost of new builds or full site reconstruction, with the added benefit of preserving existing interconnection rights.
Base Power announces 100 MW residential storage program with CoServ in Texas
The program, which is the largest of Base Power’s five utility collaborations, will deliver battery backup to an estimated 5,000 CoServ customers.
Jigar Shah sees virtual power plants as the fastest way for states to stabilize electric bills
States can control the retail cost of electricity by promoting virtual power plants, consisting of distributed batteries and other resources, which can be deployed “within months,” said industry veteran Jigar Shah and a co-author in a report.
Guidelines to assess three-terminal, four-terminal tandem solar cell performance
Researchers in the U.S. have developed a set of guidelines and protocols to assess the performance of three-terminal (3-T) and four-terminal (4-T) tandem solar cells, including those with subcells made of III–V, CdTe, perovskites or silicon materials.
Washington’s HB 2296 could improve home solar economics, but advocates say recent amendments are cause for concern
The bill, which is being considered in Senate committees after passing the state House, requires utilities to allow meter-mounted devices to connect between retail electric customer meters and meter sockets. These devices reduce complexity and installation time, ultimately saving homeowners money.
New model reveals pathway for land-efficient U.S. solar expansion
McGill University researchers, publishing in Communications Earth & Environment, used deep-learning computer vision to analyze 719 solar projects across the Western U.S. The study establishes a new “land-sparing” benchmark, providing developers with precise data to balance rapid capacity expansion with conservation and land-use priorities.
National lab assesses alternatives to “direct transfer trip” that can block solar projects
“Direct transfer trip,” a costly approach to ensure that distributed generation shuts down during a power outage, can make solar projects uneconomical. A national lab report points to a combination of inverter-based approaches as a viable alternative.
First Solar reports 2025 earnings, announces Oxford PV licensing agreement, alleges patent infringement in new ITC action
The company’s stock price fell more than 12% in extended trading following the earnings announcement, partly due to lower-than-expected guidance for 2026 sales and revenue.
