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Upgrading transmission lines could enable 27GW more renewable power per year

“Advanced conductors” can deliver more electricity than conventional transmission lines, using existing transmission towers. Renewables trade group ACORE calls for greater use of advanced conductors, “to accelerate low-cost decarbonization.”

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Solar-powered data server network developed to frame the internet as a natural resource

The Solar Protocol website maps solar exposure across the globe, activating data cloud centers when the sun shines. Developed by the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, the project intends to draw attention to the energy intensity of data processing, and to offer a more climate-friendly solution.

Newer and larger solar plants perform better, while older plants pick up steam with repowering

US government lab sees utility scale solar fleet degrading faster than projected at 1.2% a year, while newer and larger plants are degrading at only 0.7% a year. Older plants appear to be getting repowered in year seven, yielding lasting performance increases.

US consortium aims for solar PV with a 50-year lifetime

The Department of Energy’s durable materials consortium is a multi-laboratory unit that stress-tests solar modules for durability. It seeks to extend the useful life of PV.

MIT scientists develop PV cleaning system based on electrostatic repulsion

Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a system that can be operated at a voltage of around 12V, with a 95% recovery rate for lost power after cleaning. The waterless system can be operated automatically via an electric motor.

Rocket Lab unveils space solar cell with 33.3% efficiency

The new device is based on an inverted metamorphic multi-junction (IMM) cell technology developed by Rocket Lab’s unit Solaero. The cell can be used in applications in the civil, military, and commercial space markets.

The Solar Tech Check: PV in space, and thin films stride forward

This week has seen NASA announce the completion of a new folding array set to power a mission deep into our solar system, while scientists continue to work on new applications to take such explorations even further from the sun. New measurements also promise routes to higher efficiency in cadmium-telluride PV, and details emerge of one of thinnest solar cells seen so far.

Sunrise brief: Industry efforts prevented Florida rooftop solar bill from being potentially disastrous

Also on the rise: Solar advocates oppose Duke’s proposed NEM 2.0 in North Carolina. Indiana enables renewable-ready communities. In Virginia shared solar customers could see fixed charge. Solar+food in ethanol fields could fully power the United States. Federal support needed for US to reach 39% of carbon-free energy sector by 2035. RMI Study suggests charging EVs at work not home, to put daytime solar power to work.

Solar+food in ethanol fields could fully power the United States

Converting the nation’s 40 million acres of ethanol corn farms into solar-plus-food facilities would generate 1.5 times our nation’s electricity needs, while also powering a 100% electrified passenger vehicle fleet.

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Solar trackers vs. wind: An ongoing struggle

In a new whitepaper, FTC solar looks to tackle the damage potential of dynamic and static wind loads on single axis trackers using a novel hardware approach and a zero-degree stow angle.

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