State solar policy increasingly moving away from traditional net metering
The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center 2024 annual review and Q4 edition of The 50 States of Solar finds that most states took some distributed solar policy action during 2024, with most related to net metering policies, residential fixed charge increases and community solar.
Google-supported solar projects more than double Oklahoma solar capacity
Five planned solar facilities will add 700 MW of capacity to a state that currently has only 376 MW of solar installed.
Development of solar fuels that could transform chemical industry
The Liquid Solar Alliance looks to reimagine the chemical industry by coupling electricity from solar energy with semiconductor materials to transform carbon dioxide into ethylene.
Energy Department announces $22.92 billion in loans to upgrade transmission
Utility projects supported by these loans are expected to add much-needed transmission capacity by building new transmission lines, reconductoring existing lines and implementing grid-enhancing technologies that will get more out of existing grid.
Just a fraction of federal land could power carbon-free future
Millions of acres on federal land are suitable for renewable energy, of which less than 5% is needed to be carbon-free by 2035, found National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
After liftoff, DOE looks to accelerate virtual power plants
Virtual power plant capacity must double to meet demand, the Department of Energy said in its latest report on virtual power plants.
The impact of wildfires on PV power generation
Scientists have studied the impact wildfires have on the availability of direct normal irradiance and global horizontal irradiance. The research found that direct irradiance is more sensitive to smoke than the PV-relevant global horizontal irradiance.
OpenADR 3.0 standard can maximize demand flexibility to help integrate renewables
Berkeley Lab’s CalFlexHub says global adoption of an improved communications method can foster a transition from event-based demand response to continuous price-based demand flexibility—increasing demand for renewable power at sunny and windy times.
Sunrise brief: U.S. electricity rates rise about 5% annually, outpacing inflation
Also on the rise: Half of distribution transformers are approaching end of life. Agrivoltaic pilot program announced in New Jersey. And more.
Agrivoltaic pilot program announced in New Jersey
Agrivoltaics co-locates solar with agriculture. The incentive program will provide its results to inform the design of a permanent agrivoltaic program.
