Renewables must triple by 2030 to hit net-zero by 2050, says BloombergNEF
BloombergNEF says in a new report that solar and wind must drive most emissions cuts before 2030 to stay on track for net-zero by 2050. Its net-zero scenario targets a combined solar and wind capacity of 31 TW by 2050.
Strong state solar policies boost adoption of distributed energy
Of the 29 GW of solar installed in the U.S. in 2023, 31% was distributed solar, according to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
Powering drones with ultra-thin, flexible perovskite PV cells
An Austrian research team has demonstrated that lightweight, flexible and ultra-thin perovskite solar technology can power palm-sized autonomous drones.
Reflective ground covers boost solar energy production
Researchers in Canada are testing the use of reflective surfaces to boost electricity production in bifacial solar panels.
$20 Million federal initiative targets low-emission silicon and thin film research
The Solar Energy Technologies Office has launched a dual initiative to propel upstream advancements in a collection of solar cell types, and to reduce the emissions of solar-grade polysilicon under 1 kg CO2 per kg.
Was 2023 the peak for global electricity sector emissions?
A report from Ember highlights how “a new era of falling fossil generation is imminent.”
Powering homes exclusively with hydrogen, solar, batteries
Researchers in Spain has found that combining PV power generation with fuel cells and battery storage may help homes considerably reduce their levelized cost of energy. Their simulation reportedly demonstrated homes may also become completely self-sufficient.
Hotter times will drive rooftop solar value
An analysis suggests rooftop solar will increase in value by between 19% to 25% due to warming and changing weather patterns increasing onsite electricity demand.
NREL interactive chart of solar cell efficiency now including ‘hybrid tandems’
The new cell category includes perovskite/silicon, perovskite/CIGS, III-V/silicon and perovskite/organic tandem PV devices. It will list the absolute record efficiency for all-perovskite, two-terminal tandems regardless of the number of junctions.
50 states of grid modernization
North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center’s recent report looks at how states are doing with legislative and regulatory action related to shoring up the power grid.
