Texas researchers develop new method for solar desalination
A team of researchers from Rice University in Houston, Texas has developed a new method for using solar power to desalinate sea water. Part of a federally funded research effort into water treatment , the team has developed a system utilizing a combination of membrane distillation and nanophotonics to turn salt water into fresh drinking water.
Trump budget guts solar research at NREL and Berkeley (14 essential documents embedded)
The president’s federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018 includes the expected cuts to renewable energy within the DOE’s walls, but the cuts to prominent national labs – including the elimination of energy-storage research funding at both – could have unforeseen long-term effects on the industry.
Senator Chuck Grassley questions DOE grid reliability study
The Republican senator from Iowa has stepped in to the debate, expressing concerns about the study’s credibility and whether or not its conclusion has been pre-determined.
Trump budget calls for 70% reduction in renewable energy spending
A leaked copy of U.S. President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal calls for a 70% reduction at the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), after these programs survived proposed 2017 cuts.
Study: Solar micro-grids can help military fight cyber, physical threats
A team from Michigan Technological University is assessing the technical and economic viability of military microgrids run on solar power.
Trump Admin fires first shots in its new War on Science
Reports say the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy is under siege by the Department of Energy, with funds frozen and officials refusing to tell the researchers why. Should the scientists at NREL and Sunshot be nervous?
New data helps developers see accurate insolation data
Vaisala recently completed the world’s largest solar dataset validation study, which compares observational data from nearly 200 ground stations across six continents with satellite derived irradiance records.
The inmates have taken over the asylum: BNEF The Future of Energy Summit kicks off in New York
An interview with professional climate denier Myron Ebell, along with Kevin de León and Debbie Dooley shaking hands were among the top moments from the opening of the 2017 BNEF Future of Energy summit.
Getting ready for terawatts of solar (with charts)
Researchers from NREL, Fraunhofer ISE and Japan’s AIST have released a new paper which looks at the barriers to deploying multiple terawatts of solar PV and what can be done to overcome them.
Report: Middle-income homeowners make up 70% of solar customers (with 3 critical charts)
In the four states that make up 65% of residential solar installations, most households have incomes between $45,000 and $150,000, new research from GTM Research and PowerScout reveals.
