U.S. adds 26.5 GW of solar in 2025 as renewables dominate new capacity
Solar and wind accounted for nearly 90% of all new utility-scale generating capacity added to the U.S. grid through December 2025, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
SolarEdge outlines path to 800 V (DC) data center infrastructure
SolarEdge has outlined a transition pathway to integrated 800 V (DC) infrastructure for data centers, arguing that legacy alternating current (AC) systems introduce inefficiencies that could constrain the growth of AI workloads. It says rising compute demand and next-gen NVIDIA GPUs are increasing urgency, while data centers lose an estimated 10% to 30% of input power through multiple conversion stages.
Tracker-based agrivoltaics turn fields into wind-safe zones
Cornell University researchers demonstrated that tracking solar panels in agrivoltaic systems can protect crops from wind damage while allowing airflow, outperforming traditional single-row tree windbreaks. They also proposed a new lowered-first-row panel design that improves wind protection, achieving up to 86% reduction in shelter-zone wind speeds under extreme conditions.
Rhythm Energy expands renewable electricity plans to commercial customers in Texas
The Houston, Texas-based retail energy provider’s PowerShift Business plan aligns lower prices with common operating hours, while the All-Business plan offers a standard flat rate.
Qcells launches turnkey solar and storage program for new home construction
The company’s vertically-integrated offering unites its manufactured products, financing, installation support and long-term monitoring in a single package for U.S. homebuilders and buyers.
Terrasmart launches software package for tracker optimization
The software includes topography-informed backtracking and irradiance-optimized tracking for utility-scale and distributed generation projects.
U.S. small-scale solar hit record 1.9 GW in Q4 2025
Distributed solar accounted for 15% of all new U.S. power capacity in 2025 as residential and community projects reached record installation levels.
Solar above 60° North: The Arctic as PV’s next frontier
An IEA-PVPS report finds that solar power above 60° North is not only viable but rapidly expanding, driven by cold-climate performance gains, bifacial technologies, and rising energy security needs. While challenges like extreme seasonality, snow, permafrost, and scarce data remain, Arctic PV is emerging as a critical—and technically distinct—frontier for global solar deployment.
OneEthos acquires solar customer experience platform Bodhi
The companies say their integrated software platforms will provide solar installers with a way to offer a holistic customer experience that carries through all parts of the solar sales and installation process, and beyond.
Berkeley Lab releases series of reports on regulatory barriers affecting microgrids
The three-part report series from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory aims to guide community leaders and developers through the complex legal and regulatory hurdles that often stall the development of local microgrid projects across the United States.
