NREL paper details nationwide heat-pump feasibility
The report looks at how installation costs and energy savings prices change in relation to climate, heating source and type of home and suggests that policymakers further reduce the costs of installing heat pumps so that more U.S. households can benefit from them.
Sunrise brief: The fossil fuel retirement boom
Also on the rise: Secondary market for solar modules presents low-cost buying opportunities. A look at long-term solar degradation. And more.
NREL says long-term degradation of 8 GW of U.S. solar ‘matches expectations’
The short-term impact of extreme weather, such as flooding, high winds, hail, wildfire and lightning, was minimal in most PV systems studied.
Sunrise brief: U.S. government identifies 22 million acres for solar in western states
Also on the rise: Bloomberg signs 15-year PPA for Texas solar. ‘Flexibility is key’ as energy sector moves to net-zero future. And more.
Sunrise brief: Solid state battery charges in minutes, lasts for thousands of cycles
Also on the rise: Solar season slows, wind power rises. SolarApp+ speeds solar permitting for more than 160 communities. And more.
RFP alert: Deadline for microgrid funding opportunity extended
The National Renewable Energy’s Lab’s Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership is focused on microgrid energy systems serving the needs of underserved and Indigenous communities.
SolarApp+ speeds solar permitting for more than 160 communities
The Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus software platform has helped local governments approve nearly 33,000 solar projects.
EV owners more likely to install rooftop solar on homes
The NREL behavioral study analysis, funded by the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office, was based on a survey of 869 households in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Agrivoltaics can help meet growing needs of the Lone Star State
As the economy and population in Texas grows, so does its demand for electricity as well as sustainable food production. Texas A&M researchers collaborated on a study that finds that agrivoltaics offers the potential to enhance the efficiency of both.
Rain insufficient for removing tree pollen from solar panels
An analysis by NREL in North Carolina reveals that various types of tree pollen can reduce solar panel efficiency by over 15%. Unlike the immediate improvements assumed to follow heavy rain, recovery of performance post-pollen season is gradual. Manual cleaning post-rain can boost performance by 5% to 11%.
