RWE, Peak Energy to deploy first sodium-ion battery in U.S. grid
Peak Energy says it will deploy the first sodium-ion battery in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) service area with RWE Americas in eastern Wisconsin, using passively cooled grid-scale storage that cuts auxiliary power use by 90% and lowers lifetime storage costs by $70/kWh.
AI datacenters rewrite the solar PPA playbook
Power purchase agreements (PPAs) are evolving into complex risk-sharing structures as hyperscale data center operators trade fixed pricing for physical delivery and grid-bypass certainty. The US solar industry is entering 2026 as the foundational technology for a new era of power demand, even as the sector navigates a volatile federal policy landscape.
Beyond resilience: Unlocking the revenue of battery storage
The shift from backup power to dynamic revenue generation is transforming energy storage into a core pillar of modern solar project economics.
Commercial rooftop solar leases offer new revenue for real estate owners
A third-party ownership model converts underutilized commercial roof space into long-term net operating income with zero upfront capital investment, said Solect Energy.
Solar’s fastest growth in a decade, fossils fall again, but emissions rise
Electricity generation in the U.S. grew by almost 3%, capping an almost 9% expansion in demand since 2021, while solar has more than doubled in the same window, including 28% growth in 2025.
Interconnection queues cut across new renewable and fossil source timelines
Enverus’ 2026 study suggests jurisdictions are lowering barriers for priority projects.
Permitting reform could target rooftop solar soft costs
Hardware now accounts for about 20% of U.S. residential system prices, leaving permitting and interconnection as major cost drivers.
California court upholds NEM 3.0, dealing blow to rooftop solar
California appellate court has affirmed the Public Utilities Commission decision to sharply cut compensation for homeowners and businesses that export rooftop solar electricity production to the grid.
VDE Americas enhances Hail Risk Model to improve survivability of utility-scale solar
CEO Brian Grenko explains how models influence tracker design and storm response strategies.
First attempt to build solar modules using polycarbonate encapsulant
Canadian researchers proposed a laminate-free solar module using polycarbonate instead of EVA and glass. The new encapsulation technique reportedly enables easy disassembly, reuse of solar cells, and open-source local manufacturing.
