Digital transformation in off-grid solar: A comprehensive roadmap for practitioners
As off-grid solar systems expand to serve remote and underserved communities worldwide, digitalization has become a crucial need for efficient project development, implementation, and long-term sustainability. A new report from IEA PVPS Task 18 systematically explores digital tools across the entire off-grid energy project value chain, providing much-needed guidance for practitioners looking to optimize their operations.
Performance contracts could be public solar’s silent financiers
Energy savings performance contracts are helping schools, hospitals, and municipalities adopt solar without upfront costs.
Renewables investments shifting from US to EU, says BloombergNEF
Utility-scale solar investment fell 19% globally, led by mainland China, Spain, Greece, and Brazil, while EU spending rose 63%, says BloombergNEF (BNEF).
Common failure mechanisms for solar connectors
Sandia National Labs researchers have created a new dataset on the rates and types of rooftop PV connector failures. Their analysis has shown that tight wire bending radius, extra dirty connectors, and loose nuts are the most common failure causes in 6,276 connectors deployed between 2014 and 2017 across seven U.S. regions.
U.S. residential solar averages record-low $29,000 before incentives, says EnergySage
A marketplace report on the first half of 2025 reveals that median loan rates for residential solar projects climbed to 7.5%, with 38% of surveyed contractors saying loan demand decreased.
Appeals panel backs EPA clawback of federal solar grants
The decision recognizes leeway for the Trump administration to determine how best to administer a prior legislative initiative – namely, federal grants for clean-energy projects.
National Laboratories releases energy procurement navigation tool
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s tool helps public and private energy buyers, like colleges, utilities, local governments, industrial buyers and more, explore off-site electricity options with cost-informed insights tailored to their specific goals.
Solar tax credits are a carbon tax by another name
The American public has shown a strong willingness to fund solar and other renewable energy projects through tax credits, largely because voters trust directed infrastructure funding more than open-ended government revenue pools.
Navigating One Big Beautiful Bill and tariffs in U.S. solar PV and storage
Turning challenges into opportunities as the U.S. solar and storage sectors enter a phase of major policy and market realignment.
Solar-powered schools act as living laboratories for learning
Linking classroom curriculums to onsite generation provides a hands-on introduction to clean energy.
