California first state to require solar power and batteries in commercial structures
The state has updated its Build Energy Efficiency Standards to include requirements for solar plus storage on all commercial and multifamily homes, while also requiring that all new residential construction – which already requires solar – to be energy storage ready.
Canadian BIPV maker releases 350 W shingle-mimicking modules
The panels match the look of composite shingles and come in four different shades.
Aerospace manufacturer Rocket Lab takes over space solar cell maker Solaero
Rocket Lab has acquired space solar cell maker Solaero for $80 million. The latter operates an 11,000m2 manufacturing facility in New Mexico and produces multi-junction cells with efficiencies ranging from 29.4% to 32%.
Software for sub-particle modeling of lithium-ion
A recent collaboration between the University of Ulm and NREL led to the creation of a computer model that could help faster optimize Li-ion batteries.
Sunrise brief: Three solar projects in Georgia to power Meta (Facebook) data centers
Also on the rise: House passes forced labor bill for Xinjiang region, U.S. Solar Market Insight Report projects Build Back Better could add 44 GW of capacity through 2026, solar microgrid completed for crop production facility in the heart of the corn belt, Texas grid to get much-needed upgrade.
U.S. House unanimously passes forced labor bill for Xinjiang region
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act would ban all imports from the Chinese region, unless the U.S. government determines the products were not made with forced labor. The region supplies 50% of the world’s polysilicon, an essential material in solar PV.
SolarPro posts $10 million for Texas grid upgrades
The upgrade will connect to projects with a combined capacity of approximately 1 GW.
U.S. residential solar trends, 2021
In 2021, residential solar reached several milestones and extreme weather raised customer interest in home energy storage systems.
Silfab and Titan Solar extend partnership
The Canadian solar module manufacturer Silfab and the Arizona-based national installer Titan solar have already installed modules across 18 states in partnership.
USDA grant program provides funds for rural agricultural solar projects
Two potato farmers in Maine are set to receive grant funding as part of more than $24 million designated for decarbonized energy infrastructure projects in rural communities in the state. The program is available in eligible rural communities countrywide.
