Solar
Virginia expands community solar access with new laws
Two new Virginia laws enable more residents to benefit from community solar programs. The changes allow property owners like farmers to participate in solar leasing arrangements.
Renewables · The Wire
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Solar
Solar surpasses coal in US grid for first full month
Solar generated 12.8% of US electricity in May 2026, exceeding coal's 12.2% share in the first month-long occurrence on record, according to analysis from energy think tank Ember.
Solar
Suniva to acquire SUNation in reverse merger
Suniva announced a reverse merger with NASDAQ-listed residential solar company SUNation, with the combined entity rebranding under the Suniva name. The deal provides the merged company with access to public capital markets through Suniva's NASDAQ listing.
Wind
Minnesota launches wind-powered green ammonia production facility
A new green ammonia plant near Morris, Minnesota uses wind power to produce ammonia for agricultural and industrial use. The facility demonstrates how renewable energy can support regional farming and heavy industry operations.
More from the Desks
Solar
Solar market competition intensifies, with 54% of salespeople reporting increases
Competition in the solar market has grown significantly, with 54% of solar salespeople reporting increased competition over the past year, including 30% citing much more competitive conditions.
Solar
Permitting delays to flatten US solar capacity additions over five years
The US added 7.8 GW of solar capacity in Q1 2026, surpassing 6 million cumulative installations. Permitting delays are expected to constrain future growth despite solar and storage accounting for 91% of new grid capacity.
Solar
Common Energy builds 16 MW community solar for Chicago nonprofit
Community solar developer Common Energy plans to build five projects totaling 16 MW in greater Chicago, with over 120 locations from nonprofit Trinity Services subscribing to the system.
OriginalSolar
Meta, RWE sign 298MW Texas solar PPA
Meta and RWE have signed a long-term power purchase agreement for the 298-megawatt Rabbit's Foot Solar project in northeast Texas. The project, which began construction this year, will supply electricity to support Meta's data center operations.
OriginalWind
SunZia Wind Project begins operations as largest US wind farm
The 3,650 MW SunZia Wind Project in New Mexico has commenced commercial operations with 916 turbines, more than triple the capacity of the next two largest US wind farms.
OriginalSolar
Qcells begins solar cell production at Georgia's 3.3GW facility
Qcells has started manufacturing silicon solar cells at its vertically integrated Cartersville, Georgia factory, the largest solar cell facility in the US. The $2.5 billion investment will reach full production by Q3 2026 and marks the first fully integrated silicon solar panel manufacturing site in the country.
OriginalSolar
Trinasolar launches hail-resistant 620W Shield solar panel in North America
Trinasolar introduced the Vertex N Shield, a 620W n-type TOPCon module with 23% efficiency designed to withstand hail and extreme weather. The panel features reinforced mechanical durability and is now available to the North American market.
OriginalWind
RWE installs first turbine at 1.6 GW German North Sea offshore wind farm
RWE has placed the first turbine at its Nordseecluster A offshore wind project in the German North Sea. The facility is designed for 1.6 GW of capacity.
Solar
BYU-Hawaii launches second solar phase toward 100% renewable power
Brigham Young University-Hawaii is advancing its University Solar Project to meet 100% of campus electrical needs through solar power. The completed project will also supply renewable energy to the adjacent Polynesian Cultural Center.
Solar
US Solar Growth Hampered by Permitting Delays, Industry Warns
T1 Energy CEO Dan Barcelo and a SEIA-Wood Mackenzie report cite permitting as a major obstacle slowing solar deployment in the United States compared to other major markets.
OriginalSolar
Meta, Zelestra expand solar partnership with Texas project
Meta signed a power purchase agreement with Zelestra for the 180 MW Palmera Solar Plant in Texas. The deal brings their combined solar portfolio to approximately 1.4 GW across eight U.S. projects.
Solar
Fraunhofer Institute Sets New Solar Module Efficiency Record at 34.4%
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems achieved a new record for solar module efficiency using a III-V germanium solar PV module. The cells were developed in collaboration with AZUR.
Solar
Solar-powered desalination system produces fresh water without waste
A new desalination method uses specially engineered black metal to absorb sunlight, producing drinking water from seawater without chemical additives. The system's self-cleaning surface separates salts for reuse rather than disposal.
Solar
European solar module prices rise as buyer confidence rebounds
European solar module prices climbed in May, with the PV Purchasing Managers' Index jumping to 70 from 66 in April, marking the strongest reading since the start of the year.
Solar
Solar and storage account for 91% of US grid additions in Q1
Solar and battery storage combined made up 91% of new power capacity added to the US grid in the first quarter of 2026, according to data from SEIA and Wood Mackenzie.
Solar
Chinese PV Maker JA Solar Rebrands as JA
JA Solar, a Chinese photovoltaic module and storage system manufacturer, is dropping 'solar' from its name to reflect its expansion beyond solar into broader clean energy technologies and services.
Wind
Shell plans to sell offshore wind assets for $1 billion+
Shell is planning a divestment of its offshore wind farm portfolio in a deal valued at more than $1 billion, according to Bloomberg.
Wind
Turbine Lubricant Sampling: Four Steps to Predictive Maintenance
Wind turbine operators can use lubricant analysis to track contamination, wear metals, viscosity, and additive degradation over time. These findings inform predictive maintenance decisions.
Solar
Solar becomes Asia's third-largest electricity source, overtaking gas
Solar power has surpassed gas to rank as Asia's third-largest source of electricity for the first time. The milestone reflects the region's expanding solar capacity.
Solar
Antaisolar Unveils 80-Meter Multi-Drive Solar Tracker
Antaisolar demonstrated its upgraded TAI-Universal 2P tracker at SNEC 2026, featuring a reinforced structure supporting spans up to 80 meters and 60 m/s wind resistance.
Solar
Port of Valencia installs solar panels on breakwaters
The Port of Valencia is deploying photovoltaic panels on breakwaters under the EU-funded Renewport project to test the feasibility of large-scale vertical solar installations in Mediterranean ports.
Solar
Researchers Design PV Panel for Home Cooling Using Waste Oil
A prototype system combining photovoltaic power generation, thermoelectric cooling, and latent heat storage using waste cooking oil can deliver 6–15 kWh/day of cooling per panel, according to simulations.
Solar
European solar output surges on May heat dome and clear skies
Europe experienced above-average solar irradiance in May due to persistent high pressure and record temperatures, with some Central and Western regions seeing up to 25% more irradiance than normal, though fringe areas recorded below-average conditions.
Solar
China tackles solar module recycling as PV installations age
China is developing policies and technologies to recycle aging solar panels and support circular manufacturing as its large PV fleet reaches end-of-life.
Solar
Qcells expands Georgia solar factory with domestic cell production
Qcells added on-site solar cell fabrication to its Georgia manufacturing facility, achieving full US-based vertical integration for solar panel production.
Solar
India's rooftop solar growth faces financing and conversion barriers
India's rooftop solar sector is expanding, but uneven adoption persists due to gaps in conversion rates and limited access to financing. Experts cite these barriers as major obstacles despite overall market momentum.
Solar
MN8 Energy brings 260MW solar portfolio online with Microsoft PPA
Independent power producer MN8 Energy reached commercial operations at two utility-scale solar plants totaling 260MW and signed a power purchase agreement with Microsoft.
Solar
Fraunhofer ISE Boosts III-V Solar Module Efficiency to 34.4%
Fraunhofer ISE improved its III-V germanium solar module efficiency from 34.2% to 34.4% using shingle-matrix technology. The advancement represents incremental progress in high-performance photovoltaic research.
Solar
CHINT Chairman Sees Limited Disruption from New Solar Cell Tech
Lu Chuan of CHINT argues that TOPCon and back-contact cell technologies won't cause major industry upheaval, citing the complexity of full-stack integration over modular assembly. The statement reflects caution among Chinese PV makers facing mounting competitive pressures.
Solar
California advances permit-free balcony solar legislation
California is moving forward with a bill to allow plug-and-play balcony solar installations without permits or professional installers. The measure aims to streamline residential solar deployment by eliminating installation delays.
Wind
France launches tender for 11 offshore wind farms
France opened a competitive bidding process for seven floating and four fixed-bottom offshore wind projects. The tender was published in the Official Journal.
Solar
Bangladesh Implements 0% Tax Rate for Solar Power Sector
Bangladesh has introduced a zero tax rate for solar power to boost sector growth. The policy aims to accelerate adoption of small-scale solar power across the country.
Wind
RWE's Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Completes Turbine Installation
All 100 Siemens Gamesa turbines have been installed at RWE's Sofia offshore wind farm. Siemens Gamesa and Cadeler completed the installation work on the 1.4 GW project.
Wind
Envision ships first turbines for Vietnam nearshore wind farm
Envision Energy has dispatched the initial four units of its 8 MW turbines for a new nearshore wind project in Vietnam.
Solar
T1 Energy CEO backs crystalline silicon for US solar manufacturing
T1 Energy's chief executive expressed confidence in crystalline silicon technology to support US solar manufacturing and meet rising power demand.
Solar
China's solar sector faces downturn amid market slowdown
China's solar industry is experiencing a significant slump. The contraction reflects broader challenges in the country's renewable energy market.
Solar
China's solar deployment growth shows signs of slowing
China's solar power expansion, a cornerstone of its renewable energy buildout since the mid-2010s, is experiencing reduced growth momentum. The slowdown marks a shift in the country's renewable energy trajectory.
Solar
Solar Outperforms Coal in U.S. for First Time in May 2026
Solar energy generation exceeded coal generation in the United States in May 2026, marking a historic first. The milestone occurred amid federal policy actions including reduced renewable energy grants and work stoppages on wind projects.
Solar
Lodestone Energy begins NZ solar farm construction
Lodestone Energy and Centralines will start construction this spring on a 31.5 MWdc solar plant in New Zealand, with a project cost of NZ$50 million.