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.
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.
Senate Bill 868 passed an Assembly committee 18-0, moving toward establishing rules for balcony solar devices that plug directly into standard outlets with up to 1,200 watts output.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
China is developing policies and technologies to recycle aging solar panels and support circular manufacturing as its large PV fleet reaches end-of-life.
Qcells added on-site solar cell fabrication to its Georgia manufacturing facility, achieving full US-based vertical integration for solar panel production.
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.
Independent power producer MN8 Energy reached commercial operations at two utility-scale solar plants totaling 260MW and signed a power purchase agreement with Microsoft.
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.
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.
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.
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.
T1 Energy's chief executive expressed confidence in crystalline silicon technology to support US solar manufacturing and meet rising power demand.
China's solar industry is experiencing a significant slump. The contraction reflects broader challenges in the country's renewable energy market.
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 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.
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.
Trinasolar achieved 29.2% full-area efficiency in a perovskite/crystalline silicon tandem module with peak power output of 907W. The result marks a record for the tandem solar technology.
As solar installations age, the industry must address end-of-life management and recycling to achieve circularity goals. Decommissioning is expected to become a major structural challenge for the sector.
Australia has deployed only 5.6GW of rooftop solar in its commercial and industrial sector despite leading globally in residential installations, leaving significant untapped potential.
Revolve Renewable Power is acquiring a portfolio of utility-scale solar development projects totaling 125MW in the United States.
A federal judge revoked a rule that had prevented solar and wind projects from qualifying for tax credits if they committed 5% of project value. The ruling came ahead of a 4 July deadline.
PV ModuleTech USA 2026 will focus on module supply, quality, and reliability as US solar deployments reach record levels.
Waaree won a 300MW engineering, procurement, and construction contract, while Gujarat Inject received a module supply order and Vikram Solar announced plans for a US$2.8 billion manufacturing hub.
Global solar portfolios are producing fragmented and incomplete data due to gaps in operations and maintenance software knowledge, potentially affecting project performance and financial returns.