Rome (AFP) May 6, 2024 Italy's rightwing government on Monday banned the installation of ground-based solar panels on agricultural land, just days after Rome committed to triple installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. "We put an end to the wild installation of ground-mounted photovoltaic panels," Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said at a press conference following the cabinet meeting. The ban ..read more

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 08, 2024 Researchers from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), in collaboration with academics from Ewha Womans University, Incheon National University, and MIT, have made significant progress in understanding electron-hole separation in kesterite thin-film solar cells. This discovery is poised to enhance solar cell efficiency and support the transition to sustainable energy sourc ..read more

Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 08, 2024 Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University have developed a novel photocatalyst, Rh/InGaN1-xOx, that uses solar energy to efficiently convert greenhouse gases into syngas. This nanoarchitecture combines rhodium nanoparticles with oxygen-modified indium gallium nitride nanowires, showing a syngas evolution rate of 180.9 mmol gcat-1 h-1 and a selectivity of 96.3%. This method offers a major enha ..read more

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 08, 2024 As the global demand for sustainable energy solutions intensifies, solar power stands out as a vital resource. Researchers at the University of California - Santa Barbara are at the forefront, enhancing solar technology with a new method for producing perovskite solar cells more efficiently. Perovskite solar cells have gained attention for their potential to outperform traditional silicon ..read more

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 09, 2024 In a recent submission to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) presented amendments to its energy tariffs through Advice Letter 4361-E-A. This filing comes in the wake of ongoing regulatory reforms aimed at enhancing grid reliability and fairness in rate structures. The proposed adjustments have sparked discussions among stakeholders regarding the ..read more

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 07, 2024 On May 14, 2024, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will host the second session of the Virtual Building Decarbonization Technical Working Group, marking a pivotal moment in California's march towards a sustainable future. This event, solely virtual, is part of the broader Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) strategy, designed to spearhead innovative clean energy solutions a ..read more

Boston MA (SPX) May 07, 2024 Consider the dizzying ascent of solar energy in the United States: In the past decade, solar capacity increased nearly 900 percent, with electricity production eight times greater in 2023 than in 2014. The jump from 2022 to 2023 alone was 51 percent, with a record 32 gigawatts (GW) of solar installations coming online. In the past four years, more solar has been added to the grid than any other ..read more

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 03, 2024 Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a new method using femtosecond lasers to create glass-to-glass welds in solar modules, significantly simplifying the recycling process. This innovation replaces the traditional use of plastic polymer sheets, which complicates recycling efforts. By eliminating polymers and employing las ..read more

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 06, 2024 On May 1, 2024, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) hosted the third workshop of the High DER Future Grid Study, which assembled stakeholders and experts virtually to develop solutions for enhancing grid operations with a high volume of distributed energy resources (DERs). The workshop aimed to align California's grid modernization initiatives with its climate and equity goals ..read more

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 29, 2024 The Clean Power Alliance of Southern California has released its quarterly report highlighting progress in its Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariff and Community Solar Green Tariff programs. These initiatives aim to extend renewable energy's benefits to low-income and disadvantaged areas, supporting California's goals for social equity and environmental sustainability. While no new proje ..read more