Author Archives: Ritesh Pothan

Solar tracker manufacturer SOL Components was issued a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Sept. 1 for QuickGrip, a device used for mounting modules on single-axis tracker systems. “This patent reflects the ingenuity and dedication of our … Continue reading →

The United States had a strong quarter for solar installations, adding 11.4 GW of new electricity generating capacity in Q2 2026. This is up from 7.8 GW installed in Q1 2026 and 7.5 GW installed in Q2 2025. The country … Continue reading →

Sustainability Partners (SP), a Public Benefit Company, is partnering with the City of Albuquerque and Energy Systems Group (ESG) to deploy approximately 6 MW of solar energy generation across eight city facilities, helping close the remaining gap toward Albuquerque’s goal … Continue reading →

We Recycle Solar announced it would establish a solar panel recycling and critical material recovery facility in Texas with a scheduled launch in Q3 2027. The company claims that the plant will recover up to 96% of the silver, copper, silicon, … Continue reading →

MN8 Energy is building a solar + storage system that will provide dispatchable capacity to the PJM grid serving Google’s data centers in the West Virginia region. The 86-MW solar project will pair 100 MWh of zinc-based long-duration energy storage … Continue reading →

SolarEdge Technologies has introduced its UL 3141-certified Power Control System (PCS), which is designed to simplify utility interconnection while expanding on-site solar generation for designed U.S. commercial and industrial solar developers and installers. SolarEdge stated in a press release that … Continue reading →

A new research brief from Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) finds no statistically significant negative effects on residential property values associated with proximity to large wind or utility-scale solar projects in Indiana. The brief, “Indiana Renewables and … Continue reading →

The 346-MW Gibson City Solar Project, developed by Earthrise Energy and constructed by Burns & McDonnell, achieved commercial operation in Illinois using Earthrise Energy’s surplus interconnection strategy. By connecting through the existing switchyard of an adjacent gas-fired peaking facility, the project … Continue reading →

Having recently attended the opening ceremony of SEG Solar’s second module factory in Tomball, Texas, I decided to take a closer look at a company that has become one of the most visible in the U.S. solar industry, having moved … Continue reading →

Cypress Creek Energy’s Ostrea Solar project in Yakima County, Washington, has reached commercial operation. “Washington’s economy is growing, and that growth requires more electricity,” said Kevin Smith, CEO of Cypress Creek Energy. “Ostrea shows how we can responsibly bring new … Continue reading →

Glint Solar, an AI-powered software platform for utility-scale solar and energy storage development, has a new tool that allows solar and storage developers to search an entire U.S. state for viable project sites in minutes. The Land Screening tool combines grid, … Continue reading →

PVFARM has launched the commercial version of its platform for utility-scale solar + energy storage project optimization, RE PILOT. Together with PVFARM and RE STACK, RE PILOT forms an expanding suite of tools for utility-scale renewable energy design that enable … Continue reading →

Construction has started on the 347-MWDC SunRoper Solar project in Wharton County, Texas. SunRoper is expected to begin operations in December 2027 and will export power on the ERCOT grid. “SunRoper demonstrates how strategic partnerships can help meet Texas’ growing … Continue reading →

A 2.25-MW solar array atop a closed and capped municipal landfill in Derry, New Hampshire, is now online. The project was developed by Encore Renewable Energy and should save Derry taxpayers an estimated $4 million in electricity costs over the next … Continue reading →

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has signed the Garden State Balcony Solar Act (S2368/A4836), removing unnecessary red tape that will allow New Jerseyans to purchase and use portable, plug-in solar panels to generate their own clean energy and lower their … Continue reading →

Waaree Solar Americas, the solar panel brand that bought the former Meyer Burger facility in Goodyear, Arizona, announced it would invest around $37 million into the site to bring it back online. A subsidiary of India’s Waaree Energies Limited, the … Continue reading →

The California State Assembly passed a bill Sunday that could spur more distributed energy sources like solar power to be built in the state. Senate Bill 905, which was introduced by Sen. Josh Becker (D-13) in January, is concerned more … Continue reading →

Over the weekend, the California State Senate passed AB 1813, the Community Renewable Energy Program Act, moving the bill toward the governor’s desk. Industry advocates say that this is a workable community solar and storage program that the state has … Continue reading →

Of the many developments in the solar industry over the last decade, one of the most exciting to witness has been the build-out of solar panel recycling facilities across the country. Once just a problem for later down the road, … Continue reading →

MARS Energy Group announced it has acquired Citadel Roofing & Solar, a contractor based in Northern California. The acquisition adds more than 1,000 employees to the MARS platform. The partnership expands the MARS presence across California and further strengthens its integrated … Continue reading →

The California Legislature unanimously passed a bill that would create a remote inspection process for home energy projects like solar that is awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. AB 1738 was authored by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale), chair of the Assembly … Continue reading →

Small-scale solar system services company Otovo will now have a presence in Hawaii after an acquisition of PV Hawaii LLC is completed. PV Hawaii, founded in 2016 and based in Oahu, provides solar repair, warranty and inspection services and panel cleaning … Continue reading →

More than 10,800 K-12 schools representing more than 7 million students across the United States now use solar energy, helping schools lower electricity costs, invest more resources in students and strengthen their communities, according to a new report from clean … Continue reading →

ForeFront Power is wrapping up a solar and storage project for the County of Ventura, California. A 5.8-MW solar canopy is being paired with a 1.9-MW battery at the County Government Center. The megawatt-hour capacity of the battery was not … Continue reading →

Northern Sun Energy, a solar and storage EPC firm, has begun construction on two solar projects for developer Seaboard Solar in Waterford and Boonville, New York. The 23-MWDC project portfolio is supported by NYSERDA grants and will employ local laborers. … Continue reading →

The California legislature has passed a bill that would allow residents to install balcony solar systems. It now waits for the governor’s signature. Senate Bill 868, known as the Plug and Play Solar Act, would eliminate red tape that has … Continue reading →

Burns & McDonnell and Gritt have entered into a strategic partnership focused on evaluating and deploying AI-powered robotics technology on utility-scale solar projects. The technology will help improve safety, enhance project predictability and support construction teams as demand for new energy infrastructure continues … Continue reading →

Nextnova has released some details on the silicon solar cell manufacturing facility it is building outside Oklahoma City. The new brand is a division of Thornova Solar, which first started supplying solar panels to the U.S. market in 2022. Nextnova … Continue reading →

Solar mounting technologies producer SWIF Rack is collaborating with National Roofing Partners (NRP) to support solar project deployment on commercial rooftops. NRP roofing professionals can work with SWIF Rack clients to inspect solar project construction and ensure roofing warranties are … Continue reading →

The U.S. solar industry is still determining the effects of the Sec. 232 tariffs on polysilicon and its derivatives. Besides a handful of manufacturers that very obviously benefit if certain imported and domestic silicon solar products are priced higher, few … Continue reading →

Even the most ardent solar evangelists can agree on one limitation solar panels have: they only produce electricity when the sun is shining. But, peak energy use tends to come in the evenings, coinciding with decreased solar generation and causing a supply and … Continue reading →

For many U.S. households and businesses, installing rooftop solar isn’t an option — whether due to renting, roof condition, shading, or building type. Community solar addresses this gap by allowing multiple customers to share the energy produced by a single … Continue reading →

SunShare and CSolPower, a local community solar company, have completed two community solar gardens in New Mexico. The 6-MW Juniper Sol Community Solar Garden is sited on 31 acres in Santa Fe and will incorporate agrivoltaic practices, including native, pollinator-friendly … Continue reading →

Local news organizations are reporting that solar panel manufacturer Silfab has furloughed workers at its cell and panel facility in Fort Mill, South Carolina. In a statement to WCNC Charlotte, a Silfab Solar spokesperson said that the furlough was due … Continue reading →

EDP Renewables North America completed Sandrini Energy Storage, a 92-MW/368-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Kern County, California. The project is co-located with the 300-MW Sandrini Solar energy site. The Redwood Coast Energy Authority has an energy storage service … Continue reading →

Sunrun is partnering with a distributed generation management platform to have residential and commercial solar-plus-storage systems reduce grid demand from hyperscale data centers. This service with Voltus, ostensibly similar to a virtual power plant program, would allot “a portion” of … Continue reading →

Real estate investment trust STAG Industrial recently energized three new rooftop solar projects across Pennsylvania, marking another significant step in the company’s deployment of distributed solar. Developed by Dimension Energy and facilitated by Black Bear Energy these projects further expand … Continue reading →

Translucent Solar announced it will begin production at a solar panel assembly facility in Summerville, South Carolina. The site should reach its 1.2-GW annual manufacturing capacity by the end of the year. The company says it will make panels for … Continue reading →

Maryland solar contractor Got Electric has donated 57 surplus Heliene 380-W solar panels to Shenandoah County SEARCH, a nonprofit organization that provides residential care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and operates a community thrift store in Mount Jackson, … Continue reading →

Kinematics is acquiring RenuTrak, a company based in Mesa, Arizona, that repowers single-axis solar tracker projects. Kinematics manufactures motion control systems for several industries, but primarily works with solar trackers by producing actuators, slew drives and controls that make those … Continue reading →

When planning its new facility in Rosemount, Minnesota, Omni Brewing Company prioritized sustainability from the beginning by incorporating a custom solar array into the building’s design. “Going solar has been one of the more satisfying investments we’ve made at Omni … Continue reading →

The big Tesla news this week surrounds the company’s request for property-tax breaks for siting a $10.1 billion solar factory — “Project Crystal Sun” — outside Houston. Tesla is exploring five parcels of land in Richmond, Texas, near the operating … Continue reading →

ForeFront Power has reached commercial operation of a new solar system for the Northeast Surface Water Treatment Plant in Fresno, California, that uses the Erthos solar system. Erthos’ Earth Mount Solar system places modules directly on the earth, which allows solar … Continue reading →

The solar industry is entering a new era where project success depends on more than equipment selection and installation expertise. As compliance requirements, domestic content rules and incentive qualifications become increasingly interconnected, installers must navigate a growing set of considerations … Continue reading →

It’s only Wednesday, and it’s already been a week of wild weather that won’t soon be forgotten in Ohio. Intense thunderstorms have reached every corner of the state, and strong winds flipped over a car on the interstate north of … Continue reading →

In commercial and industrial solar PV work, the mounting surface is rarely the engineer’s choice. Factors of geometry, land availability, shading and budget affect that determination, and the design team inherits the result. But the harder task is what comes … Continue reading →

TotalEnergies has completed a 4.1-MW solar and 1.55-MWh battery storage project at Sonoma State University (SSU), one of the largest solar plus battery systems in Sonoma County, California. Driven by the California State University (CSU) system-wide commitment to reach net-zero … Continue reading →

Andover Elementary School in Andover, Connecticut, in partnership with Titan Energy and Greenskies Clean Energy, recently completed a rooftop solar project designed to support the district’s long-term sustainability goals while stabilizing future energy costs. The solar project required years of … Continue reading →

A unique solar system at Drake Plastics in Cypress, Texas, has been in operation for eight months and is helping the polymer manufacture achieve 30% overall energy use offset. Trinasolar supplied its Vertex N solar panels for a 1.3-MW rooftop … Continue reading →

SEG Solar last week inaugurated its second U.S. panel assembly site, a 4-GW annual capacity facility in Tomball, Texas. The company also operates a 2-GW panel facility nearby in Houston and is building a third factory in the area. Representing … Continue reading →