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A renewable energy company based in Oman has finalized a power purchase agreement for a large-scale hybrid project in Mahout and Duqm. Naqaa Sustainable Energy, the firm behind the deal, reached the agreement through its O-Green platform with Nama Power and Water Procurement, the state-owned utility managing electricity and water in the sultanate.
The project combines solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and battery energy storage systems to deliver consistent green electricity to Oman’s national grid. Its total installed generation capacity stands at 2.7 gigawatts. According to the two companies, the initiative aims to bolster Oman’s renewable energy infrastructure and support the growth of energy-intensive sectors such as data centers, advanced computing technologies, and green fuel production.
This development aligns with Oman Vision 2040, the country’s long-term strategy to expand clean energy adoption and reduce carbon emissions across industrial activities. Naqaa, via its O-Green platform, currently manages over 11 gigawatts of solar and wind energy capacity within its portfolio in Oman.
Outside Oman, the company also operates in Botswana. Recently, Naqaa announced plans for a 500-megawatt solar PV plant in that country. That facility will include 500 megawatts of solar capacity coupled with a 500-megawatt-hour battery storage system. The Botswanan government expects the plant to start commercial operations in 2029, and the project is considered a key step toward the nation’s target of reaching 1.5 gigawatts of operational renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade.
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Rescued donkey guards 33,600 solar panels and 50 sheep at Volkswagen factory  Yahoo
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Police have arrested four men and recovered valuable copper wire from a crashed car following a break-in at a solar farm.
Officers were called to the site on Weston Road, Egmanton, near Tuxford, in the early hours of Thursday (14 May), when a security camera was activated.
While enquiries were being conducted, a vehicle was seen travelling at speed and was followed.
The car was found a short time later, crashed and abandoned at the junction of Weston Road and Moorhouse Road.
A significant amount of copper wiring was discovered inside the vehicle.
Further investigations led to the arrest of a man who was seen walking along the nearby A1.
Three further suspects were then located in a ditch near Weston and detained.
Four men, aged 28, 45, 47 and 65, were arrested on suspicion of burglary.
Following searches, suspected counterfeit banknotes and a quantity of cocaine were recovered, with the 47-year-old being further arrested on suspicion of possessing counterfeit currency and the 28-year-old held on suspicion of possession of a Class A drug.
The 28-year-old has now additionally been arrested for two shop thefts, and the 65-year-old on suspicion of one shop theft.
Detective Sergeant Andrea Brown, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“The officers who attended worked efficiently during the night to piece together information from a number of calls into the control room.
“They successfully detained four suspects, and detectives are now investigating the incident further.
“Break-ins of this nature can be extremely costly for businesses and are taken very seriously by the force.
“We’d like to hear from anyone with any information, or relevant dashcam, doorbell, CCTV or mobile phone footage, about the incident.”
If you can assist, call 101 and quote incident 9 of 14 May 2026, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

© 2025 westbridgfordwire.com

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ACEN Australia has revealed an 87% year-on-year increase in generation output for the first quarter of 2026, reaching 528GWh, driven primarily by the first full quarter of operations from its 400MW Stubbo Solar project and improved performance at the 400MW New England Solar plant.
The Philippines-based renewable energy company, which operates two of Australia’s largest solar PV plants in New South Wales (NSW), attributed the growth to the completion of the 400MW Stubbo Solar in November 2025, alongside better solar conditions and reduced grid curtailment at its 400MW New England facility.
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According to the company’s Q1 2026 earnings report, Australian revenues grew 76% to P1.45 billion (US$25 million), though the pace lagged generation growth due to a roughly 6% decline in average wholesale prices received during the period.
Stubbo Solar, located in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, is expected to generate approximately 900GWh of renewable energy annually. The project was the first solar facility supported by a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA) to reach commercial operation in Australia.
In February 2026, ACEN Australia integrated Stubbo into its AU$750 million (US$536 million) non-recourse portfolio debt facility, which also includes Stage 1 of the New England Solar project and is backed by eleven Australian and international financial institutions.
The company has also committed to recycling one million solar modules from the Stubbo project over its lifecycle, representing an advanced approach to end-of-life management for utility-scale solar installations.
Acen Australia began construction of the 400MW PV project in 2023, and the facility is now among the largest solar projects built in Australia.
New England Solar, which began operations in March 2023 with an initial 400MW capacity, is being expanded to 720MW.
ACEN Australia has started construction on a 200MW/400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) co-located at the site, supplied by energy storage technology provider Energy Vault and featuring grid-forming inverters to provide system strength and network security services.
The battery storage system, which ACEN said is 87% complete on the construction side, began commissioning in February and is expected to be fully operational by mid-2026.
The New England project supplies energy to Japanese-owned drinks company Asahi Beverages and not-for-profit care company BaptistCare via a power purchase agreement inked in July 2024.
It also maintains long-term offtake arrangements with Zen Energy, Flow Power, industrial gas company BOC, and the University of Technology Sydney.
ACEN has approval for up to 1,400MW/2,800MWh of energy storage at the site, and the current battery storage project is the first large-scale storage facility to begin construction with support from the New South Wales government’s Emerging Energy Program.
Despite the growth in generation, ACEN noted that results reflected lower merchant prices and higher depreciation and interest expenses following Stubbo’s commercial operations.
The company’s earnings grew 59% to P994 million, at a slower rate than generation and revenues, largely due to growing depreciation and interest costs associated with the completed project.
NSW average spot prices remained subdued in Q1 2026, reflecting mild weather conditions and high baseload coal availability.
The improved performance in New England was partly attributed to reduced curtailment, which has been linked to the growing number of large-scale battery storage systmes in NSW providing a price floor during daytime hours, according to Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) assessments.
New England also avoided much of the network curtailment that affected solar PV plants in the southern parts of the state due to grid capacity constraints.
ACEN Australia’s contracted capacity stood at 33% in Q1 2026, down from 38% in Q1 2025, as the completion and ramp-up of Stubbo increased available output ahead of contracting. The company has stated its objective is to steadily increase contracted capacity now that Stubbo is fully operational.

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The electricity and building maintenance bills of the Kyiv HOA at 12 Mitropolita Sheptytskoho Street have been reduced by UAH 115,000. The association of co-owners managed to achieve such savings thanks to two steps: installation on the building solar power plant and obtaining the status of “active consumer”.
It has been in operation in Ukraine for three years and allows homeowners’ associations to generate and sell electricity without a license.
It looks appealing, but in practice, only a few HOAs have been able to use the mechanism. Dmytro Kruhlikov spoke with three Kyiv pioneers. Read the article to find out how HOAs solved problems that arose on the way to obtaining “active consumer” status, how much it cost them, and what they gained.

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Photovoltaic Market Size, Share, and Trend Analysis Report – Industry Overview and Forecast to 2032 | CAGR of 8.00%  openPR.com
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Pollution from coal-fired power plants significantly reduces the efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, a study led by the University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) has revealed.
Joshua Neil
Published 18th May 2026
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The study found that aerosols thrown into the air by coal-burning reduced global solar electricity output by 5.8% in 2023, equivalent to 111 terawatt-hours (TWh) of lost energy. 
The Oxford and UCL study, published on 15 May in the journal Nature Sustainability, mapped and assessed more than 140,000 solar PV installations using satellite data. It combined these findings with atmospheric data on air pollution, determining the amount of sunlight lost and its effect on electricity generation. 
Between 2017 and 2023, new PV installations across the globe increased electricity production by around 247 TWh each year. Aerosol-related losses from this amount were around 74 TWh annually, representing around a third of solar’s total electricity production.
“We are seeing rapid global expansion of renewable energy, but the effectiveness of that transition is lower than often assumed,” explained lead author Dr Rui Song. “As coal and solar expand in parallel, emissions alter the radiation environment, directly undermining the performance of solar generation.”
“Air pollution doesn’t just block sunlight – it also changes clouds, which can cut solar power even further. That means the real impact is likely to be bigger than we’ve measured, so we may be overestimating how much solar power can contribute to reducing emissions if we do not get pollution from coal power under control.”
A spotlight on China
The study found that the loss was greatest where solar and coal capacity exist in close proximity, which is why the effect was particularly marked in China. Though China is the world’s largest solar producer, adding 329 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in 2024 alone, the nation still continues to rely heavily on coal as well.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), one in every four tonnes of coal used globally is burned to generate electricity in China.

Here, the loss of electricity production to aerosols was around 7.7% of the total, with around 29% of aerosol-related solar PV losses in the country coming specifically from coal-fired power plants.
China was, however, the region showing the greatest sustained improvement in this regard. Aerosol-related solar PV losses declined by around 0.96 TWh each year between 2013 and 2023, probably due to stricter emissions standards and the adoption of ultra-low-emission technologies within coal plants.
“Our findings send a clear warning to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): overlooking pollution-induced solar energy losses can lead to a systematic overestimation of renewable energy output by governments, businesses and the broader community,” said co-author Dr Chenchen Huang, from the University of Bath. “To stay on track, policies must account for this hidden drag and shift fossil-fuel subsidies away from coal.
Related article: UK’s Last Coal Power Station Closes, Marking Historic Shift
Words Joshua Neil
Published 18th May 2026
© Faversham House Ltd 2026 edie news articles may be copied or forwarded for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent.
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(Numatic International via SWNS)
(Numatic International via SWNS)

(Numatic International via SWNS)
By Lauren Beavis
Photos show a new $1.25 million solar farm — that will help make 500,000 Henry Hoovers in a U.K. first.
Numatic International — manufacturer of the vacuum — has switched on its new micro-solar-park in Chard, Somerset, in a bid to address the cost of energy crisis.
The five-acre site, installed by SunGift Solar, will be supplying clean power directly into Numatic’s plastic molding operations — one of the most energy-intensive parts of the Henry Hoover manufacturing process.
The installation will allow the company to manufacture “the equivalent of 500,000 Henrys a year from sunshine” while reducing its annual carbon dioxide emissions (CO2).
The company has said its array of 2,672 panels is expected to meet around 20 percent of its annual on-site electricity demand — rising as high as 100 percent on some days.
The solar park, which Numatic hopes will be used as a blueprint for other manufacturers and commercial operations, will cut CO2 emissions by nearly 267 tons a year — the equivalent to the yearly emissions of about 58 average passenger cars.
Stephen George, regulatory affairs and sustainability manager at Numatic International, said: “By investing in cutting-edge solar technology, we’re reducing our environmental footprint at the same time as protecting our manufacturing operations from rapidly rising energy costs.
“Part of our ‘Operation Cleansweep’ sustainability goals, the new micro-solar-park shows what can be achieved when you reimagine how you approach small spaces.
“It helps us on our journey as a responsible manufacturer and accelerates our progress towards achieving Net Zero by 2035.
(Numatic International via SWNS)
“As a result, we will be able to make the equivalent of 500,000 Henrys a year from sunshine while cutting our CO2 emissions by 266.91 tons a year!”
The site uses AIKO All-Back-Contact (ABC) cells paired with Sigenergy’s hybrid inverters — a combination that produces over 7 percent more kWh per panel than conventional ground-mounted solar PV arrays.
Numatic has said its $1.25 million investment will pay for itself in under five years — potentially as soon as two and a half years at current grid energy prices.
Gabriel Wondrausch, director at SunGift Solar, added: “Originally earmarked as a site for new manufacturing units, we calculated that by using highly efficient commercial versions of solar panels normally only used on domestic properties, we could transform a relatively small parcel of land into a hugely valuable solar asset for Numatic, capable of delivering a fifth of its annual energy needs.
“Providing a blueprint for other high-energy-use manufacturers to follow, the technology shows how small parcels of land adjoining factories or businesses can be converted into direct-feed solar power generation centers.”
Originally published on talker.news, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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Oman-based renewables firm Naqaa Sustainable Energy has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a 2.7GW hybrid renewable energy project in Mahout and Duqm, Oman. 
The hybrid renewable energy project will combine solar PV, wind power and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to supply stable green electricity to Oman’s national grid. The development will have a total installed generation capacity of 2.7GW. 
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The agreement was signed through Naqaa Sustainable Energy’s O-Green platform with Nama Power and Water Procurement, the Omani state-run power and water firm.
According to the companies, the project is intended to strengthen Oman’s renewable energy infrastructure and support the expansion of energy-intensive industries, including data centres, advanced computing technologies and green fuel production. 
The project forms part of Oman’s wider energy transition strategy under Oman Vision 2040, which aims to expand clean energy deployment and reduce carbon emissions across industrial sectors. 
Naqaa, through its O-Green platform, operates more than 11GW of solar and wind energy capacity across its renewable energy portfolio in Oman.  
Apart from Oman, the company operated in Botswana. Recently, Naqaa announced the development of a 500MW PV plant in Botswana, which will be a cornerstone of the country’s plan to reach 1.5GW of operational renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade. The project will include 500MW of solar PV capacity, alongside a 500MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), and the government expects the project to begin commercial operations in 2029. 

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Edited, representative image
Hundreds of birds are falling from the sky at solar farms across the American Southwest.
Pelicans, hummingbirds, grebes, and other species suddenly dive toward the panels below.
Impacts often prove fatal or leave birds stranded on the scorching desert floor.
Researchers initially struggled to explain why water birds targeted dry desert facilities.
Then the deaths started spreading across dozens of species.
Research confirms panels trigger a lethal optical illusion called the ‘Lake Effect.’
Facilities like the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System cover 3,500 acres with shimmering mirrors.
Bird deaths began drawing attention at projects like the Genesis Solar Energy Project in California’s Mojave Desert.
Workers started finding dead birds beneath the panels regularly.
Desert workers found ‘water birds’ like Yuma Ridgway’s Rails, miles from any wetland.
That confused researchers immediately.
Over 138 bird species are now documented victims of solar infrastructure collisions.
Scientists noticed another pattern quickly.
The majority of fatalities are ‘obligate’ waterbirds that require water surfaces for takeoff.
The deaths increased during migration seasons.
That clue became extremely important later.
Researchers eventually started investigating how birds visually detect lakes and rivers from the sky.
That led them toward a phenomenon called the “lake effect.”
Birds do not locate water exactly like humans do.
Many species rely heavily on polarized light reflections.
Horizontal surfaces polarize light. To a bird’s eye, this signal identifies deep water.
PV panels reflect highly polarized light, often more intensely than actual water.
From high above the desert, massive solar farms may resemble lakes or wetlands.
That illusion becomes especially dangerous during migration.
Tired birds searching for water suddenly descend toward what looks like a safe landing zone.
Instead, they hit glass, steel, or surrounding infrastructure.
Some species face an even more serious problem afterward.
Grebes and loons have legs positioned far back on their bodies. This makes land takeoffs physically impossible.
Their bodies evolved for swimming and water takeoffs instead.
Seabirds are also being impacted by the new era of renewable energy.
Researchers studying facilities tracked unusual bird behavior directly above solar arrays.
Some birds circled repeatedly before descending suddenly.
Others attempted full landing motions toward the panels themselves.
The problem has been studied extensively by the California Energy Commission.
This is backed by the study, “Utility-scale solar impacts on volant wildlife,” published in The Wildlife Society.
The phenomenon is known as the “lake effect” by experts.
Dark solar panels reflect polarized light in the same way as lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
Birds flying overhead interpret those reflections as safe landing areas.
That explains why some diving birds keep approaching desert solar facilities.
Many descend rapidly toward the panels, expecting water below.
Instead, they collide with hard surfaces or become trapped nearby.
Experts note that more than 71 bird species have been affected by this “lake effect”.
Scientists documented similar behavior across multiple sites. Solar plants are creating new habitats for wildlife.
But at these solar facilities, that “artificial habitat” is having an adverse effect.
Facilities using large reflective surfaces appear especially risky during migration periods.
Now, researchers are testing possible solutions.
Engineers are testing UV-reflective patterns and ‘anti-polarization’ white grids to break the illusion.
Others focus on changing panel textures or adding visual markers.
Scientists stress that renewable energy remains important.
But the discoveries revealed something unexpected about how wildlife experiences human technology.
To migrating birds high above the desert, some solar farms do not look like power plants at all.
They see a shimmering oasis where there is only glass, confusing the birds in the process.
Will the technological advances we’re seeing in recent photovoltaic innovations take this issue into consideration?
© 2026 by Ecoportal
© 2026 by Ecoportal

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The Vietnamese state power utility Vietnam Energy Generation Corporation 1 (EVNGENCO1) has proposed the development of 270MW of floating solar PV capacity on three hydropower reservoirs.
The three projects will represent an investment of approximately VND4.4 billion (US$116,938), the utility said. The proposed sites are all in the Lam Dong province of southern Vietnam; the 96MW Dai Ninh Lake project, the 100MW Ham Thuan Lake project and the 70MW Da Mi Lake site.
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The Lam Dong region has an existing hydropower reservoir system, which Nguyen Tien Khoa, chairman of the board of EVGENCO1, said makes it a “region with great potential” for floating solar PV projects.
The utility – a subsidiary of Vietnam Electricity – said its proposal is in line with Vietnam’s revised Power Development plan VIII, which looks to expand renewable energy and improve electricity reliability over the coming years.
It also said that floating PV can improve the efficiency of reservoir utilisation as well as expanding renewable energy capacity without sacrificing land. The 49MW Da Mi Lake floating solar project, operated by another subsidiary of Vietnam Electricity, was the first floating PV project in Vietnam to come online, in 2019. EVGENCO1 said that project provides a “practical basis” proving the case for its plans for larger floating PV systems.
Southeast Asia has been a major growth market for floating solar, partly due to the relative lack of suitable land in the region for large-scale ground mounted photovoltaics. Rystad Energy has previously predicted that the technology will play a “key role” in the region’s solar expansion.
In February, construction began on Malaysia’s largest floating PV project. The 300MW project in Batang Berjuntai, Malaysia is being built by EDRA Global Energy, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN).
Last week, the Norwegian technical consultancy DNV released a set of technical standards and guidelines for floating solar projects, covering the design, operations and maintenance and the specific mooring technology used for the projects.

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https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2026/05/18/integrating-clean-power-and-the-natural-environment/
By Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England
In this blog, our Chair Tony Juniper reflects on a recent site visit to a solar farm in Essex where he saw first-hand how clean solar energy can be delivered alongside measures to support biodiversity and to help nature recover. At Natural England, we give advice to developers to get the best outcomes for nature. This blog explores how the Government’s clean power and nature recovery goals can be delivered together.  
It’s great to see infrastructure projects showcased for their green credentials. And my recent visit to a solar farm was one of these. As we walked through wildflower meadows with Cetti’s Warblers singing from thick hedges, Whitethroats singing and newly arrived Swallows flying overhead, I was impressed by how this site has championed clean power while simultaneously supporting biodiversity.
There’s a common assumption that clean energy infrastructure comes at a cost to the natural environment. But this is a false choice – solar farms, done well, can actively support Nature recovery alongside energy generation. And that’s exactly what I witnessed at Langenhoe, a site managed by NextEnergy Capital near Colchester, Essex.
The Government recently announced its ambition to roughly triple solar power capacity by 2030, making solar a core pillar of a clean, secure electricity system. This forms part of the Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan which recognises the need to integrate clean power and the natural environment to tackle the climate and Nature crises. Similarly, in Natural England’s new Strategy, we set out how recovering Nature will be a vital pillar to help deliver the infrastructure that the country needs. 
Solar farms are now a familiar sight in our landscapes; onshore wind farms are once again starting to come through the planning process, following changes to national planning policy in 2024; and large, offshore wind farms continue to progress through the planning process and into construction.
As we move towards 2030 and beyond, clean power generation capacity will increase rapidly. Only a few weeks ago, in early April, a new record was set for solar in Great Britain with over 14,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity being generated. 
We will see new electricity transmission, distribution and storage infrastructure too.  All this development presents risks and opportunities for Nature recovery.  At Natural England, we work with developers to get the best outcomes for Nature. Plus, the recently launched Land Use Framework sets out a vision of a more integrated way of managing England’s land. The new Framework shows how Nature, food production, clean energy and housing can complement each other rather than compete.
Site selection happens early in a project’s development. At this stage, taking the opportunity to avoid the most sensitive sites will benefit Nature and will also make the planning process smoother. Natural England’s SSSI Impact Risk Zones are a useful tool that developers can make use of to help with this. Environmental records and site surveys will also be valuable. We encourage developers to use our Discretionary Advice Service as they consider their options and progress their designs. Our advice helps to reduce consenting risks and benefits Nature recovery too.
We want to work with developers from the outset to identify environmental impacts so that mitigation measures can be designed into the projects from the start. Where projects are clustered together, there may be cumulative effects. it is important that assessment spots these effects early so that developers and regulatory authorities can join up mitigation at the most efficient scale.
Typical impacts for a solar farm might include impacts on landscape character, agricultural soils, protected species, or areas used by important bird populations for feeding or roosting near to protected sites. Sensitive design and construction methods are needed to mitigate these impacts. In some cases, where not all impacts can be mitigated for, there may be a need for habitat compensation. Biodiversity Net Gain will also need to be planned for.
Solar farms offer great opportunities for environmental enhancements on site.  For example, some developers are investigating the potential for re-wetting peat soils beneath solar panels, to help store carbon and mitigate for climate change as well as providing habitat benefits.   
Within individual sites, there are opportunities for multiple benefits to be gained from the land.  For example, between and beneath solar panels, soils may be protected, wildflower habitats can be managed, and some grazing may be possible.  Boundary features such as hedgerows and ditches may be enhanced for nature and to integrate the site into the landscape. 
It was great to see Langenhoe in action. This solar farm has been operational for over a decade now. It was developed on agricultural land next to the Colne Estuary Special Protection Area, Ramsar and SSSI and close to the Essex Estuaries Special Area of Conservation. The project included mitigation measures for impacts on wintering birds associated with those sites, as well as enhancements including wildflower habitat, scrub planting, bug hotels and hibernacula. In 2025 a pair of corn buntings was recorded inside the solar farm for the first time, feeding in the north‑west wildflower meadow, a significant result for this red‑listed farmland bird.
I was interested to see how the site had matured, what the ecological monitoring had found on site, and to hear the site operator’s perspective on the successes and challenges of managing the solar farm alongside nature. 
Hing Kin Lee, Group Lead for Nature from NextEnergy Capital, told me: 
“At NextEnergy Capital, we design and manage solar with nature in mind from day one – not as an afterthought. By integrating biodiversity, land management and cost considerations early, we can identify key risks and dependencies upfront, from soil health to habitat connectivity and long-term land use.
“This approach reduces delivery risk, avoids costly late-stage mitigation and ultimately creates more resilient assets. In practice, it enables us to deliver solar farms that not only support climate goals, but also actively contribute to nature recovery while enhancing long-term performance and value.”
Chris Hewett, CEO at Solar Energy UK said:
“Solar farms, managed well, can boost nature and support farming, as well as generating clean, affordable electricity. Solar Energy UK has been working with its members for five years on ecological monitoring, best practice land management and creating major biodiversity gains on solar farms across the country. Independent research from RSPB is now showing significant improvements in bird populations on solar farms compared to surrounding arable land. 
“We were delighted to show the Natural England leadership around a solar farm to show what can be done for nature on these sites and look forward to working more closely with the team in the years to come.”
This site, not much over 30ha, is producing enough electricity for seven or eight thousand homes and has led to more biodiversity being present at the site of the solar installation compared with what was there before, with a net gain of 80%. Less than 5% of the land surface is changed to buildings or hardstanding, with most of the ground around the power producing technology and between and beneath the panels capable of supporting wildlife. Looking at this site and it is apparent that the alignment between solar energy and Nature can be strong and good outcomes achieved via inexpensive common sense measures.
At Natural England we believe the benefits for Nature recovery arising from solar power can be significant and we want to work with developers from the earliest stages of project design to get the best for Nature and growth. This project shows what’s possible.
The Clean Energy Superpower Mission is one of the government’s five core national missions, led by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Its central commitment is to deliver clean power by 2030 and accelerate the transition to net zero, while cutting bills, strengthening energy security and creating jobs across the UK.  
Tags: development, growth and development, Growth and Nature Blog Series, Natural England, nature, nature recovery, renewable energy, solar farm
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JA Solar has reached a combined 1GW DeepBlue 5.0 supply partnership milestone with five leading distribution partners in Australia: OSW, Luxco Energy, Sol Distribution, Solar Agent and Greentech.
The milestone marks an important step in the Australian rollout of the DeepBlue 5.0 module, the company’s latest-generation n-type TOPCon module series.
DeepBlue 5.0 represents JA Solar’s next step in advanced module technology, delivering more performance with the same trusted reliability. Built on its proprietary Bycium+ 5.0 n-type cell technology and advanced TOPCon architecture, the series stands out through measurable improvements in power, efficiency, energy yield and application flexibility. Its seamless full-screen design increases the active area by up to 1.82%, supporting an additional +20W power increase, while the optimized multi-slice design helps reduce shading impact and power loss. Compared with conventional n-type TOPCon modules, DeepBlue 5.0 is designed to improve first-year energy gain by 1.57%–3.06%, reduce BOS cost by 0.19%–0.79% and lower LCOE by 1.03%–2.50%.
The product was scheduled for mass production from Q4 2025, with initial power ratings ranging from 640W to 670W and a maximum module efficiency of 24.8%.
Country Manager Darren Lim commented: “DeepBlue 5.0 is an important product milestone for JA Solar globally, and Australia is one of the key markets where we see strong potential for its adoption. This 1GW partnership milestone reflects the confidence our partners have in JA Solar’s technology, quality and long-term reliability, as well as our shared commitment to supporting Australia’s renewable energy transition.”
Ajay Rajput, Purchase Head at Luxco Energy, added: “JA Solar has been a key partner in strengthening Luxco Energy’s position as a trusted distributor in the Australian solar market. Its strong global reputation, proven product performance, reliable supply and technical support give us the confidence to meet customer demand and build long-term relationships with installers and developers. Through this partnership, we are able to deliver premium solar solutions while maintaining competitiveness and trust in a rapidly growing market.”  
Usama Aslam, OSW Director of Sales and Product (AU), concluded: “Our long-standing partnership with JA Solar reflects a shared commitment to quality, reliability and supporting the continued growth of Australia’s solar industry. We value the strong relationship we’ve built over the years and look forward to continuing that journey together.”

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“During the day, my solar panels can keep the whole house up.”
Photo Credit: TikTok
One homeowner took to TikTok to share their review of the Tesla Powerwall 3 after testing its potential to power essential appliances when the grid goes down.  
According to Collin (@saltyacresnc), he initially tested the system while running his AC during a very warm summer month. During the test, he found he could keep his appliances running for four hours. 
While this doesn’t sound like that long, if the homeowner kept only the vital appliances running, that energy would likely last much longer. 
While home batteries and solar are great for home energy security, they can also help you shave your electricity bills dramatically. 
Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
To see how much you can save, connect with the experts at EnergySage to get quick solar installation estimates and compare quotes. 
The homeowner also noted that the Tesla Powerwall only really needs to function at night or during very cloudy days, as his solar panels usually provide enough energy during the day for his entire home. 
“During the day, my solar panels can keep the whole house up,” he explained. 
In fact, according to this homeowner, a backup battery system can last as long as you need it to when paired with solar, as long as you’re smart about your energy usage. 
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Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.
If this homeowner testimonial has you curious about solar and battery backups, EnergySage can help you get up to $10,000 off a solar purchase and installation. 
Plus, EnergySage also offers a helpful mapping tool that shows the average cost of a home solar panel system in every state, along with details on local solar incentives that could help lower installation costs. The tool can help homeowners compare prices, find the best deal on rooftop solar panels, and identify incentives they may qualify for. 
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to keep your home powered during outages, reduce energy costs, and even move closer to going fully off-grid. Home batteries can store excess solar energy generated during the day for use at night or during periods of peak electricity pricing.
Homeowners interested in battery storage can also explore EnergySage’s free tools to compare home battery options, learn more about the technology, and receive competitive installation estimates.
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India-based Fujiyama Power Systems Limited has commissioned a 2 GW solar panel manufacturing facility in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. This line is part of its greenfield expansion project aimed at strengthening integrated solar manufacturing operations. It will target the domestic rooftop solar market.  
The solar panel line will initially operate at ~1 GW annualized capacity under single-shift operations, with a phased ramp-up planned to reach full utilization by Q4 FY27. Following the commissioning, Fujiyama’s total solar panel manufacturing capacity has increased to 3,568 MW. In January 2026, it commissioned a 1 GW solar cell factory in Uttar Pradesh to support its 1.2 GW module operations (see Fujiyama Commissions 1 GW Solar Cell Factory In India). 
Its Ratlam facility has a planned capacity of 2 GW each for solar panels, batteries, and inverters. The company said commissioning of its inverter and battery manufacturing lines was delayed due to the adoption of newer lithium-ion battery technologies and supply disruptions linked to geopolitical developments. Fujiyama expects the inverter line to be operational in Q1 FY27 and the battery line in Q2 FY27. 
India’s state-run Central Electronics Limited (CEL) has commissioned a 200 MW solar module manufacturing line. At its inauguration recently, Union Minister Jitendra Singh described it as a significant step for the country’s clean energy and indigenous manufacturing goals. CEL manufactured the country’s 1st solar cell in 1977, informed the minister. He added that the new facility reflects India’s growing focus on self-reliance in renewable energy manufacturing. In April 2025, CEL launched a tender for a 200 MW new module production line at its Sahibabad location in April 2025 (see Central Electronics Issues Tender For 200 MW Module Line). 
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently updated the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II for solar cells, carrying out its 7th revision. This includes a revision of Waaree Energies Limited’s (WEL) 1.328 GW of monocrystalline p-type PERC bifacial solar cell capacity, which now sports a cell efficiency of 22.0% to 23.70%, changed from 22.2% to 23.5%. Solar cell efficiency of its 3.923 GW monocrystalline n-type TOPCon bifacial capacity has changed from 24.40-25.50% to now 24.00-25.80%. The revision also includes RenewSys India’s 452 MW n-type TOPCon solar cell capacity, which will be valid till April 29, 2030 (see RenewSys Adds TOPCon Solar Cells To India’s ALMM List-II).  
This expands the total enlisted ALMM List-II capacity to exceed 30.3 GW since it added 1.238 GW new capacity from Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), 991 MW from Jupiter Solartech Private Limited, and 1.202 GW from Websol Energy System Limited under the 6th revision (see HJT Solar Cells, From Reliance, Enter India’s ALMM List-II). The list comes into force on June 1, 2026 (see India To Impose ALMM For Solar Cells From June 1, 2026). 
JSW Energy, a private power producer, has commissioned around 250 MW of renewable energy capacity since April 2026. This comprises 130 MW of wind, 69.4 MW of solar, and the 50 MW Tidong Hydro Plant Unit-I. The addition has increased the company’s total installed power generation capacity to 13.7 GW. Renewables now account for 59% of JSW Energy’s total installed capacity, including 3.92 GW of wind and 2.44 GW of solar capacities, including a hybrid component. JSW Energy said it has a locked-in generation portfolio of 32.1 GW, including operational, under-construction, and pipeline projects. The company plans to add around 3 GW of renewable energy capacity in FY27 and targets 30 GW of generation capacity and 40 GWh of energy storage capacity by 2030. 
Indian car parts maker Sona BLW Precision Forgings Limited (Sona Comstar) has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Cleantech Solar to source clean power on a group captive basis. Cleantech will honor this agreement through its open-access solar park in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.  
Sat Mohan Gupta, Sona Comstar’s CEO of Motor Business, said the agreement with Cleantech is aimed at improving energy efficiency in its operations to reduce emissions. It will also increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. Cleantech Solar CEO Sanjay Gupta said the partnership highlights the vital role of clean energy in sustainable manufacturing. 
Coal India Limited (CIL) has informed that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has struck off the name of its wholly owned subsidiary, CIL Solar PV Limited, from the Register of Companies under Section 248 of the Companies Act, 2013. It refers to an MCA notice dated May 11, 2026, to announce the dissolution.   
Earlier, the MCA had issued a public notice on April 20, 2026, stating that the Registrar of Companies proposed to remove the subsidiary’s name under Section 248(2) of the Companies Act and invited objections within 30 days from the date of publication. Coal India disclosed the development under SEBI’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) Regulations. 
In December 2025, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, in its March 2025 report, said Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries had achieved only 4.08% of their 3 GW solar target and called for faster project execution. The report also highlighted weak solar manufacturing performance at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited due to outdated technology and low capacity utilization (see India Solar PV News Snippets).  
TaiyangNews 2024

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Spanish engineering company Intergia is testing floating PV systems adapted for manure lagoons at pig farms to reduce ammonia emissions while generating on-site solar electricity. Two prototypes are being assessed to measure emissions reduction, durability, and energy performance.
A floating PV system carried out on the slurry lagoon in Zamora, Spain
Image: Intergia
From pv magazine Spain
Engineering firm Intergia announced it is testing floating PV systems adapted for manure lagoons at pig farms.
The initiative combines partial lagoon covering to limit ammonia emissions with the generation of PV electricity for on-site self-consumption. The project runs from 2024 to 2027 and is supported by funding from the EU’s NextGenerationEU program.
The company explained that lagoons are continuously fed with manure collected from farm facilities via a piping system. Periodically, trucks or tractors remove the slurry using suction systems to empty the lagoons. In regions with intensive livestock farming, manure surpluses lead to excess nutrients, particularly nitrates, which can contaminate soils and water resources if they leach into aquifers and waterways.
During storage, lagoons also emit significant quantities of ammonia into the atmosphere. Satellite observations have identified elevated concentrations of the gas in areas with high densities of intensive pig farming. Covering the lagoons is therefore seen as a mitigation measure to reduce emissions and evaporation.
Intergia is currently testing two floating PV system prototypes with different designs.
The first was installed at a sow farm in Calzada de Tera, Zamora, using a commercial floating PV system originally designed for water applications but adapted for use on manure lagoons. It currently covers around 20% of the lagoon surface, with plans to increase coverage to 90% using weighted hexagonal floating elements. It comprises 56 solar panels with a total capacity of 33.04 kW and is expected to generate around 50.04 MWh annually, reducing the farm’s electricity bill by up to 22%.
The second prototype, developed specifically for this application, has been installed at a 6,000-head fattening farm in Tauste, Zaragoza. The facility operates off-grid and previously relied on a diesel generator supplemented by a small photovoltaic system.
Image: Intergia
The Tauste slurry lagoon covers an area of 1,100 m². To minimize air–slurry interaction and reduce the risk of emissions, conventional floating photovoltaic systems were ruled out in favor of a modular floating pontoon system provided by Bulgaria-based Buldock, comprising interconnected cubic elements designed to minimize open water areas.
A dedicated superstructure was installed on this platform, consisting of a matrix of horizontal anodized aluminum beams anchored with bolts at the float connection points. The system incorporates brackets that raise the photovoltaic modules to a 15-degree tilt. In total, the installation comprises 16 PV panels with a capacity of 9.44 kW, oriented slightly southeast. To prevent corrosion in the ammonia-rich environment, aluminum and stainless steel components were used throughout.
The floating platform measures 11.5 m x 9.5 m and includes safety railings as well as a dedicated channel for routing solar cabling. It is secured by four mooring points and automatically adapts to fluctuations in slurry level without contacting the lagoon embankments.
The system covers approximately 10% of the lagoon surface and is expected to generate around 15.2 MWh annually—enough to supply up to 53% of the farm’s electricity demand through self-consumption.
The project also includes an environmental monitoring campaign to assess system performance. Ammonia emissions are being measured using a floating dynamic chamber in accordance with standardized protocols, while methane concentrations are monitored in real time using dedicated sensors, both above the platform and along the lagoon perimeter.
In parallel, data on PV generation and self-consumption will be analyzed. A technical and economic comparison of the two prototypes will determine which solution performs better in terms of emissions reduction, corrosion resistance, energy efficiency, and economic viability, with the goal of developing a scalable commercial solution for the swine sector.

 
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The German company SINN Power GmbH inaugurated the world’s first vertically installed floating photovoltaic plant, based on the patented SKipp technology. The pilot project was installed in the Starnberg gravel pit, with 2,500 vertical panels totaling 1.87 MW and partially supplying a nearby industry.
What is revolutionary is that the modules are arranged east to west, generating energy in two peaks: morning and afternoon, coinciding with the times of highest domestic and industrial consumption.
Although the initial investment is higher than in land installations, the efficiency and lifespan offset the costs. Additionally, the plant functions as a living laboratory to study the ecological impact on lakes:
Traditionally, solar panels are installed tilted southward to maximize midday radiation. However, this peak does not coincide with actual demand. The Bavarian plant demonstrates that vertical arrangement can align generation and consumption, offering a more efficient and sustainable alternative.
The installation in Germany adds to a growing trend: the use of floating solar panels to take advantage of water bodies in dams, lakes, and quarries. Countries like Japan, China, and the Netherlands are already experimenting with similar projects, although with conventional inclined panels. The German innovation marks a new direction by combining flotation with verticality.
Furthermore, the coincidence between real generation and consumption could be key to reducing pressure on urban electrical grids and decreasing dependence on costly storage systems.
SINN Power’s innovation opens a new chapter in the energy transition: floating vertical solar panels that produce energy just when it is most needed. This model could be replicated in other regions, combining efficiency, sustainability, and adaptation to the challenges of climate change.
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Taoyuan’s Department of Economic Development says its new guidelines for solar projects are designed to make photovoltaics “reliable and trustworthy neighbors.” Solar operators will be required to inspect environmentally-sensitive areas during the planning of future projects and prepare plans for storing damaged solar panels as a result of any natural disasters.
Rooftop solar installation in Taoyuan
Image: Taoyuan Department of Economic Development
The city of Taoyuan in northern Taiwan has published local guidelines for solar power projects.
The guidelines, implemented by the city’s Department of Economic Development, are geared towards improving environmental protection, safety, and future recycling of solar power projects in the area.
They stipulate that operators will be required to conduct self-inspections on hillsides or environmentally-sensitive areas during the planning and site selection of future solar projects. The guidelines also recommend that developers communicate substantially with local residents during the planning phase.
Third-party experts will be brought in by the city to conduct equipment health checks once plants begin operating, the guidelines add, while developers will be expected to set up contact channels so local residents can report problems or ask questions.
Solar plant operators will also be required to prepare plans for storing damaged panels as a result of any natural disasters in order to prevent pollution from the mishandling of broken panels.
The guidance then promises stricter standards for collection, storage and recycling of solar panels that are ready to be retired or recycled, in order to ensure panels do not become unmanaged waste.
Director of Taoyuan’s Department of Economic Development, Chang Cheng, commented that with central government regulations focusing mostly on power generation and land use, existing guidance on environmental impact, safety management and handling of aging equipment is not detailed enough.
“We must ensure that every photovoltaic project is managed from its inception to its retirement; this is the only way to be responsible for Taoyuan’s land,” the director said, adding that while the city welcomes green energy, it must be “responsible”.
“The goal is to make photovoltaic facilities reliable and trustworthy neighbors through these standards,” a statement on the department’s website adds. “In the future, the [department] will continue to coordinate the efforts of various departments to make Taoyuan a new model for green energy management and sustainable governance nationwide.”
Taoyuan’s new rules for solar follow a series of changes to Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan on national-level regulations governing the development of ground-mounted and floating solar projects. The amendments, passed late last year, introduced requirements for environmental impact assessments prior to development of solar projects and ruled out solar installations larger than one hectare in scenic spots and geographically-sensitive areas.
The policy changes came after a major typhoon that struck southern Taiwan in early July, damaging over 135,000 solar panels. 
Taiwan is on track to more than double its current solar capacity by the end of 2035, according to analysis by consultancy GlobalData, with forecasted annual growth additions between 1 GW and 2 GW.
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KTRH-AM covering local news from Houston and across Texas.
The Texas power grid has faced its fair share of concerns int he last decade or two. Especially in the wake of 2021 Winter Storm Uri, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has been making strides to make the power grid more reliable. Which is no easy task, considering the exploding population of Texas. Part of that push has been the expansion of solar power. After all, for a good eight months of the year, the state is blasted by the sun.
The growth has been steady in the solar sector the last few years, as the state tries firing up more natural gas and even small modular nuclear reactors to help keep up with the demand. But it seems to not just be holding up but helping the state stay above water. T1 Energy CEO Dan Barcelo said recently that some days, the Texas grid is over 50-percent solar. That means 50-percent or more of our generated power is coming from solar, on some days at least.
T1 Energy spokesman Russell Gold says while it sounds scary, this has actually been a good thing.
"We are actually seeing fewer times where ERCOT is having issues with the grid…more solar does not create reliability concerns, in fact, the evidence shows it appears to be doing the opposite," he says.
The last ten years, the solar capacity in Texas has drastically increased, which helps. In 2016, the state had about 1,200 megawatts of solar capacity. As of last year, the state holds about 22 gigawatts of solar capacity, over 17 times the capacity of ten years ago.
That means solar has had time to scale up properly with the growth of the state, as that is enough to power about 3.5 million homes. But it is especially important during our brutal Texas summers.
"During summers, when we need power most, it is the middle of the day…that is when solar is the biggest contributor," says Gold. "The good part about solar is it syncs up with demand."
There has been fears over solar and wind energy in recent years, and with wind, those fears are entirely justified. But solar has a place in the future of the Texas grid.
This not only helps consumers, but solar has become a huge boon to the state’s overall bottom line.
"It is helping us compete in artificial intelligence…that is what is allowing out economy to grow right now," Gold says.
He adds that solar is like having extra sets of tools in your toolbox. The more tools you have, the more stable the grid will become.
Photo: VioNettaStock / E+ / Getty Images

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Sunrun home solar and Brightbox battery storage turn rooftops into small power plants for many U.S. homes, offering predictable clean energy and backup during grid outages.
Sunrun home solar with Brightbox battery storage is one of the most widely offered residential rooftop solar and storage solutions for U.S. homeowners, according to the companys service footprint across multiple statesSunrun, 03/15/2024Sunrun, 04/02/2024.
Updated: 05/17/2026 | Reading time: approx. 9 minutes
By the AD HOC NEWS editorial team – specialized in product-led market coverage.
Sunrun home solar with Brightbox combines rooftop solar panels, an inverter, and a home battery to generate and store electricity at the customer site. The company describes it as a solar plus storage service that can power parts of a home during grid outagesSunrun, 02/20/2024Sunrun, 01/18/2024.
In a typical installation, Sunrun designs a rooftop solar array based on the homes historical electricity use and local roof conditions. Panels feed direct current into an inverter, which converts it to alternating current for home circuits while also coordinating charging of the Brightbox batterySunrun, 11/09/2023Sunrun, 09/21/2023.
During the day, solar generation first serves household loads, with any excess either charging the battery or feeding the grid where net metering programs exist. At night or during outages, the Brightbox battery can discharge to selected circuits, such as refrigeration, lighting, and basic electronicsSunrun, 12/14/2023Sunrun, 08/30/2023.
A Sunrun system typically includes rooftop photovoltaic modules, mounting hardware, one or more inverters, a smart meter interface, the Brightbox battery enclosure, and a control unit that manages power flows and communicates with Sunruns remote monitoring platformSunrun, 07/12/2023Sunrun, 05/03/2023.
The Brightbox battery offering has used lithium-ion technology from partners such as Tesla and LG in different program generations, according to Sunruns product descriptions and partner announcementsSunrun, 06/20/2023Sunrun, 04/05/2023. Battery chemistry and exact capacity can vary by program and market.
Sunrun monitors system performance through an online portal and app, letting homeowners track solar production and battery status. The company states that it provides ongoing maintenance and repair for systems under its service agreementsSunrun, 10/26/2023Sunrun, 04/18/2023.
Sunrun emphasizes service-based financing models, including solar leases and power purchase agreements, alongside options where customers can buy a system. In a service agreement, Sunrun owns and maintains the equipment while the homeowner pays a monthly fee or rate for electricitySunrun, 09/19/2023Sunrun, 03/14/2023.
The company notes that contract terms, escalators, and buyout options differ by plan and state regulations, and encourages homeowners to review agreement documents carefully and consult tax professionals regarding incentivesSunrun, 02/07/2024Sunrun, 06/28/2023.
Sunrun positions its home solar and Brightbox offering as a way for households to produce cleaner electricity on-site compared with typical U.S. grid mixes that still include fossil fuels, aligning with broader decarbonization trends in residential energy useSunrun, 01/24/2024U.S. EIA, 10/24/2023.
For many U.S. homeowners, electricity reliability has become a concern during storms and heat waves. Sunrun highlights Brightbox as a backup solution that can keep essential loads powered through certain outages, within battery and system limitsSunrun, 09/05/2023NREL, 03/16/2023.
On the industry side, distributed residential systems like those installed by Sunrun can form part of virtual power plant programs, where aggregated home batteries support the grid during peak demand in certain utility partnershipsSunrun, 09/14/2023Utility Dive, 07/20/2023.
Sunrun notes that potential bill savings depend on local rates, solar resource, and incentive structures, and it models projected savings for each proposal rather than promising fixed outcomesSunrun, 03/06/2024Consumer Reports, 08/09/2023. Many states also adjust net metering or add grid fees, which can affect outcomes.
Federal incentives for residential clean energy, such as the investment tax credit for eligible homeowners, play an important role in solar adoption. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service explains conditions for claiming a credit on qualified solar and storage equipment expendituresIRS, 01/19/2024U.S. DOE, 11/15/2023. Customers using third party ownership models should check how tax benefits are allocated.
From a planning perspective, homeowners comparing Sunrun with other providers such as Tesla residential solar or local installers typically look at contract length, escalation clauses, equipment brands, and service coverage rather than price aloneConsumer Reports, 09/21/2023U.S. DOE, 05/30/2023.
Residential solar contracts fall under general consumer protection law and state regulations, and several U.S. attorneys general and consumer agencies encourage homeowners to read terms carefully and verify installer licensing before signingFTC, 07/18/2023CFPB, 03/22/2023. These general guidelines also apply when evaluating Sunrun proposals.
The U.S. Department of Energy notes that reputable installers should provide clear system performance estimates, warranty terms, and explanations of who owns renewable energy certificates associated with the systemU.S. DOE, 06/27/2023NREL, 02/10/2023. Sunrun outlines these topics in its contract and proposal materials for customers.
Sunrun concentrates on residential solar and storage in the United States and describes itself as a home energy services provider with operations across numerous states rather than a global manufacturer exporting hardwareSunrun, 03/01/2024Sunrun, 01/10/2024.
Industry analyses from U.S. agencies point out that residential solar adoption has grown in states with supportive policies, high retail electricity prices, and strong solar resources, conditions that align with several of Sunruns active regionsSEIA/Wood Mackenzie, 12/14/2023U.S. EIA, 09/08/2023.
Because Sunrun focuses on installation and ongoing energy services instead of producing solar modules itself, it sources equipment from major manufacturers and adapts product combinations to local utility rules and incentive structuresSunrun, 02/28/2024U.S. DOE, 04/12/2023.
Official Source
The official product and company pages offer detailed information on Sunrun home solar and Brightbox.
What does Sunrun Brightbox back up during an outage?
Sunrun designs Brightbox systems to support selected home circuits such as refrigeration, lighting, and limited electronics, within the battery and system capacity defined in each installationSunrun, 12/14/2023.
Can I buy Sunrun solar equipment instead of leasing it?
Sunrun offers options where customers can purchase a system in some markets, alongside lease and power purchase agreements. Availability and terms depend on location and program typeSunrun, 09/19/2023.
Is Sunrun available in every U.S. state?
Sunrun lists active service areas by state on its website and does not currently market nationwide coverage. Homeowners can enter their ZIP code online to check whether Sunrun services their addressSunrun, 01/10/2024.
Continue Reading
More reports and developments on Sunrun home solar with Brightbox are available in the overview.
More on Sunrun home solar with Brightbox
Sunrun Inc. is the company behind Sunrun home solar with Brightbox and focuses on residential solar, battery storage, and energy services for U.S. householdsSunrun, 03/01/2024.
Sunrun Inc. is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker RUN, and the issuer identifies its common stock with ISIN US86771W1053 in regulatory and investor filingsSEC, 02/28/2024.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute investment advice. Stocks are volatile financial instruments.

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Swedish independent power producer (IPP) OX2 has started construction work at its Muswellbrook project, which combines 135MW of solar capacity and 100MW of batteries.
The project will cover 482 hectares in the Hunter Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone of New South Wales on land “formerly associated with coal mining operations,” according to the company. Building work will involve the construction of 2.4km of new overhead wires to connect to the state’s electricity grid, and OX2 expects to complete construction in 2028.
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The project has been developed in tandem with two Japanese entities: energy company Idemitsu, which worked on the project development, and bank MUFG, which has led on project financing. OX2 has already secured an offtake agreement with an unnamed “international offtaker”, and this deal will cover both the project’s solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) components.
“I’m proud of the work that has brought this project to life and of our contribution to strengthening the energy supply in New South Wales,” said OX2 CEO Matthias Taft. “The investment highlights our long-term commitment to Australia and supports our growth as an independent power producer.”
OX2 secured approval for the project under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act last August, and is the company’s second solar-plus-storage project in the state to receive approval. Australia has been a focus of development for the company, which has transitioned from a developer to an IPP over the last year, since its acquisition by investment firm EQT in October 2024.
Current CEO Taft started work in September 2025, following work at German renewables firm BayWa r.e. over the previous decade; he started managing the company’s renewable energy division in 2013 and was appointed CEO of the German company in 2021.

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Geopolitics, Science and Technology
At 19 astronomical units from the Sun, photovoltaic panels lose their purpose. Therefore, the new NASA nuclear generator being developed by L3Harris Defense Technologies has just passed the critical design review.
On May 14, 2026, in an editorial titled “Getting into the Space Nuclear Power Game“, the company confirmed that the Next-Gen RTG is ready to enter production.
According to World Nuclear News, the information was released in the same week. The device delivers approximately 250 electrical watts of useful output.
Study solves great ancient mystery: remains of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, are identified in Vergina and resolves the enigma of the Macedonian royal tombs that had lasted half a century.
Scientists detect for the first time an invisible halo around the iconic Sombrero galaxy 30 million light-years away, three times wider than the visible galaxy itself, and researchers say that the more material around it is mapped, the sooner the universe may reveal the true origin of dark matter that sustains its orderly rotation.
Built in 1773 by two rival British inventors, the mechanical Silver Swan still works perfectly 253 years later inside the Bowes Museum, in the English county of Durham, without any electric motor, powered only by clock springs wound once a day, and Mark Twain described it in Paris in 1867 as a creature with lively eyes.
57 years and one day ago, the Soviet probe Venera 6 traversed the clouds of Venus for 51 minutes under parachutes and stopped transmitting 10 kilometers from the surface because the pressure of 60 bar and the heat of 320 degrees Celsius crushed its 405-kilogram hull, and no space agency has managed to replicate the feat to this day.
According to the company, the fuel is the decay of plutonium-238. It is enough energy to keep radios, cameras, and instruments operating for over 20 years in deep space.
Moreover, NASA is putting back on the table a mission that had been on paper since the 1980s. Now, with nuclear hardware ready, it can finally emerge from the budget limbo.
Therefore, the urgency has an institutional face. The Decadal Survey 2023-2032 of the National Academies ranked the Uranus Orbiter and Probe as the top priority of American planetary science.
To understand why the agency is resorting to the new device, just look at the equation of sunlight. The intensity of radiation decreases with the inverse square of the distance.
According to the basic data of the Solar System:
In practice, solar panels would have to be absurdly large to generate 250 watts at that distance. According to a study by the Outer Planets Assessment Group, solar arrays would be mechanically unfeasible on small probes.
Therefore, the agency has relied on plutonium-238 as deep space fuel since the 1960s. Subsequently, this cycle continued with Voyager 1, launched in 1977.
Even so, Voyager 1 transmits data from interstellar space after 48 years. Each probe carries three old RTGs that still operate with reduced power.
According to the L3Harris editorial, the Next-Gen RTG was designed in partnership with the Idaho National Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy. This laboratory is responsible for resuming domestic production of plutonium-238.
The DOE confirms that national laboratories have resumed manufacturing Pu-238 at scale. Thus, ending the dependence on stocks inherited from the Cold War.
The design delivers about 250 electrical watts at the start of its useful life. In comparison, the Multi-Mission RTG used by the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers delivers about 110 watts.
This means that each new unit practically doubles the available power compared to the previous standard. Additionally, the system was optimized to last over 20 years.
On the other hand, the set is modular. It can be combined in pairs or trios for missions that require more energy. It can also be scaled down for smaller probes.
The National Academies report of 2022 classified the probe as the flagship mission priority of the next decade.
According to the technical document from NASA itself, Uranus is the only one of the four giant planets that has never received a dedicated mission.
Voyager 2 made a single flyby in 1986, and since then there has been no other visit. Saturn had Cassini-Huygens. Jupiter receives Juno. Neptune awaits a future mission.
On the other hand, the scientific relevance goes beyond curiosity. For exoplanets, ice giants are extremely common in the galaxy.
Therefore, studying Uranus up close means understanding how similar worlds form and evolve in other star systems. In other words, it is applied exoplanetology.
The document indicates that the ideal launch window uses a gravitational flyby at Jupiter, available in 2031 and 2032. Missing this window, the journey could take almost twice as long.
Therefore, L3Harris’s schedule is tight. The flight units of the Next-Gen RTG must be ready in the early 2030s.
In a statement, the company said that the Critical Design Review authorizes the construction of the first units. The final vibration and vacuum tests are expected to occur in 2027.
Brazil does not operate space nuclear reactors. However, the learning curve is valuable for any national exploration program.
The Brazilian tradition in nuclear generation, with Angra 1 and 2, historically depends on imported enriched fuel. Thus, replicating an RTG would require a Pu-238 supply chain that no South American country possesses.
On the other hand, learning in high-reliability autonomous systems is directly applicable to sectors like pre-salt. FPSO platforms operate for 25 years in a hostile environment.
As researchers follow long-duration technologies, the quality standard that NASA applies to an RTG is the same that defines critical offshore equipment.
Despite the progress, there are concrete risks. First, the budget. NASA estimates that the Uranus Orbiter and Probe could cost more than US$ 4 billion.
Therefore, budget cuts or competing priorities could delay the launch, missing the gravitational window. Still, there is another risk: the Pu-238 supply is limited.
The DOE’s production rate is on the order of a few hundred grams per year. Each Next-Gen RTG, in turn, requires several kilograms. There will be a waiting list among missions.
Finally, there are safety reservations. The NASA RPS program maintains strict containment protocols. Previous RTGs met this standard.
However, any public failure would delay the entire American space nuclear agenda for years. It is worth remembering that radiological safety is the Achilles’ heel of the program.
If humanity can already build small nuclear generators to power probes for 20 years, why can’t we achieve the same on solid ground?
Scientific bases, isolated hospitals, or offshore platforms could use the same technology. The limit has never been technical — it has always been political will.
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Researchers have introduced formamidine acetate as a vapor-deposited additive for thermally evaporated FASnI2Br tin perovskite films. The lead-free and solvent-free approach is intended for indoor photovoltaics that can power low-energy electronics and IoT devices.  Formamidine acetate was found to coordinate with SnI2, forming a metastable intermediate phase during crystallization processes. The intermediate phase has enabled improved control over crystallization kinetics during solvent-free wide-bandgap perovskite film formation.  
Formamidine acetate also decreased SnI2 surface free energy and promoted uniform deposition of the subsequent FABr layer. The improved film quality has reduced trap-assisted recombination losses across assembled indoor PV device structures. These indoordevices have achieved 16.36% efficiency under 1000 lx illumination and exceeded 3000 h stability under N2 without encapsulation. 

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European Energy pumps EUR 200m into new solar facility  Energy Watch
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Home – Energy – A judge orders solar panels removed from a balcony, sparking an unexpected debate over saving electricity, neighbors, and the limits of home energy
A resident in Gdańsk, Poland, installed a small solar kit on his apartment balcony to bring down his electric bill. It worked. According to local reporting, his costs fell by more than one-third, but a district court has now ordered him to remove the panels after a dispute with the housing cooperative that manages the building.
The case is not really about whether solar power works. It is about something more everyday, and more frustrating. Can a person living in an apartment building make a clean-energy upgrade on a balcony, or does shared property law still have the final say?
The resident, identified in Polish and Spanish-language reports as Krzysztof, installed the panels in a building run by the Młyniec housing cooperative in Gdańsk. Before doing so, he reportedly asked for permission and was told he needed support from more than half of eligible neighbors.
He collected signatures from around 60% of them and submitted a technical opinion from a construction expert. In practical terms, he thought he had done the homework. The cooperative later challenged the signatures, arguing that it could not verify whether they belonged to real cooperative members rather than tenants, visitors, or other people without voting rights.
The setup was modest, at least compared with a roof full of panels. In 2023, Krzysztof reportedly mounted two 400-watt photovoltaic panels on the railing of a glazed balcony area, using anchors and a microinverter to turn direct current into household alternating current.
Later, he added a third panel, raising the system to 1.2 kilowatts. That is not enough to power a whole apartment through every season, but it can make a real dent in daily use, especially when the sun is strong and appliances are running.
After the system was installed, Krzysztof asked the cooperative to validate it. That is where the dispute hardened. The cooperative questioned the traceability of the signatures and refused to approve the installation.
The Gdańsk-Północ District Court agreed with the cooperative, according to Polish reporting, because there was no clear way to verify the identity and voting rights of everyone who signed. The ruling is not final, and Krzysztof has said he plans to appeal.
“I did not want to create problems. I just wanted to reduce the electric bill,” he said, according to reports cited in the case. It is a simple sentence, but it captures why the story has traveled beyond Poland.
One detail makes the case especially interesting. The energy side of the installation appears to have moved forward without the same drama. After the power exceeded 800 watts, Krzysztof notified Energa-Operator, the regional distribution operator, and the company replaced his meter with a bidirectional one, according to reporting.
Energa-Operator’s own guidance says a bidirectional meter measures electricity taken from the grid and electricity produced by a microinstallation that is not used inside the home and is sent back to the grid.
The operator also says it has 30 days after receiving a complete notification to check the installation and, if approved, replace the meter at no charge.
This is where a small balcony kit becomes a bigger climate story. Rooftop solar is easier to imagine for single-family homes, where one owner controls the roof, the wiring, and the permits. Apartment residents often face a messier reality.
There are railings, façades, shared structures, insurance questions, fire-safety concerns, and neighbors who may not want the look of panels on the building. The trouble is, millions of people live in apartments, and they also feel the electric bill. If clean energy only works smoothly for people with private roofs, the transition leaves a lot of households waiting at the curb.
The European Commission says buildings account for around 40% of energy consumed in the European Union and around 50% of the bloc’s gas consumption. It also says improving building performance can reduce bills and support the rollout of renewable energy.
The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive entered into force in 2024 and must be transposed into national laws by May 29, 2026. The Commission’s guidance says solar installations can be placed on roofs, façades, balconies, terraces, or nearby structures, but national rules must consider whether a building is technically and structurally suitable.
For apartment dwellers, the lesson is not that balcony solar is impossible. It is that the paperwork may matter as much as the panel itself. A safe installation, a technical opinion, and a working meter may still not be enough if the building’s consent process is unclear.
Anyone considering a similar system should check building bylaws, ownership rules, fire safety requirements, insurance conditions, and grid-notification procedures before buying equipment. It may feel like a lot for a small solar kit, but one missing step can turn a money-saving project into a courtroom fight.
Krzysztof’s case shows the awkward space between climate ambition and old building governance. On paper, Europe is pushing homes toward cleaner energy. On the balcony, the path can still be blocked by uncertainty over signatures, shared property, and who gets to decide what appears on an apartment façade.
That does not mean cooperatives should approve every installation automatically. Safety and structural questions matter. But it does suggest that clearer rules could help residents, building managers, and courts avoid turning small clean-energy upgrades into long legal disputes.
The official connection procedure was published on Energa-Operator.

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The new propane heat pumps support water flow temperatures of up to 70 C and achieve a seasonal coefficient of performance of up to 5.2 according to the UK-based manufacturer.
The LA4060CP heat pump system
Image: Dimplex
UK-based heating specialist Dimplex has unveiled a new air-to-water heat pump series for apartment blocks and commercial applications.
The company said the new product line can be combined with existing heating systems such as boilers, solar thermal installations, biomass systems or photovoltaic setups. It also highlighted that the system is “plug-and-play” oriented, enabling a high degree of prefabrication and simplified hydraulic planning for faster installation and reduced engineering effort.
The system uses propane (R290) as a natural refrigerant and is suitable for building heating loads of 30 kW to 60 kW. It is available in two models, LA2030CP and LA4060CP, with heating capacities of 19.6 kW and 41.8 kW respectively. Both units can be scaled up to 500 kW using a modular cascade configuration.
The smallest unit, the LA2030CP, measures 1,517 mm × 1,800 mm × 885 mm and weighs 370 kg. It can achieve a seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of up to 5.20 at average temperatures and operate from −22 C to 40 C in heating mode and up to 45 C in cooling mode, with water flow temperatures ranging from 18 C to 70 C.
The system is powered by a three-phase 400 V supply, with a maximum electrical input of 12.5 kW and an operating current of up to 22 A. It features IP24 protection, phase monitoring and circuit-reversal defrosting. Heat output ranges from approximately 6.8 kW to over 21 kW depending on operating conditions.
The LA4060CP measures 1,764 mm × 1,970 mm × 1,000 mm and weighs 570 kg. It can achieve an SCOP of up to 4.72 at average temperatures, according to the manufacturer. Cooling capacity ranges from about 13.8 kW to 32.6 kW.
The unit features standard threaded heating connections and is designed for a 400 V electrical supply with C50 protection and an IP24 rating. Its maximum power consumption is 26 kW, with a power factor of 0.99 and an operating current of up to 40 A.
“Our LA4060CP model achieves a remarkably low sound power level of just 54 dB(A), helping buildings meet strict acoustic requirements,” the company said. “Whether specifying for offices, care homes, educational buildings or mixed-use applications, the Dimplex R290 Latitude C combines high efficiency, low noise and long-term environmental responsibility.”
Thanks to its flexible interface options, each LA4060CP heat pump can be integrated into a higher-level building management system, with scalability built into its design from the outset, the company said. It added that up to 14 units can be operated in parallel and managed via the WPM Touch Master in a simple and intelligent way.
In addition, the company noted that system monitoring can be carried out via the Dimplex Home App, available free of charge in a basic version, while an extended premium version offers additional advanced expert features.
 
 
 
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Domestic banks have approved financing for storage on operating PV assets, with talks now underway to extend the model from single sites to full photovoltaic portfolios.
Credit institutions have already signed financing agreements covering both smaller projects of around 8 MW and medium-scale parks in the 80–100 MW range. Most of these operate under Feed-in Premium schemes, where revenues are increasingly squeezed by curtailments and periods of zero or negative wholesale electricity prices.
Greece – storage market shifting as small investors exit
The financing model is based on restructuring existing project loans, allowing the original project finance agreement to incorporate repayment for the battery investment. Banks increasingly regard storage as essential for safeguarding the financial viability of photovoltaic assets. Executives say the decisive lending criterion is the extent to which the project’s internal rate of return (IRR) improves once the battery is in place, with factors such as the project’s tariff level and its years in operation playing a central role in that assessment.
Discussions are also underway with major domestic energy groups to extend financing from individual solar parks to entire photovoltaic portfolios. Banks believe that batteries can significantly improve revenues by shifting electricity injection into higher-priced hours on the wholesale market, and current intraday price volatility is seen as especially favourable for early storage investments. According to banking estimates, growing storage penetration combined with continued solar expansion could shorten the payback period for behind-the-meter batteries to as little as three to four years.
Report: solar-led shift could halve EU power system costs
The option to add batteries applies to photovoltaic systems installed after 4 July 2019, in both distribution and transmission networks. Projects operating under Feed-in Premium schemes can retain their tariff if converted into 11A projects, which ensures that batteries are charged exclusively from the photovoltaic system. (Kostas Deligiannis/hcn)
First published on the energy portal energypress.gr 
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New research led by the University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) has revealed that pollution from coal-fired power plants is significantly reducing the energy output of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, particularly where these are expanding side by side.
The new study mapped and assessed more than 140,000 solar PV installations worldwide using satellite data. By combining this with atmospheric data on air pollution, the researchers calculated how much sunlight is lost and how this reduces electricity generation. They found that aerosols—tiny particles suspended in the air—reduced global solar electricity output by 5.8% in 2023. This is equivalent to 111TWh of lost energy—the amount generated by 18 medium-sized coal-fired power plants.
Related article: Researchers clean up toxic solar panels for use indoors
Crucially, these losses represent a significant and often overlooked constraint on the clean energy transition. Between 2017 and 2023, new PV installations added an average of 246.6TWh of electricity each year, while aerosol-related losses from existing systems reached 74.0TWh annually—equivalent to nearly one-third of the gains from new capacity. This highlights a previously unrecognised interaction between fossil fuel use and renewable energy, where emissions from one system directly reduce the performance of the other.
“We are seeing rapid global expansion of renewable energy, but the effectiveness of that transition is lower than often assumed. As coal and solar expand in parallel, emissions alter the radiation environment, directly undermining the performance of solar generation,” said lead author Dr Rui Song from the Department of Physics at University of Oxford and Mullard Space Science Laboratory at UCL.
To identify the sources of these aerosol-related losses, the researchers traced their origins and found coal-fired power generation to be a major contributor. This effect is particularly evident in China, where solar and coal capacity have expanded in parallel and are often co-located. Regions with high coal capacity aligned closely with areas experiencing the greatest solar PV losses.
China is the world’s largest solar producer, and generated 793.5TWh of solar PV electricity in 2023 (41.5% of the global total). But it also experienced the largest losses from aerosols, with total output reduced by 7.7%. The researchers estimate that around 29% of aerosol-related solar PV losses in China come specifically from coal-fired power plants. Coal plants emit fine pollution particles that scatter and absorb sunlight, reducing the amount that reaches nearby solar panels. As a result, the panels generate less electricity than they otherwise could.
“Air pollution doesn’t just block sunlight—it also changes clouds, which can cut solar power even further. That means the real impact is likely to be bigger than we’ve measured, so we may be overestimating how much solar power can contribute to reducing emissions if we do not get pollution from coal power under control,” Dr Song said.
Interestingly, China was found to be the only major region showing a sustained improvement. Aerosol-related solar PV losses declined by an average of 0.96TWh per year (-1.4% annually) between 2013 and 2023. This is likely due to stricter emission standards and widespread adoption of ultra-low-emission technologies within coal-fired power plants, rather than a reduction in coal capacity itself.
Related article: Aussie engineers map UV risk for next-gen solar panels
To carry out the analysis, the researchers combined satellite imagery and machine learning to identify and map more than 140,000 solar installations worldwide. They then integrated these data with atmospheric observations and a validated solar energy model to estimate how much electricity each site generates and how much is lost due to air pollution.
Dr Song has also developed an interactive dashboard that shows where solar installations are located, when they were built, and how much energy they generate under real-world atmospheric conditions.
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CIM Group, a US real estate investment firm, has introduced a new energy platform with an initial portfolio comprising solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system assets. Named Permanent Power Company, the platform was launched with 1.2 gigawatts of solar PV capacity—of which 652 megawatts is operational—and 690 megawatts/2,760 megawatt-hours of battery storage, with 360 megawatts/1,440 megawatt-hours already in operation. According to the source, the company also has a solar-plus-storage project called Grape under construction in California, for which a long-term power purchase agreement was recently secured with an undisclosed regulated energy service provider. The Grape project will consist of 246 megawatts of solar PV and 150 megawatts/600 megawatt-hours of battery storage, with the offtake agreement covering the entire output.
Another solar-plus-storage project, named Daylight, is construction-ready and located in California’s San Joaquin Valley. It will pair 550 megawatts of solar PV with 330 megawatts/1,320 megawatt-hours of battery storage. In addition to the solar and storage assets, Permanent Power Company holds 15 miles of transmission infrastructure in California. The CIM Group stated that consolidating operational solar and battery assets with transmission infrastructure and development-stage projects under a single platform is intended to improve operational efficiency, offer financing flexibility, and create a foundation for national expansion.
The energy platform plans to continue developing, acquiring, and operating power projects across the United States, with a strategic focus on assets in qualified rural Opportunity Zones—designated areas created in 2017 to encourage economic growth and job creation in low-income communities while offering tax benefits to investors. To support the platform’s scale-up, Permanent Power Company secured a $400 million financing commitment from HPS Investment Partners, a firm within global asset manager BlackRock. This financing is expected to accelerate development of the Grape and Daylight projects and provide resources for acquiring future projects.
Avi Shemesh, co-founder and principal at CIM Group, characterized Permanent Power Company as a power platform focused on long-term growth, stable energy supply, domestic power generation, energy storage, and transmission. He noted that securing a significant, long-term power purchase agreement with the regulated power division of a $200 billion global energy supermajor underscores the platform’s momentum and its ability to deliver power at scale.
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Indian public solar developer Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL) has issued a tender for two solar-plus-storage projects in India designed to provide power supply during peak demand periods.
The projects, with contracted capacities of 50MW and 200MW respectively, will supply four-hour and six-hour peak-period power alongside daytime solar generation to the state grid.
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RUMSL said the tenders are the country’s first “truly technology-agnostic” solar-plus-storage projects, allowing developers to deploy battery energy storage systems (BESS), pumped storage projects (PSP) or other storage technologies located anywhere in India.
According to RUMSL, the projects are intended to maintain the same level of power supply during both solar generation hours and peak demand periods to optimise transmission capacity utilisation.
Developers will have the option to locate project components either within or outside a designated solar park. For projects located within the park, RUMSL will provide land and evacuation infrastructure connected to the state transmission utility (STU). Developers choosing to build outside the park will be responsible for arranging land and transmission infrastructure themselves.
For inter-state transmission system (ISTS)-connected projects, transmission charges and losses will be factored into bids to enable comparison based on landed tariff at the state grid boundary, the company added.
RUMSL said the initiative builds on the state’s previous experience with the Morena solar-plus-storage project as well as the Rewa and Agar-Shajapur-Neemuch (ASN) solar projects, which achieved record-low tariffs.
RUMSL said the projects could pave the way for future developments capable of supplying flat power output for 24 hours.
Interested bidders can register through the tender portal and download request for proposal (RFP) documents. Pre-bid meetings for both projects are scheduled to take place on 29 May 2026 at MP Bhawan in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

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Jimmy Carter’s solar farm is still keeping his Georgia hometown running decades later  Yahoo
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Argentina’s YPF Luz cuts ribbon at 305-MW solar farm in Mendoza  Renewables Now
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AFRY has won a contract from Moreau for the detailed engineering of a utility scale solar power plant in Chile.
The project will feature a 53 Mwp solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in its first phase, with a second phase incorporating a battery energy storage system (BESS).
Moreau, an international engineering and construction company with extensive experience in energy infrastructure projects, is developing this solar PV facility in Chile. The project forms part of the company’s strategy to strengthen the country’s clean energy capacity and support the transition towards a more sustainable energy mix.
The San Camilo solar plant, located in the commune of Copiapó in the Atacama Region, will have an installed capacity of 53 MWp and represents the first phase of a larger renewable energy development. A second phase is planned to integrate additional solar capacity with a BESS, with the final capacity to be defined in later stages of the project.
Ckeyferman Fernández, Head of Engineering at Moreau Chile, commented: “Partnering with AFRY for the detailed engineering of this solar project enables us to leverage their strong experience in renewable energy projects across Latin America. Their multidisciplinary capabilities will support the efficient development of this project and its future expansion in renewable energy.”
AFRY is responsible for delivering the detailed engineering of the solar facility, bringing multidisciplinary expertise in renewable energy, electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering. The project contributes to high technical standards, construction efficiency, and compliance with international best practices and local regulatory requirements, supporting the expansion of renewable energy generation in Chile.
Jorge Saavedra, Group Leader of Renewable Energy for AFRY Chile, added: “We are proud to be part of this solar project with Moreau. By delivering detailed engineering, AFRY contributes to the expansion of renewable energy generation and the energy transition in Chile.”
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Romania is not planning to run a grant scheme offering non-repayable funds for home solar installations for a second year running, instead aiming funds at existing solar prosumers looking to install battery storage systems. The Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association expects strong growth in Romania’s rooftop PV market to continue despite the absence of solar-specific installation grants.
Image: Amadeus Moga/Unsplash
Romania‘s Environmental Fund Administration (AFM) is planning not to run a grant program aimed at household solar installations this year. The Casa Verde photovoltaic program, first announced in 2018, previously offered non-repayable funds to homeowners installing solar, covering up to 90% of system costs.
After last year’s edition was suspended, with the government citing a lack of financial capacity for the program at the time, Romania’s Association of Prosumers and Energy Communities recently published a statement announcing that previously allocated funds for the program were being redirected to water and sewer projects in AFM’s budget for 2026.
Local press in Romania is now reporting that the country’s Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests is planning to transform the Casa Verde program into a grant scheme for batteries aimed at prosumers, of which there are now over 250,000 in the country.
Irene Mihai, policy director at the Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association (RPIA) confirmed to pv magazine that despite the postponement of the Casa Verde program for the second year in a row, there will be support available to solar prosumers via other channels.
“In 2025 we had a dedicated programme with a similar funding rate, covering 90% of capital expenditure, financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Facility. In 2026, there is a proposed budget of €76 million ($88.4 million) for hybridization through storage systems for residential and C&I installations,” Mihai explained. “The exact eligibility criteria and implementation details are not yet known, but based on the information currently available, the financing is expected to target prosumers with existing PV installations.”
Mihai added that the focus of public support in Romania is gradually shifting from expanding solar capacity toward improving system flexibility and self-consumption through battery storage.
According to data published by Romanian Energy Regulatory ANRE, around 850 MW of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity has already been installed by prosumers. “This indicates that storage is increasingly being perceived not only as an add-on technology, but as a key component of a more efficient and resilient rooftop PV system,” Mihai said. “While the BESS programme may not fully replace the deployment levels created by Casa Verde, it should help sustain investment activity among existing prosumers and support the maturation of the Romanian rooftop PV market.”
Mihai also told pv magazine that the Casa Verde program helped towards the installation of more than 3.7 GW of solar across all prosumers in less than four years
“Since 2023, we have had a stable growth of the segment of 1 GW per year,” Mihai said. “In 2026, we saw 100 MW of month-to-month growth through the end of February, so, despite the lack of the Casa Verde program, we expect to continue to see strong rooftop PV growth.”
Romania installed 2.2 GW of solar last year, a record in a calendar year for the country, taking cumulative capacity in excess of 7 GW.
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The National Energy Services Company (Tarshid) has signed an agreement with Al Taiseer Group TALCO Industrial Company, a leading producer of extruded aluminum, decorative surface finishes, and thermal materials, to develop a solar photovoltaic system.
Under the agreement, Tarshid will conduct studies to develop a solar photovoltaic system designed to supply TALCO’s facilities in Riyadh with clean, sustainable energy. 
The project will utilise approximately 37,000 sq m of rooftop space across four facilities with a system capacity of 4.5 MW, integrating the solar systems with existing energy infrastructure to maximize operational efficiency and ensure a reliable, sustainable power source, said a Saudi Press Agency report.
Board member and CEO of Tarshid Waled Al Ghreri stated: “This agreement represents a strategic step that reflects Tarshid’s commitment to supporting the adoption of clean energy solutions. Through this project, we aim to empower the industrial sector with sustainable energy options that deliver long-term savings. We view this partnership as a national model for cross-sector collaboration toward a more efficient and sustainable future.”

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The Truth Behind Factory Testing: How Product Sorting Is Used to Push Lower-Quality Solar Panels in African Markets  Modern Ghana
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Michigan can pivot to renewable energy amid new landscape | Opinion  Livingston Daily
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Apostolos Tomaras
The high expectations created by Cyprus’ household solar panel program for cheap and affordable electricity are, in practice, proving largely unrealistic.
Frequent cuts imposed by the Cyprus Transmission System Operator throughout the year are only one part of the problem, according to stakeholders, and have sparked frustration among households that invested in rooftop photovoltaic systems in hopes of lowering their electricity bills.

For many consumers, that promise remains unfulfilled.
A second major issue is the long-delayed regulatory framework for solar energy storage systems, a development widely seen as essential if households are to meaningfully reduce electricity costs.
Without battery storage, experts say, energy bills are likely to remain high even for households that have already invested thousands of euros in solar installations.
A 10-kilowatt home storage system currently costs around €8,000, while the legal and regulatory framework governing its installation and operation is still pending. This has left homeowners willing and able to pay the additional cost unable to proceed with installation approvals, adding further financial pressure.
The delays are also linked to broader strain on Cyprus’ electricity grid, which cannot absorb the full output of renewable energy systems. To prevent instability, the transmission system operator has been forced to impose regular curtailments on both commercial and household photovoltaic systems.
Industry sources say this situation could have been largely avoided if a storage framework had been finalized earlier and if the Fire Service had adopted a more flexible approach to safety rules without compromising core safety standards.
‘Excessive’ requirements
For the past six months, all relevant government departments have been attempting to agree on a common framework for household energy storage installations.
Officials say the framework should ideally have been in place before the household solar program was launched.
However, disagreements, particularly over fire safety rules introduced by the fire service, have significantly slowed progress.
Some officials involved in drafting the regulations describe certain requirements as “excessive,” though others stress that safety concerns remain valid.
The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) has played a central role in preparing spatial installation guidelines, which have formed the basis of ongoing consultations. Alongside the electrical and mechanical services, it has drawn up standards broadly aligned with UK regulations for battery storage systems.
However, these standards, considered strict for Cyprus’ largely non-fire-resistant residential building stock, have not yet been fully accepted by the fire service.
As a result, discussions between the parties have continued for six months, with attempts to bridge differences still ongoing.
Key sticking points
While officials involved in the process are trying to keep tensions low, sources say the Fire Service has already accepted most of the proposed regulations, with only a small number of issues still unresolved.
One of the main sticking points is where batteries should be installed in existing homes.
Current fire service positions reportedly favor external installation, at least two meters away from doors and windows, compared with one meter under UK standards.
For apartment buildings, a partial compromise appears to have been reached, allowing installations in enclosed spaces no lower than the first basement level, rather than rooftops as initially proposed.
Officials from ETEK and the Electrical and Mechanical Services argue that the stricter approach risks excluding up to three-quarters of households in Cyprus from installing storage systems, effectively creating a two-tier system of energy access.
They also argue that unresolved rules are delaying a project that could significantly ease pressure on the electricity grid.
Up to €8,000 extra cost for households
Even if agreement is reached in the coming period, homeowners with existing photovoltaic systems are expected to face additional costs.
A household storage system for a 10-kilowatt solar installation is estimated to cost up to €8,000.
This includes approximately €6,200 for a 15-kilowatt storage battery system and an additional €1,500 for a hybrid inverter, which manages energy distribution between the solar panels, household consumption, and stored electricity.
Broader impact on the energy system
The delays in implementing storage systems are also affecting broader energy planning in Cyprus.
Experts say battery storage is essential for modern electricity grids, particularly in island systems such as Cyprus, which operates in isolation from larger regional networks.
If implemented effectively, storage systems could:
Despite these potential benefits, Cyprus remains without a finalized framework, leaving households, regulators, and the electricity system itself in a prolonged state of uncertainty.
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A Moroccan study finds that covering 40% of dam surfaces with floating solar could meet national electricity needs while cutting water evaporation by 30%.
Moroccan researchers estimate that covering 40% of the country’s conventional dam surfaces with floating solar panels would be enough to meet the entire national electricity demand. The study, published on May 11 in the journal npj Clean Energy by Abdelmalek Essaadi University and Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, analyzes the potential of this technology across the kingdom’s 58 monitored dams.
For Professor Aboubakr El Hammoumi, the lead researcher, reducing evaporation is the strongest argument for deploying floating solar. According to the study’s data, the panels would cut evaporation by about 30% on the covered surfaces. Morocco loses around 909 million cubic meters of water annually through evaporation from its dams. In a context of worsening water stress, much like other African countries such as Ethiopia, where solar energy is caught in a China-US rivalry, the technology offers a dual benefit.
The study highlights that even a modest deployment, on just 1% of the total reservoir surface area (i.e., 4.3 km² out of the 433 km² that the dams cover), would already make a significant contribution to national energy needs.
Morocco currently has no dedicated regulatory framework for floating solar on public water infrastructure. According to El Hammoumi, tender models, regulatory guidelines, and coordination between water and energy regulators and developers must be defined before large-scale deployment can become financeable. In Europe, Voltalia recently commissioned 26.9 MW of solar in France, illustrating the maturity of established regulatory environments.
Two pilot projects are nevertheless underway. The most advanced, at the Oued Rmel reservoir near Tangier, is being launched by Tanger Med Group in partnership with the Ministry of Energy Transition. With a capacity of 13 megawatts (MW), it is expected to cover 14% of the port complex’s energy needs, with over 400 floating platforms already installed. A second project of 360 kilowatts (kW) has been commissioned at Sidi Slimane.
The water crisis has worsened in recent years. Morocco’s dam reserves fell from 8.9 billion cubic meters in 2018 to 4.4 billion in 2024, according to the Ministry of Equipment and Water. In March 2025, Minister Nizar Baraka warned that water availability per capita had dropped to around 600 cubic meters per year, down from 2,600 cubic meters in 1960, and could fall to 500 cubic meters by 2035-2040. The international water stress threshold is set at 1,000 cubic meters.
On the energy front, Morocco added 204 MW of new large-scale solar capacity in 2025, bringing its cumulative capacity to 1.29 gigawatts (GW), and began construction of the 305 MW Noor Atlas program in March 2026. The country targets 52% renewable energy in its installed electricity mix by 2030. According to the study, floating solar investment costs are 10% to 25% higher than ground-mounted installations, but yield gains from water cooling, which lowers module temperatures by 4°C to 6°C, partly offset this premium. IRENA notes that solar with storage is already more competitive than fossil fuels, strengthening the appeal of floating photovoltaic for a country facing water urgency.
Stardust Solar Energy signed a letter of intent with Gamma Power Systems to build the transmission infrastructure for its planned 30 MW solar plant in Zambia, a roughly US$750,000
Chinese group Ming Yang Smart Energy secured a license to develop 8.4 GW of renewables in Ethiopia, including 5.4 GW of wind and 2.8 GW of solar, with an initial $7.47 billion inve
The 30 MWac solar plant in Kulim, Kedah, will generate 1.5 TWh over its lifetime for Malaysian industrial customers. Financing of $37 million was arranged by BNP Paribas.

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The speed at which Cuba is adding solar power is starting to draw attention.
Photo Credit: iStock
Cuba’s worsening blackouts are drawing global attention, and the nation’s leaders announced that it has officially run out of oil.
But while the situation is dire, the country is quickly building out its solar capacity to help deal with the larger, longer, and more frequent blackouts that are soon to follow.
The island nation is quietly assembling a major solar push, a development CNN has tied to Chinese-backed solar park construction.
The recent CNN report detailed how Cuba, in the middle of a deep energy crisis, has rapidly expanded solar power even as its aging grid continues to struggle. The country’s repeated nationwide blackouts in recent months have disrupted hospital services, cooking, and daily life for its roughly 11 million residents.
China and Cuba have entered into agreements to open 92 solar panel parks by 2028 and bring on nearly 2 gigawatts of power, which could provide enough electricity to over 10% of residents’ homes. 
But the sheer volume of solar capacity isn’t the most notable part of the story. The speed at which Cuba is adding solar power is. Three years ago, China sold Cuba only $3 million worth of solar panels; last year, the amount increased almost forty-fold to $117 million.
BOBS from Skechers has helped over 2 million shelter pets around the world — and the charity program just announced this year’s Paws for a Cause design-winning sneakers.
These “hound huggers” and “kitten kicks” sneakers are machine washable and equipped with memory foam insoles. Plus, they were designed by passionate students who were inspired by their very own rescue pets.
BOBS from Skechers is also committed to donating half a million dollars to the Best Friends Animal Society this year to help every dog and cat experience the safety and support of a loving home.
That rapid rollout is already reshaping the country’s energy mix. According to CNN’s reporting, renewables now provide about 10% of Cuba’s electricity, compared with roughly 3% in 2024.
Solar can help make daily life more stable and affordable in places where fuel supplies are uncertain. Once panels are installed, they generate electricity without relying on costly imported oil, helping countries, cities, and families reduce their exposure to energy shocks. 
Solar can also support better health by cutting pollution from dirtier backup fuels such as diesel or wood. In Cuba, some of those benefits are already becoming visible. According to the reporting, a solar-powered charging point in Santa Clara lets people charge phones, power banks, and electric motorbikes. 
For people living through frequent blackouts, that kind of access can mean more reliable communication and fewer disruptions to work and family life.
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But the situation is still dire despite the increase in solar power. Cuban economist Ricardo Torres, who works for American University, said a Cuban clean energy revolution “sounds nice on paper, but you’ve got to have the resources,” noting that many residents still have not felt the benefits.
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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Solar power is being installed faster than any other power source in the world. That’s the case in the United States, and that’s the case globally. Solar power is booming.
But not all is perfect in the solar industry, not all is sunshine and rainbows. (Sorry for the weak puns.) There are various obstacles to faster growth, especially in the rooftop solar power sector, and certain solar energy myths prevail year after year. There are also some ways certain sketchy solar power companies have soured people to the idea of going solar. Overall, though, solar panel owners are exceptionally happy with their solar systems, so fears and concerns seem overblown.
In our newest report, Carolyn Fortuna explores the data we’ve collected from surveys of rooftop solar owners as well as people who don’t own rooftop solar systems. You can quickly and easily buy the report here.
As a teaser, here are a couple of general takeaways:
More detail can be found in the report, so please go ahead and buy the report today to learn more!

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Zachary Shahan has 9084 posts and counting. See all posts by Zachary Shahan

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Oman signs PPA for 2.7GW round-the-clock renewable energy project  ZAWYA
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Май 18, 2026 08:36 95

The government of Rumen Radev can reduce household electricity bills by up to 30% if it simplifies the procedure for installing balcony solar panels. We are talking about the so-called Plug-in photovoltaics, which do not require complex installation and a large investment, but at the same time they are hindered by three laws. To encourage the new government to simplify the procedure, “Greenpeace“ Bulgaria has launched a new campaign in which it calls on citizens to request balcony solar panels by sending letters to the prime minister and ministers from his cabinet.
“Rumen Radev begins his administration ambitiously and with a request to control prices and provide relief for households, which are squeezed by the constant increase in the cost of goods and services. At the same time, the prime minister has a strong but unused tool – reducing electricity costs through own production from renewable sources, commented Balin Balinov, coordinator of the “Energy Solutions” campaign at “Greenpeace” – Bulgaria.
„Various politicians over the years have made requests for legal changes for balcony photovoltaics, but the procedure for installing them in our country remains cumbersome and often discourages people. However, home energy production contributes to lower electricity bills and more security at home. This is a convenient solution especially for people who do not have their own roof or live in apartments in multi-family residential buildings. Against the backdrop of high prices, solar energy is a resource that is available to households every day. That is why we are calling on the new government to make it easier for citizens,” Balinov added.

According to „Greenpeace“ – Bulgaria, truly facilitating access to balcony solar panels requires changes to three key laws – on renewable energy, on spatial planning and on condominium ownership. Currently, even small plug-in solar systems for households fall under strict requirements for design, connection and coordination, and the facades of residential buildings are treated as common parts. According to the organization, it is these administrative and legal obstacles that make affordable solar energy difficult for people to achieve, even though the technology is easy to install, safe and widely used in other European countries.
The campaign shares the story of Sevda Tsvetanova and her family, whose lives changed after their home was renovated and a balcony solar panel was installed, donated by „Greenpeace“ – Bulgaria. Thanks to the system, the family manages to keep their electricity bills low even during the winter months. The highest electricity bill the family has paid since moving in was around 75 euros in December, despite heating with air conditioning and holiday expenses.
„Greenpeace“ – Bulgaria encourages all citizens to join the organization’s new campaign and send a letter to Rumen Radev and ministers from his cabinet. On a special page, users can watch a video with the family’s story and, with just a few clicks, send a letter to the prime minister calling for more accessible rules and support for the use of balcony solar panels in Bulgaria.
„Greenpeace“ – Bulgaria recalls that in early 2023, during Rumen Radev’s term as president, a photovoltaic system was installed on the roof of the presidency. Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows that this installation saves about 30% of the building’s electricity bills, which is over 750 euros per month. The question is whether the technology will become available to Bulgarian households.

More news from Bulgaria
Top 5 read |

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China’s Solar Exports Resilient Even After Tax Rebate Removal  Bloomberg.com
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China’s solar exports resilient even after tax rebate removal  The Edge Singapore
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Fujiyama Power launches 2-GW solar panel factory in India  Renewables Now
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M. Charles Gould<gouldm@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension – April 24, 2026
New grazing strategies challenge the idea that cattle don’t belong on solar sites and suggest they may thrive there.
Solar grazing has largely been associated with sheep, but a Virginia-based farmer and entrepreneur believes cattle may be the next frontier if they are bred and managed correctly.
During a recent MI Ag Ideas to Grow With virtual conference session, Jess Gray, CEO of Gray’s LAMBscaping, LLC and board member of the American Solar Grazing Association, introduced the concept of inverter cattle, a purpose-built composite breed designed specifically for grazing solar energy sites.
“We spend a lot of money mowing things that cows would love to eat,” Gray said. “So, Marcus and I got to thinking, what would it take to get our cows out onto solar?”
Gray explained that solar sites present a unique challenge: they combine agriculture with an energy workforce that is often unfamiliar and uncomfortable with livestock. “If people are afraid of my sheep, they’re going to be afraid of cows,” she said. “We wanted animals that honestly couldn’t care less who’s in that pasture.”
To meet that need, the Grays began selectively breeding cattle with traits suited for solar environments. These included docility, disease resistance, moderate size, heat tolerance and the ability to thrive on pasture with minimal intervention. “We are 100% pasture-based,” Gray said. “We want animals that can make the most out of whatever is present there.”
The result is inverter cattle, a composite breed drawing from Dexter, Belted Galloway, Piney Woods, and American Milking Devon genetics. Gray said the goal is longevity and efficiency rather than maximum size. “We’re looking at about 1,000 pounds,” she said. “Not miniature cattle, but also not full-size animals that intimidate people.”
Gray stressed that management is key. “This idea that cattle are a bull in a China shop—that’s constantly being proven wrong,” she said. “If animals have food, water, minerals, and good management, they’re not likely to find themselves in trouble.”
Solar grazing also offers economic and environmental benefits. As a third-party vegetation manager, Gray is paid per acre to control plant growth under panels. She noted that industry payments typically range “up to $600 per acre depending on location and expectations.”
Beyond revenue, Gray said livestock performance can actually improve on solar sites. “Our animals on solar thrive and grow better, faster, and cheaper for us than the ones we have on pasture at home,” she said, pointing to consistent shade, longer green forage, and protection from extreme weather.
Gray also emphasized the value of multi-species grazing. “I want to see our cows go out on sites with our sheep,” she said. “You get better pasture utilization, parasite control, predator abatement, and stacked enterprises.”
Looking ahead, Gray believes cattle could also improve public acceptance of agrivoltaics. “A lot of people recognize cattle as farming,” she said. “Pairing cattle with solar helps people see this land as productive, not lost.”
Her message to farmers and developers alike was clear: “There isn’t a whole lot that needs to be changed,” Gray said. “It’s about working with what’s already there and managing it well.”
If you have questions about agrivoltaic opportunities, please contact Charles Gould, Michigan State University Extension Bioenergy Educator, at 616-834-2812 or gouldm@msu.edu. The MSU Extension Agricultural Bioenergy and Energy Conservation website has additional information on renewable energy.
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
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