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Interested in solar energy or exploring a career in the growing solar industry? Join COCC and the Oregon Solar Storage Industries Association (OSSIA) for a free, two-day introductory training covering the fundamentals of solar panel installation. Learn
Cascade Natural Gas has decided not to proceed with development of a renewable natural gas facility at Deschutes County’s Knott Landfill. Since 2023, Cascade and Deschutes County have worked together to develop a project to capture landfill
Lights, camera, community! Sunriver Stars Community Theater (SSCT) is rolling out the red carpet for its first-ever Vintage Hollywood Gala, taking place Saturday, January 23, 2027, at Crosswater in Sunriver, Oregon. Inspired by the glamour and excitement
AAA projects a record year for cruising for the fifth consecutive year. AAA expects 22.4 million Americans will go on domestic and international ocean cruises in 2027, a 3.6% increase over 2026. Here’s b-roll video. Cruise demand
Deschutes County will mail property tax statements to residents this week. Property owners who have signed up to receive electronic statements will receive their annual electronic statement by email. Property taxes help fund local services, including libraries, education

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Tongwei (CNE000001GS3) passed 1 GW in cumulative photovoltaic module shipments with Anhui Jintian New Energy on October 16, 2026. Tongwei Group said the partnership had built that volume over four years, giving the stock a concrete operating milestone to weigh against its exposure to the solar cycle.
The shipment figure covers modules supplied to Anhui Jintian New Energy and shows the commercial scale of Tongwei’s module business. The companies held a dedicated meeting on October 16, 2026, while the cumulative total moved beyond 1 GW, according to Tongwei Group.
On November 27, 2025, Tongwei said its high-efficiency, low-cost silicon heterojunction battery project received a China Renewable Energy Society science and technology award; the company also described an 8.5 per mille selection rate for the national pilot-platform program on its investor-relations page.
On October 13, 2026, Tongwei Group ranked first among Sichuan’s top private enterprises and top private manufacturing enterprises. Its reported brand value reached RMB 275.639 billion, according to Tongwei Group.
The operating figures point to breadth rather than a guaranteed earnings outcome. Tongwei’s investor-relations page lists annual polysilicon capacity of 860,000 tonnes as of April 2026 and more than 143 GW of high-efficiency cell capacity as of December 2025, linking the module milestone to an integrated production base.
The next scheduled earnings release is October 31, 2026, according to MarketScreener. That date will provide the next formal checkpoint for revenue, profitability and capacity utilization.
Tongwei combines aquaculture feed with polysilicon, solar cells and modules. The October 16, 2026 shipment milestone and the October 13, 2026 brand-value figure therefore offer operating context ahead of the next reported results.
Market context: Market report Shanghai Composite.
More news and analyses on Tongwei stock

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A new solar farm at 103 Richardson Ave. in Attleboro.
Rows of solar panels stretch across a parcel at 103 Richardson Ave. in Attleboro.
Rows of solar panels stretch across a parcel of land at 103 Richardson Ave. in Attleboro.

A new solar farm at 103 Richardson Ave. in Attleboro.
Rows of solar panels stretch across a parcel at 103 Richardson Ave. in Attleboro.
Rows of solar panels stretch across a parcel of land at 103 Richardson Ave. in Attleboro.
ATTLEBORO — The city council voted unanimously on Tuesday to adopt a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for a second solar farm constructed earlier this year on Richardson Avenue.
The proposed 6.435-megawatt solar development at 103 Richardson Ave. would occupy 44 acres owned by Attleboro Renewable Energy LLC.
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Sunday
October 25, 2026
The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is set to invite tenders for the construction of a 442-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Rampal as part of the government’s drive to expand renewable energy generation, an official said.
“We are preparing the tender documents for the Rampal solar project, as the grid-connected project has been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC),” BPDB Chairman Engineer Rezaul Karim told BSS today (25 October).
He said construction of the Rampal solar project would begin next year, with the plant expected to become operational by June 2029. The project will be a major renewable energy facility alongside the existing 1,320MW coal-fired power plant in Rampal.
The BPDB chairman said the plant would be built on 918.50 acres of land in Block-B of Rampal, which the BPDB has already acquired and developed.
According to the BPDB, electricity demand in the Khulna division stood at 1,972MW on 1 October 2026, compared with 6,108MW in Dhaka, 1,427MW in Chattogram, 1,722MW in Rajshahi, 1,563MW in Cumilla, 1,428MW in Mymensingh, 739MW in Sylhet, 572MW in Barishal and 1,056MW in Rangpur.
The BPDB said the Rampal solar project would supply an additional 442MW of grid-connected green electricity to the Khulna division. It added that the division’s projected electricity demand would be 1,530MW, reducing the need for subsidies and dependence on fossil fuels.
According to the project details, ECNEC has approved the construction of the 442MW solar power plant, featuring eight-hour battery storage, on the remaining land originally acquired for the coal-fired power plant in Rampal, Bagerhat.
The project, estimated to cost Tk2,498.08 crore, will include a 442-megawatt-peak (MWp) solar power plant aimed at increasing renewable energy generation, diversifying the country’s energy mix and reducing carbon emissions.
The BPDB will implement the project with Tk374.71 crore from its own funds and Tk2,123.37 crore from the Power Sector Development Fund (PSDF).
The PSDF financing will carry an interest rate of 2%, with a one-year grace period and a repayment period of 16 years.
The project proposal initially estimated the cost of electricity generation at around Tk 6 per unit without battery storage.
According to the BPDB, the proposed plant is expected to offer a competitive tariff of Tk6.18 per unit, around 30% lower than the estimated Tk8.87 per unit tariff for a proposed 220MW solar power plant in Sonagazi, Feni.
Project documents show that the BPDB acquired 1,834 acres of land in Rampal in 2012 for a coal-fired power plant. The land was divided into Block-A, covering 915.50 acres, and Block-B, covering 918.50 acres.
The Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt) Ltd’s 1,320MW Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant was built on Block-A, while Block-B remains under the BPDB’s ownership.
The proposed solar plant will be connected to the national grid through a new 230-kilovolt transmission system linked to a nearby substation of the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Ltd (BIFPCL).
The project is expected to add clean electricity to the national grid, reduce carbon emissions and lower the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. It is also expected to help ease environmental pressure on the ecologically sensitive Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest.
Shafiqul Alam, lead energy analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), said converting land originally earmarked for a coal-fired power plant into a solar project reflected Bangladesh’s changing energy priorities.
“The project will contribute to Bangladesh’s long-term energy security by reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuels. It is a positive step towards building a cleaner, more sustainable and more resilient power sector,” he said.
The government has also launched a nationwide programme to expand rooftop solar power and develop a network of entrepreneurs and service providers under the National Renewable Energy Programme.
Once implemented, the Rampal project will add 442MW to the national grid. The country’s total on-grid power generation capacity, including captive power and renewable energy, stands at 29,143MW, of which solar power accounts for 1,642.7MW.
“The project will increase electricity generation from renewable sources, helping the country achieve its target of generating 20% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030,” a Planning Commission official said.
According to the project documents, solar photovoltaic modules and mounting structures will account for the largest share of the project cost, at Tk1,238.61 crore, or around 50% of the total.
Electrical equipment, including inverters, transformers, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, will cost Tk732.25 crore.
A feasibility study conducted by the Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company (IIFC) found the project acceptable, according to the project summary.
The project was included in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for fiscal year 2026-27 as an unapproved project under the “green page” category.
It is also aligned with the Five-Year Strategic Framework for Reform and Development and Sustainable Development Goal 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
 
Solar / Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB)
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DIY solar buyers are stockpiling panels in the US as December tariffs threaten a price jump  Yahoo
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In Australia, rooftop solar is surging, but neglected systems could fail years too soon  Yahoo
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Is sustainable energy saving our climate?  Alj.com
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Microtek invests over ₹400 crore to accelerate solar business growth  Business Standard
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DANVILLE — A stretch of low-yield farmland north of Danville could soon generate electricity for local customers following approval for a proposed community solar farm Tuesday.
The council voted 11-2 to approve a special-use permit for Pivot Energy’s proposed 2.75-megawatt project on nearly 17 acres.
“It’s been a very low-yielding property. About five years ago, I had soil samples taken,” said Larry Dennison, the landowner. “Its results came back about $5,000 an acre to bring it up to standards in fertilizer, which makes it not feasible for reinstating it into any kind of crop production.”
According to Ellis McMillion with Pivot Energy, the farm could produce about 6,000 megawatt-hours of electricity a year — enough to serve roughly 600 households — and that eligible subscribers could potentially save about 10% on their electricity bills.
Alderman Doug Ahrens opposed the permit. He argued the land could be used for retail development instead.
“I just don’t feel this is the best location, considering most of Vermilion, or all of Vermilion, does not possess a parcel of this size,” he said.
Alderwoman Tricia Teague supported the permit.
“Since it’s been proven as non-productive, he, as a private landowner, should have the right to do what he wants to do on his own property to make it productive for him,” she said.
The landowner added more support for the land becoming a solar farm.
“I think a solar farm myself would be a great idea,” Dennison said. “They’re clean. They’re quiet. They’re non-toxic. They simply absorb sunshine and produce energy.”
Teague also added that lowering energy costs for a retailer is a great way to keep them in the city.
“Lowering Menards’ energy costs would help retain Menards,” Teague said.
Additionally, final approval was given Tuesday to keep the Greenhouse Megastore under the ownership of the George family.
Ben George said the store used to employ around 70 people and hopes to get back to that number.
“Our desire and hope and aspiration was to grow it back to that size and add jobs here into the community,” George said. “Right now, it’s around 35. Before we sold, there were over 70 employees.”
Logan Cronk gave the council the agreement details.
“This agreement essentially outlines a $125,000 reimbursement once Greenhouse Megastore provides proof that they have acquired all of the assets that they promised to do so,” Cronk told the council. “On top of that, there is an additional $125,000 sales tax abatement.”
Cronk also touched on importance of keeping the Greenhouse Megastore.
“We just felt like it was an opportunity for us to try to fight to keep the business and the employees here,” Cronk said.
“We were successful… and we’re excited to be able to keep the business afloat here in Danville and to regrow it here in Vermilion County,” George said.
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Microtek has announced a significant investment over Rs 400 crore for its solar business expansion in Jaipur. The new solar panel manufacturing plant is expected to become operational by November 2026 and will support the company’s energy vision. The company is also highlighting its new Battery Energy Storage System to improve energy management for households.
Microtek has invested over Rs 400 crore and is setting up a new solar panel manufacturing plant in Jaipur (Representative Image)

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Driven by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, data centers, electric vehicles, and industrial electrification, global electricity demand continues to rise, making solar power a focal point for investment in energy infrastructure.
For investors aiming for a daily return of $3,000, what scale of power generation capacity would be required?
Historically, investing in solar power plants required substantial capital and involved complex processes such as land acquisition, equipment installation, grid interconnection, routine maintenance, and electricity sales.
Today, however, the evolution of renewable energy investment models has created new opportunities for individuals to participate in energy infrastructure projects. While earning $3,000 a day may be challenging, Lake Energy’s operational model makes it possible to generate daily earnings ranging from tens to hundreds of dollars through electricity production.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for general entertainment, informational and/or educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Risk Warning: Investing involves substantial risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should not make any financial decision based solely on the content presented here. The authors, publishers, and site owners assume no responsibility or liability for any financial losses or damages resulting from your reliance on the information provided. Always consult with a licensed financial advisor, CPA, or qualified professional before making any investment or financial decisions.
Visit Lake Energy to discover energy infrastructure projects in the fields of solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, as well as energy storage.
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Check the project type, duration, and power generation details.
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Select a project that meets your requirements and complete the participation process in accordance with the specific terms displayed on the platform.
For investors aiming to generate a daily income of $3,000 through renewable energy investments, and based on the projected annualized yield of the Lake Energy integrated energy project, an investment of approximately $6.97 million would theoretically be required to achieve an average daily return of $3,000.
Founded in 2020, Lake Energy operates through its legal entity, ENERGY INVESTMENT TECH PTE. LTD., which is incorporated in Singapore (UEN: 201417519N).
Lake Energy specializes in the development, construction, operation, and investment associated with renewable energy infrastructure. Its scope encompasses various sectors, including solar power, wind power, hydropower, and battery energy storage systems.
The company aims to connect renewable energy infrastructure projects with individual investors, lowering the barriers to entry for participating in traditional energy projects. It offers individual investors a range of investment options across different energy types and time horizons. According to the company, its operations span countries such as China, Brazil, and Kazakhstan, and it continues to expand its presence in the global renewable energy infrastructure market.
As global electricity demand continues to rise, renewable energy infrastructure—including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, as well as energy storage—is entering a new phase of growth. For individual investors, participating in this market no longer requires massive capital outlays or the burden of building and operating power plants.
Lake Energy is dedicated to lowering the barriers to entry for individuals participating in renewable energy projects, enabling a wider range of people to select investment options—spanning various terms and energy types—that align with their financial circumstances.
Official website: lakeenergy.com
Media contact: info@lakeenergy.com
 
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for general entertainment, informational and/or educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Risk Warning: Investing involves substantial risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. You should not make any financial decision based solely on the content presented here. The authors, publishers, and site owners assume no responsibility or liability for any financial losses or damages resulting from your reliance on the information provided. Always consult with a licensed financial advisor, CPA, or qualified professional before making any investment or financial decisions. Investments involve financial risks, including the potential loss of part or all of the invested principal. Calculations regarding power generation and electricity revenue presented in this sponsored article are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute a guarantee of investor returns. Actual investment outcomes depend on various factors, such as project operational performance, operating costs, contractual terms, and market conditions. Before making any investment decisions, investors should carefully review the relevant project terms and fully understand the potential risks. This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
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Photo: Screenshot from Xinhua
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“Anyone wanting to connect a photovoltaic system should be able to reach their goal without paperwork, waiting on hold, or follow-up inquiries.”
Photo Credit: Netze BW
Netze BW, a southern German distribution system operator, says it has sharply reduced the time it takes to approve home rooftop solar connections, a change that could help households install panels faster.
Germany’s Netze BW says a rooftop solar application that used to take an average of 12 days can get a binding decision in roughly five minutes when the local grid has room, PV Magazine reported.
Netze BW brought the automated review process online in late July 2026 after a testing and rollout period that started in November 2025.
The upgrade applies to photovoltaic systems of up to 15 kilowatts.
Speaking at a press briefing, Netze BW representative Angelika Ruß said the operator has received more than 16,000 requests to connect small PV systems since the late July 2026 launch, and more than 5,000 applicants have already gotten automated responses within five minutes, PV Magazine reported.
Marc Schmidt of Netze BW said the rapid responses carry formal weight, per PV Magazine. For installations up to 15 kW, they serve as binding grid connection approvals and specify the connection point. He added that instant approvals apply only in parts of the network that are not considered capacity-critical.
For would-be solar customers, previous delays in solar applications had less to do with equipment than with the administrative steps that come before installation.
“The energy transition cannot be achieved with a single mouse click — but the right digital solutions can certainly speed things up significantly,” Jörg Reichert, chairman of Netze BW’s management board, said, per PV Magazine. “Anyone wanting to connect a photovoltaic system should be able to reach their goal without paperwork, waiting on hold, or follow-up inquiries.”
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
This rollout builds on a process that was already comparatively quick. In a comparison of German distribution system operators published in 2026, the company averaged 12 days for manually reviewed requests, while the median across operators was 80 days.
If approval times can fall from nearly two weeks to just a few minutes in straightforward cases, more households can move from planning to installation faster, lowering energy bills sooner while adding more rooftop generation to the grid.
The push for faster handling is not unique to one utility, as grid operators around Germany are dealing with a rising volume of applications for rooftop solar and battery energy storage systems, according to PV Magazine. For households considering the same kind of rooftop PV driving that surge, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, and EasyHome offers a free explorer tool to see pricing and savings from vetted installers in your area.
Eligible customers use Netze BW’s online customer portal, which can accept and process requests around the clock. Schmidt said 99% of grid connection requests are filed through that portal, giving the company a digital pathway to process routine applications much more quickly.
Automation does not apply everywhere, though. Netze BW is limiting five-minute approvals to areas with sufficient grid capacity, while more constrained parts of the network still require closer evaluation.
For the same kind of rooftop solar systems up to 15 kilowatts that Netze BW is helping move faster, EnergySage can help you find a deal by curating competitive bids from local installers without them getting your contact information until you’re ready.
EasyHome‘s free explorer tool is also valuable for households that want to compare solar options before starting the connection process. EasyHome can also help readers explore their options for backup battery storage, and pairing solar with a battery allows homeowners to maximize savings and power their home with solar when the grid goes down.
Netze BW’s faster approvals are part of a broader effort to cut red tape and add more rooftop solar.
• In Germany, apartment-friendly balcony solar rules helped spark a boom of 3 million units.
• GE Vernova and German grid operators are pursuing game-changing energy technology to move more power efficiently.
• Across Germany, solar power is boosting jobs and investment while helping ease electricity costs.
• In Florida, new permitting rules are cutting rooftop-solar delays and lowering upfront costs.
• In Texas, a new state law is making home solar installations faster and easier.
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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Ministry of New and Renewable Energy  Press Information Bureau
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Solex Energy has urged India to boost domestic solar manufacturing amid concerns over China’s proposed technology export curbs.
Chetan Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of Solex Energy, has called for government incentives to strengthen domestic solar equipment production and reduce dependence on Chinese technology. His concerns follow China’s proposal to restrict exports of 12 key technologies used in manufacturing photovoltaic equipment, potentially affecting supply chains and India’s expanding solar manufacturing industry.
China has proposed export restrictions on 12 technologies used in solar equipment manufacturing, citing the need for closer monitoring because these technologies also have applications in aerospace, defence and other sensitive sectors.
According to Shah, China controls an estimated 75 to 90 per cent of the global solar supply chain. He warned that restrictions could create shortages of equipment and technology required for domestic manufacturing, potentially delaying projects and increasing pressure on tariffs. Speaking on the sidelines of the Renewable Energy India Expo 2026 in Greater Noida, Shah stressed the importance of preparing alternative supply arrangements.
FCRF’s Chief AI Officer Certification Returns on November 14 to Prepare Future AI Leaders

India had approximately 262 gigawatts (GW) of solar module manufacturing capacity as of June 2026, compared with only about 37 GW of solar cell capacity.
Shah identified this gap as a significant challenge, particularly as domestic manufacturers prepare to establish additional cell production lines. He also estimated India’s ingot-wafer capacity at 2 GW, while polysilicon manufacturing capacity remained nil. He noted that much of the installed manufacturing capacity relies on older MONO PERC technology, while several facilities are non-operational.
Shah has recommended extending the implementation timeline of ALMM-II by at least 12 months and including all categories of solar projects within its scope.
ALMM-II requires manufacturers to source made-in-India solar cells from an approved list of module manufacturers. Shah argued that additional time would allow companies to fulfil existing orders while developing domestic cell manufacturing capacity. He also proposed dedicated production-linked incentives, capital subsidies and a manufacturing initiative for critical photovoltaic equipment, spare parts and consumables.
Shah suggested strengthening technology partnerships with the United States, European Union, Japan, Korea and Taiwan to secure alternative sources of equipment and manufacturing technology. He also recommended cooperation with Indian capital-goods companies, CSIR laboratories and IITs to develop domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Government-to-government technology partnerships could support these efforts, while diplomatic engagement with China could help protect existing orders and contracts already under execution.
The concerns highlight India’s manufacturing imbalance between solar modules and cells. Strengthening domestic production and diversifying technology suppliers could help reduce potential supply disruptions, although the impact of China’s proposed restrictions remains uncertain.
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Earlier this year, Connecticut joined a growing list of states easing restrictions on small, portable solar panels that can be plugged into a wall outlet to offset some residential electrical usage — and shave dollars off monthly bills.
The new law, passed as part of H.B. 5340, allows residents to purchase and install plug-in solar systems under 1,200 watts without notifying their utility company. It went into effect Oct. 1. Previously, anyone seeking to install any kind of solar device had to seek permission from their utility first, through an interconnection agreement.
But while the law exempts smaller systems from the interconnection process, it still requires the devices to meet the safety standards set by the state’s building and fire codes, as well as certification from UL Solutions, a national product-safety group.
That has led to confusion over whether plug-in panels are safe to own — or even legal.
Some of the hangup has to do with the lack of building codes that specifically address plug-in solar panels, which are a relatively new technology in the U.S.
In April, months before the new solar law took effect, lawmakers voted down revisions to the state’s building and fire codes over disagreements on an unrelated issue, road access for fire trucks. The codes, which are typically updated every four years by the state’s Department of Administrative Services, are now in limbo as officials and lawmakers seek to resolve the dispute.
Leigh Appleby, a spokesman for DAS, said there is no timeline for when the building and fire codes will be updated to specifically address plug-in solar panels.
“DAS is reviewing how the existing codes apply when a device is plugged into an existing outlet,” Appleby said in an emailed response to questions. “Adding or changing an outlet or circuit requires a permit and inspection. We can’t give a blanket assurance that every device or installation is safe or code-compliant. Local building officials and fire marshals enforce the codes in their municipalities and can assess specific installations.”
Without new state codes, however, local officials have no way to ensure that solar devices meet safety standards, according to Roger Nelson of the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association. (Nelson, who also serves as the fire marshal in Bloomfield, said he has not heard from any residents in his town about installing plug-in panels.)
“Until a code is passed, it’s not legal in Connecticut,” Nelson said.
Even Connor Yakaitis, a deputy director at the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters who was among the state’s early proponents of plug-in solar panels, said he was urging residents to be cautious. As more and more states pass laws similar to Connecticut’s, Yakaitis said officials around the country have been taking notice and working to resolve lingering safety and regulatory hurdles.
“Lots of people have been asking, ‘When can I go get these panels?” Yakaitis said. “We’ve been telling people not to buy panels until this is all ironed out.”
Regardless of the uncertainty, plug-in solar panels are widely available for sale online at prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
One online retailer, the California-based nonprofit Bright Saver, sells a 180-watt kit for $285, plus $29 for an annual membership. (Without a membership, the kits sell at retail for $499.)
Cofounder Cora Stryker said Bright Saver’s model is based on wholesale clubs such as Costco, which are able to offer lower prices by buying products in bulk. In addition, she said the group’s membership model helps to form a voting block that can advocate for removing existing barriers on plug-in solar. Bright Saver has 57 members in Connecticut and has shipped 49 kits to the state.
“Our whole goal is to build a massive membership that takes action to support clean energy … and make it dirt cheap,” Stryker said.
Stryker said Bright Saver’s plug-in kits meet the requirements under Connecticut’s law by having each of the component parts, such as the solar panel, plug and inverter, certified by UL Solutions. That definition, she said, is enough to cover most of the systems currently available on the market.
“I think it gives coverage for anyone in Connecticut who wants to buy one, even at the component level certification, and plug it in and not worry about the utility,” Stryker said. “It could be more explicit, but I think it’s OK.”
Other states, such as California and Vermont, have more stringent rules requiring that the entire system receive certification together as one device. UL Solutions launched a new full-system certification standard in January, but it has yet to approve any products for the U.S. market.
“That distinction is important,” Ken Boyce, UL Solutions vice president of principal engineering, said in an emailed statement. “A system assembled from individually certified components is not automatically certified. Component-level certifications may not address hazards arising from component interactions, including electric shock, circuit overload, compatibility with ground-fault protection, accidental contact with energized parts, and unsafe current flow. In other words, certified parts do not necessarily add up to a safe, certified whole.”
Stryker said Bright Saver plans to obtain UL certification on a fully-integrated system “in the very, very near future.” However, she said the requirements for that certification will necessitate rewiring by a licensed electrician and a special outlet, meaning the systems will not be available to most renters.
One of the authors of H.B. 5340, state Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, said he is open to “refining” the law to add more clarity around plug-in solar, but he has yet to hear any specific concerns from constituents.
Connecticut’s law also requires that plug-in solar systems come equipped with a device that prevents electricity from being fed back onto the power grid during an outage. This rule was added in order to address concerns raised by utility officials that the devices could pose a threat to line workers who are working to restore power.
Additionally, anti-tampering features on many older electrical meters may fail to recognize any excess power sent onto the grid by unregistered solar panels, resulting in customers being charged extra for the power they produce. While this issue can be addressed with new, more advanced two-way meters, the rollout of those meters has been slowed in Connecticut due to disputes between regulators and Eversource, the state’s largest utility.
Eversource Spokeswoman Jamie Ratliff said in an email Monday that any devices sold in Connecticut must come with a warning about the potential for excess generation.
“It is important for the safety of our line workers and customers, as well as the reliability of the electric system, that only approved devices with built-in safety features are connected to the electric grid,” Ratliff said. “We understand that testing is taking place with certification agencies towards meeting these goals, which we believe is a necessary first step.”
John Moritz is a reporter for the Connecticut Mirror. Copyright 2026 @ CT Mirror (ctmirror.org).
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“In the summer I plan to drain it and let it vent.”
Photo Credit: Reddit
A DIY homeowner took to Reddit to share how a solar system based on used panels was producing hot water for their home. 
In a Reddit thread on r/DIYsolar, the original poster explained that they had purchased 14 secondhand thermal panels, of which 11 were functioning after testing. Based on a simple measurement involving a 5-gallon bucket, the OP calculated that the system was producing an estimated 60,000 BTU of heat per hour. 
According to their post, the OP measured performance by timing how long it took the system to fill a 5-gallon bucket with water that the system had heated from 45 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. After timing each bucket fill as taking 2 minutes and 45 seconds, the poster calculated that the 11 working panels were producing about 60,000 BTU per hour, or roughly 17,500 watts of heat.
The OP achieved these results despite three of the 14 panels experiencing leaks, making them unusable for the time being.
While this Redditor’s use of panels is not exactly mainstream, just about any use of solar power is a great way to save money on home energy, and solar leases in particular can deliver hundreds of dollars in monthly savings without any upfront costs. Readers can use EasyHome to see pricing and savings from vetted installers in their area.
In the comments, the discussion centered on solar thermal equipment, not the electricity-generating panels that usually dominate consumer solar conversations. 
“Interesting install,” wrote one Redditor. “Rare that non electric systems are posted here. How do you handle excess heat production?” 
“In the summer I plan to drain it and let it vent,” the OP responded in the comments. “I may put shade cloth over it if I think it is necessary. In the spring, winter, and fall, the plan is to run extra heat into the soil under our green house.”  
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
“Brilliant,” another commenter said of the OP’s plan. 
Other users questioned why the OP had angled the panels so steeply, to which the OP replied, “I need heat in the winter, not in the summer, I also hope that steep angle will help snow slide off.”
Despite the positive test results, the OP conceded that they had work left to do on their system. For example, they explained that they were reworking the system so antifreeze would circulate through the panels and then pass heat into a 700-gallon water tank through a heat exchanger.
That stored water would then directly feed the OP’s heated floor, while a second heat exchanger that supported potable water and household plumbing would be tied into an outdoor wood boiler.
The poster added that strong winds and 200 feet of uninsulated pipe were causing major heat loss, but that this, too, would be corrected. “It will be insulated,” they wrote. 
For homeowners who want traditional rooftop solar without the complications of building a custom setup, EasyHome offers a free explorer tool that makes it easier to compare vetted installers and see local pricing. EasyHome can also help readers explore backup battery storage options. Pairing solar with a battery allows homeowners to maximize savings and power their home with solar when the grid goes down.
These articles delve deeper into the issues surrounding practical solar setups, including a low-cost solar thermal water-heating system and solar roof tiles that can run heat pumps. 
• Researchers built a solar geyser system that uses ordinary sand to store and deliver heat.
• Paxos unveiled solar roof tiles that could run heat pumps and cut heating bills.
• An Australian homeowner found a 20kW solar setup made blackouts invisible and even earned bill credits.
• Energy experts said rooftop solar panels could save homeowners tens of thousands over time.
• One rooftop array powered whole-house AC and two EVs through 90-degree summer heat.
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Tender soon for 442-MW Rampal solar project  New Age BD
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India is leading a solar revolution. As of September 2025, the nation has achieved a remarkable 127.33 GW of installed solar capacity, driven by progressive solar panel government subsidies that have accelerated rooftop adoption. From bustling metros to small towns, solar installations are lighting up homes, cutting power costs, and making the ambitious vision of making renewable energy a household reality. This surge reflects not just technological progress but a shift in how India views solar energy – Cleaner, smarter, and self-sustained.
And here’s where it gets exciting. The Indian government is making it easier than ever to join this movement with generous solar panel government subsidies that reduce upfront costs and boost long-term savings. In the next section, explore how these subsidies work, who can apply, and exactly how much you can save by going solar today.
A solar panel govt subsidy in India is a financial support initiative managed by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) that lowers the initial cost of installing grid-connected rooftop solar systems for eligible homeowners or entities. The subsidy (also called Central Financial Assistance or CFA) is paid only after installation, inspection, and approval, and the system must meet specific capacity, vendor registration, and technical quality standards. Common schemes include the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II, PM KUSUM, etc.
To apply for the solar rooftop subsidy, the applicant-
1. Must be an Indian citizen with a valid grid-connected electricity connection from the local DISCOM.
2. Should have a rooftop solar system installed through an approved or registered vendor and must follow technical standards.
3. The installation must be of a rooftop, grid-connected solar system under the relevant scheme; stand-alone off-grid systems generally do not qualify.
4. Must not have already availed the same subsidy earlier under that specific scheme.
5. Must submit the application via the national portal or state DISCOM channel, and the subsidy is credited only after installation, inspection, net metering, and verification. The Indian government’s solar rooftop subsidies are designed to make clean energy accessible and accelerate the adoption of rooftop systems across urban and rural households. The core goals include –
1. To accelerate rooftop solar adoption and reach national targets such as the 40,000 MW target for grid-connected rooftop solar under the Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme.
2. To lower the upfront cost for households, making solar system installations financially accessible.
3. To reduce dependence on fossil fuels and enhance energy security by promoting clean power generation at the user end.
4. To encourage the use of unused rooftop space and optimize distributed energy resources, reducing transmission and distribution losses.
5. To stimulate domestic manufacturing and technology development in solar modules and related equipment, thereby reducing import dependency.
6. To support employment generation and local economic development in the renewable energy sector.
7. To ensure equitable access to clean energy for citizens, especially households, by making subsidy support available to eligible residential consumers.
By encouraging more homeowners to install rooftop systems, the government subsidies for home solar panels are helping India move closer to its net-zero targets. The solar panel government subsidy has been a game-changer in making clean energy mainstream. By reducing the financial burden, it allows households to shift from grid dependence to self-generation. Here’s how –
The subsidies offered by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) are actively shifting India’s energy landscape toward clean and renewable sources. By lowering the cost barrier for rooftop and grid-connected solar systems, subsidies help more households and commercial units adopt solar power. This broadens adoption beyond large utility projects and brings power generation closer to users, reducing transmission losses and reliance on fossil fuel plants.
For instance, as of May 2025, solar power capacity in India had reached 116.25 GW, and renewables (excluding large hydro) accounted for about 34.4% of all installed capacity. At the same time, the national rooftop solar target under MNRE’s “Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme” aims for 40 GW of rooftop systems.
The accelerating installation of solar capacity under these subsidy-driven schemes means cleaner, more distributed energy generation, fewer greenhouse-gas emissions, and stronger progress toward India’s climate and energy-security goals. By June 2025, non-fossil fuel installations in India totaled 235.7 GW – about 49 % of the nation’s total installed capacity of 476 GW.
The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana enables Indian households to generate their own clean electricity and significantly cut monthly power bills through central government support. Under the solar panel govt subsidy, residential consumers receive ₹30,000 per kW up to 2 kW and ₹18,000 per kW for additional capacity up to 3 kW, with the total subsidy capped at ₹78,000 for rooftop systems of 3 kW or more. Households consuming up to 300 units per month can save substantially on electricity costs and may earn credit by supplying surplus power to the grid. The scheme operates through the National Portal for Rooftop Solar and authorized local DISCOMs to ensure smooth installation and direct subsidy transfer. For special states, an additional 10% Subsidy will be applicable per kW

Group Housing Societies and Resident Welfare Associations qualify for a subsidy of ₹18,000 per kW for common-area solar installations, including EV charging, up to 500 kW capacity (calculated at 3 kW per house). The 500 kW upper limit includes any individual rooftop systems installed by residents within the GHS or RWA.
For more information, visit the official PM Surya Ghar Yojana portal
The Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme administered by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) aims for a cumulative rooftop solar capacity of 40,000 MW (40 GW) by 31 March 2026.
For residential solar installations approved under Phase II, the support (Central Financial Assistance or CFA) is set at ₹14,588 per kW for the first 3 kW in general-category states, and ₹7,294 per kW for capacity beyond 3 kW up to 10 kW. In special-category states/UTs, the rates are ₹17,662 per kW for the first 3 kW and ₹8,831 per kW thereafter. This solar panel government subsidy is transferred directly to the consumer’s account after successful commissioning and verification. This subsidy advances India’s sustainability agenda by cutting carbon emissions and strengthening energy security through a greater integration of renewable energy.
For more information on eligibility and application, visit the official MNRE website
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) supports farmers through three components: installation of decentralized solar plants on agricultural land, deployment of stand-alone solar pumps in off-grid areas, and solarisation of grid-connected agricultural pumps. It provides central financial assistance for up to 30% of the installation cost (and up to 50% in special/remote regions) alongside incentives for DISCOMs to purchase solar power generated under the scheme. This reduces farmers’ electricity costs, increases renewable generation in agriculture, enhances energy and water security, and promotes distributed solar power in rural areas.
Three key components
1. Component A – Installation of 10,000 MW of decentralized ground- or stilt-mounted grid-connected solar (or other renewable) power plants.
2. Component B – Deployment of 14 lakh stand-alone solar agriculture pumps in off-grid areas.
3. Component C – Solarisation of 35 lakh grid-connected agriculture pumps, including feeder-level solarisation
For more details on how to apply, visit the official PM-KUSUM portal
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, administered by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, sets aside an outlay of ₹24,000 crore to build gigawatt-scale domestic manufacturing of high-efficiency solar PV modules. This solar rooftop subsidy is structured in two tranches, with the first tranche focused on 4,500 crores and 8,737 MW of manufacturing capacity, and the second tranche aimed at 19,500 crores in additional capacity.
This initiative reduces reliance on imported solar components by incentivizing domestic production of high-efficiency modules using locally sourced materials. Through competitive bidding, it aims to attract major investments, create jobs, and accelerate technological growth, strengthening India’s energy security and advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
For more information and to be updated with the latest developments, visit the official MNRE website.
The Delhi Solar Energy Policy 2023, initiated by the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, targets a total solar capacity of 4,500 MW by 2026-27, combining 750 MW of rooftop solar within Delhi and approximately 3,750 MW of utility-scale solar sourced externally. According to the first amendment dated 16 July 2025, the state now offers a capital subsidy for residential rooftop systems of ₹10,000 per consumer. For Group Housing Societies/Resident Welfare Associations, the subsidy has been set at ₹2,000 per kW for common-area installations up to 500 kW. The policy also continues to support models like RESCO and net-metering alongside central support under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
For more detailed insights and guidelines, please explore the official Delhi government energy portal
These combined government subsidies for solar panels in domestic homes make rooftop solar one of the most cost-effective energy upgrades in India.
Subsidies significantly lower the initial investment required for rooftop solar systems. For example, under national schemes, homeowners receive fixed support per kW of capacity. This makes solar adoption financially accessible for middle-income households rather than being a luxury.
Once a rooftop system is installed and connected, households can generate their own electricity and reduce or eliminate their monthly power costs. For grid-connected systems with net-metering, any excess power fed back to the grid translates into credits. Over time, this yields meaningful savings.
Beyond savings, surplus solar generation can be exported to local DISCOMs under net-metering or other incentive arrangements. This adds a small but steady stream of income or bill offsets, improving return-on-investment for households.
By generating power locally on their rooftop, consumers reduce dependence on grid supply, avoid some tariff fluctuations, and improve resilience against outages. Especially in areas with unstable electricity, this can translate into a better quality of living.
Subsidized solar installations contribute to national renewable targets, cut carbon emissions, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. For citizens, this means cleaner air, cleaner energy sources, and improved public health outcomes.
Schemes target not just affluent homeowners but aim to support lower-income, rural, or underserved populations too. This expands clean energy access across society and helps bridge energy inequality.
With subsidies driving higher demand, manufacturing scale improves, and system costs fall. This translates to more affordable solar over time for all citizens. As installation costs drop, the value of subsidies becomes even more amplified.
1. With over 30 years of expertise, Tata Power has consistently led India’s rooftop solar sector, earning the title of the nation’s No. 1 rooftop solar company for 10+ years.
2. Built using state-of-the-art materials, backed by 25-year performance warranties, and equipped with all-weather protection, Tata Power solar systems are designed to deliver complete peace of mind and long-term reliability.
3. Tata Power Solar offers customized rooftop solutions for homes, integrating advanced inverter technology, battery backup, and real-time performance monitoring to ensure maximum efficiency and energy savings.
4. With over 150,000 rooftop installations across 700+ cities, Tata Power stands as India’s largest and most trusted rooftop solar provider, offering sustainable energy solutions along with assured quality and service.
5. Tata Power’s solar systems are engineered to perform in India’s toughest climates, from scorching summers to heavy monsoon rains. Every installation uses high-quality Staad-GI (Galvanized Iron) mounting structures, providing superior stability, durability, and safety to keep panels secure and efficient year-round.
6. By offering lifetime service support and end-to-end annual maintenance contracts (AMCs), Tata Power ensures long-term system reliability and efficiency, enabling customers to gain the full value of solar panel government subsidies and other state-level incentives.
Schedule a Site Visit Today!
India’s solar journey is a reminder that progress can be both powerful and peaceful. Every rooftop that welcomes the sun adds to a collective momentum – one that lights homes, empowers families, and strengthens the nation’s path toward self-reliance. With supportive solar panel government subsidies and trusted partners like Tata Power making solar simpler and more accessible, clean energy is no longer a distant dream but a daily reality. The future isn’t waiting somewhere ahead; it’s unfolding quietly on rooftops across the country – one panel, one sunrise, one household at a time.
A number of incentives are being provided for growth of the renewable energy sector in the country: Union Power & NRE Minister Shri R. K. Singh
FAQ: Grid Connected Solar Rooftop System
ELECTRICITY FROM SOLAR ENERGY
Subsidy scheme of MNRE for Operational guidelines for Grid-Connected Rooftop and Small Solar Power Plants Programme
Central Financial Assistance (CFA)/ Central Government Subsidy for rooftop solar plant installed by a residential consumer under simplified procedure
Delhi Solar Portal
PM Surya Ghar: India’s Solar Revolution Muft Bijli Yojana Crosses Milestone of 10 Lakh Installations
Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme
MNRE issues advisory for the general public on rooftop solar scheme
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules

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The export of Indian photovoltaic (PV) modules has risen exponentially by more than 23 times between Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 and FY2024, primarily to the US, which accounted for more than 97% of India’s exports in both FY2023 and FY2024.
With the expiration of the Free Trade Agreement and an ongoing antidumping and countervailing duty investigation, India can potentially replace Southeast Asian countries to become the leading PV exporting country to the US.
During periods of domestic supply shortage, certain distributed renewable energy segments, such as residential rooftop solar, will be affected due to their smaller order sizes.
After accounting for exports, the resultant supply by Indian PV manufacturers available for consumption in India in the next two years will only be 21 gigawatt (GW) and 25GW, which is less than the approximate requirement of 30GW per annum to meet India’s 2030 renewable energy target.
India is making significant progress in transitioning from a net importer to a net exporter of photovoltaic (PV) products. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, Indian PV manufacturers exported approximately US$2 billion worth of PV modules. The export value of PV modules from India increased by more than 23 times in just two years between FY2022 and FY2024.
Several factors have contributed to this rapid increase in PV exports from India FY 2022. These include reduced demand for domestic PV modules following the delayed implementation of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers in April 2024, several countries considering India as a viable option for their “China Plus One” strategy, and an opportunity for domestic PV manufacturers to diversify their revenue base and sell their products at a higher premium abroad. Despite increased logistics expenses, domestic manufacturers can achieve approximately 40-60% higher profit margins on PV module sales in developed nations like the US than in India.
Indian PV manufacturers are increasingly focusing on the export market. Until FY2024, three of the largest domestic PV manufacturers – Waaree Energies, Adani Solar and Vikram Solar – accounted for most of India’s PV exports. Each company exported more than half of its annual actual production in FY2024. Several other Indian PV manufacturers, like Grew Energy, ReNew Power, Navitas, Solex Energy and Saatvik Energy, are pursuing export markets and setting up supply chains abroad. Waaree Energies and Vikram Solar are also planning to set up PV manufacturing capacities in the US, taking advantage of the incentives offered under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Most Indian PV exports are to the US, which accounted for 97% and 99% of India’s PV exports in FY2023 and FY2024, respectively. India also exports PV products to South Africa, Somalia, Kenya, the UAE, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
The US has imposed steep tariffs on PV products from China to gradually phase out Chinese imports. The US government might extend these tariffs to imports from Southeast Asia (SEA), subject to the result of an ongoing antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigation by the US Department of Commerce. SEA countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia, cater to more than three-fourths of the US’ annual PV requirements. If found guilty under the AD/CVD investigation, the import duty on PV products from SEA countries will be the same as that on Chinese imports, enhancing India’s prospects of establishing itself as a leader in PV exports to the US. The outlook for Indian exports further improves considering that PV manufacturing capacities set to come online in the US under IRA are experiencing delays and not all may come to fruition.
India needs to adopt a multi-pronged export-oriented approach. First, it should continue to leverage its advantageous position in the US market, as it is one of the largest solar markets in the world in terms of both installations and technology adoption. This exposure will enable Indian PV manufacturers to attain economies of scale, ultimately enhancing their product quality and competitiveness. Second, to truly establish India as a global manufacturing hub in the long run, Indian PV manufacturers must focus on upstream backward integration. This will help India maintain its foothold in existing markets while unlocking untapped markets like Europe, Africa, Latin America, etc.
As India establishes itself as a viable alternative to China, balancing the demands of the export and domestic markets is important. When there is a supply-demand gap, it is crucial to ensure adequate domestic supply, especially for market segments with smaller order sizes, such as distributed renewable energy, including residential rooftop solar. The supply-demand gap also affects solar module prices, a critical factor for the price-sensitive residential rooftop solar segment.

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DC-STGBA: spatiotemporal coordination for distributed PV power prediction  ScienceDirect.com
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Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park showcases scale and ambition of India’s clean energy goals: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi  PIB
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“Families are getting squeezed by electric bills that keep going up.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A new federal bill from New Jersey could open the door to plug-in solar kits in many more states — and set up $1,000 rebates for eligible households.
That could be especially significant for renters and apartment residents, who often cannot install traditional rooftop solar panels, according to pv magazine.
Rep. Rob Menendez of New Jersey introduced H.R. 10851, the “Socket Full of Sunshine Act,” the first federal bill aimed specifically at plug-in solar, also known as balcony solar. 
The measure would require state utility commissions to audit plug-in solar rules in places where lawmakers have neither passed similar standards nor formally rejected them.
Menendez introduced the bill in response to rising household energy costs. 
Ten states have adopted plug-in solar rules, but no national framework exists yet to move the issue forward.
For households comparing these options, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy. EasyHome‘s free explorer tool makes it easy to obtain the best pricing and savings from vetted installers in your area.
Under the bill, a “portable solar generation device” would be a plug-in system limited to 1,200 watts that connects to a standard 120-volt AC outlet, consistent with the type of rules several states already use for plug-in solar.
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
If a system produces more than 400 watts of AC output, it would have to include a power control system. 
The equipment would also need to meet National Electrical Code requirements and be certified by Underwriters Laboratories or a similar national testing laboratory.
Because Menendez introduced the measure late in the session, lawmakers are not expected to consider it until after the pre-election recess scheduled to end in mid-November. 
That would leave only a brief window for Congress to act before the Jan. 3, 2027 deadline.
The proposal also directs the Department of Energy to establish a grant program offering rebates of up to $1,000 to low- or moderate-income households. 
States would have to verify income eligibility at the point of sale and prioritize renters, multifamily residents, and high-energy-burdened communities.
Only plug-in solar products made in the United States with domestic content above 55% would be eligible for the rebates. States could receive those grant funds only if their plug-in solar rules prevent landlords from blocking tenants from using the devices.
If funded at the level outlined in the proposal, the rebate program would receive $100 million in each fiscal year from 2027 through 2032, for a total of $600 million. 
For homeowners looking beyond a plug-in kit, EasyHome‘s free explorer tool makes reviewing solar options hassle-free and helps you find the most competitive rates and all available incentives.
EasyHome can also help you explore backup battery storage—pairing solar with a battery lets you maximize savings and keep your home powered when the grid goes down.
“Families are getting squeezed by electric bills that keep going up. Plug-in solar is a simple, affordable way to cut those bills, but outdated rules and unnecessary fees are standing in the way,” Menendez said. 
“The Socket Full of Sunshine Act clears those barriers so more families, including renters, can start saving.”
Plug-in solar is gaining traction as more states look for ways to make it workable for renters and apartment residents. These articles examine how states from New Jersey to California are changing the rules so more households can install panels and lower their electric bills.
• In New Jersey, regulators cleared plug-in solar for all, giving renters an easier way to trim bills.
• In Maine, lawmakers proposed giving renters the same power as homeowners to use plug-in solar.
• New laws in Maryland and Virginia let residents plug in balcony solar and cut bills.
• California lawmakers advanced a plug-in solar bill letting residents use wall outlets to lower power costs.
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.
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For Prelims: Solar energy, Rooftop Solar Programme, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, Production Linked Incentive, International Solar Alliance 
For Mains: Challenges for Solar Energy Adoption in India, Government Initiatives in Promoting Renewable Energy 
Source: TH 
A Nature study unveils a sustainable, water-based method for recycling Perovskite solar cells (PSCs), enhancing solar energy efficiency and supporting India’s push for greener energy. 

India’s solar energy future depends on an integrated approach that tackles technical, economic, environmental, and governance challenges. By aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, India can achieve its domestic energy targets and become a global leader in the clean energy transition, reflecting its climate commitments and sustainable development vision.
Drishti Mains Question:
Discuss the major challenges facing the solar energy industry in India and propose measures to overcome them.

Q. Consider the following statements: (2016)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  
(a) 1 only   
(b) 2 only  
(c) Both 1 and 2  
(d) Neither 1 nor 2  
Ans: (a)
Q. India has immense potential for solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate. (2020)

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Butte County Launches Free Solar Panel Recycling Pilot for Residents  Butte County
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Partly cloudy skies. Warm. High around 75F. Winds light and variable..
Partly cloudy. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: October 25, 2026 @ 2:53 am

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DANVILLE — A stretch of low-yield farmland north of Danville could soon generate electricity for local customers following approval for a proposed community solar farm Tuesday.
The council voted 11-2 to approve a special-use permit for Pivot Energy’s proposed 2.75-megawatt project on nearly 17 acres.
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07 October 2025
Renewable sources of electricity generation are continuing to grow strongly around the world, with global capacity expected to more than double by 2030, according to the IEA’s latest medium-term forecast. Led by the rapid rise of solar PV, renewables’ expansion is taking place in a context of supply chain strains, grid integration challenges, financial pressures and policy shifts. 
Renewables 2025, the IEA’s main annual report on the sector, sees global renewable power capacity increasing by 4 600 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 – roughly the equivalent of adding China, the European Union and Japan’s total power generation capacity combined.
Solar PV will account for around 80% of the global increase in renewable power capacity over the next five years – driven by low costs and faster permitting timeframes – followed by wind, hydro, bioenergy and geothermal. Geothermal installations are on course to hit historic highs in key markets, including the United States, Japan, Indonesia and a host of emerging and developing economies. Rising grid integration challenges are renewing interest in pumped-storage hydropower, whose growth is expected to be almost 80% faster over the next five years compared with the previous five.
In emerging economies across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, cost competitiveness and stronger policy support are spurring faster growth of renewables, with many governments introducing new auction programmes and raising their targets. India is on course to become the second-largest renewables growth market globally, after China, and is expected to comfortably reach its ambitious target by 2030.
At the company level, confidence in renewables remains strong. Most major developers have either maintained or raised their 2030 deployment targets compared with last year, reflecting resilience and optimism in the sector. Offshore wind stands apart, however, with a weaker growth outlook – around a quarter lower than in last year’s report – resulting from policy changes in key markets, supply chain bottlenecks and rising costs.
“The growth in global renewable capacity in the coming years will be dominated by solar PV – but with wind, hydropower, bioenergy and geothermal all contributing, too,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Solar PV is on course to account for some 80% of the increase in the world’s renewable capacity over the next five years. In addition to growth in established markets, solar is set to surge in economies such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and several Southeast Asian countries. As renewables’ role in electricity systems rises in many countries, policy makers need to pay close attention to supply chain security and grid integration challenges.”
The report’s outlook for global renewable capacity growth is revised downward slightly compared with last year, mainly due to policy changes in the United States and in China. The early phase-out of federal tax incentives along with other regulatory changes in the United States lowered our growth expectations for renewables in the US market by almost 50% compared with last year’s forecast. China’s shift from fixed tariffs to auctions is impacting project economics, resulting in a reduction in our forecast for renewables’ growth in the Chinese market.
These adjustments are partly offset by buoyancy in other regions – particularly India, Europe and most emerging and developing economies – where growth prospects have been revised upward due to ambitious new policies, expanded auction volumes, faster permitting and rising deployment of rooftop solar. Corporate purchase power agreements, utility contracts and merchant plants are also a major driver, together accounting for 30% of global renewable capacity expansion to 2030 – doubling their share compared with last year’s forecast.
Solar PV is expected to dominate renewables’ growth between now and 2030, remaining the lowest-cost option for new generation in most countries, while wind power, despite its near-term challenges, is still set for considerable expansion as supply bottlenecks ease and projects move forward, notably in China, Europe and India. Hydropower and other renewable technologies will continue to play important roles in supporting electricity systems and enhancing flexibility.
Global supply chains for solar PV and rare earth elements used in wind turbines remain heavily concentrated in China, underscoring ongoing risks to supply chain security. While new investment to diversify supply chains is taking place in countries around the world, concentration in China for key production segments is set to remain above 90% through 2030.
At the same time, the rapid rise of variable renewables is placing increasing pressure on electricity systems. Curtailment and negative price events are already appearing in more markets, signalling the need for urgent investment in grids, storage and flexible generation. Several countries are beginning to respond with new capacity and storage auctions, but much more will be needed to ensure that variable renewables are integrated in a cost-efficient and secure way.
The role of renewables in transport and heating is expected to rise in the coming years, but only slightly. In the transport sector, their share of energy use is forecast to increase from 4% today to 6% in 2030, driven mainly by renewable electricity for EVs in China and Europe, with biofuels adding growth in Brazil, Indonesia, India and other key markets. Renewables’ share of energy used globally to provide heat for buildings and industry is set to increase from 14% to 18% over the forecast period.
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by Sasha Allen and John Moritz, CT Mirror
October 16, 2026
From their perch overlooking a busy stretch of Interstate 95 in New Haven, the 1,900 solar panels that sit atop the city’s old landfill are a prominent display of a growing trend in Connecticut.
The solar array, built by Greenskies Clean Energy, is one of at least 29 large arrays that have been built or approved to be built on top of closed, capped landfills — a number that will likely increase in the coming years, according to state officials and developers.
That number is from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which must approve permits to construct projects on top of capped landfills. Those caps are designed to prevent the spread of leachate and other pollutants into the environment. The agency is currently reviewing permit applications at four other capped landfills, according to a spokesman.
Ryan Linares is the vice president of land acquisition at Greenskies, a solar energy company that opened its first two solar landfills in 2016 in Meriden and North Haven. Since then, its portfolio has grown to include landfills in Fairfield, West Haven and East Haven.
Its newest facility, the one in New Haven, opened in July.
While many of the state’s 294 closed landfills are candidates for solar fields, not all are.
Linares said that his company typically looks for landfills with a flat “plateau” of about 5 acres, which he said is large enough for a 1 megawatt facility. Proximity to existing electrical infrastructure is also essential to allow the solar array to connect to the local power grid.
One of the benefits that solar developers see in landfills is that they are usually town-owned and have limited opportunities to be sold or put to other productive uses. Companies can also make use of state incentives for the redevelopment of brownfield sites. 
“It’s a very good argument to say that this is the highest and best use, and we typically don’t see much pushback on that,” Linares said.  
Because landfills are contaminated areas, penetration of the cap, or the material sealing the landfill, is usually not permitted. It’s for that reason that large, shady trees are often prevented from growing over the cap — allowing plenty of access for sunlight. 
The number of solar fields on landfills has increased in the past decade. Since 2023, six projects have been approved by the Connecticut Siting Council, which has jurisdiction over projects with a capacity over 1 megawatt. (Smaller projects, such as those developed by Greenskies, are subject to local jurisdictions).
Linares said that Greenskies’ own portfolio of landfill arrays will likely double in size by the end of next year as it wraps up projects that are under active development.
“The programs in the state of Connecticut [are] really incentivizing development on brownfield or landfill properties, as opposed to other vacant pieces of property that aren’t brownfields or landfills,” he said.
We hold our newsroom to a high standard — in quality of stories, ethical practices, depth of knowledge on their beats, transparency, and impact of the journalism. We like to think that it is a bar any other outlet should strive to meet, too.
We just set a new bar by winning the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting. 
The award is a crowning achievement sitting atop a mountain of substantive impact, including change spurred by the On the Hook series that was recognized. It woke up public officials to the festering practice of towing and quickly selling people’s cars before their owners could hope to get them back. The story immediately changed the law that allowed it to happen (as immediate as government can move).
That’s what you get from CT Mirror: high caliber, high impact journalism. 
The newsroom didn’t begin their multi-year investigation into the towing industry with a thought that it would win them a Pulitzer, but they did know they had something momentous that could reshape public policy. 
For every long-term investigation that didn’t win a Pulitzer, many still could have for the level of reporting we did and the changes in lives and laws that came from them.
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Sasha is a data reporter with The Connecticut Mirror. She focuses on producing data-driven reporting and data visualizations for the newsroom. Prior to joining CT Mirror, Sasha worked part time for the Herald-Mail, a newspaper based in Western Maryland. As a 2025 graduate from the University of Maryland, she worked as a reporter and copy editor for Capital News Service, the university’s wire service, covering the state legislature, the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse, school board elections, youth mental health and climate change. Sasha also worked as an intern for the Baltimore Magazine, and was a reporter for the Diamondback, the university’s independent, student-run newspaper.
John covers energy and the environment for CT Mirror, a beat that has taken him from wind farms off the coast of Block Island to foraging for mushrooms in the Litchfield Hills and many places in between. Prior to joining CT Mirror, he was a statewide reporter for the Hearst Connecticut Media Group and before that, he covered politics for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock. A native of Norwalk, John earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Temple University.
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Australia’s 2.2 GW/350 GWh Snowy 2.0 pumped-storage hydroelectricity project is now expected to cost between AUD 22.5 billion and AUD 25 billion through to commissioning in 2029, according to an updated cost and schedule estimate from principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture (FGJV).
The project was initially estimated to cost AUD 2 billion when announced in early 2017. That figure was revised to AUD 3.8 billion to AUD 4.5 billion later that year, AUD 6.1 billion in 2018 and AUD 12 billion in 2023.
The update attributes the cost increase largely to FGJV’s underestimation of the delivery scope, including cost and planning underperformance, and the contractor’s failure to meet productivity targets because of construction complexities. It also cites a design revamp involving detailed technical analysis, and external factors such as global cost increases for equipment, services and labor that exceeded the allowances made at a 2023 contract reset.
Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said the cost increase is disappointing, but that because the project is no longer on a fixed-price contract, it is no longer exposed to the “weight of billions of dollars in claims from the contractor.”
The 2023 contract reset included mechanisms to support FGJV’s cost and program management on the project, which has more than 5,000 workers. These included directing FGJV to set up a project control office, now operational, that uses enhanced data and analytics to drive productivity and identify emerging risks early.
“Like the original Snowy Scheme, which still underpins energy reliability more than 70 years on, Snowy 2.0 is a generational investment in our energy sovereignty and a national asset owned by all Australians,” Barnes said. “Snowy 2.0’s massive, long-duration storage will be the grid’s insurance policy against multi-day wind and solar droughts, helping to prevent blackouts and control price spikes that would otherwise flow through to household electricity bills.”
Snowy 2.0, regarded as Australia’s largest energy security project, will provide long-duration energy storage equivalent to approximately 26 million home batteries, or enough to power 3 million homes for a week, according to Snowy Hydro.
The project is transitioning from cavern excavation and machine tunneling, which are 90% and 65% complete, respectively, to the physical assembly of the large-scale underground power station.
All six reversible turbines have arrived in Australia. They were manufactured by Germany-based Voith Hydro, with bespoke components fabricated at its facility in Shanghai.
The underground powerhouse complex is a network of caverns about 1 km below ground, which Snowy Hydro said is comparable in scale to the Sydney Opera House. It estimates the complex will last 150 years, until 2176.
In the next phase, crews will install inlet valves, spiral casings, high-voltage transformers weighing more than 400 metric tons each and other hydropower components.
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Monday, November 23, 2026
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The new issue of pv magazine Global is out now!
Available in print and digital – get your copy today!
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Greg Barron-Gafford
Chris Richards/University Communications
This profile is part of a series highlighting University of Arizona researchers featured in Sandstorm, a themed football game celebrating the ways the Sonoran Desert shapes our university and gives us a competitive advantage. From ecological restoration to groundbreaking research, these experts are using the unique conditions of the university’s environment to tackle challenges and create solutions with impact far beyond Arizona.
Greg Barron-Gafford used to see solar farms on the side of the highway and often asked himself the same question: Why can’t we grow plants there, too?
A professor in the School of Geography, Development and Environment within the College of Social and Behavioral Science, Barron-Gafford has developed solutions to that question for more than a decade. As a biogeographer, he studies how human and environmental changes impact where and how plants grow – and his work thrives at the University of Arizona.
In addition to teaching Wildcats about the environment in the classroom, Barron-Gafford leads the Semi-Arid Lab for Scaling Agrivoltaics, known as SALSA, a research group dedicated to advancing agrivoltaics research and scaling the agricultural practice for both large- and small-scale farming operations. 
But what is agrivoltaics, anyway? It refers to the simultaneous use of land for both growing crops and collecting solar energy. By growing plants in the shade provided by solar panels, agriculture can flourish in previously underdeveloped spaces. At the same time, solar installations benefit from the cooling effect of plant life. 
The concept was first theorized in Germany in the early 1980s. Barron-Gafford and his colleagues established the first agrivoltaics experiment in the United States at Biosphere 2 in 2017. Since then, he’s become one of the world’s foremost experts in practice, and his work supports international efforts like Agrivoltaicos sin Fronteras, a community stretching from Canada to Chile (with members in Spain and Japan) dedicated to advancing the field.
“Considering the environmental changes we’re experiencing, I think it’s more important than ever to talk about the future of food, water and energy,” Barron-Gafford said. “Our farms are already struggling, and most farmers have to make hard decisions because the water simply isn’t there. That means part of that transition involves solar, and we see a future where it’s not an either-or scenario. It’s yes-and.”
Outside of agrivoltaics, Barron-Gafford is the associate director of the U of A’s School Garden Workshop. The program connects college students with K-12 classrooms throughout Tucson to connect local youth with the region’s long agricultural history by developing and maintaining gardens on school campuses. 
“Not only are we providing a break from the classroom to enjoy some time in the sun, but what’s better than a natural science class that takes place outside?” Barron-Gafford said. “Instead of showing a student a textbook, I can take them outside and explain why some plants have really small leaves, or why cactus leaves turned into spines.”
Whether he’s teaching in the classroom, conducting research in the field or helping a local middle school build a garden, Barron-Gafford said he looks forward to a future in which people not only understand the environment but how their actions impact our collective future.
“I want our students to understand the challenges that are coming, both in terms of climate and apathy, and I feel like agrivoltaics is a solutions-oriented science that creates real outcomes that people can see,” Barron-Gafford said. “What started out with just a few of us and an idea has turned into a global practice.”
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Ten metres beneath the South China Sea, scientists have found an unlikely place to generate power from the sun.
Last week, researchers announced that they had successfully tested solar panels at underwater depths previously considered impractical for the technology.
Designed to capture the wavelengths of sunlight that can pass through seawater, the panels could eventually keep underwater equipment running for longer without relying just on batteries, they argue.
During a two-hour trial near the Weizhou Islands, off the southern coast of mainland China, the panels generated power from sunlight at a depth of 10 metres. Lab tests suggest that they could operate continuously for years, too.
The research, published in the science journal Joule, takes underwater solar well beyond previous studies, which have focused on depths of just two metres or less.
One of the biggest obstacles to generating solar power underwater is that sunlight fades below the surface – and fast.
By a depth of 10 metres, much of the sun’s energy has already been absorbed or scattered by the water. But some types of light can reach deeper than others.
According to the researchers, enough blue and green light reaches these depths to generate electricity, so the team developed solar cells designed to make the most of it.
They used what are known as perovskites, an alternative to the silicon found in most solar panels, which can be adjusted to absorb different wavelengths of light.
In laboratory tests recreating conditions 10 metres underwater, the cells turned around 35 per cent of the sunlight that reached them into electricity.
The researchers then put bigger versions to the test in the South China Sea. At two metres deep, their 115 square centimetres of solar panels generated 1,416 milliwatt-hours over two hours, or about half the capacity of a rechargeable AA battery.
At 10 metres, they generated 324 milliwatt-hours over two hours – a small amount but still far beyond what the researchers expected.
Their panels also showed almost no loss in performance after 1,160 hours under simulated underwater conditions. Based on their tests, the researchers estimate they could operate continuously at 10 metres below the sea for around five and a half years.
“This work presents the first functional validation of submerged solar cells practically operating at a water depth of up to about 10 meters, greatly broadening their application scope,” says study author Wen-Hua Zhang, from China’s Yunnan University and Southwest United Graduate School in Kunming.
Once the sole domain of rooftops and wide open spaces, solar power continues to appear in places where electricity and fuel can be difficult to access.
Earlier this year, Dutch researchers unveiled the world’s first solar-powered ambulancein rural Kenya, designed to bring healthcare and medical equipment to hard-to-reach communities that lack reliable access to electricity or fuel.
In Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, solar has also begun to help power a remote former radio station, a site accessible only by boat or helicopter that previously relied on diesel-fuelled generators.
Other projects have found space for solar in existing infrastructure. In Switzerland, solar panels installed between railway tracks are generating electricity without taking up more land. The panels can also be removed for track maintenance, allowing railways to double as solar farms without disrupting services.
Underwater solar power could solve a different problem.
Ocean sensors, cameras and communication equipment can operate far from power supplies, but they must eventually be retrieved when their batteries run out.
The researchers believe the technology they studied could provide a lasting source of power for this kind of equipment.
First, however, they need to find out how well their solar panels work deeper undersea. They say their next step is to do just that and establish how far beneath the waves solar power can go.


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Published 2:20 pm Thursday, October 22, 2026
By beauregarddailynews
UPDATE: The Vernon Parish Police Jury has called a special meeting for Friday, Oct. 23, at 3 p.m. The new drafted ordinance is on their website now and the public can make comments until tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. before the meeting.
By Ashlyn Little
For the second consecutive month, the Vernon Parish Police Jury has postponed a vote on tighter restrictions for local solar developments, choosing caution over mounting state and federal pressure to lift its current moratorium.
Facing another packed house at the Vernon Parish Judicial Complex on Monday, the Police Jury ultimately voted to table an amendment to Ordinance No. 9 of 2025. The decision followed a direct warning from District Attorney Terry Lambright, who urged the panel not to rush into a vote before he could thoroughly vet the new regulations.
The meeting, which opened with a prayer by District 3 Juror David Fox, quickly pivoted to the controversial solar ordinance. Parish President James “Jim” Tuck initially announced plans to approve the amendment Monday, pending Lambright’s subsequent legal review.
“We’re going to approve it today, but we’re going to amend it based on his (Lambright’s) approval,” Tuck said at the start of the session.
Tuck noted that the jury is facing significant state and federal pressure to take action and lift the solar farm moratorium, which has been in place since a special-call meeting on Aug. 10.
“I did make a commitment to state and federal people that we would take action on it no matter which way it went today,” Tuck added, emphasizing that “every change we’ve made in this ordinance is to protect the existing landowners.”
However, Lambright strongly advised the jury against passing a law before it was legally finalized.
“I reviewed the ordinance that is being submitted and I’m going to say this: I don’t really like to pass an ordinance and then let the District Attorney figure out what we’ve got regarding to do that,” Lambright told the jury. “I think the jury, in order to make the best decision, needs to actually get the advice in front of the passing of ordinances as opposed to after the fact.”
Residents also pushed back against a hasty decision. The jury limited public comments on Monday, stating ample time had already been provided in prior weeks. Even so, Vernon resident Stacy Merchant was able to voice his concerns.
“I’m just trying to prevent problems before they start, that way we’re not dealing with them after the fact,” Merchant said, arguing it was the wrong time to rush the vote. While Tuck countered that the ordinance could always be amended again in the future if needed, the jury ultimately sided with the DA’s recommendation to delay.
The drafted amendment introduces significantly tougher restrictions for solar farm developers compared to the parish’s original framework. Under the newly proposed rules, the required buffer zone between a solar facility and any public road would double, pushing the minimum distance from 150 feet to 300 feet. Additionally, developers would have to maintain a strict setback of at least 500 feet from the property line of any private neighbor. However, the draft offers some flexibility for residents, allowing private landowners to sign separate written agreements with operators if they choose to permit a smaller setback next to their property.
Beyond physical boundaries, the amendment establishes strict environmental and operational safeguards to protect the surrounding community. Any equipment or structures built outside the buffer zones must be designed and situated to eliminate unreasonable impacts on neighbors and public roads, explicitly targeting problems like glare, heat, and odors. Noise pollution is also tightly regulated, capping facility sounds at no more than 10 decibels above ambient noise levels when measured from the property line. Furthermore, developers face heavier long-term financial and maintenance obligations; the timeline for reevaluating the facility’s decommissioning bond would shrink from every five years to every three years.
The update also holds solar operators strictly accountable for the visual and physical upkeep of their sites. The draft mandates that all landscaping must be fully maintained and warranted for the entire lifespan of the facility, requiring any unhealthy or dead plant material to be replaced immediately. Finally, the regulations place the burden of problem-solving on the companies themselves. If a solar farm causes any adverse effects on an adjoining property owner at any point during its construction or daily operation, the facility owner is legally required to work directly with that resident to mitigate and correct the issue.
 

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“We need to start treating solar like the valuable infrastructure it is.”
Photo Credit: iStock
Panels now cover rooftops on millions of Australian homes and small businesses, but one industry expert says too many systems are being left to age without the maintenance needed to preserve long-term electricity generation and savings, according to pv magazine.
The installation surge is still accelerating, with 2026 shaping up to be a record year as more households buy solar systems intended to keep operating for 25 years or longer.
Roughly 181,000 rooftop systems went up during the first half of 2026 — 35% more than during the same period in 2025 — for the strongest six-month result since 2021. 
Australia also has more than 28 gigawatts of rooftop solar installed, the most per capita in the world, and roughly 36% of households have a system.
Andrew Barrington, founder and managing director of Solar Shine Australia in New South Wales, warned that the industry needs to pay closer attention to the systems already on roofs instead of concentrating only on adding new ones.
“We’re putting solar panels on just about every roof we can, but who’s checking whether they’re still working properly five years later?” he told the outlet.
For homeowners weighing the switch, going solar remains one of the best ways to save money on home energy. EasyHome‘s free explorer tool lets you see pricing and savings from vetted installers in your area.
Barrington noted that weak inspection and maintenance programs can keep existing systems from providing the performance, financial returns, and service life owners expect.
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
“We don’t need to keep replacing things that could have been maintained,” he added. “We need to start treating solar like the valuable infrastructure it is.”
Damage, missed upkeep, and hidden faults can reduce output and cut a system’s useful life short, Barrington said, even though rooftop solar panels are typically expected to operate for at least 25 years.
Solar Shine Australia said some of the most common problems are dirt buildup, loose wiring, cracked panels, and monitoring equipment that may be installed but not checked. 
The company explained that physical module damage can raise the risk of moisture ingress and ongoing deterioration, reducing reliability and performance over time.
Barrington said the consequences extend beyond energy production to safety concerns and waste.
“Like anything we want to last for decades, it needs to be maintained,” he remarked. “Identifying and rectifying minor faults early saves production levels, expensive repairs when the faults stack up or cause a major issue and prevents risk of fire/electrocution.”
He also cautioned that taking solar equipment out of service early because of poor maintenance could strain the recycling sector and send more panels to landfill.
Along with pushing for more proactive inspection and maintenance, Barrington said the industry still has an education problem. 
In his view, consumers, installers, manufacturers, and solar sales teams all need a better understanding that “solar is low maintenance, not no maintenance.”
That discussion is headed to All Energy Australia 2026 in Melbourne, where Barrington is set to chair a panel called Maximising Solar Asset Performance Through Maintenance, Monitoring & Stewardship. 
The session will bring together maintenance specialists to share practical lessons and examine how solar asset owners can get more from their systems.
For households considering solar or upgrades, EasyHome‘s free explorer tool makes the process fast and easy. EasyHome also covers backup battery storage — pairing solar with a battery allows you to maximize savings and power your home when the grid goes down.
Barrington said one of the first steps is to challenge a long-running myth about rooftop panels. 
“For 25 years this rumour has been circulating that solar is no maintenance, self-cleaning or the rain cleans solar panels … that is simply not true.”
Getting the most from rooftop solar doesn’t end with installation. For more, these stories cover panel maintenance, expanding solar access in Australia, and the mistakes and myths that can shape what homeowners get from their systems.
• Routine checks and basic rooftop maintenance can keep solar output and savings from slipping.
• Homeowners are still battling misinformation about rooftop solar that clouds upkeep and savings decisions.
• Solar buyers who carefully review contracts can avoid costly installation and financing mistakes.
• Understanding how rooftop arrays work can help households spot problems earlier.
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“With VIPER, we aim to transform cutting-edge research findings into tangible technology for the energy of the future”. This is the ambition driving VIPER (HeaVy pnIctogens based indoor Photovoltaics with up-cyclEd caRbon electrodes), the project coordinated by Professor Teresa Gatti of the Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), which has recently been awarded an ERC Proof of Concept grant from the European Research Council, amounting to 150,000 euros. This funding will allow the research team to transform a proven laboratory-scale technology into ready-to-use prototypes for future industrial applications, testing their technical and commercial viability and paving the way for technology transfer.
The project focuses on a new generation of photovoltaic cells that are designed to capture artificial light present indoors, rather than sunlight. It is a virtuous energy cycle: the light that illuminates buildings, offices, schools, and hospitals becomes, in itself, a source capable of powering sensors, electronic devices, and Internet of Things applications, while at the same time reducing dependence on traditional batteries.
This technology addresses an increasingly pressing challenge: ensuring a continuous power supply to the millions of sensors and devices that are making buildings ever smarter. Today, these systems rely almost exclusively on batteries, which need to be replaced periodically and entail both financial and environmental costs. VIPER aims to overcome this limitation by developing an autonomous, sustainable and low-maintenance energy source, exploiting the existing lighting in our homes and workplaces.
How does a photovoltaic panel designed for indoor use actually work? Unlike roof-mounted modules, which are optimised for solar radiation, indoor photovoltaic systems must convert the light emitted by LED lamps and other artificial light sources – which are much less intense and have a different light spectrum to sunlight – into energy.
“For this reason, we need specially designed materials that can operate in low-light conditions and ensure high performance even inside buildings,” explains Professor Gatti.
To achieve this, bismuth and antimony, lead-free materials containing no noble metals, combine high stability, low toxicity and excellent performance even in low-light conditions. They represent a more sustainable alternative to traditional photovoltaic cell materials, which often rely on more expensive, critical or environmentally damaging elements, such as gold and certain organic compounds currently used in new-generation photovoltaic cells.
However, innovation does not stop at semiconductor materials: “Another distinctive feature of the project is its approach to the circular economy,” comments Gatti, “The electrodes will, indeed, use waste materials – such as end-of-life tyres and residual biomass – transforming them into high value-added components for photovoltaic devices.”
Like all ERC Proof of Concept projects, VIPER also stems from the evolution of a previous project funded by the European Research Council. In the case of VIPER, the starting point is JANUS BI, the ERC Starting Grant that enabled the research group to study nanostructured materials inspired by natural photosynthetic processes, developing new strategies to control light conversion and charge transfer. The knowledge gained forms the scientific basis of VIPER, which translates these findings into photovoltaic technology for indoor environments.
Thanks to the ERC Proof of Concept grant, the research team will now work on developing and validating prototypes operating in real-world conditions, thereby facilitating technology transfer towards applications in the fields of smart buildings, environmental monitoring and low-power electronics.
Collaboration with the Centre for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy (CHOSE) at the Tor Vergata University of Rome will also be crucial in this process: “The collaboration with Professor Antonio Agresti’s group represents essential added value in validating the technology on a more advanced scale and encouraging its progress towards future industrial applications. We aim to contribute to a more efficient, secure and environmentally friendly IoT ecosystem”, concludes Professor Teresa Gatti.
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Ruppe

Siegwerk Environmental Inks is putting its money where its mouth is, investing more than $1 million in solar energy, which will support the majority of the facility’s electricity demand.
Siegwerk is a printing inks and coatings provider for packaging and labels that serves a range of industries. Originally opening its doors in Morganton in 1979 as Environmental Inks and Coatings, the company was later purchased by Germany-based Siegwerk in 2010.
The project, known as Project HoriSun, is already past Phase 1 and installation is underway at the facility on Quality Products Road in Morganton. The solar panels will be installed in a field near the rear entrance of one of the facility’s buildings.
“With our solar expansion in Morganton, we are bridging the gap between operational excellence and environmental responsibility to meet our customers’ evolving needs,” said Scott Bartlett, head of operations and supply chain at Siegwerk.
Over the lifetime of the panels, Siegwerk expects to avoid over 10,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, a number the company compared to 24.6 million passenger vehicle miles or what is absorbed by 162,077 trees grown over 10 years using metrics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas equivalencies.
Ruppe
“Investments like Project HoriSun demonstrate how manufacturers in Burke County are embracing innovation and investing in the future,” said Brandon Ruppe, president and CEO of Burke Development, Inc. “These projects strengthen our manufacturing base, demonstrate a commitment to responsible operations, and reinforce Burke County’s position as a place where companies can grow and thrive.”
— JC
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.
Edesur’s notice did not specify how many customers would be affected.
Photo Credit: iStock
Households and businesses in the Dominican Republic that invested fairly early in rooftop solar are now facing a new cost for sending surplus electricity back to the grid.
National utility Edesur says that beginning Nov. 1, some customers in its net-metering program will start paying a distribution network usage fee on the electricity they send back to the grid.
According to pv magazine, the first customers affected will be self-generation users on the BTS-1 residential and BTS-2 commercial low-voltage tariffs who joined net metering before October 2021.
The change was issued in January by the regulatory body of the electricity sector in the Dominican Republic. As pv magazine described, “The charge will be calculated by multiplying the electricity injected into the grid, measured in [kilowatt-hours], by 25% of the energy component of the customer’s applicable tariff.”
In other words, the rule does not add 25% to a customer’s entire electric bill or apply to all electricity produced by a rooftop solar system: It applies only to power exported to the grid.
Customers affected by the change would see the new grid usage fee added to any other fees on their usual bill.
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For families and neighborhood businesses that installed panels expecting savings under earlier net-metering rules, the change could reduce the value of every surplus kilowatt-hour they send back. 
That, in turn, could make rooftop solar less effective at delivering steady bill relief and cleaner local energy, which helped drive those early investments.
This is not the first distributed-solar fee introduced in the country. Meanwhile, Edesur’s notice did not specify how many customers could ultimately be affected.
The utility is preparing to apply the new rules on Nov. 1 to a certain set of BTS-1 and BTS-2 customers, according to pv magazine. Meanwhile, households and businesses in the Dominican Republic may have a harder time sorting out what rooftop solar will actually save them.
Solar savings can shift quickly when policy, financing, or local programs change:
• In Rajasthan, India, developers said land sale costs could slow solar and wind growth.
• For homeowners, zero-dollar-down solar deals can raise fresh questions about savings after contracts end.
• In the UK, one free solar panel scheme started cutting local energy bills.
• In New Hampshire, officials proposed plug-and-play solar access to give more residents bill control.
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Project would generate up to 125 megawatts of solar power, according to developer
By Haylee May
Colorado Public Radio
Thursday, Oct 22, 2026 4:57 PM MT
Updated Thursday, Oct 22, 2026 5:28 PM MT

A proposed solar farm and battery storage project near Mesa Verde National Park has won support from four electric cooperatives in the region. But some neighbors say its batteries and the sheer size of it could threaten their businesses, homes and the views that draw tourists to the area.
The Valley Range Energy Park would include roughly 900 acres of solar panels, nearly three times the size of Denver’s City Park, and a 62.5-megawatt battery storage system about three miles north of the UNESCO Heritage site, east of Cortez in Montezuma County.
Developer Accelergen Energy says the project would generate up to 125 megawatts of solar power, that’s equivalent to enough to keep lights on in homes across Cortez, Durango and nearby Farmington, New Mexico combined for one year.
Empire Electric Association, Gunnison County Electric Association, San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative and San Miguel Power Association estimate that buying the park’s electricity could save them more than $20 million and help pay for infrastructure improvements.
But the proposal comes amid a contentious debate over large solar developments in Montezuma County.
Commissioners temporarily stopped accepting new utility-scale solar applications last year while rewriting county regulations, including how close they can be to homes.
With the new rules in place, Accelergen has leased approximately 2,100 acres from private landowners and the Colorado State Land Board for the project, though much of it would remain undeveloped or serve as wildlife corridors if it’s approved.
The project’s proposed battery system would store electricity for later use, helping balance supply and demand on the electric grid.
Accelergen plans to use lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, known as LFPs, which would be housed in outdoor containers occupying less than an acre total within a 10-acre fenced area.
Although LFPs are generally more resistant to overheating than others, they can still experience thermal runaway – a chain reaction that can release flammable gases and cause fires.
Bryan Davis, who lives nearby and operates a chocolate business close to Mesa Verde, objects to both the project’s size and the battery facility’s proximity to the park and nearby community.
“I don’t like the solar panels because of the location, but I hate the batteries,” Davis said.
Brandi Atkinson, who owns Bright Star Campground with her husband near the proposed site, worries about what could happen to her guests if a battery fire broke out.
“If something catastrophic happened, having a full campground where nobody’s able to shelter in place is really terrifying as a business owner,” Atkinson said.
Davis and Atkinson point to a January 2025 fire at a battery storage facility in Moss Landing, a coastal community in Monterey County, California.
About 1,200 residents were ordered to evacuate, and the fallout disrupted local businesses.
Davis fears a similar incident near Mesa Verde would hurt the local economy.
“This county can’t survive without its tourism revenue,” he said.
But there are important differences between the batteries used at Moss Landing and those proposed for Valley Range.
Donal Finegan, a distinguished researcher at the National Laboratory of the Rockies who specializes in lithium-ion battery failures and safety, said LFP batteries are generally safer than the nickel-manganese-cobalt lithium-ion batteries, or NMCs, used at Moss Landing for three reasons: They can withstand higher temperatures, produce less heat during thermal runaway and release less toxic particles if they burn.
Finegan also explained that separating batteries into outdoor containers as planned at Valley Range can also help prevent a fire from spreading.
“The point of having these containers separated from each other is that if … in the very unlikely event that something does happen and the fire occurs, the container is safe to just burn on its own and it doesn’t spread to any neighboring containers or neighboring buildings,” Finegan said.
Josh Skogen, Accelergen’s chief development officer, also emphasized the differences between the projects.
“It was a disaster,” Skogen said, referring to Moss Landing. “That is everything we’re not doing.”
Accelergen says it plans to monitor the batteries around the clock and follow national safety standards, including the ability to shut things down remotely.
Even with those precautions, the company is preparing for a possible battery emergency. It recently shared a draft emergency response plan with local fire departments and plans to provide firefighter training and water tanks at the site.
Cortez Fire Protection District Chief Roy Wilkinson told CPR News he is waiting for more complete plans before he makes any recommendations.
“Until we have a solid emergency action plan, we are not moving forward on anything,” Wilkinson said. “We have an idea of how to respond to [battery fires]; what we don’t know is the unknown.”
If the project is approved, Wilkinson said his department will take the necessary steps to protect public safety.
Accelergen says it has changed the project’s original layout in response to neighbors’ concerns.
“The battery storage area was relocated as part of our collaboration with those neighbors,” said Matt Ryan, the company’s director of development and project manager for Valley Range.
Skogen said the nearest home would now be about 1,800 feet from the battery facility. That’s the length of about five to six football fields and beyond the 500 feet now required by the county.
Fire safety is only part of the debate surrounding Valley Range.
Mesa Verde was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2021. Its sweeping views and night skies are also part of the region’s tourism appeal.
According to the National Park Service, in 2023, the park drew more than 500,000 visitors who spent nearly $60 million in nearby communities, supporting 776 jobs.
Atkinson said guests at her campground come from across the globe and all 50 states. They regularly comment on the landscape.
“They are absolutely blown away with the views … they come specifically for the night skies,” she said.
Accelergen says the solar park would have no nighttime lighting, but will include lights at the substation. Those, they say, would be shielded and directed downward. Research by Argonne National Laboratory has found that careful lighting design can substantially reduce the nighttime visibility of solar facilities. But a lighting study specific to Valley Range has not yet been completed.
Accelergen has also acknowledged that parts of the solar farm would be visible from inside Mesa Verde.
“Of course, from some of the overlooks, the project will be visible,” Ryan said.
However, the company says the surrounding terrain will shield portions of the project from U.S. Highway 160 and some nearby properties.
“Ensuring that this project has an outsized benefit relative to any potential impacts is really important to us,” Skogen said.
Other proposed view mitigation measures include berms, vegetation and wildlife-friendly fencing.
But Atkinson worries that on the expansive terrain leading up to the base of the park, the berms themselves would obstruct the unique landscape her customers come for.
“I know one thing for sure: they’re saying putting up giant just mounds of dirt, so berms, which would clearly destroy the expansive views that we have as a campground,” she said.
The company told CPR News that it has met with National Park Service officials about the project and has put in place potential measures to protect views, wildlife and cultural resources tied to the tribes who once inhabited the park.
Accelergen says it also contacted the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and plans archaeological work before construction in areas where cultural resources may be present.
Significant discoveries could require changes to the project or delay construction. Whether archaeological findings could prevent the development from moving forward remains unclear.
The company says it has accounted for such work in its construction timeline and that there’s a possibility items discovered would be reburied elsewhere.
CPR News reached out to both the tribe and the park for comment, but has not yet heard back.
If built, it’s estimated that Valley Range’s full solar output would be equivalent to about 40% of Empire Electric Association, Gunnison County Electric Association, San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative and San Miguel Power Association’s combined peak electricity demand in 2024.
Accelergen also estimates the project would generate $13.9 million in local property taxes over 35 years, along with approximately 100 local construction jobs and $8 million in local earnings during construction. Skogen said the final tax revenue would depend on the facility’s value when built, while electricity savings would depend partly on its output.
When contacted about the project, the Colorado Energy Office emphasized the broader benefits of solar power and battery storage.
“Whether at the utility scale or a local or individual scale, solar energy systems paired with battery storage lower costs and support a clean, reliable power grid for all Coloradans,” the agency said in an email.
The project has also become an issue in the race to replace term-limited District 1 County Commissioner Jim Candelaria.
Republican Rodney Cox opposes Valley Range. Democrat Rebecca Busic supports it, but told CPR that commissioners should judge applications against the county’s land-use code rather than their personal preferences.
Busic said she worries that denying a project that meets local requirements could expose the county to a lawsuit.
Accelergen submitted its application to the county’s Planning and Zoning department in early September. It includes roughly 1,000 pages of project information and impact studies. The company expects a hearing on the proposal with that team in December, followed by a hearing before county commissioners in the new year. But county officials have not confirmed those dates.
Don Haley with planning and zoning told CPR News the department is just him and one other person. He emphasized they want to ensure a complete review of the application before making a recommendation to the commission.
If approved, construction on Valley Range would not begin until early 2029, depending on when upgrades needed to connect the project to the grid are complete.
One thing that could complicate the county’s review: sitting commissioner Kent Lindsay is in a dual role, also serving as vice president of Empire Electric’s board. The cooperative is among the prospective buyers of Valley Range’s electricity.
In the past, he’s recused himself from matters tied to Empire, but when asked by CPR whether he would recuse himself from the county’s decision for the Valley Range project, Lindsay said he’s still working with lawyers to determine his course of action. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” he said.
When the proposal goes before commissioners, residents will also have an opportunity to comment. Local business owner Bryan Davis hopes commissioners will reject it, but isn’t sure how much weight they’ll give public opposition.
“We don’t know how many people who signed the petitions are going to show up. We don’t know if the commissioners are going to care what the public thinks at all,” he said.
Colorado Public Radio: To read more stories from Colorado Public Radio, visit www.cpr.org.
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War-induced spikes in oil prices and the arrival of artificial intelligence are widening the economic gap between rich and poor countries, according to the International Monetary Fund’s October report on the world economy. Poorer countries that import most of their fossil fuels have suffered the worst consequences of the United States’ and Israel’s war on Iran, while wealthier countries have better withstood war-related shocks thanks to AI-related economic growth and diversified energy systems, the report said. 
Renewable and clean energy could help poorer countries strengthen their economies against future economic turbulence, but a well-planned energy transition requires resources these countries don’t have. Instead, families and companies in developing countries are pursuing their own ad hoc energy transitions with cheap electric motorbikes and rooftop solar panels. Demand for an energy transition in poor economies is here, experts say, but no one is providing the planning and money to make it orderly or equitable. 

“Getting off oil is the only solution to this long-standing, but currently very acute, economic vulnerability,” said Rebecca Ray, an economist studying global sustainable development at Boston University. “The question is, who’s going to pay for it?”
Oil and gas prices, which have soared as wars in the Middle East and Ukraine have destroyed refineries and closed shipping routes, have made all kinds of products more expensive, including fertilizer and goods that must be shipped with fossil fuel-burning engines. Those high prices hit hardest in poor countries, where people and governments already struggle to afford necessities. 
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High fossil fuel prices can also have unwelcome knock-on effects in poor countries, like making it harder for the governments to borrow money. Rising fuel prices slow down an economy, meaning governments take in less tax money. Investors then get skittish about lending to those governments because of their weakened incomes. Governments must then take on riskier loans with steeper interest rates to stay afloat, adding to already high costs of borrowing. That can lock them into financial trouble and make it harder for them to spend on their people. 
“The world’s poorest countries are likely to see their productivity and growth momentum decelerate and the gap in their per capita incomes relative to those in advanced economies widen” through the early 2030s, the IMF report states. The report echoes repeated warnings about the global impacts of the war in Iran from international organizations since early in the year.
Still, residents of low-income countries are responding to the crisis by seeking opportunities for resilience. Even before fuel prices spiked from war in the Middle East, private citizens and companies in poor countries were investing in their own renewable energy. The war seems to have accelerated those trends or demonstrated their value. 
For instance, electric mopeds and motorcycles now zip through crowded intersections in Vietnam, where their sales nearly doubled after the outbreak of the war, now representing 28 percent of new two-wheel vehicles sold. In Pakistani cities, rooftop solar had effectively doubled the country’s electricity capacity in two years leading up to the war. After the war began, all those solar panels kept the country’s electricity prices fairly stable, shielding the country from the same economic shocks it experienced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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An energy transition is happening, but it’s not a systematic change. And it’s not equally distributed among the people of poor countries. Installing so much unplanned rooftop solar takes wealthier households off power grids, leaving poorer households to pay for the grids’ improvements. EV growth can strain grids without the appropriate planning and infrastructure improvements. And the organization and expense required for a wholesale energy transition just aren’t feasible for many governments.
Ethiopia, for instance, has rocketed ahead of other African countries to become a global leader in electric vehicle adoption, but the country still only has 13 public charging stations and suffers regular blackouts, making its EV rollout potentially precarious. The country has doubled its national electricity generation with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam hydropower project, which came online last year, but it still needs a reliable grid to make that power boost meaningful. Nepal, which is also leveraging hydropower to support massive EV adoption — over 70 percent of new vehicles sold — is similarly watching its electric vehicle stock grow faster than the chargers and grid technology needed to support it.
Building out essential infrastructure like power grids is exactly the kind of project that international development institutions like the IMF are supposed to invest in. The IMF and World Bank, both headquartered in Washington, D.C., were founded by over 40 allied nations in 1944. Both organizations, along with a series of regional development institutions like the Asian Development Bank, constitute a system whose public goal is to provide loans, research capabilities, and financial advice to developing countries so they can build projects needed to grow their economies. However, throughout their history, both organizations have received criticism for prioritizing debt repayment over well-being within borrower countries, potentially worsening inequality and corporate profiteering.
Today, the largest of these organizations aren’t stepping up to overhaul energy systems in developing countries — in fact, the World Bank abandoned its ambitious climate-related lending goal in June, following the Trump administration’s calls for it and the IMF to refocus away from climate issues. And the large countries that help fund those organizations, like the United States, European nations, and China, have recently reduced their funding for infrastructure development in poor countries.
“Developing countries have been caught in a downward spiral of decelerating growth and increased vulnerability,” said Shekhar Aiyar, director of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, at an event hosted by the Center for Global Development this month. “At the same time, there has been a vast scaling back of bilateral aid” — that is, aid from rich countries to poorer ones. 
Wealthy countries have promised over a trillion dollars to help fund climate-related projects in developing nations by 2035, but annual payments are meant to ramp up and aren’t fully available yet. Plus, wealthy countries have historically failed to meet similar promises.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the economic fallout from the Iran war has made the economic importance of transitioning poor countries away from fossil fuels undeniable. 
“It’s now more widely understood that decarbonization is a critical goal for macroeconomic stability, and just that recognition is a really encouraging step,” Ray said.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (GRAY) – By the end of 2026, leaders with the Minnesota Department of Commerce say the state will have produced 400 solar-powered schools, more than double the amount it had in 2022.
The state will also distribute its 200th grant for the Solar for Schools program. The program is meant to equip schools across the state with the resources necessary to install solar power. Since the program’s launch in 2022, the Department of Commerce has set aside roughly $32.6 million for the program.
Cost savings represent one of the biggest incentives for districts to participate in the program.
“The solar array saves us $22,000 annually, accumulating to an estimated $900,000 over the system’s lifetime,” said Christine Osorio, Superintendent of School District 622.
The Department also marked the continued success of the Electric School Bus Grant Program, which has awarded roughly $8.8 million to school districts to upgrade to electric buses. Right now, there are currently 23 electric school buses operating within 10 districts across the state.
In addition to saving districts money on energy costs, leaders say the programs provide a learning experience for students.
“Imagine learning about electricity in science class, and then being able to see exactly how much power the solar panels at your school are producing. Or learning about electric vehicles, and then riding one to school every morning,” said Julia Dreier, Temporary Commissioner of the Department of Commerce.
According to the Department of Commerce, Minnesota ranks 7^th in the nation in total number of solar-powered schools.
Copyright 2026 KTTC. All rights reserved.

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UK home solar users say export rates are sliding toward $0, making batteries crucial  Yahoo Finance
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A Wagoner County district judge has ordered county commissioners to grant a conditional-use permit for a nearly 5,000-acre solar farm near Porter, reversing a decision commissioners made in a single vote after five separate open meetings. District Judge Doug Kirkley’s ruling clears a major legal hurdle for Persica Solar, the company behind the proposed array in northeast Oklahoma, though the permit comes with conditions the county is still allowed to impose.
The legal battle traces back to June 2025, when the Wagoner County Commission voted against granting Persica Solar’s conditional-use permit, according to Oklahoma Energy Today. Before that single denial vote, the request had appeared on the commission’s published agenda five separate times, and commissioners held five separate open meetings, per the same outlet. Persica Solar later filed a trial brief asking the courts to issue the permit outright, pushing the dispute into Kirkley’s courtroom.
The scale of the proposal explains why it drew so much scrutiny. The project is described as a proposed 5,000-acre solar development in northeast Oklahoma, with an estimated construction cost of $336 million, according to the earlier reporting. Persica Solar said it had obtained voluntary leases from 25 separate property owners and that power generated at the site would be injected into the grid through Public Service Company of Oklahoma before being distributed to the Southwest Power Pool.
In his ruling, Kirkley found that a conditional-use permit cannot be denied solely because the proposed use is not affirmatively beneficial to the community, so long as the applicant satisfies the ordinance’s conditions. That legal standard effectively reversed the commission’s earlier decision. At the same time, the ruling preserves some local authority: the Wagoner County Board of County Commissioners may still impose reasonable conditions on Persica Solar’s permit going forward.
Persica Solar had previously said it anticipated entering a road-maintenance agreement to address damage from equipment hauling, with a commitment to leave roads in as good or better condition than before construction. The company also told the Tulsa World that the solar arrays themselves would stand roughly 10 to 12 feet above ground at their highest point and would be enclosed by fencing, according to the Tulsa World.
NextEra Energy Resources, tied to the Persica project, welcomed the judge’s ruling. The company has said the project is expected to generate approximately $31 million in tax revenue and create hundreds of construction jobs, framing the array as a long-term investment in the region that also provides lease payments to landowners supporting local family farms. In a company statement, Marshall Hastings said NextEra Energy Resources looks forward to partnering with landowners, community leaders, and citizens to build the project.
Those figures track closely with what Persica Solar told county officials during the permitting fight, when the company said the project could create up to 300 construction jobs at the height of construction and generate approximately $31 million in Wagoner County ad valorem tax revenue over the project’s 30-year life, per Oklahoma Energy Today’s earlier coverage. One county project document had also stated that no battery energy storage system was included in the conditional-use permit then under consideration, though that detail was tied specifically to the permit under review at the time and hasn’t been confirmed as part of the court’s final order.
The Porter dispute lands amid a rapid expansion of solar power statewide. Oklahoma’s total solar capacity reached 842 megawatts by the end of 2025, enough to power about 105,000 homes, according to KOSU — more than double the under-400-megawatt total the state had in 2024. PV Magazine USA reported that Oklahoma was among fifteen states where solar capacity grew by more than 50% in 2024, even as the state still ranked near the bottom nationally for solar capacity and drew only a small fraction of its electricity from the sun, per PV Magazine USA.
Other recent Oklahoma solar projects echo Persica’s projected benefits almost exactly. NextEra Energy separately broke ground on a 250-megawatt Oklahoma solar project tied to a power-purchase agreement with food distributor Sysco, estimating about $32 million in tax revenue over 30 years and roughly 300 construction jobs — numbers PV Magazine USA reported are nearly identical to what Persica promised Wagoner County. The Kiowa County Solar Project near Snyder also became operational in 2025, adding 100 megawatts of generation, the outlet noted.
Not every renewable project in the state has found such success. Oklahoma Watch reported that the state’s Commissioners of the Land Office voted down several wind and solar leases on state-owned land over the past year, potentially forgoing millions of dollars earmarked for public education, while a Senate bill on wind-turbine setbacks stalled after the chamber declined to take up a House-amended version requiring half-mile buffers from homes, according to Oklahoma Watch. Commissioners elsewhere in the state also voted 4-0 to reject an EDF Renewables solar project in Payne County over concerns about lease length, the same report found.
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CertainTeed’s Landmark PWR solar roof. 
Tesla’s decision to discontinue its Solar Roof and CertainTeed’s continued investment in solar shingles illustrate a challenge facing residential roofing: Homeowners may like the appearance of integrated solar roofing, but convincing them to pay for it is another matter.
Lilli Tillman Smith, industry analyst for roofing and insulation at Principia, said the manufacturers’ different approaches suggest consumer interest in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) remains, even as the economics limit widespread adoption.
“I think it tells us that homeowners like the idea of integrated solar roofing more than they like the economics,” Tillman Smith said.
Tesla generated considerable attention by addressing one of the most common objections to conventional rooftop solar panels: appearance. Rather than mounting panels over an existing roof, the company’s system incorporated electricity-generating components directly into the roofing material. But the integrated design came with substantial costs and installation challenges.
“Homeowners generally prefer a roof that looks clean and seamless rather than having large panels mounted on top,” Tillman Smith said. “However, actual adoption remained very limited because the systems were expensive, difficult to install, and often harder to justify financially than a conventional roof paired with rooftop solar panels.”
CertainTeed’s launch of its Landmark PWR Solar Roof offers a different approach to the integrated solar market as Tesla exits the category. The new product gives the roofing manufacturer an opportunity to compete in a market where homeowners continue to show interest in solar-integrated roofing, but cost and installation complexity have limited adoption.
“They’re focusing on making the products easier for roofing contractors to install and positioning them as another roofing option rather than trying to completely reinvent residential solar,” Tillman Smith said.
For roofing contractors, products that more closely resemble conventional roofing materials could provide a more accessible entry point into the market, although electrical work and other solar-specific requirements remain.
Todd Miller, president of Isaiah Industries and Classic Metal Roofing Systems, said Tesla’s experience illustrates the importance of understanding the roofing business when developing integrated solar products.
“I feel that a mistake Tesla made with their Solar Glass roof is it took several years for them to accept the fact they were in the roofing business and happened to be selling a solar roof,” Miller said. “When they were strictly approaching this as a solar product, they were missing the nuances and intricacies of residential roofing.”
Miller, whose company manufactures residential metal roofing, said that approach slowed Tesla’s ability to gain traction in the market.
Related: Roofing Contractors Have Three Paths Into Solar

Although product cost remains the biggest barrier, Tillman Smith said financing can be just as important in deciding whether homeowners move forward with solar roofing.  
“In some cases, the energy savings generated by the system are largely offset by the financing payment, especially in the first several years,” she said.
Higher interest rates further complicate the economics by increasing financing costs and potentially extending the time required for homeowners to realize meaningful savings.
Tillman Smith said the value proposition becomes much harder when monthly energy savings roughly match the financing payment. For homeowners considering a premium integrated solar roof, that calculation can be particularly challenging compared with purchasing a conventional roof and adding rooftop solar panels.

Integrated solar roofing also faces a challenge conventional rooftop panels largely avoid: the timing of roof replacement. Most homeowners replace their roofs only once every couple of decades, creating a relatively narrow window when integrated solar makes the most economic sense. By comparison, traditional rooftop solar panels can be installed on a suitable existing roof without requiring an immediate roof replacement.
Installation requirements create another hurdle. Solar roofing combines traditional roofing work with electrical components, requiring specialized training and coordination. Although the roofing and solar industries each have extensive contractor networks, relatively few contractors are qualified to install integrated systems. Consumer familiarity is also limited. Most homeowners recognize conventional solar panels, but fewer understand solar shingles or how they differ from traditional rooftop installations.
Related: 5 Things Roofing Got from Tesla’s Solar Roofs

Despite those challenges, Tillman Smith expects solar roofing to grow over the next five years. She does not, however, expect it to capture a significant share of the overall residential roofing market during that period. For adoption to accelerate, manufacturers will need to lower costs, simplify installation, expand contractor training and improve system durability, serviceability and energy output. Higher utility rates could also strengthen the economic argument for integrated solar, particularly if manufacturers can demonstrate shorter payback periods.
“My view is that solar roofing will evolve into a solid premium niche within residential roofing rather than a mainstream roofing product,” Tillman Smith said.
Miller also sees an opportunity to improve the economics of integrated solar by combining it with premium roofing materials such as metal, tile or slate.
“By integrating them into these higher-priced products, you effectively reduce the cost of the solar by what those roofs would have cost had the whole roof been the premium product,” he said.
For example, Miller said a $50,000 solar system that replaces $15,000 worth of premium roofing materials effectively reduces the incremental cost of solar to $35,000.
He believes solar shingle manufacturers must also focus on maximizing electricity generation while maintaining the appearance homeowners want.
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Tanja Kern is director of content strategy and managing editor for Roofing Contractor. She covers economic trends and the intersection of architecture, design, and construction, focusing on the forces reshaping the industry. She develops and amplifies content that connects roofing professionals with the intelligence they need to compete and grow.
With more than 20 years of experience, Tanja has written for national business, consumer and trade publications. She holds a Master of Science in magazine publishing from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

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