News

According to a new study by the Environment America Research and Policy Center (EARPC), California ranks 6th in the country for per-capita installations for solar electric energy generators. The top five include: Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, and New Mexico. Additionally, The Golden State finishes 1st in cumulative solar-electric installations – with over 2,900 megawatts, and 1st in photo-voltaic installations as well.

In a response to the onslaught of sweltering summer heat waves, many cities are ramping up programs that conserve peak-time energy consumption to help provide a buffer between the US’s complex electrical grids and outages or astronomical price jumps.

Soitec is deploying large-scale concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems, thanks in part to vertical integration of the solar systems, an ability to manufacture on the large scale, and innovations in efficiency. In May, Soitec's cells hit a record 43.6 percent efficiency. It is aiming for 50 percent efficiency within the next few years. Soitec panels are in use in the Newberry Solar 1 project in San Bernadino County, which is so far California's largest CPV project. Greentech Media reports:

Wind and solar energy are both set for fast-paced growth over the next few years. Investment in technologies like wind, solar, and electric vehicles is up 22% over Q1 2013. Additionally, according to the latest market reports from the International Energy Agency, renewables are expected continue to grow over the next five years– finishing second only to coal in net power generation.

Wind energy is taking off in major ways – with Minnesota, North Dakota, and New Mexico becoming the latest states to enter the development stages for massive wind farms.

On Saturday, the “Solar Impulse” experimental airplane lifted the potential for solar energy technology to new heights. The plane touched down at New York’s JFK International Airport, marking the completion of an unprecedented 5,650km journey over the United States. Known as the ‘Across America’ project, the Solar Impulse team noted that, “[this is] the first time a plane capable of flying day and night – powered exclusively by solar energy – has crossed the USA from West to East coast, without using a single drop of fuel.”

In a response to the onslaught of sweltering summer heat waves, many cities areramping up programs that conserve peak-time energy consumption to help providea buffer between the US's complex electrical grids and outages or astronomicalprice jumps.

In a speech Tuesday at Georgetown University, President Obama unveiled an ambitious new climate action plan to curb pollution and increase the amount of renewable energy installed in the US. Obama called to put an end to the "dumping of carbon pollution" with the first-ever federal regulations on heat-trapping gases emitted by new and existing power plants.

Solar Team Eindhoven (STE), a student-led design bureau at the Eindhoven University of Technology has created the world’s first “full-size” solar car.

This week’s opening of the London Array marked the completion of the daunting project to build the largest offshore wind farm in the world. The decade-long venture has involved three national governments and scores of corporate contractors – but may change the way the world perceives wind energy.