Solar for All

California is examining results from projects that place solar panels over irrigation canals, an approach meant to generate clean power while reducing water evaporation. The state is learning how the panels perform in practice and whether covering canals at scale could cut both water loss and emissions, drawing attention to a idea piloted in the Turlock Irrigation District's Project Nexus.

China has become the first country in the world to surpass 1,000 gigawatts of installed solar power capacity, according to energy industry reporting. The milestone cements China's position as the world's dominant player in renewable energy, reflecting years of massive state-backed investment in solar manufacturing and deployment. Observers highlight the pace of growth, with capacity having expanded rapidly over the past decade, though questions remain about grid integration and reliance on coal.

The United States has finalised steep anti-dumping duties on imported solar products, raising costs for foreign-made panels and equipment entering the American market. The move is expected to affect solar developers and importers who rely on overseas supply chains, while domestic manufacturers may benefit from reduced competition. The exact countries and companies targeted and the size of the duties are not specified in available reporting.

Japan is converting disused golf courses into solar farms as the country runs out of open land for large-scale renewable projects. With mountains, farmland and dense cities off-limits, shuttered golf venues offer flat, already-cleared sites near existing infrastructure, making them an increasingly popular choice for solar developers.

Japan is developing solar farms on former golf courses because the country has little open land available for large-scale renewable energy projects. As golf's popularity declines, closed courses offer large, already-cleared plots suited for solar panels. The approach highlights the challenge of expanding renewable energy in a densely populated country with limited flat, unused space.

Israeli businessman Ofer Yannay is seeking $200 million for the legacy solar business of Nofar Energy, the renewable energy company he led. The potential sale would cover Nofar's established solar assets while the company shifts focus, and the move is drawing attention given the scale of the asking price and Nofar's prominence in Israel's renewables market.

Investors and analysts are watching the U.S. midterm elections for their potential to lift solar, energy storage system (ESS), and power equipment stocks. The expectation is that election outcomes could shape energy policy in ways favorable to renewable energy companies. South Korean media flagged the story, suggesting interest from Korean investors with exposure to U.S.-listed green energy shares.

Solar combined with battery storage is making its strongest case yet in Texas, according to energy industry reporting. The state's growing power demand and grid strain are driving interest in solar-plus-storage systems as a reliable alternative, and the argument is being closely watched by energy markets and policymakers elsewhere.

Google has announced Project Suncatcher, a research initiative to run machine learning infrastructure on solar-powered satellite constellations in orbit. The plan, outlined on Google's research blog, envisions data centre-scale compute in space to tap unlimited solar energy as terrestrial energy demands from AI grow. Early discussion centres on feasibility, launch costs, and whether orbiting hardware could realistically scale.

Renewable energy expansion is proving far more complicated than its technology suggests, with solar, wind and battery storage all caught up in political battles. Commentators are weighing how permitting rules, subsidies, grid policy and partisan divides shape how quickly clean power can scale. The discussion underscores that the main obstacles to the energy transition may be political rather than technical.

Commentators are revisiting the fossil fuel industry's history of moving targets on renewable energy. One example cited: in a 2013 Australian Senate debate, Barnaby Joyce dismissed a 5% solar target as something that would never happen, a claim since overtaken by rapid solar growth. Writers argue that outright denial has evolved into newer tactics of delay and goalpost-shifting as renewables keep beating skeptics' predictions.

ACEN, the renewable energy arm of the Ayala Group, has sold an initial 10% stake in its 250-MW solar project in India. The partial divestment is an early step in the company's plans to bring in partners for the Indian photovoltaic scheme, reflecting ongoing interest from investors in utility-scale solar assets in the country.

A new Visual Capitalist graphic ranks how much clean energy countries have added since 2015, charting the global shift toward renewables over the past decade. The comparison is drawing attention as readers weigh which nations have expanded solar, wind and other clean sources fastest and whether the pace matches climate goals set under the Paris Agreement.

Solar power is being pushed into increasingly constrained locations as land availability tightens, according to a report highlighting how space limitations are shaping new project siting. With suitable open land scarce, developers are turning to unconventional and confined spaces to deploy panels, a challenge that could influence costs, grid planning and the pace of the energy transition worldwide.

Analysis of solar-driven disasters is drawing attention to the risk that space weather poses to electricity grids and digital infrastructure. Strong solar flares and geomagnetic storms could damage transformers, knock out satellite communications, GPS and internet systems, with recovery potentially taking months. The discussion highlights how modern economies remain deeply exposed to events originating on the Sun and calls for better forecasting and grid hardening.

A new report claims the solar system's first planets were worlds of fire rather than ice, challenging the long-held picture of the earliest planetary bodies forming in cold, icy conditions far from the sun. The suggestion points to a hotter, more violent beginning for planet formation than scientists have typically assumed, and it is drawing attention from space enthusiasts and researchers questioning how the planets we know today first came together.

Renewable Properties has acquired a 71.8 MW solar portfolio in Pennsylvania located within the PJM grid region. The deal adds utility-scale renewable capacity to the company's growing portfolio and supports solar expansion in a key eastern US electricity market. Details on sellers, project timelines, and offtake arrangements have not been disclosed.

TCL Solar has introduced a new line of back-contact, double-glass solar modules, expanding its photovoltaic product portfolio. Back-contact designs eliminate visible front contacts to improve efficiency and aesthetics, while double-glass construction boosts durability and weather resistance. The launch positions the Chinese manufacturer to compete in the high-efficiency residential and commercial solar market as demand for premium modules grows.

Indian solar equipment maker Swelect has launched a new range of hybrid solar inverters aimed at commercial and industrial customers. The product line is designed to combine solar generation with battery storage, helping businesses cut grid dependence and manage energy costs. The launch was reported by pv magazine Global.