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solar panels
Trends
- 1California studies solar panels built over irrigation canalsโWhat California is learning from solar panels built over irrigation canals
California is testing and evaluating solar panels installed over irrigation canals, an approach that generates renewable energy while shading water to reduce evaporation. Reporting from KQED Science details what early projects in the state are revealing about costs, water savings, and power output, and whether covering canals with solar arrays could be scaled more widely across California's water infrastructure.
- 2Trump Crackdown on China-Linked Solar Firms Stalls US Factory BoomโผTrumpโs Crackdown on China-Linked Solar Firms stalls U.S. Factory Boom
The Trump administration's crackdown on Chinese-linked solar companies is slowing the wave of new solar manufacturing factories in the United States. Efforts to restrict firms with Chinese ties are disrupting planned investments that had been expected to expand domestic solar panel production, raising concerns about the future of the US clean energy manufacturing boom.
- 3Minnesota agrivoltaics project pairs farming with solar powerโMinnesota agrivoltaics project shows promise of mixing farming, solar power
An agrivoltaics project in Minnesota is showing that farmland can host solar panels while crops continue to grow, according to an Associated Press report. The setup allows farmers to generate electricity and income from the same land they cultivate, and supporters see it as a model for expanding renewable energy without taking farmland out of production.
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Researchers have produced solar power from panels placed ten metres underwater, according to a report by Euronews. The development points to a possible new frontier for renewable energy, using submerged installations where space on land is scarce and waves can damage surface floating farms. The report is drawing attention as countries look for ways to expand clean energy capacity.
- 5Farmers pair crops and sheep with solar panelsโผWhy some farmers are pairing crops and grazing sheep with solar panels
Farmers are increasingly combining solar panels with agriculture, growing crops beneath panels and grazing sheep on solar farms. The practice, known as agrivoltaics, lets land produce food and electricity at the same time, with panels providing shade for plants and pasture while sheep keep grass under the arrays trimmed.
- 6Scientists test underwater solar panels 10 metres beneath the seaโCan solar power work underwater? Scientists test solar panels 10 metres beneath the sea
Scientists are testing whether solar panels can generate electricity when submerged about 10 metres below the sea surface. The experiment explores whether sunlight penetrating water can be harvested in marine environments, potentially opening new sites for renewable energy where land and surface space are limited. Interest in the project reflects broader curiosity about unconventional ways to expand solar capacity worldwide.
- 7Kubota unveils agrivoltaic system combining rice farming with solar powerโผKubota agrivoltaic system allows rice farming and combine harvesting beneath elevated solar panels
Kubota has introduced an agrivoltaic system that lets farmers grow rice and harvest it with standard combines beneath elevated solar panels. The setup raises photovoltaic arrays high enough for machinery to work underneath, letting the same land produce both food and electricity. Coverage in energy media is highlighting it as a practical answer to land-use conflicts between agriculture and renewable energy expansion.
- 8Promise seen in mixing farming, solar energy projectsโPromise seen in mixing farming, solar energy production projects
Combining agriculture with solar energy production is drawing interest as a way for land to serve both farming and power generation. Reporting from Arkansas highlights early promise in these dual-use projects, suggesting farmers could host solar panels while continuing to work the land, though questions remain about costs, land use and long-term results.
- 9Florida veteran says solar panels doubled her electric billsโผFlorida Army veteran was promised 'zero' electric bills. Instead, she says solar doubled costs
An Army veteran in Florida says she was promised zero electric bills when she signed up for residential solar panels, but her costs instead doubled. Her account adds to growing complaints about aggressive door-to-door solar sales tactics, misleading savings claims, and long-term financing contracts that leave homeowners paying more than expected, prompting calls for better consumer protections in the fast-growing rooftop solar industry.
- 10First Solar Stock Slides Toward 52-Week LowโผFirst Solar (FSLR) Slides Toward A 52 Week Low, Is The Stock Now Cheap?
First Solar shares are falling toward their lowest level in a year, prompting questions among investors about whether the US solar panel maker is now undervalued. The slide comes as solar stocks broadly face pressure, and market watchers are debating whether the drop represents a buying opportunity or a sign of deeper trouble for the company.
- 11Ohio village floats 9,222 solar panels on its reservoirโOhio village puts 9,222 solar panels on reservoir, now has 13 times the state's solar per resident
A village in Ohio has installed 9,222 floating solar panels on its reservoir, giving it roughly 13 times the solar capacity per resident of the state average. The project turns unused water surface into a clean power source while the panels can also help reduce evaporation. The initiative is drawing attention as an example of how small communities can lead on renewable energy adoption.
- 12Creator rebuts anti-solar meme over farmland useโผCreator rebuts anti-solar meme, says US cattle farms drain water, and can share land with panels
A creator is pushing back against an anti-solar meme circulating online, arguing that US cattle farming consumes far more water than solar power and that panels can share grazing land rather than compete with agriculture. The rebuttal has become part of a wider debate over whether renewable energy projects threaten farmland and rural livelihoods.
- 13No 10 weighs Dale Vince plan to fit solar panels on council homesโNo 10 considering Dale Vince plan to put solar panels on council house roofs
Downing Street is considering a proposal from green energy businessman Dale Vince to install solar panels on council house roofs across the UK. The plan would aim to cut energy bills for social housing tenants and expand renewable power generation. Vince, founder of Ecotricity, has long pushed for faster home-grown renewable energy, and the idea is now reportedly under active review by government officials.
- 14Woodbine neighbors push for pause on solar panel projectsโผ'You can't put the genie back in the bottle': Woodbine neighbors push for solar panel pause
Residents of Woodbine, Maryland are calling for a temporary halt to local solar panel installations, arguing that once large-scale projects are approved, the changes to their community cannot be reversed. Their slogan, 'you can't put the genie back in the bottle,' reflects frustration over the pace of development. The dispute adds to a wider national debate over where and how solar energy projects should be built.