A Catholic mission group in Staten Island reduced energy costs for elderly tenants by installing solar panels at an affordable housing complex, a project developed with the help of PV consultancy firm Crauderueff Solar. The installation not only lowered energy bills but also serves as a sustainable solution to power the community. The initiative promotes energy efficiency and reduces reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
First Solar has filed a lawsuit in U.S. district court against JA Solar and American Panel Solutions for allegedly infringing on its U.S. Patent No. 9,130,074, which covers methods of manufacturing TOPCon silicon solar cells. The patent is related to manufacturing technology for solar panels.
NERC compliance for grid-scale solar projects should be addressed during the design phase, not just at commissioning. Ignoring this can lead to scrambling by owner-operators at the commercial operation date when full regulatory responsibility is activated. Facilities with a rating over 5 MW must ensure NERC compliance from project conception to avoid post-construction concerns.
Statkraft and Greenvolt Power have signed a 10-year tolling agreement for the operation of 400MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Poland. The partnership will cover two existing projects, with the total installed capacity set to expand over time. The agreement is considered the largest EU battery energy storage tolling deal in Poland.
Wärtsilä has transferred its global energy storage business to Valo, a joint venture with RCT Solutions, which now holds over 20 GWh of projects worldwide. The company expects Valo to lose money in 2026 but anticipates positive results by the end of 2027. Valo will be led by CEO Peter Fath and CTO Luke Witmer, with new investors potentially joining later.
Onsite solar and storage solutions offer commercial users cost certainty and operational resilience by shielding them from grid volatility caused by rising utility rates and volatile natural gas prices. By generating their own power on-site, businesses can hedge against price fluctuations and reduce their reliance on the grid. Onsite solar-plus-storage systems are becoming a popular route to meeting commercial energy demand due to their ability to provide fixed pricing and operational resilience.
A hidden device, known as an "energy-harvesting smartphone case", is capable of generating enough electricity to power small devices, potentially freeing up significant amounts of power. Researchers have demonstrated that such cases can generate up to 3 watts of power from ambient electromagnetic radiation. This technology could be scaled up for widespread use in the US grid.
Researchers in India have developed a low-cost home security sensor using garlic peels as a power source, demonstrating its ability to generate high voltages when folded within plastic. The sensor, a type of triboelectric nanogenerator, uses the friction between two charged materials to produce an alternating current. This innovative solution repurposes biowaste for simple, low-cost technological applications.
South Korea has high reliance on imported energy, reaching 93.7% in 2024, and is looking to diversify its supply chains through hydrogen energy as a way to strengthen resilience. The country's industrialization without significant domestic fossil-fuel resources has left it vulnerable to global oil, gas, and coal market fluctuations. Hydrogen energy is seen as a potential solution to reduce dependence on imported fuels.
The permitting bill for BAAJA blast energy has emerged. Several companies are investing in renewable energy projects, including Black & Veatch's utility-scale solar project and TurningPoint Energy and Nautilus' community solar site. Ørsted is also setting up a presence in New Mexico due to industrial demand.
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