New Report from the US Solar Energy Industries Association: Solar Adds More New Capacity to the Grid in 2024 Than Any Energy Technology in the Past Two Decades

The United States installed a record-breaking 50 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity in 2024, the largest single year of new capacity added to the grid by any energy technology in over two decades. According to the U.S. Solar Market Insight 2024 Year in Review report released this week by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and … Continue reading New Report from the US Solar Energy Industries Association: Solar Adds More New Capacity to the Grid in 2024 Than Any Energy Technology in the Past Two Decades →

Following latest American developments

EiD wants to give you some news that for the most part is heartening, given what is going on in Washington these days: Solar for All money unfrozen in New Hampshire New Hampshire gained access to much of its federal climate-related funding this week, including $47 million for Solar for All, according to NHPR. The … Continue reading Following latest American developments →

Data centres and the energy storage solution

In an article on the Clean Technica website, Tina Casey discusses the on-going issue of growing energy consumption for data centres and the possible energy storage solution. The concern is that by some estimates, data centre energy demands are projected to consume as much as 9% of US annual electricity generation by the year 2030. … Continue reading Data centres and the energy storage solution →

Energy in Demand News, December 22, 2024

The biodiversity hit to economies is estimated at up to US$25 trillion a year, according to The Financial Times (behind a paywall). This is equivalent to one-quarter of global GDP lost annually because industries fail to factor in the damage their operations cause across systems. “Tackling biodiversity loss, climate change, water scarcity, food insecurity and … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, December 22, 2024 →

Our energy transition: “Balcony power is another piece in the puzzle”

Stephen Burgen writes on the Guardian website about balcony solar power. Balcony solar panels can save 30% on a typical household’s electricity bill and, with vertical surface area in cities larger than roof space, the appeal is clear. Are you next? ‘If 1.5m Germans have them there must be something in it’: how balcony … Continue reading Our energy transition: “Balcony power is another piece in the puzzle” →

‘Agrivoltaics’ is not new, but is growing in popularity

Using the same piece of land for both solar and agriculture is known as "agrivoltaics." But there are several options as seen in Alberta. Pigs are used to eat the weeds under the solar panels. So are sheep. The other option is to grow crops. In Alberta there are several experiments underway to find the … Continue reading ‘Agrivoltaics’ is not new, but is growing in popularity →

How Solar Power Can Deliver Water Savings, Farm Success, and a Healthier Environment

The Union of Concerned Scientists have published a new fact sheet on the Maven’s Notebook website that focuses on how agrivoltaic and ecovoltaic solar energy systems can increase renewable energy production, reduce agricultural water use, and provide financial benefits for landowners and farmers. UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS: The benefits of integrating solar energy with … Continue reading How Solar Power Can Deliver Water Savings, Farm Success, and a Healthier Environment →

China continues to lead the world in wind and solar, with twice as much capacity under construction as the rest of the world combined

China is cementing its position as the global leader in renewables development with180 GW of utility-scale solar and 159 GW of wind power already under construction. The total of the two is nearly twice as much as the rest of the world combined, and enough to power all of South Korea, according to new data … Continue reading China continues to lead the world in wind and solar, with twice as much capacity under construction as the rest of the world combined →

Research that wind and solar projects will be more cost effective than hydropower by 2030 in Africa

In an article on The Conversation website, Angelo Carlino, Postdoctoral Fellow, Carnegie Science; Andrea Castelletti, Full Professor, Natural Resources Management and Environmental Systems Analysis, Polytechnic University of Milan, Polytechnic University of Milan; and Rafael Schmitt, Lead Scientist, Natural Capital Project, Stanford University write about why Africa should put much more focus on solar and wind … Continue reading Research that wind and solar projects will be more cost effective than hydropower by 2030 in Africa →

Australia’s energy transition – electricity generated by solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest

Graham Readfearn writes on the Guardian website about recent analysis showing that solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest options in Australia. Analysis shows that small modular nuclear reactors would provide most expensive power and will not be available until 2030. What are your views? Note that CSIRO is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research … Continue reading Australia’s energy transition – electricity generated by solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest →