Category: Solar PV

Performance improvements in solar panels responsible for solid market gains

Travis Hoium explains on The Motley Fool website that the financial gains of major solar panel manufacturers is due to the efficiency improvements they have made in their products.   Why Efficiency Is Now King in Rooftop Solar Energy When SolarCity) and Tesla Motors announce their new product on Oct. 28, I would be shocked … Continue reading Performance improvements in solar panels responsible for solid market gains →

The energy transition and how some utilities are dealing with it

With consumers installing solar panels in greater numbers, utilities in the US are taking action to maintain their position. Kim Brunhuber writes a good article on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation website about recent developments.   As solar installations multiply, U.S. utility companies fight back Below the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, they glimmer in … Continue reading The energy transition and how some utilities are dealing with it →

Energy transition in India bringing many benefits

It is encouraging how the deployment of renewable energy technologies is gaining momentum. Hugh Bowring writes a good article on the GreenBiz website about how increased renewable energy deployment is bringing many societal benefits to India.   How affordable solar energy is transforming lives in India The world is in the midst of a solar … Continue reading Energy transition in India bringing many benefits →

Farmers in Ireland turn to solar energy

The energy transition is definitely underway. Caroline O’Doherty writes in the Irish Examiner about how farmers are turning to lease their land to companies installing solar energy systems. Yet, the national farmers association raises a word of caution.   Farmers take a shine to solar energy, but IFA urges caution The prospect of a financial … Continue reading Farmers in Ireland turn to solar energy →

Building the “Apple of clean energy”

Diane Cardwell writes an important column in the New York Times about the implications of the merger of Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, and SolarCity. Where is this all leading? But the opening sentence about imagining a world “in which every home and building is a miniature power plant” is intriguing. We are starting to … Continue reading Building the “Apple of clean energy” →

Major insurance group places bet on solar energy

The energy transition requires efforts by many groups and individuals. Pilita Clark writes in the Financial Times about an investment by Prudential in a new private equity fund set up by NextEnergy Capital, a specialist solar investor and asset manager   Prudential raises its bet on green energy UK insurance group Prudential has raised its … Continue reading Major insurance group places bet on solar energy →

Looking at the benefits from installing rooftop solar systems

The energy transition is a fascinating process. One popular measure many homeowners do is to install solar panels. But, as we see in this article by Chelsea Harvey in the Washington Post, there is a backlash from many utilities. However, the article provides evidence that the installations benefit all consumers and not only those to … Continue reading Looking at the benefits from installing rooftop solar systems →

Giving communities access to cheaper solar power

Madeleine Cuff writes on the Business Green website that a new initiative in New York City, Solarize NYC, will allow communities to join together into single purchasing groups to access cheaper solar power. There could be some important lessons for Europe as the introduction of nearly zero energy buildings with the needed energy coming from … Continue reading Giving communities access to cheaper solar power →