Blog

Hiring for solar jobs during a pandemic

In spite of industry-wide job loss and economic slowdown associated with the pandemic, Kevin Gillespie, President of Headline Solar, shares how he has actually been able to make new hires and keep his business not just operating, but thriving. My future business partner and I met by happenstance. It was at a small entrepreneurship meetup…
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Airbus charts path to zero emission aviation by 2035

At a press conference today, executives at the European airplane manufacturer explained how it will be possible to have market-ready zero-emission planes within 15 years. With pressure mounting on the airline industry to play its part in combating greenhouse gas emissions, European manufacturer Airbus today announced plans for three emissions-free aircraft. The Toulouse-based planemaker said…
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US solar racking industry now innovating, consolidating

With installers and developers trying to squeeze every kilowatt-hour out of every rooftop and every array, racking and trackers are the unsung heroes that secure and tilt panels, while maximizing output and protecting wiring and other gear. Solar modules and, to a lesser extent, inverters, get a lot of public and press attention – modules…
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Floating solar PV gains global momentum

This article explores the current state of floating solar PV (FPV), briefly highlighting several leading markets, and discussing benefits and advantages in detail alongside common applications and business model considerations. The outlook for FPV is positive and is set to break free of its niche perception. It could well become the third pillar of the…
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Why Washington and Baltimore are different colors from space

On July 15, the crew of the International Space Station posted a nighttime photo of our region from space on Twitter, likening Washington and Baltimore to “two galaxies swirling near each other.” This photo gives us the opportunity to make a number of observations about the region. DC and Baltimore City are different colors at night…
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New world record for large-area organic PV module efficiency

Scientists in Germany have achieved 12.6% efficiency with a 26 sq cm organic panel and 11.7% for a 204 sq cm device. The feats were achieved with a new module layout and a slower, high-resolution, short-pulse laser structuring process. Researchers at German institutions the Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research, the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg and the Helmholtz Institute…
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Google to create easier renewable power purchase pathways

The tech giant has eliminated its entire carbon legacy and is moving toward running entirely on renewables, 24/7. More importantly, it’s looking to create pathways for other renewable purchasers to follow in its wake. Google, in a recent update on its climate action efforts, has revealed that it aims to run all of its data centers…
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Photovoltaic shade for greenhouses

French start-up Solar Cloth has secured a patent for a PV shade screen for solar greenhouses. French start-up SAS Solar Cloth System has developed a photovoltaic shade screen for agrivoltaics which it claims can become a key element in the development of global greenhouse agriculture. SAS says its product makes it possible to very efficiently optimize the yield and quality of crop…
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More efficient large-area organic solar cells with spin coating

Researchers in South Korea have used the process to increase performance and the replicability of large-area organic cells. The method was used during film formation to speed up solvent evaporation. Researchers from the Photo-electronic Hybrids Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have applied spin coating to the manufacture of large-area organic PV cells.…
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Texas solar will outshine California in 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to cast a cloud on industries around the world, but the U.S. utility-scale solar segment is still growing. Around 3 GW of solar PV is set to be installed this year in Texas alone, but opportunities also abound across several other southern U.S. states. In the southern United States, solar PV…
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