California proposes income-based fixed electricity charges
California is looking to implement fixed monthly charges on utility bills, but the potential impact on residential solar remains unclear.
Robotic pile driver faster than manual versions, says US startup
Built Robotics says its RPD 35 autonomous robotic pile driving system is three to five times faster than manual pile driving platforms.
Enel finalizing site for 3 GW solar panel and cell factory in Oklahoma
The U.S. manufacturing site will start with 3 GW of production capacity, with plans to double to 6 GW.
Carrier to buy Viessmann’s heat pump business
Carrier, a US-based heating specialist, is set to acquire Germany’s Viessmann Climate Solutions in a €12 billion ($13.27 billion) deal. The acquisition will see Viessmann’s heat pump business fall into the hands of one of the leading market players in the United States, as Carrier looks to expand its reach in the rapidly growing European heat pump market.
SunPower paid customers via app to support grid at peak demand
SunPower customers can earn rewards by managing electricity use during peak electricity demand hours, as part of a virtual power plant partnership with OhmConnect.
Solar can promote biocrust formation in deserts
Biocrusts are microbe-rich deposits in soil that are crucial to ecosystem sustainability in arid environments. US researchers are restoring biocrusts with the help of shade from solar.
Biden to maintain US solar tariff pause with veto
US legislators are moving to restore tariffs for the shipment of solar components from four major Southeast Asian nations, but US President Joe Biden will veto the move and maintain the pause on tariffs.
US government commits $250 million to domestic heat pump production
The US authorities will offer new funds under the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to build a clean energy economy, create new manufacturing jobs, and help families to save money on their energy bills.
Initial attempt to build thin-film solar cells from molybdenum disulfide
A team at Colorado State University has proposed making thin-film solar cells from naturally abundant molybdenum disulfide. It has conducted a series of experiments to show that extremely thin films of molybdenum disulfide have unprecedented charge carrier properties.
The green jobs promise
Promising to replace fossil fuel jobs with an identical number of clean energy roles in coal-dependent communities is overly simplistic and ignores the fact that communities need to be brought onside with credible expectations of better-quality employment.
