• September 18, 2026

D3Energy powers a 6-megawatt floating solar array at a village reservoir in Monroeville, Ohio. This is the state's largest floating solar system and one of the top five in the nation. Since the state law granted it relevant authority in 2021, about one-third of Ohio's 88 counties have imposed restrictions on large-scale solar facilities, while townships are still voting on the matter. Monroe Village has taken a different approach by floating its solar arrays on the 12-acre water surface already owned by the village. "Solar energy requires space, but there is no extra land available in the farm area," said State Sen Civiagan, Managing Director of D3Energy. "Monroville was originally just a place for water supply. Now it serves two purposes." The floating photovoltaic array is Monroeville's second solar project. The village's 4-megawatt ground-mounted solar array has been in operation since 2017. Among these two projects, this village of 1,300 residents generates approximately 13 times the solar power per capita compared to other areas in Ohio, making it one of the highest per capita solar power producers in the state. Monroville is D3Energy's third project in Ohio, following the Del-Co hydroelectric array in Delaware and Ohio, as well as the array at Twin Lakes Reservoir in Lima, which was completed earlier this year and visited by Solar Power World. Together, these projects provide nearly 10 megawatts of operational floating solar power in Ohio, all located on waters already owned by the host utility companies. This exceeds the capacity of any other state in the Midwest. The array was built in collaboration with Gardner Capital, which owns the system and sells its electricity to the village, and Appalachian Renewable Power, an Ohio-based contractor. "All of this would not have been possible without the visionary leadership of Monroeville," said Chivijian. "The recently retired village administrator, Tom Gray, spearheaded this initiative from the initial discussions to the final launch of the project. This is his achievement."

• September 17, 2026

Twenty years ago, Bob and Lorraine Murphy opened their home in San Carlos, California, founding GRID Alternatives as a new organization dedicated to making solar energy accessible to underserved communities. They were among the first clients of GRID Alternatives. This week, GRID Alternatives returned to the same house to upgrade the original solar installation. "This home is the starting point of our mission," said Tim Sears, co-founder and co-CEO of GRID Alternatives. "Returning here twenty years later powerfully reminds us of what can happen when we invest in people and communities over the long term." From a single family and a solar installation project, it has grown into a 20-year journey dedicated to connecting communities through clean energy, economic opportunities, and workforce development. "It's hard to believe that 20 years have passed since GRID Alternatives first installed solar for our home," said Bob and Lorraine Murphy. "We've witnessed firsthand the impact of this investment on our family. After all these years, it's truly meaningful that GRID has returned to help us upgrade the system. We're honored to have been part of GRID's story from the very beginning.". ” As a partner of GRID Alternatives, BMO attended the milestone celebration. BMO collaborated with GRID to provide financial support for projects like Murphy's home system upgrade. Melissa Phiferfield, head of the BMO Climate Institute, said: "GRID Alternatives demonstrates what can be achieved when clean energy solutions are rooted in community needs." "Through our long-standing partnership with GRID, BMO has supported projects that drive progress by expanding access to clean energy, building community resilience, and creating opportunities through workforce development. The story of the Murphy family powerfully reminds us that these investments can continue to deliver value for years to come.". ” Since its inception at the Murphy household, GRID has grown and expanded, serving over 14,000 households in the Bay Area alone and saving more than $328 million in energy costs. The organization has increased its influence both domestically and internationally, now providing clean energy solutions to over 38,000 households and saving more than $887 million in energy costs for historically underserved communities. Erica McGee, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of GRID Alternatives, said, "Two decades of impact give us the opportunity to celebrate our achievements and boldly consider where we go next." "The Murphy family helped us prove what is possible two decades ago. Today, their home reminds us that our work is not just about installing solar—it’s about building a future where every community benefits from the clean energy transition. We are proud of this legacy and excited about the accomplishments we can achieve together in the coming years."

• September 16, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, just celebrated the unveiling of its largest solar installation. Recently, a 4.6-megawatt expansion array was completed at an old urban landfill near Mitchell International Airport, bringing the site's total capacity to 6.85 megawatts. The initial 2.2-megawatt array at the landfill was finished in 2021. We Energies owns the site, while SunVest designed and constructed this new expansion project under the utility company's state-approved renewable energy pathway program. "With the completion of the project, 80 urban buildings are now powered by 100% renewable energy," said Mayor Cavalier Johnson. These buildings primarily include fire stations, libraries, and police stations. Building a closed landfill near the airport poses unique challenges for the project, including coordination with the Air Force National Guard and advanced non-penetrating ground installation designs. "This is an interesting yet challenging project for the company," said Dave Mason, Senior Project Manager at Sunvest. "We designed a counterweight support system for the project—panels are not anchored to the ground but remain stable through weight distribution, allowing us to set up arrays on landfills without damaging the underlying cover layer."

• September 15, 2026

UL Solutions announced its new certification program for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, aimed at promoting the use of electric vehicles as grid resources. Utility companies are seeking new ways to manage rising electricity demand, integrate renewable energy sources, and enhance grid resilience. V2G technology can help by enabling parked electric vehicles to feed power back into the grid during high-demand periods and charge when demand is low. A recent E3 study on vehicle-to-grid integration, commissioned by General Motors, estimates that in many markets, the value of V2G (vehicle-to-grid) could be five to fifteen times greater per vehicle than one-way managed charging. According to a study by the Electric Power Research Institute, under typical driving conditions, approximately 90% of electric vehicles are parked at any given time. This allows participating vehicles to charge when demand is low and return stored power to the grid when additional support is needed. As electricity demand grows in data centers, transportation, buildings, and industries, this flexibility helps reduce peak demand, ease pressure on local infrastructure, and enables the grid to utilize available power more efficiently. Wesley Guo, Vice President and General Manager of UL Solutions Energy and Industrial Automation Group, said, "Electric vehicles spend most of their time parked, which opens up more possibilities beyond mere transportation. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology can transform this unused battery capacity into a valuable resource for utility companies and communities. Our new certification program helps build confidence, ensuring these V2G systems operate safely and reliably while delivering critical utility performance." The program allows for testing and certification of products according to UL 1741 SC (the latest supplement to UL 1741), which is the "Standard for Inverters, Converters, Controllers, and Interconnection System Equipment for Distributed Energy Resources." This new certification program targets bidirectional electric vehicle supply equipment capable of achieving these interactions. The device serves as a bridge between electric vehicles and utility companies, facilitating the monitoring and management of power flow while ensuring compliance with utility grid connection requirements. Products certified with UL 1741 SC supplementary approval can be used in conjunction with electric vehicles equipped with onboard bidirectional inverters designed and tested according to SAE J3072. Products can also obtain grid interconnection and performance support certification by combining the new UL 1741 requirements for multi-component distributed energy resources with UL 9741 ("Standard for Electric Vehicle Power Export Equipment"). These testing and certification services are available at UL Solutions laboratories located in Fremont, California, and Northbrook, Illinois.

• September 14, 2026

Noria Energy has launched Airon, a U.S.-manufactured floating solar tracking system. Airon's design aims to generate more electricity with a project footprint and rated capacity similar to fixed-tilt floating systems. Noria plans to install its first commercial pilot project, Airon, by the end of 2026 and is expected to begin delivering its certified commercial products to customer sites by mid-2027, in addition to existing demonstration projects. "Floating solar can transform underutilized water surfaces into productive energy assets without competing for scarce land," said Alex Meyer, CEO of Noria. "With Airon, we bring the advantages of solar tracking to water surfaces—delivering up to 20% more energy for customers at the same installation cost as fixed tilt systems. This makes floating solar more productive, scalable, and commercially attractive.". ” Most floating solar systems use components installed at fixed angles. Airon introduced horizontal single-axis tracking technology for water surfaces, enabling the components to follow the sun's movement throughout the day. Airon was developed based on mature ground-mounted photovoltaic tracker principles but specifically engineered for aquatic environments, requiring the equipment to withstand wind, waves, water level fluctuations, and anchoring loads. The tracker features a low-profile design with passive stabilizers and automatically retracts during severe weather. Contractors can install the system using familiar equipment and construction methods from solar engineering, procurement, and construction firms, without the need for specialized tools. Airon is developing distributed projects for utility-scale installations and supplying power to nearby commercial, industrial, agricultural, and public sector customers. Noria has been involved in the floating solar sector since 2018, developing and testing its technology through progressively scaled pilot projects. Norway is developing Ellen around domestic supply chains and the U.S. regional manufacturing network. The design of domestic procurement also aims to assist clients seeking compliance with relevant U.S. domestic content and focus on foreign entity requirements. Floating solar remains an emerging field in the United States, with its permitting, insurance, and operational standards still under continuous refinement. However, research led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) revealed that by 2022, global floating solar installations had surpassed 13 gigawatts. NREL also estimated that federally controlled reservoirs alone in the U.S. could technically support hundreds of gigawatts of floating solar capacity.

• September 11, 2026

Solar tracker and mounting system manufacturer ARRAY Technologies opened a $50 million manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This 216,000-square-foot facility is approximately three times the size of ARRAY's previous Albuquerque facility, expanding its domestic manufacturing capacity and supporting around 300 production, assembly, design, engineering, customer service, and other functional positions. Established in Albuquerque over 35 years ago, ARRAY has grown from its roots in New Mexico into a global solar technology distributor, deploying over 100 gigawatts of trackers worldwide.  . "ARRAY, located here in Albuquerque, was founded, and manufacturing has always been the core of the company since its inception," said Kevin Hostler, CEO of ARRAY Technologies. "This investment reflects our confidence in ARRAY's future growth, our commitment to our customers, and our unwavering belief in the future of the U.S. solar manufacturing industry. By expanding our domestic production capacity, we are strengthening the supply chain, creating high-skilled job opportunities, and building capabilities that will enable us to serve our customers for years to come.". ” The new factory is built around lean manufacturing principles, enabling ARRAY to internalize the production of components that were historically sourced from external suppliers. Several parts manufactured at this facility qualify for the Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit under Section 45X. Tim Penny, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), stated, "The U.S. needs more low-cost, reliable electricity, and ARRAY is proving that we can achieve this by relying on American workers, American manufacturing, and American ingenuity.". ” The school will also expand vocational opportunities in skilled manufacturing in the Albuquerque area, including positions such as stamping machine operators, mold and die technicians, and process engineers. The facility is supported through a public-private partnership, including $2.5 million from the New Mexico Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) Job Creation Fund, $250,000 in LEDA funds each from the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, along with partial property tax exemptions obtained via industrial revenue bonds. This LEED-certified building is designed to meet ARRAY's current manufacturing needs while providing capacity for future growth in the company's broader product portfolio. Barnerillo County is honored to have Array Technologies as a reliable and forward-thinking partner that invests in the future of our community. County Commissioner Barbara Baca stated, "Today’s expansion demonstrates the achievements we can achieve when we work together to strengthen the local economy and create high-quality jobs."

• September 10, 2026

We Recycle Solar announced the establishment of a solar panel recycling and critical material recovery facility in Texas, with plans to commence operations in the third quarter of 2027. The company claims that the factory will recycle up to 96% of silver, copper, silicon, aluminum, and glass from scrapped solar panels, producing clean and ready-to-market critical materials through fully localized processes, achieving zero overseas processing. "Photovoltaic panels contain precise critical materials urgently needed by the U.S. supply chain, but to date, no American company has been able to recycle all of these resources at such a large scale or with such efficiency," said Adam Sager, founder and CEO of We Recycle Solar. "Through our advanced processes, we are achieving truly comprehensive and complete material recycling on U.S. soil, keeping these critical materials—and the value currently lost to Asian processing—within our domestic supply chain." Located in a 10-acre corporate campus just outside Dallas, Texas, the new WRS facility will be the first in the company's planned network of critical material recycling facilities. Over the next four years, WRS intends to invest approximately $100 million to develop four additional sites across the U.S., creating a decentralized domestic processing center network aimed at reducing logistics costs and better serving commercial and utility-scale asset owners nationwide. The new facility will be built upon the existing on-site dismantling, recycling, and resale model of "We Recycle Solar," expanding the company's recycling capacity to a commercial scale, covering silicon, silver, copper, aluminum, and glass.

• September 09, 2026

SolarEdge Technologies has launched its UL 3141-certified Power Conversion System (PCS), designed to streamline the utility interconnection process while expanding on-site solar generation capabilities for commercial and industrial solar developers and installers in the U.S. In a press release, SolarEdge stated that the PCS is designed to address operational electrification, increased grid load, and stringent utility interconnection requirements. The PCS integrates certified power control directly into SolarEdge inverters, rather than relying on external controllers and custom system architectures. "Commercial clients seek to maximize the value from solar investments while avoiding unnecessary costs, complexity, and engineering efforts," said Kleber Facchini, Senior Director of Commercial & Industrial Products & Applications at SolarEdge North America. "Our UL 3141-certified commercial power control system provides installers with a simpler way to address grid limitations and design systems around evolving customer needs. As power demand continues to grow, we are helping businesses expand on-site solar generation while better utilizing their existing electrical infrastructure.". ” By integrating with SolarEdge's commercial system architecture, the PCS can reduce the need for balance of system (BOS) components by utilizing longer string configurations and fewer modules. In California, it supports commercial non-export and export-limited applications, including qualified projects compliant with Rule 21 non-export interconnection pathways. It also enables certain system expansions while retaining existing interconnection terms, including maintaining NEM 2.0 status where applicable.

• September 07, 2026

A new research brief from the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at Ball State University found no statistically significant negative impact on residential property values near large-scale wind or utility-scale solar projects in Indiana. The briefing "Indiana's Renewable Energy and Residential Real Estate Markets" summarizes findings from two major studies conducted by the Community and Business Economics Research (CBER), which examined wind and solar energy development projects in Indiana and their impact on nearby housing values. Researchers utilized home sales data from 2004 to 2024 to compare residential property prices before and after the operation of renewable energy projects, as well as at varying distances from these projects. "This study provides specific data from Indiana on the common issues communities face when considering renewable energy projects," said Dr. Dagney Folk, director of CBER research. "Property value is an unquestionably important consideration for homeowners and local officials. Our analysis allows these discussions to be grounded in our observations of the real estate market around existing wind and solar development projects across the state." In the wind power analysis, researchers examined the sales of residential properties near commercial wind turbines in three regions of Indiana. The model found that these wind turbines had no statistically distinguishable negative impact on the sale prices of nearby houses. Solar energy analysis also found no statistically significant negative impact on housing prices. Researchers examined sales data at varying distances from utility-scale solar projects and conducted additional analyses based on project size, urban/rural location, proximity to brownfields, and power provider type. The study examining the temporal changes in housing prices also found no evidence of sustained declines in residential property prices following the commissioning of wind or solar power projects. "The advantage of studying years of actual home sales data is that we can examine what happened in the communities before and after these projects were developed," said Dr. Paul Nikamp, Assistant Professor of Economics at Miller College of Business at Ball State University. "Through the different approaches we employed, the overall findings indicate that residential property values near solar projects in Indiana were not widely negatively impacted." The researchers pointed out that their findings represent the average impact across the studied attributes and do not imply that individual attributes are immune to negative effects. They also suggested that local permitting and siting procedures designed to mitigate impacts on adjacent attributes may help explain the absence of widespread adverse effects. This new brief is part of a broader series of studies conducted by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at Ball State University under the Indiana Renewable Energy Siting Through ...