• May 13, 2026

Siemens has built an on-site microgrid at its Wendell plant in North Carolina, combining a 1.25 megawatt solar garage and a 3.9 megawatt hour battery storage system. The microgrid, along with other campus energy initiatives, has achieved carbon neutrality in the park, while reducing the total energy consumption of the grid by 2.5 megawatt hours annually. Siemens' company goal is to achieve a net zero carbon footprint by 2030. The microgrid will maintain energy supply during power outages, so the production of medium voltage power equipment can continue. Without a doubt, we must take more measures to reduce energy costs in North Carolina and enhance the resilience of our power grid, "said Congressman Deborah Ross. I am pleased to see Siemens increasing its investment in innovation and expanding clean and reliable energy in Wendell. The microgrid solution is built using Siemens products and consists of hardware solutions such as SICAM A8000 microgrid controller, fire protection solution, low-voltage distribution panel, low-voltage bolt pressure switch, KACO string inverter, SIPROTEC universal relay, etc. The Siemens VersiCharge electric vehicle charger on site is also connected to the microgrid, so electric vehicles can be charged through self generated solar energy. The microgrid we integrated at Wendell Park is one of the most advanced microgrids installed in the market today, "said Brian Dula, President of Electrification and Automation at Siemens in the United States. It truly showcases Siemens' end-to-end product portfolio from power generation to consumption, not only demonstrating how we can improve our operational efficiency, but also showcasing what we can do for our customers. Siemens is currently collaborating with Wake Technology Community College in Raleigh to build a campus microgrid.

• May 12, 2026

Summit Ridge Energy has completed a 1.62-MW community solar project in Melrose Park, Illinois. The rooftop system was developed in collaboration with with LBA Logistics, a full-service real estate investment and management company, and Black Bear Energy, a commercial buyer’s representative specializing in onsite renewable energy.Hosted on an industrial building owned by LBA, the Melrose Park installation was made possible through the Illinois Shines Adjustable Block Program and participates in the Traditional Community Solar (TCS) program. The rooftop solar project sits within both an Illinois Environmental Justice Community (EJC) and a federally designated Energy Community. Illinois designates EJCs as areas where residents face a disproportionate burden of environmental harm, typically due to a legacy of heavy industrial activity, air and water pollution, and underinvestment in infrastructure. The Illinois Shines program prioritizes such areas, aiming to expand access to clean energy and associated economic benefits. In addition to delivering affordable energy, the project creates local jobs during construction and maintenance, strengthens Illinois’ electric grid through reliable distributed generation, and earns a Rooftop Adder under Illinois Shines, an incentive for utilizing existing rooftop space instead of undeveloped land. “Illinois has become one of the most exciting community solar markets in the country,” said Brent Buchberger, VP of Project Development at Summit Ridge Energy. “The Illinois Shines program is working – bringing affordable, locally generated energy to communities that have historically shouldered the burden of pollution without sharing in solar’s benefits. With LBA and Black Bear Energy as partners who share our long-term commitment, this rooftop project in an Environmental Justice Community is a strong example of what’s possible. We’re proud to see it energized and look forward to many more.” This project represents the latest milestone in a decade-long partnership between LBA and Black Bear Energy that began in 2015. The teams have collaborated on a broad portfolio of community solar projects, including 17.5 MW across four Maryland industrial properties owned by LBA, with the solar systems developed, owned and operated by Summit Ridge Energy under the Maryland Community Solar Program. The program provides locally generated energy at reduced rates to Maryland residents under the Maryland Community Solar Program. Additionally, LBA recently energized two Illinois properties totaling 5.5 MW of community solar, including the 1.62-MW Melrose Park facility. “How we own and operate our assets reflects our responsibility as long-term owners and the value we strive to create in every community where we do business is approached with thoughtful, long-term planning,” said Michelle German, Vice President of Portfolio Operations & Sustainability at LBA. “By hosting community solar on our industrial rooftops, we’re expan...

• May 11, 2026

According to a new white paper from Arizona State University (ASU), the rear-hanging cables in bifacial solar projects do not provide sufficient shading, which can affect the project's performance or reliability. The white paper *Impact of Post Suspension Cable Bundle Sunshading on the Performance Parameters of Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules* was authored by Dr. GovindaSamy Tamizhmani, Director of the Photovoltaic Reliability Laboratory at Arizona State University and Research Professor. Affordable Wire Management (AWM) collaborated in the writing of this paper. "Collaborating with Dr. Mani and the team at Arizona State University on this research has been a true honor," said Dan Smith, AWM's Chief Technology Officer and co-founder. "Arizona State University is my alma mater, making this partnership deeply personal. The research findings we've jointly developed are believed to fundamentally transform the design of bifacial photovoltaic cable management in the entire utility-scale industry." The study found that the number of cables in the rear cable bundle ranges from 2 to 16, with suspension lengths varying from 3 to 6 inches. The impact of cable trays on photovoltaic module performance is negligible, with an effect on Pmax of ≤0.6%, while the 3% to 30% loss associated with installation structures is significantly greater. These results remain consistent across single-axis trackers, fixed tilt systems, and various surface conditions (including white ground), indicating that the evaluated cable tray design is unlikely to cause any meaningful performance loss in practical applications. Beyond performance, industry experience and supplier evaluations indicate that the modular post-cable tray system can significantly enhance efficiency, including reducing total cable length by approximately 20% to 30%, cutting installation time by 15% to 20%, while eliminating pinch points near torque tubes and tracker components. Shadows can be harmful, ultimately leading to reduced energy production, improper power output, and hotspots. The industry is too cautious about this and always arranges cables along structural components such as torque tubes to prevent rear obstruction. However, due to the interaction between wiring and mobile system components, this approach increases cable length and reduces reliability. The research results and white paper prove that shadows are not a factor worth paying attention to, and rear suspension cables do not affect performance and reliability. In addition, a novel metric, Normalized Color Ratio (NSR), was developed and subsequently used to obtain these results. So far, there is no method to quantify the backside shading effect of double-sided photovoltaic devices. NSR isolates the performance impact of cable bundles from other factors, enabling accurate assessment of the actual power generation of the power plant. By establishing standardized methods to measure variables that were previously difficult to calculate, NSR not onl...

• May 09, 2026

Mother's Day is a holiday celebrated to thank mothers, which falls on the second Sunday of May every year. Mother's Day originated in ancient Greece, where on January 8th each year, ancient Greeks paid tribute to Rhea, the mother of the gods. In the mid-17th century, Mother's Day spread to England, and the British designated the fourth Sunday of fasting as Mother's Day. The origin of modern Mother's Day is in the United States. In 1906, Anna Jarvis' mother passed away. On the anniversary of her mother's death the following year, she organized activities to commemorate her mother. In 1907, Anna invited her mothers to hold a worship service. In 1910, Mother's Day was established in Philadelphia. In 1914, the United States Congress officially named the second Sunday of May as Mother's Day, and carnations quickly became a symbol of Mother's Day, representing the tears shed by the Virgin Mary when Jesus was crucified. In the 1920s, Mother's Day was introduced to China. On Mother's Day in 1932, commemorative events were held in the churches of various churches in Shanghai and the Shanghai Youth Association. Subsequently, Guangdong, Jiangsu and other places also began to celebrate Mother's Day. In the 1980s, Mother's Day gradually gained acceptance among the people in mainland China. At the end of the 20th century, with the increasing integration of China and the world, Mother's Day has been increasingly popularized in Chinese Mainland, and people have gradually accepted the concept of Mother's Day. In December 2006, organizations such as the Cultural Committee of the Chinese People's Association designated the second day of the fourth lunar month as Chinese Mother's Day. On Mother's Day, mothers usually receive gifts from their children, such as a bright bouquet of carnations or a delicate bouquet of lilies, as well as other gifts and intentions. Promoting the culture of virtue and filial piety on Mother's Day can not only make families more harmonious, but also make society more harmonious and civilized. Selfless maternal love dedicates everything to her children, and children should promote and inherit the culture of filial piety to maintain family harmony, promote social stability and development, making Mother's Day more meaningful.

• May 09, 2026

ReVision Energy is developing community solar arrays atop the former municipal landfill in Goffstown, New Hampshire. The project is expected to go live early in 2027. Under the agreement, the town of Jaffrey will lease the capped landfill to ReVision Energy for solar panel installation, receiving an annual rental fee of $10,000 and installing escalators over time. "This is the perfect utilization of the land, leaving no room for anything else," said Jon Frederic, the town manager of Jaffrey. "The project creates value for the town while supporting households in greatest need of energy efficiency." The financing for this project was provided by Blue Haven Solar, a solar financing entity under the Blue Haven Initiative. The 1.34 megawatt community solar array is projected to generate over 1.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Once operational, 100% of the energy produced by the community solar array will benefit approximately 250 low- and moderate-income households participating in New Hampshire's Electric Assistance Program (EAP). Participants are expected to receive up to $2 million in bill credits over the system's lifecycle. By joining the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (EAP LMI) Community Solar initiative, participants will achieve a direct savings of 25% on their utility bills for electricity supply. The selection and registration of members will be managed by Eversource, the utility company, and will adhere to the standards set by the New Hampshire Department of Energy. Priority will first be given to EAP customers and waitlisted households within the project's postal code, followed by eligible customers from adjacent postal codes, to help ensure local energy conservation. If demand exceeds the available slots in any priority category, participants will be selected through a random process. "This project demonstrates that when communities, clean energy developers, and mission-driven partners work together, anything is possible," said Mark Zankel, Director of Community Solar at ReVision Energy. "By transforming a capped landfill into clean energy and delivering 100% of the power to households enrolled in the Energy Assistance Program, the Gifford Landfill Community Solar Array will turn an underutilized site into a long-term benefit for the community and Granite Staters in greatest need."

• May 08, 2026

The Hawaii legislature is reviewing a tax relief bill that could harm the state's renewable energy tax credit program, thereby affecting the state's solar energy market.   In January, Senator Ronald Kouchi (Democrat) proposed SB 3125, a bill aimed at reducing the economic burden of taxes on low - and middle-income residents in Hawaii. According to reports, the state is addressing a $3 billion budget deficit caused by the Trump administration's cuts in federal funding.   The affordability of local families remains the top priority for the Senate, "said Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, in a report published on Spectrum News. Despite the impact of federal funding cuts on our budget, we still uphold our commitment to the people and maintain and continue to promise tax breaks SB 3125 will establish higher tax rates for high-income residents, aiming to abolish or modify tax credit programs related to infrastructure upgrades, commercial technology, and renewable energy.   The subsidy related to solar energy being discussed is the Renewable Energy Technology Income Tax Credit (RETITC). This 50 year old state solar tax credit provides a 35% return on the total cost or established upper limit amount ($5000 for residential arrays, $350 for multi family arrays, or $500000 for commercial arrays) of solar projects on taxpayers' annual returns.   RETITC does not have an end date, but if approved, SB 2135 will cease the program by the end of 2029. It will set an annual cap on the funding amount for the program, starting from 2027 at $40 million; It will also allocate RETITC's compensation amount for each project proportionally. This will also apply retrospectively to solar projects built in 2026 but not yet operational before March 1st. The legislative body has found that the state's environmental commitments and goals require the rapid adoption of renewable energy... The legislative body has further discovered that the renewable energy technology income tax credit can be adjusted to better support low - and middle-income households by limiting the credit to these income taxpayers. The legislative body has also found that such changes will promote fair access to clean energy and help offset federal actions to limit renewable energy tax incentives, thereby helping to protect hundreds of jobs in the state. Energy industry, "the legislative provision states.   The Hawaii Solar Energy Association (HSEA) believes that SB 3125 will have the opposite effect. Financiers will be cautious about funding solar projects in Hawaii by proportionally distributing tax credits and compensation, with the total subsidy amount yet to be determined. HSEA is concerned that if the bill is passed, new businesses in the Hawaii solar market will cease. Rocky Mold, Executive Director of HSEA, said, "This is not a phase out, but a closure that stabbed Hawaiian families in the back as they walked out...

• May 07, 2026

Chinese lithium battery manufacturer Automotive Energy Supply Company (AESC) has sold a majority stake in its Tennessee battery manufacturing plant to the new US name Fixx Energy. AESC was established in Japan in 2007, and with the expansion of its manufacturing business around the world, it was eventually majority owned by China Vision Group. The company established a factory in Smyrna, Tennessee in 2012 to supply electric vehicle batteries to Nissan. AESC restructured its factory in 2025 to produce lithium batteries for fixed energy storage. AESC has always been a major supplier to Fluence, a large battery project developer and installer. Previously estimated, the annual production capacity of the Shimana factory was 3 GWh of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. With the new Foreign Attention Entity (FEOC) requirement from the US government emphasizing restrictions on the installation of energy products with Chinese influence, many companies are transitioning ownership of their US factories. Fixx Energy took over AESC's factory in Tennessee last month and signed a multi-year agreement to supply batteries to Fluence. Jeff Juger, CEO of Fixx Energy, said, "With strong demand and a growing industrial base, there is a clear opportunity for the United States to expand its domestic energy storage manufacturing capabilities. Our factories are operating and are now leading the way. Fixx is ready for this moment.

• May 06, 2026

SOLV Energy announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Roberson Waite Electric (RWE), a provider of utility substation construction, testing, commissioning, and related infrastructure services headquartered in California. SOLV Energy CEO George Hershman stated, "This acquisition advances SOLV's strategy of establishing a diversified, scalable energy and infrastructure service platform integrated with utility investments. The addition of Rhein Group's substation expertise strengthens our lifecycle approach, enabling us to support utilities from construction through long-term operations." This acquisition expands SOLV's service capabilities and supports its expansion into the regulated utility market, enabling the company to make long-term investments in grid modernization and resilience. RWE's technical expertise, long-term utility relationships, and experienced workforce also provide operational leverage for SOLV's existing platforms spanning large-scale solar power generation, energy storage, and high-voltage infrastructure. RWE was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Anaheim, California, carrying on a multi-generational family tradition in the utility infrastructure sector. With decades of experience supporting safety-critical substation projects for major electric utilities in Southern California, RWE is recognized for its execution in brownfield and dense urban environments, as well as its ongoing, repeat collaborations with regulated utility clients. RWE CEO James Waite stated, "With increasing investments in critical infrastructure, joining SOLV enables us to build a solid foundation while expanding our ability to serve customers. We look forward to becoming part of a broader vision and platform focused on long-term infrastructure performance and reliability." RWE will operate as SOLV Energy, retaining its current leadership team, operational model, and customer relationships. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026.

• April 30, 2026

Renewable Properties is a developer and investor in small utility, community solar, energy storage, and electric vehicle infrastructure projects, and has acquired 118 MW 7-series thin-film modules from First Solar's US manufacturing plant. The American components will be used for solar projects being developed and constructed by Renewable Properties in 17 states. In California, 51 MW components will be used for 9 projects. In addition, 20 megawatts of components will be allocated to four projects in New York, and 8 megawatts of components will be allocated to three projects in Illinois. In addition, 2 megawatts of solar panels will be used for two projects in Minnesota. The remaining 37 MW components have been allocated to other projects in the renewable energy pipeline. Aaron Halimi, Founder and CEO of Renewable Properties, stated that the acquisition by First Solar will support Renewable Properties in continuing to drive the development of solar energy in the United States. ”With domestically manufactured equipment capable of executing these projects in multiple states, we are expected to expand solar deployment at a time when electricity demand is rapidly growing and the solar industry is facing new challenges. American made solar panels are crucial to America's energy dominance, and domestic procurement demonstrates people's confidence in American manufacturing and the employment opportunities it supports. First Solar operates solar panel manufacturing plants in Alabama, Louisiana, and Ohio. The sixth factory is under construction in South Carolina and is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2026. It is expected to increase First Solar's nameplate module production capacity in the United States to approximately 17 gigawatts by 2027. True American solar manufacturing directly enables the United States to dominate the energy sector, "said Dr. Mounir El Asmar, Strategic Customer Manager at First Solar. By investing in domestically produced modules, renewable energy is putting this principle into practice, providing affordable energy to communities across the country while supporting manufacturing, supply chains, and employment in the United States.