Solar Power World

By Terence Parker, Michigan resident and Solar Mounts LLC team member The U.S. Department of Energy’s October 12, 2026, emergency order directing PJM Interconnection to use additional generating resources should be a wake-up call for Michigan and the entire PJM region. Effective October 13–16, the order authorizes specified power plants to operate as needed for… The post PJM’s Emergency Order Should Be a Wake-Up Call for Michigan: Build More Power Before the Next Crisis appeared first on Solar P

SEG Solar, a global solar manufacturer, has signed a land agreement for a planned $950 million, 4-GW heterojunction (HJT) solar cell plant at the Tomball Industrial Campus in the greater Houston area. The facility is expected to create more than 700 local jobs and is planned to come online in two 2 GW phases scheduled… The post SEG Solar plans HJT cell plant next to existing Texas facilities appeared first on Solar Power World.

Solar mounting and racking manufacturer SnapNrack, a subsidiary of Sunrun, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 4 to celebrate the opening of its new facility in El Paso, Texas. The new operational site has onshored SnapNrack’s assembly and distribution operations from its former facility in Juarez, Mexico. By bringing assembly and distribution directly into… The post SnapNrack increases domestic manufacturing with new Texas factory appeared first on Solar Power World.

Job seekers hoping to launch or advance a career in clean energy can connect with employers and explore new opportunities at the RE+ Clean Energy Job Fair on Nov. 18, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Hosted by GRID Alternatives, the Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) and Green Jobs Board, the fair… The post RE+ will host another clean energy job fair this year appeared first on Solar Power World.

DTE Energy’s 132-MW Fish Creek Solar Park near Sheridan, Michigan, is now operational. The $268 million development was fully funded by customers who voluntarily participate in DTE’s MIGreenPower program. The solar park can generate enough energy to power approximately 30,000 homes. “Our customers expect us to keep the lights on and keep bills as affordable… The post DTE utility program funded a 132-MW Michigan solar project appeared first on Solar Power World.

Access to plug-in solar is becoming increasingly available across North America. As more consumers explore technologies such as balcony solar and plug-in photovoltaic (PIPV) systems, these emerging solutions have the potential to make renewable energy more accessible and support broader participation in the energy transition. Solar remains one of the most accessible and promising renewable… The post Op-ed: Plug-in solar expands access to renewables, but needs a strong safety framework appeared f

CPP Wind Engineering, a global wind engineering consultancy for solar, is launching a wind certification program for utility-scale solar projects, which the organization believes is the first of its kind in the industry. The new program aims to improve the performance and durability of utility-scale solar over a range of wind conditions. The program offers… The post CPP Wind Engineering develops wind testing certification for utility-scale solar appeared first on Solar Power World.

Autonomous technology developer Mach is launching a platform for adapting commercial lawn mowers for autonomous deployment on solar project sites. This technology factory integrates with major commercial mowers. “Utility-scale solar sites present one of the most demanding operational environments in off-road autonomy: narrow clearances, dense panel shadows, GPS-degraded zones and zero tolerance for infrastructure strikes,”… The post Mach debuts autonomous mowing platform for solar project sites

First Solar will today inaugurate the first phase of its new manufacturing facility in Gaffney, South Carolina. The $330 million facility onshores final production processes for the company’s Series 6 Plus modules. The Gaffney plant currently employs approximately 500 people, and First Solar expects that number to rise to 700 by mid-2027 when the facility’s… The post First Solar to inaugurate South Carolina solar panel finishing facility appeared first on Solar Power World.

SolSmart, a national program that helps local governments remove barriers to solar energy adoption, today marks its tenth anniversary. Since 2016, SolSmart has helped over 600 local governments and regional organizations cut red tape, increase energy choice for residents and strengthen community energy resilience. SolSmart is a free technical assistance program supported by the U.S.… The post SolSmart celebrates 10 years of helping local governments go solar appeared first on Solar Power World.

Renewable energy is still outpacing fossil fuels as the leading new sources of electricity on the U.S. grid. Electrical generation from renewable energy sources has increased by 10%, or more than 43 GW, in the first eight months of 2026, according to an analysis of Energy Information Administration (EIA) data by the SUN DAY Campaign.… The post EIA: Renewables could overtake natural gas output in 2027 appeared first on Solar Power World.

Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI), an EPC firm for solar and battery storage, has completed the 3.37-MWDC Sapphire Solar project in Jefferson County, New York. Shallow bedrock and a high water table presented site challenges that required the team to adapt its design mid-construction. During excavation, DEI encountered shale bedrock only 16 to 20 in. below… The post Distributed Energy Infrastructure completes New York solar project despite site challenges appeared first on Solar Power Worl

California, the state with the most installed solar capacity in the country, has spent years trying, but still doesn’t have a community solar program. That means residential solar and storage systems are often still only accessible by the affluent, and low-income residents and renters continue to experience the country’s second-highest electricity rates without any self-generated… The post California is still without a functioning community solar program appeared first on Solar Power World.

Gov. Wes Moore announced that the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is launching “Megawatts for Maryland,” a $200 million auction program to build new clean energy generation over the next two years and help lower power costs for ratepayers. MEA will administer the program, which was established through the Utility RELIEF Act, Moore signed into law… The post Maryland state renewables program hopes to fill gap left by OBBBA appeared first on Solar Power World.

It’s no secret that Puerto Rico has an energy problem. An aging electrical grid and frequent hurricane activity have left the island with an unreliable power supply. Frequent and prolonged blackouts have led many Puerto Ricans to turn to solar energy. Ricardo Fonseca, owner of Ingenious Solution Services, has been installing solar and battery storage… The post Case study: Puerto Rican apartment complex relies on battery power appeared first on Solar Power World.

Community solar management service Neighborhood Sun has acquired Meadow Energy, a community solar aggregator with a substantial project portfolio in New York. The acquisition doubles Neighborhood Sun total project portfolio from approximately 300 MWDC to more than 600 MWDC, and quadruples its presence in New York state. Climate First Bank helped facilitate the transaction. “Climate… The post Neighborhood Sun acquires Meadow Energy and its NY community solar portfolio appeared first on Solar Powe

Construction automation company Xpanner has unveiled the X1 Piling R6, a fully automated pile driving system for utility-scale solar and battery energy storage (BESS) sites. X1 pairs Xpanner’s automation stack with the Everstar R6 crawler base machine. Operators upload the pile plan, walk the machine to the row and press one button. X1 then travels… The post Xpanner unveils automated pile driving system for solar and BESS appeared first on Solar Power World.

A national bill proposing the legalization of plug-in solar was proposed in the House of Representatives on Oct. 19. Since late 2025, legislative bodies have been passing bills permitting the consumer-level use of these portable solar generation devices within particular states. HR 10851, also known as the “Socket Full of Sunshine Act,” is the first… The post Bill calling for nationwide plug-in solar adoption introduced in House appeared first on Solar Power World.

A new community solar garden in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is now producing power for low-moderate income (LMI) residents. The 704-kW system sits on the city-owned Eastside Maintenance Facility and serves 100 LMI subscribers, with 25 spots remaining. The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) and Greenway Solar developed the project that was funded in part by a $150,000… The post Minneapolis unveils 704-kW community solar garden for LMI subscribers appeared first on Solar Power World.

Solar panel efficiency measures the percentage of sunlight a panel converts into electricity. Most residential panels in 2026 operate between 20–23% efficiency under standard test conditions (STC). The higher the efficiency, the more power per square foot — which matters most when roof space is limited. When you think of solar panel efficiency, you’re most… The post Solar panel efficiency explained: What it means, what’s good, and how it affects your install appeared first on Solar Power World.