In this week’s Solar News Roundup, we’re talking storage: Google and NV Energy join up to bring a massive solar-plus-storage plant to a data center outside of Las Vegas, and manufacturer Kyocera is set to launch a new type of lithium-ion battery.
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Solar news: December 27th, 2019
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, a Pew Research Center survey indicates record interest in solar, and New York hits a big solar milestone.
Continue readingSolar news: December 13th, 2019
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, the residential solar market in the U.S. has its best quarter yet, and General Motors and LG Chem partner for one of the world’s largest battery plants.
Continue readingComparing lithium-ion battery chemistries
Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular products used for solar electricity storage today. Within the umbrella category of lithium-ion batteries, there are several specific chemistries that battery manufacturers employ in their products. These chemistries each have their own advantages and disadvantages, as well as ideal use cases.
Continue readingSolar news: November 29th, 2019
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, Vermont utility Green Mountain Power plans to launch a blockchain-based energy marketplace, and U.S. lawmakers introduce a 100% clean energy bill.
Continue readingSolar racking: what you need to know
Once a solar panel system is installed, you’ll generally only see the shiny new panels on your property. However, the solar racking beneath them is an integral part of any solar installation.
Continue readingDoes solar-plus-storage still work during an outage?
Battery storage paired with solar panels is a great way to save money on electricity bills in the long term, especially with new rate plans like time-of-use becoming more prevalent. But does adding a battery mean you’ll be able to produce, store, and use electricity with solar when the grid is down? Do you even need a battery? In this article, we’ll dissect how solar and storage can make for an effective grid resiliency technique.
Continue readingSolar news: November 15th, 2019
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, new projections for solar energy see the technology becoming the world’s largest energy source by 2035, and SunPower splits into two companies: a manufacturer and an installer.
Continue readingSolar news: November 1st, 2019
In this week’s Solar News Roundup, Tesla announces its newest version of the famed Solar Roof, and corporate renewable procurements reach a new record in 2019.
Continue readingCritter guards/bird netting for solar panels: protect your system from squirrels & birds
A surprising threat to your solar panels may be the animals that live in the area surrounding your home. Birds and squirrels can damage your solar setup in several ways, leading to unwanted repair costs and headache. One solution to solar’s animal problem is to install “critter guards,” a physical barrier between your panels and the local fauna.
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