Solar News of the Week 9.4
SunFarm Energy
Your local solar experts specializing in residential solar, battery storage, off-grid solutions, and EV charging.
This week we're featuring the latest from NPR's Planet Money that unpacks the rise of China's solar industry dominance. Plus a new report from the U.S. Department of Energy find that clean energy jobs are on the rise. Elsewhere, Oxford University reports new perovskite breakthroughs, and Florida leads the Southeast in solar capacity.
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How China Became Solar Royalty - NPR Planet Money?
Two decades ago the solar sector was dominated by the U.S., Japan, and Germany, but China was eager to be part of the technological manufacturing revolution. In 2006 the country launched its 5-year plan, prioritizing solar energy over fossil fuels. After decades of tax breaks, preferential rates, and the creation of a localized polysilicon supply chain, China’s solar industry disrupted global markets and continues to dominate to this day.
PV Magazine
“Our policies are working. We are now starting to see the job impacts of investments made through the infrastructure and inflation reduction laws – first in construction and as America builds more of these factories, we’ll see hundreds of thousands more." - Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy
According to the latest U.S. Department of Energy report clean energy positions now account for half of new energy sector jobs. The report found that unions play large role in the increase and that jobs grew in all 50 states. Specifically, the solar industry saw a 5.3% increase in overall energy jobs.
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The New York Times Opinion
The solar revolution can sometimes be hard to fathom. The world has installed more solar in the past few years than was cumulatively installed between 1954 (when the solar cell was invented) and 2017. Solar is also cheaper than any other new source of electricity for about 95% of the world. Overall, it's changing the rules of the energy game: “a piece of coal provides power only so long as it burns; a solar panel, once installed, for several decades.”?
Popular Mechanics
New technology developed by Oxford University is making solar cells more flexible and efficient. Using perovskites, scientists have developed a new application that acts like a film. This material could be applied to various surfaces that may have previously been incapable of hosting solar cells.
WUWF
Florida utilities lead the Southeast in total solar capacity according to a new report by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. The annual report covers solar capacity in seven states, including Florida and Alabama. Capacity is expected to double in the region by 2027 and Florida remains a “solar powerhouse.”
We'll be back in two weeks with more solar and renewable energy news!
Did we miss an important story? Send our editor, Samantha Prue, an article at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!