#solar
36 posts33 participants6 posts today
Today (Aug 18) is #HeliumDiscoveryDay marking the eclipse observation by Pierre Jules Janssen, who along with Joseph Lockyer is credited with the discovery of helium, so the #ConnectedAtBirth #etymology of the week is HELIUM/SOLAR/SUN #wotd #helium #solar #sun #scicomm #lingcomm
> For one half-hour period on July 8, solar output was a record 14 gigawatts, meeting almost 40 per cent of Britain’s electricity demand during that period, according to the National Energy System Operator (Neso).
on.ft.comClient Challenge
The good news:
Solar energy production has already surpassed the annual level it reached at the end of 2024 (not least as we've had a particularly sunny year so far)...
The less good news:
At below 20% of all energy production the UK lags far behind the best performers on solar (as a proportion of total energy production), ranking only 14th in Europe, where the top tow countries are managing above 50% solar.
However, many more solar arrays are being built...
"And just as with EVs, policymakers have focused on infrastructure and affordability without paying any attention to the enshittification risks. Your rooftop solar will likely be controlled via a Solaredge box – a terrible technology that stops working if it can't reach the internet for a protracted period (that's right, your home solar stops working if the grid fails!)."
@pluralistic, 2024
https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/26/unplanned-obsolescence/#better-micetraps
Holy christ-on-stick, that's ludicrous!
pluralistic.netPluralistic: Cleantech has an enshittification problem (26 Jun 2024) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
Plunging costs and rapid rollout make SOLAR a tool of FREEDOM - lowering bills, weakening petro-authoritarians and decentralising power.
“In all kinds of interesting ways, power from the sun is liberating.” #solar #renewables #climate #ClimateChange #environment #ClimateCrisis #freedom
If you're in mountainous terrain, deep in a valley for example, the sun might not clear a ridge until a some time after the time the sun would rise if the terrain were flatter.
Is there a term to distinguish between these?
Local sunrise, topographic sunrise, actual sunrise -vs- expected, modelled, idealised?
I'm aware of 'nautical twilight', referring to when the sun is between 6 and 12° below the horizon. But I can't seem to find a reference to 'nautical sunrise', or a 'sunrise at sea'.
Why? I'm writing a thing and being pedantic.
#Corning snaps up #JASolar’s #US factory as #China parts face tax credit ban
Materials science giant Corning is betting on #US #solar, buying Chinese-owned JA Solar’s 2 GW factory in #Arizona as #cleanenergy tax credit rules tighten.
“Corning is excited to leverage our advanced manufacturing expertise and expand our solar capabilities in Phoenix with American Panel Solutions,” said AB Ghosh, VP and general manager of solar at Corning.
https://electrek.co/2025/07/21/corning-ja-solar-us-factory-chinese-parts-tax-credit-ban/
Electrek · Corning snaps up JA Solar’s US factory as Chinese parts face tax credit ban
50% #recycled glass #solarpanel performs like brand new
#Solar panel recycler #SOLARCYCLE and Arizona State University proved solar panels made with recycled glass work just as well as new.
With Arizona State’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, solar recycling company created prototype solar panel – called a “mini module”– using 50% recycled glass pulled from end-of-life solar panels. The mini module matched the performance of panels made entirely with new materials.
https://electrek.co/2025/08/01/50-percent-recycled-glass-solar-panel-performs-like-brand-new/
Electrek · This 50% recycled glass solar panel performs like brand new
"The govt of ID has launched a program that aims to build 100GW of #solar PV in the coming years, mostly distributed across smaller projects in rural areas.
It'll consist of 80GW of solar PV plants & 320GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) across 80K villages as 1MW solar PV cap & 4MWh BESS, which will be managed by the KDMP. The village coop was launched last month by P Subianto, ID’s pres.
While the world speeds ahead on #climate, the US regresses.
#Renewables
https://www.pv-tech.org/indonesia-targets-100gw-solar-pv-320gwh-bess/
PV Tech · Indonesia new programme targets 100GW solar PV, 320GWh BESSThe government of Indonesia has launched a programme that aims to build 100GW of solar PV and 320GWh BESS in the coming years.
Clean energy and renewables are not "left" or "woke", they are the best economic choice for the future. While the US denies that, EU is struggling, China charges ahead.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/08/14/climate/china-clean-energy-patents.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ek8.NWop.o_7NZT80JOCV&smid=url-share
#geopolitics #china #usa #eu #energie #renewables #ev #solar @geopolitics
The New York Times · How China Went From Clean Energy Copycat to Global Innovator
Solar panels that fit on your balcony or deck are gaining traction in the US
"These small-scale solar systems could become attractive to more homeowners now that President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget-and-policy package will scrap residential rooftop solar tax credits and may shift interest to cheaper alternatives."
https://apnews.com/article/balcony-plug-solar-climate-energy-renewable-trump-c162abf520da0fa155dc971270b8684a #Solar #USpol
I've seen comments about sodium-ion cells getting down to US $10/KWh in the near future.
I think it is optimistic (to say the least) but if production rises I could imagine them at $25 - $35 per kwh for large systems in 3 years. This would be a game changer
If they could get them down to $10 - $15 per kwh for cells with limited cycle endurance then domestic seasonal storage is very interesting. Having a couple of MWh for £20K would be game changing for UK off-grid.
I found an excuse to use Penrose tiling! Eight weeks of EPP, and now I've got 5 days left to quilt this for the "Sun Day Wool" art installation.
Arizona is building the first solar canal in the US. Arizona is getting the pioneering renewable project after a historic agreement between leaders of the Gila River Indian Community and the US Army Corps of Engineers earlier this month. #water #PVC #Solar #Arizona #Canal https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/11/27/arizona-is-building-the-first-solar-canal-in-the-us-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-work
euronews · This US state should have a solar panel canal by 2025Solar-covered canals are set to generate renewable energy and save water in this notoriously dry area.
Indonesia’s 100 GW solar + 320 GWh BESS push is world-beating—bringing clean power, jobs, and energy independence to 80,000 villages. A giant leap for rural access & socioeconomic growth, and a massive step in the nation’s energy transition. 
#Renewables #BESS #LFP #Lithium #Solar
Indonesia new programme target...
PV Tech · Indonesia new programme targets 100GW solar PV, 320GWh BESSThe government of Indonesia has launched a programme that aims to build 100GW of solar PV and 320GWh BESS in the coming years.
Clean up your #SolarPanels! It makes a huge difference!
#SolarPower #solar #RooftopSolar
Replied in thread
Yes, it's all been driven by — and has helped drive — the massive price declines in solar (and batteries!) in just the past few years.
For more: https://business.columbia.edu/insights/climate/china-solar-feed-in-tariff-phase-out-mature-sector
Continued thread
And yes, much like in Germany in the 2000s (https://gwagner.com/push), the Chinese FiT phase-out had long been planned.
No surprise there.
In fact, it's been part of a much broader, national shift from subsidy- to market-driven energy policy.
Remember how — OMG — Chinese solar deployment fell 80+% between May and June of this year, all due to China phasing out its solar feed-in tariffs on June 1?
Funny thing: incentives incentivize.
They mirrored what we saw in Germany in 2004-06 to the dot.