Hacker News with Generative AI: Renewable Energy

US solar keeps surging, generating more power than hydro in 2025 (arstechnica.com)
In the US, many newly constructed generating facilities are brought online at the end of the year to qualify for tax incentives.
Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, United States, Energy, Hydropower
12 points by rbanffy 34 days ago | 1 comments
US solar keeps surging, generating more power than hydro in 2025 (arstechnica.com)
In the US, many newly constructed generating facilities are brought online at the end of the year to qualify for tax incentives. Since much of the US's new generating capacity is solar power, that has led to a boom in solar production to start the year in recent years. With the first three months of data in for 2025, it's clear this year is no exception: Solar power is up a staggering 44 percent compared to the prior year.
Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, United States, Energy Production
15 points by rntn 35 days ago | 3 comments
Tesla is badly affected by Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' the GOP just passed (electrek.co)
The Republicans in Congress have voted for Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, which are going to greatly slow down electric vehicles and renewable energy in the US.
Politics, Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy, Legislation
21 points by josephcsible 36 days ago | 9 comments
Solar panels to be fitted on all new-build homes in England by 2027 (theguardian.com)
Almost all new homes in England will be fitted with solar panels during construction within two years, the government will announce after Keir Starmer rejected Tony Blair’s criticism of net zero policies.
Renewable Energy, Solar Power, UK Politics, Housing, Environment
8 points by bookofjoe 38 days ago | 2 comments
Lightweight plastic mirrors drop cost of solar thermal energy by 40% (newatlas.com)
Researchers in Australia are working on a way to lower the cost of producing solar thermal energy by as much as 40% with the help of shatterproof rear-view mirrors originally designed for cars.
Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Engineering, Cost Reduction
5 points by wjSgoWPm5bWAhXB 38 days ago | 1 comments
Tallest Wooden Wind Turbine (modvion.com)
We build wind turbine towers. In wood.
Renewable Energy, Engineering, Sustainable Materials
186 points by Bluestein 40 days ago | 139 comments
Building my own solar power system (medium.com)
Well it happened. PG&E has dropped the facade of necessary rate increases because of system upgrades, and they have come out and said what we knew all along: they only care about profits.
Renewable Energy, DIY Projects, California
442 points by JKCalhoun 40 days ago | 344 comments
Solar grants held hostage in Pennsylvania legislature – as demand soars (capitalandmain.com)
While Solar for All funds languish, the state continues to lag behind most of the nation when it comes to renewable energy.
Solar Energy, Politics, Pennsylvania, Renewable Energy
36 points by rntn 40 days ago | 57 comments
I let lasers power my smart home – and I don't want to go back (theverge.com)
One morning last month, I walked into my kitchen to get a glass of water, but my smart faucet was out of battery. I went to sit down in my front room, and the shade was still shut — it was out of battery. I walked down the hall and found a beached robot vacuum — out of battery. I headed outside to feed the chickens, unlocking the back door on the way out.
Smart Homes, Technology, Gadgets, Renewable Energy
26 points by FrankChalmers 42 days ago | 18 comments
Renewable power reversing China's emissions growth (arstechnica.com)
China has been installing renewable energy at a spectacular rate and now has more renewable capacity than the next 13 countries combined, and four times that of its closest competitor, the US. Yet, so far at least, that hasn't been enough to offset the rise of fossil fuel use in that country.
Renewable Energy, China, Climate Change, Emissions
5 points by rbanffy 42 days ago | 0 comments
FERC: Solar and wind made up 98% of new US power generating capacity in Q1 2025 (electrek.co)
Solar and wind accounted for almost 98% of new US electrical generating capacity added in Q1 2025, according to new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) data reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign.
Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Energy Industry, US Economy
4 points by toomuchtodo 43 days ago | 1 comments
Renewable power reversing China's emissions growth (arstechnica.com)
China has been installing renewable energy at a spectacular rate and now has more renewable capacity than the next 13 countries combined, and four times that of its closest competitor, the US. Yet, so far at least, that hasn't been enough to offset the rise of fossil fuel use in that country.
Renewable Energy, China, Climate Change, Energy, Emissions
9 points by moelf 43 days ago | 1 comments
Rogue communication devices found in Chinese solar power inverters (yahoo.com)
U.S. energy officials are reassessing the risk posed by Chinese-made devices that play a critical role in renewable energy infrastructure after unexplained communication equipment was found inside some of them, two people familiar with the matter said.
National Security, Renewable Energy, China, Solar Power
10 points by WaitWaitWha 44 days ago | 3 comments
Texas Senate passes bill requiring solar plants to provide power at night (thehill.com)
The Texas Senate passed a bill Thursday that leading business interests fear would lead to an age of expensive power and rolling blackouts.
Texas, Solar Energy, Energy Policy, Renewable Energy, Legislation
44 points by xbmcuser 46 days ago | 58 comments
DIY solar launches in US – no installers or permits needed (zdnet.com)
EcoFlow just launched a plug-and-play solar energy system for houses or apartments.
Renewable Energy, Solar Power, DIY, Home Improvement
6 points by jakestein 47 days ago | 9 comments
Concrete spheres for energy storage; California plans a 9-meter diameter sphere (farmingdale-observer.com)
Storing renewable energy sustainably and efficiently is one of the major challenges of our time. A team of German researchers is proposing a revolutionary solution: concrete spheres immersed in the ocean floor. Their potential is such that California is preparing to test a large-scale prototype.
Energy Storage, Renewable Energy, Engineering, Climate Change, California
30 points by joe_the_user 48 days ago | 39 comments
China Built More Clean Energy Than Coal–But Can't Use Half of It (oilprice.com)
For the first time in its history, China has more wind and solar power capacity than fossil fuel-based thermal power, the country’s energy regulatory said on Friday.
China, Renewable Energy, Energy Industry, Climate Change
4 points by PaulHoule 48 days ago | 2 comments
Coupling furfural oxidation for H2 production using silicon photoelectrodes (nature.com)
To commercialize the technology of photoelectrochemical hydrogen production, it is essential to surpass the US. Department of Energy target of 0.36 mmol h−1 cm−2 for 1-sun hydrogen production rate.
Chemistry, Hydrogen Production, Renewable Energy, Photoelectrochemistry
10 points by PaulHoule 50 days ago | 4 comments
EcoFlow brings its plug-in solar power plant to US homes (theverge.com)
The US is finally getting a version of EcoFlow’s DIY balcony solar system that I reviewed in Europe last year.
Solar Power, Renewable Energy, Technology, Home Improvement
6 points by zekrioca 50 days ago | 1 comments
Ontario set to begin construction of Canada's first mini nuclear power plant (cbc.ca)
Premier Doug Ford's government has given Ontario Power Generation the green light to start construction on Canada's first small modular reactor, a new nuclear energy technology to be built next door to the Darlington power plant.
Nuclear Power, Canada, Ontario, Renewable Energy
14 points by barbazoo 50 days ago | 8 comments
Making Steel for Offshore Wind Turbines, Now with Union Labor (jacobin.com)
In a slow month for large-unit elections, the United Steelworkers won a key victory at JSW Steel, which manufactures components for offshore wind turbines. Despite their green, ethical self-portrayal, the union says JSW fought them hard.
Offshore Wind, Labor Unions, Manufacturing, Renewable Energy
4 points by PaulHoule 56 days ago | 0 comments
Solar panels to be fitted on all new-build homes in England by 2027 (theguardian.com)
Almost all new homes in England will be fitted with solar panels during construction within two years, the government will announce after Keir Starmer rejected Tony Blair’s criticism of net zero policies.
Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Government Policy, Construction, England
10 points by edward 57 days ago | 5 comments
Pakistan pulled off one of the fastest solar revolutions in the world (cnn.com)
Pakistan, Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Climate Change, World News
23 points by belter 57 days ago | 6 comments
The future of solar doesn't track the sun (wordpress.com)
PV modules are cheap enough today that the simple fixed East-West arrays are cheaper and faster to install than the industry’s darling, the single-axis tracked array.
Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Technology, Costs
155 points by surprisetalk 57 days ago | 143 comments
Japan unveils first solar super-panel (japanenergyevent.com)
Solar Power, Japan, Renewable Energy, Technology
79 points by elsewhen 59 days ago | 42 comments
The first giant 15 MW turbine is up at Germany's largest offshore wind farm (electrek.co)
Germany’s largest offshore wind farm under construction, EnBW’s He Dreiht, just hit a big milestone: The first enormous turbine is now up in the North Sea.
Renewable Energy, Germany, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind
23 points by gnabgib 60 days ago | 6 comments
Spain hits first weekday of 100% renewable power on national grid (pv-magazine.com)
Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable energy for the first time on April 16, with wind, solar, and hydro meeting all peninsular electricity demand during a weekday.
Renewable Energy, Spain, Energy, Climate Change, Sustainability
10 points by melenaboija 60 days ago | 2 comments
There Is One Clear Winner in the Corn vs. Solar Battle (cleantechnica.com)
“Solar energy is often framed as a threat to croplands. However, vast croplands in the Midwestern United States already support corn ethanol biofuel, a form of energy with a greater land-use footprint per unit energy (~30×) and potential environmental impact (e.g., excessive fertilizer application) than solar energy. We envisioned sustainable agro-ecosystems that can result from converting a small proportion of corn ethanol croplands into ecologically informed solar facilities (i.e., ecovoltaics).
Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Agriculture, Environmental Impact
9 points by joak 60 days ago | 3 comments
Major offshore wind developer has stopped activities in United States (yahoo.com)
One of the world's top offshore wind developers, Germany's RWE, has stopped work on its U.S. projects for now in light of recent moves against the industry by the Trump administration, its CEO said in a text published ahead of the firm's annual meeting.
Offshore Wind, Renewable Energy, United States, Politics, Business
14 points by MilnerRoute 61 days ago | 0 comments
RWE Ditches U.S. Offshore Wind, and That Should Scare Everyone (oilprice.com)
Germany's RWE just pulled the plug on its U.S. offshore wind business.
Energy, Renewable Energy, Offshore Wind, Business, Germany
9 points by xbmcuser 63 days ago | 0 comments