Hacker News with Generative AI: Solar 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
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
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.
Solar Energy, Sustainability, Materials Science, Australia
9 points by geox 40 days ago | 0 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
Chinese 'kill switches' found hidden in US solar farms (thetimes.com)
Cybersecurity, Solar Energy, China, United States, Technology
24 points by veqq 41 days ago | 5 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
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
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, Environmental Policy, England, Government Policy, Construction
4 points by m463 56 days ago | 4 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
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
High-Powered Solar Cells Are Poised to Replace Batteries (bloomberg.com)
Lenovo is using startup Ambient Photonics’s technology to get rid of batteries in a keyboard.
Solar Energy, Batteries, Technology, Innovation
11 points by imichael 61 days ago | 6 comments
Former Edison executive, now a lawmaker, seeks to cut rooftop solar credits (latimes.com)
Nearly 2 million California rooftop solar owners could lose the energy credits that help them cover what they spent to install the expensive climate-friendly systems under a proposed state bill.
Solar Energy, California Politics, Policy, Environment, Renewable Energy
21 points by miguelazo 66 days ago | 2 comments
US sets tariffs of up to 3,521% on South East Asia solar panels (bbc.com)
The US Commerce Department has announced plans to impose tariffs of up to 3,521% on imports of solar panels from four South East Asian countries.
Trade, Solar Energy, International Relations, Politics, Economics
21 points by pingou 67 days ago | 4 comments
What's happening with Tesla's solar roof? (electrek.co)
The Tesla Solar Roof tiles are still alive, but the product is on the back burner at Tesla as it failed to achieve its promises.
Solar Energy, Tesla, Business
23 points by Bender 68 days ago | 13 comments
India's Waaree to double its solar module output at its Texas factory (electrek.co)
Facing potential 40% tariffs on India-made solar modules, India’s Waaree Energies is doubling its manufacturing capacity at its Texas factory.
Solar Energy, Manufacturing, Texas, India, Trade
5 points by LinuxBender 72 days ago | 1 comments
Launch HN: Jasmine (YC S22) – Automating REC compliance and payouts for solar (ycombinator.com)
Hi HN — we’re Nathalie, Dalton, Vince, and Matt, and we’re launching Jasmine Energy (https://www.jasmine.energy), a tool that helps residential and commercial solar owners automatically register their systems, track energy generation, and get paid for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Startups, Y Combinator, Finance
42 points by mmayberry 72 days ago | 20 comments
Chinese solar cell manufacturer Longi sets another record with 27.81% efficiency (pv-magazine.com)
Chinese PV module maker Longi has revealed that its proprietary hybrid interdigitated back contact (HIBC) crystalline silicon solar cell based on a full-size silicon wafer has achieved a world record power conversion efficiency of 27.81%.
Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Manufacturing, Technology, China
6 points by ck2 74 days ago | 1 comments
Tesla Solar Sales Declined for 4 Qtrs. Then Tesla Stopped Publishing the Numbers (cleantechnica.com)
I have to put my hands up — when Tesla acquired SolarCity in 2016, I supported the decision. Yes, Elon Musk was chairman of both companies. Yes, it was his cousins who were CEO and CTO, and had founded the company based on a suggestion from Elon Musk at Burning Man. Yes, Tesla was saving SolarCity financially in key ways.
Tesla, Solar Energy, Business, Finance
172 points by elsewhen 79 days ago | 92 comments
Solar Energy Claims Big U.S. Gain in 2024 (nytimes.com)
The U.S. power grid added more capacity from solar energy in 2024 than from any other source in a single year in more than two decades, according to a new industry report released on Tuesday.
Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Energy Industry, United States
9 points by lxm 95 days ago | 2 comments
Deregulated energy markets accelerate solar adoption (seanobannon.substack.com)
Solar power has become the cheapest source of new electricity generation in many parts of the U.S., but adoption depends heavily on market structure. Deregulated markets, where entrepreneurs and independent power producers can directly pursue profitable opportunities, have rapidly embraced solar, while regulated utilities remain slow to change due to legacy investments and bureaucratic oversight. To accelerate the shift to renewables and a cost competitive future, the U.S. should pursue greater deregulation, enabling private capital to build a cleaner, larger-capacity grid.
Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Energy Policy, Deregulation, Market Structure
71 points by seanobannon 95 days ago | 180 comments
Understanding Solar Energy (construction-physics.com)
The biggest energy story of the last fifteen years is the rise of solar photovoltaics, also known as solar PV or simply solar panels.
Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Construction, Physics
261 points by chmaynard 99 days ago | 258 comments
Solar power has exploded in popularity as wind lags, report shows (usatoday.com)
Renewable energy production reached record amounts in 2024, producing 24% of U.S. electricity, an annual update on sustainable energy finds.
Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Climate Change, Energy Production
18 points by doener 122 days ago | 6 comments
Thermoelectric Solar Panel (simplifier.neocities.org)
Of all available sources of energy on earth, the light of the sun is the most ubiquitous; however, as a source of heat it is somewhat difficult to utilize due to its diffuse nature.
Solar Energy, Renewable Energy, Technology
50 points by adrianN 123 days ago | 60 comments
Texas Lawmakers Scramble to Stop Solar Energy but It Just Keeps Coming (cleantechnica.com)
Last year was another banner year for solar energy in Texas, and 2025 is heading for more of the same despite the persistent threat of anti-renewable legislation.
Solar Energy, Texas, Renewable Energy, Legislation
12 points by miles 123 days ago | 4 comments
California off to a strong clean electricity start with solar up 33.8% (pv-magazine-usa.com)
California has kicked off 2025 with impressive clean electricity generation, marked by a decline in gas use, increased wind and battery output, and—last Sunday—solar meeting nearly 100% of grid demand in the middle of winter.
California, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Clean Energy, Climate Change
11 points by martinpw 126 days ago | 4 comments
Aqueous-based recycling of perovskite photovoltaics (nature.com)
Cumulative silicon photovoltaic (PV) waste highlights the importance of considering waste recycling before the commercialization of emerging PV technologies1,2.
Science, Solar Energy, Materials Science, Recycling
26 points by PaulHoule 126 days ago | 8 comments
Japan's $1.5B bet on ultra-thin solar cells in challenge to China (ft.com)
Japan, Solar Energy, China, Technology, Business
15 points by bookofjoe 131 days ago | 2 comments