VisNet, a UK-based network monitoring company, has launched an automated platform that allows commercial and industrial rooftop solar developers to receive medium-voltage connection assessments in just 15 minutes. This tool enables project owners to determine online whether connection requests are likely to be approved by network service providers, generating cost estimates and connection offers based on customer-submitted data. Supporting new demand connections of up to 2.5 MVA, the platform aims to reduce engineering and development costs for contractors, developers, and installers. Additionally, the system supports low-voltage applications such as residential rooftop solar, home batteries, and electric vehicle chargers, as network operators face increasing volumes of grid connection requests due to electrification.
Category: Buildings & Electricity
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Shift Energy Sources
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New model reveals pathway for land-efficient U.S. solar expansion
McGill University researchers utilized deep-learning computer vision to analyze 719 solar projects in the Western U.S., setting a new "land-sparing" benchmark for developers. The study revealed a link between geographic irradiance and land efficiency, showing that sunnier regions and compact system designs result in higher energy density. A global study further emphasized the potential for rooftop solar integration, indicating that targeted policy could make it more cost-effective than ground-mounted systems. These findings underscore the importance of strategic land management and integrating solar into the built environment to help achieve net-zero targets and minimize environmental impact.
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Solar Power Project Completed On Capped Landfill In Rhode Island
The Coventry Landfill Solar project in Rhode Island, featuring a 5.740 MW solar array, demonstrates the dual-purpose use of landfills for solar power, providing environmental and economic benefits to local communities. Completed by the end of 2025 after the landfill was capped in 2020 using WatershedGeo® ClosureTurf®, the project employed approximately 77 electrical and civil workers, along with 15 part-time support employees, generating an estimated economic benefit of $4.4 million for the town. The solar system can power approximately 600 homes and avoid 3,759 tons of CO2 in year one and 88,545 tons over 25 years.
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Chinese scientists build ‘ultra-stable’ polymer solar cell with 19.1% efficiency
Researchers from Wuhan University of Technology in China have developed a polymer solar cell with 19.1% efficiency and remarkable stability by blending small-molecule acceptors into polymeric matrices. The incorporation of linearly packed small molecule acceptors disentangled polymeric chains, creating efficient pathways for charge transport and reducing degradation. The resulting devices retained 97% efficiency after 2,000 hours of operation in air, with an extrapolated lifetime exceeding 100,000 hours. This work provides a practical pathway towards commercialization of flexible organic photovoltaics, with various layers including a molybdenum trioxide hole transport layer and a buckminsterfullerene electron transport layer contributing to the cell's success.
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Construction begins on Karangkates floating solar plant at Indonesian dam
Physical construction has begun on the 100MWac Karangkates Floating Solar Power Plant at Karangkates Dam in Indonesia, a joint initiative between PLN Nusantara Renewables, GD Power Hongkong, and PJT I. This project integrates renewable energy with water infrastructure to optimize dam assets without compromising safety and water management functions. By utilizing floating solar technology on reservoirs, the project helps avoid land acquisition and reduce surface water evaporation, contributing to Indonesia's renewable energy expansion under the national Net Zero Emissions target.
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Massachusetts’ least-cost 2050 peak power mix is combustion-free: report
A report by Synapse Energy Economics for the Massachusetts Clean Peak Coalition suggests that Massachusetts can fully decarbonize peak generation by 2050 at a lower cost than continuing to run fossil-fuel peaker plants. The report recommends a portfolio of clean peaking resources including demand-side resources, energy storage, and wind generation. Challenges remain in fully decarbonizing the electricity system, particularly with the shift to a winter-peaking system and the current design of ISO New England's capacity market favoring fossil-fuel generators. The coalition is unsure if recent changes to the grid operator's capacity accreditation model will benefit decarbonization efforts in Massachusetts, but a peak generation portfolio combining wind, energy storage, and demand response could serve winter peaks at a lower cost than the current combustion-dominated generation mix. Regulators and policymakers need to focus on energy efficiency, longer-duration energy storage, addressing community concerns around wind siting, and considering climate and public health impacts to build this portfolio cost-effectively and explore alternatives to fossil peakers and combined heat and power plants.
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Solar, storage to lead record 86 GW of US capacity in 2026
Solar and battery storage are set to account for 79% of 86 GW of new utility-scale capacity planned in the United States in 2026, with analysts projecting one in eight American homes will have solar, many with storage for self-consumption. Distributed small-scale solar generation is increasing, with a focus on integrated energy systems and high battery attachment rates. Renewables and storage are expected to make up 93% of new utility-scale capacity this year, with a significant growth in solar generation. The key focus now is on how quickly the infrastructure can be interconnected to the grid to ensure grid stability and maximize the benefits of these climate solutions.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/26/solar-storage-to-lead-record-86-gw-of-us-capacity-in-2026/
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Bolivia creates net metering scheme for medium-voltage distributed generation
Bolivia's government has approved Supreme Decree 5549, establishing a medium-scale distributed generation category for renewable projects between 1 MW and 6 MW. This decree simplifies procedures for connecting to medium-voltage networks, sets a remuneration scheme for energy injected into the system, and aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the electricity market. It promotes self-consumption, decentralization of generation, and the use of resources such as solar, hydropower, and biomass. Implementation will follow a phased approach, starting with the private sector and later extending to commercial and residential users.
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Con Ed eyes $38B in capital spending through 2030
Consolidated Edison is planning $38B in utility capital investments over five years to support building and transportation electrification, with a focus on solar generation. They are seeing a significant increase in electric vehicle charging and electric heat requests, aiming to invest proactively to meet New York's clean energy goals. To address reliability challenges, Con Ed plans to add 22 new substations by 2034 and grow their investment base by 8.6% annually through 2030. Additionally, they are exploring joint ownership of large-scale renewable generation to advance the state's clean energy standard, with a decision expected by May.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/con-ed-capital-spending-rates-earnings/812981/
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How to protect animals from lightning in agrivoltaics
Researchers in Germany and Costa and her colleagues have identified key lightning risks in livestock-integrated agrivoltaic systems, emphasizing the need for animal-specific earthing designs and protection measures to prevent economic losses for farmers. The studies establish safe step and touch voltage limits under lightning conditions and propose mitigation strategies to reduce hazards to animals. The importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar power, is highlighted as a key climate solution, with government policies and incentives playing a crucial role in promoting adoption. The overall goal is to maintain public acceptance of agrivoltaic concepts by quantifying potential risks and implementing optimized design to limit the impact on the cost of energy.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/24/how-to-protect-animals-from-lightning-in-agrivoltaics/