In the first five months of 2026, utility-scale solar generation in California surpassed natural gas generation, with solar increasing by 21% and natural gas decreasing by 60% compared to 2024. Solar generated more electricity than natural gas on 82% of days in 2026, while solar and battery storage capacity grew significantly. Despite this growth, there was a 19% decrease in net generation due to increased electricity imports, including renewable energy from projects like the SunZia wind farm in New Mexico. The SunZia project, the largest wind farm in the U.S., began delivering electricity in April and is set to begin commercial operations soon.
Category: Electricity & Industry
Cut Emissions:
– Enhance Efficiency
– Cut Fugitive Emissions
– Shift Production
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Chart of the Day: Farewell King Coal, long live King Solar (and wind and batteries)
In 2025, the world saw a significant shift towards renewable energy with 814 GW of new solar and wind capacity installed, surpassing the 158 GW of gross fossil fuel capacity. This transition has resulted in renewables overtaking coal in global electricity production for the first time, marking the end of the era of King Coal. Solar energy is leading the fastest shift in electricity generation in history, signaling the arrival of the age of King Solar, Wind, and Batteries. The trend towards renewable energy is still accelerating, highlighting the importance of continued investment and innovation in climate solutions.
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Northeast states eye offshore HVDC transmission as Trump drops wind fight
Nine Northeast states and the District of Columbia are collaborating to develop an offshore transmission network along the Atlantic Coast to reduce electricity costs and improve reliability, with a focus on accelerating offshore wind deployment and unlocking consumer benefits. The Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission published reports with technical standards and policy recommendations, including standardizing offshore transmission network design and addressing procurement issues. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and other organizations, the collaboration aims to advance interregional transmission pathways for offshore wind deployment, while Sierra Club Senior Advisor Nancy Pyne criticizes Donald Trump's ban on wind energy in the U.S. and highlights the benefits of renewable energy as an affordable and common sense solution to rising energy costs and instability.
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Satellite breakthrough enables accurate panel-scale temperature mapping for solar farms
A Chinese research team has developed a novel panel surface temperature retrieval model using moderate-resolution thermal infrared satellite imagery to accurately estimate the surface temperature of photovoltaic panels in utility-scale solar farms. The method accounts for the three-dimensional structure of PV arrays, changes in panel area with viewing angle, and the low emissivity of PV panels. By separating PV modules from inter-row gaps within each satellite pixel, the researchers were able to isolate the radiative signal attributable to the PV modules, resulting in a more accurate retrieval of panel surface temperature. Improvements in satellite-derived thermal data accuracy have led to a 3-5% decrease in bias in photovoltaic (PV) power simulation, with a focus on understanding and incorporating shaded gaps between rows of panels. The new approach was presented in the International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation by scientists from various institutions in China.
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EVs Will Come Roaring Back, Rivian Edition
Rivian, a US startup, is making strides in the electric vehicle market by producing premium 100% battery-powered vehicles and announcing more affordable models to cater to a new wave of EV buyers. Their partnership with ChargeScape allows their EVs to serve as grid energy storage units, providing easier access to utility-based savings plans. With the expanding EV charging infrastructure and mainstreaming of vehicle-to-grid technology, Rivian's large battery capacity makes their EVs valuable assets for utilities. Despite potential changes in Georgia's electrification movement post-election, Rivian is moving forward with plans to build a new factory in Georgia with federal support, positioning themselves as key players in the climate solutions space.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/06/16/rivian-evs-us-plans-v2g-discounts-new-factory-georgia/
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BMW Reaches 2 Million Electric Vehicles, Focusing More & More On Smart Home Technology
BMW Group has reached a milestone by producing its 2 millionth fully electric vehicle, a BMW i5 M60 xDrive sedan, at the Dingolfing factory in Germany. The factory now builds three electric BMW models and is expanding a partnership with SOLARWATT to integrate bidirectional charging, solar, and home energy storage for their vehicles. The market launch for this integration is planned for late 2026 in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, showcasing BMW's commitment to sustainable transportation solutions.
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Solar Energy Is Essential (Trump Just Won’t Admit It)
Solar energy is recognized as the fastest and most economical way to increase kilowatts in the grid, with the US Air Force supporting the space solar industry. Germanium-based solar modules have set a new world record for solar conversion efficiency, but there is a shortage of germanium in the US. The Department of War has awarded $18.1 million to a domestic producer to address the germanium shortfall for defense applications. The US Air Force sees solar energy as a next-level logistics improvement over fossil fuels, with plans to deploy space-based systems to harvest solar energy in orbit and beam it down to Earth. Private sector stakeholders are working towards demonstrating space-based solar technology within the next 10 years. Research is being conducted by the USAF on space solar energy delivery to Earth, with a focus on fuel resupply in the Indo-Pacific region. The project, titled PERSEUS, aims to provide clean energy anywhere on Earth in the early 2030s. The technology could be used for defense applications once deployed, offering a way to reduce reliance on vulnerable fuel supply chains. Solar energy demand is also increasing on Earth, with the US solar industry dominating new utility-scale capacity additions to the nation's grid. Additionally, the US defense supplier York Space Systems has acquired the space solar startup Solestial to secure a domestic source for critical space solar capability. Solestial is preparing to produce new solar cells in the United States after acquiring manufacturing equipment from Meyer Burger. The company aims to expand its manufacturing capabilities and supply chain control with this strategic move. Solestial's focus is on in-space applications for its self-healing silicon solar technology. The US Air Force recognizes the importance of solar energy for national defense, potentially replacing fuel resupply missions for ground operations.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/06/15/space-solar-energy-us-air-force-essential/
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Pseudo-planar heterojunction organic solar cell achieves world record efficiency of 20.21%
A research team from China has proposed a novel interfacial buffering strategy for pseudo-planar heterojunction (PPHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs) to improve device stability and fabrication reliability. By incorporating a highly crystalline polymer called D18 as a buffer layer between the donor and acceptor layers, the PM6/D18/L8-BO-based device achieved a superior power conversion efficiency of 19.80%, surpassing conventional devices. Further modifications with a non-fullerene small-molecule acceptor led to an efficiency of 20.21%, one of the highest reported for PPHJ OSCs. The study, published in the Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, offers practical insights for enhancing device performance and morphology regulation in organic solar cells with controlled vertical phase separation morphology.
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Powering the Future: Why Energy Justice is a Youth Issue
The article discusses the barriers young people in South Africa face due to lack of access to affordable electricity, impacting their education, job-seeking, and overall opportunities. The country's reliance on coal-fired power stations leads to air pollution, high electricity costs, and unreliable service. The Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program aims to support vulnerable households but faces challenges in reaching eligible families. The article suggests investing in renewable energy to provide clean, affordable, and reliable power to communities, ultimately benefiting education, employment, public health, and economic opportunity for South Africa's young people. The section emphasizes the importance of ensuring that future generations have access to affordable energy, economic opportunity, and a healthy environment as a right. It highlights the need for action and power to create a better future, rather than just promises. The author calls for building a powerful climate movement with the belief in a safe climate and a better future for all, focusing on creating a just, prosperous, and equitable world through the collective power of ordinary people.