All articles tagged with #solar
Trump’s aggressive push to boost fossil fuels and curb offshore wind faces legal and political pushback, even as solar power posts record gains in May 2026 and rooftop/plug-in solar expands, with California and New York pursuing actions to accelerate clean energy despite ongoing policy headwinds.
U.S. solar power generation has, for the first time, surpassed coal as the dominant source of electricity, signaling a historic shift in the nation’s energy mix driven by cheaper solar and retirements of coal plants, with potential implications for emissions, pricing, and grid planning.
U.S. EIA data show CAISO utility-scale solar generated more electricity than natural gas on 82% of days from January to May 2026, with solar output up 21% vs 2024 and gas down 60%. Solar capacity reached about 25 GW and battery storage 16 GW, while natural gas capacity stayed around 29 GW. Despite a 7% rise in electricity demand, total CAISO net generation fell 19% as imports from hydropower and the new SunZia wind project in New Mexico offset domestic generation, and several capacity retirements occurred, including a 300 MW battery facility after a 2025 fire.
U.S. solar generation surpassed coal in May for the first time (solar 12.8% vs coal 12.2%), with solar becoming the third-largest electricity source behind natural gas and nuclear. Despite Trump’s push to bolster coal, solar and other renewables are driving growth and are the leading source of new power—solar plus battery storage comprised about 91% of new capacity in Q1—signaling a continued shift toward clean energy as analysts expect solar to overtake coal on an annual basis in coming years.
Ember data show solar generation in May 2026 exceeded coal for the first time on record, supplying 12.8% of US electricity to coal's 12.2% and hitting a record 45.5 TWh, with solar becoming the third-largest power source behind natural gas and nuclear as renewables reshape the grid.
A 19-day Type IV solar radio burst from a helmet streamer, likely re-energized by three CMEs, suggests coronal magnetic structures can trap electrons for weeks, making the event a persistent rather than transient structure and prompting a rethink of how solar activity and exoplanet habitability are modeled.
Rising fuel costs from the Iran conflict are driving a rooftop solar surge across energy-short Asia, with the Philippines alone reporting a 70% jump in weekly installations and a sixfold increase in inquiries since the war began. The trend is global, boosting demand for clean energy tech as China benefits from a surge in solar exports and Southeast Asian nations consider ambitious rooftop solar targets to curb rising energy bills.
Renewables became the world’s largest electricity source in 2025, led by a record solar surge and wind gains that pushed coal’s share below one-third for the first time. Fossil-fuel generation still rose with demand, but the clean-power boom is tipping the global power mix away from coal, aided by falling battery costs and EV-driven oil displacement, with Asia remaining the last region where coal still dominates.
A federal judge struck down several Trump administration actions that had slowed wind and solar energy projects, signaling a rollback of restrictions and potentially speeding up clean-energy development.
Ember’s 2025 global analysis shows clean power generation outpacing demand growth, pushing fossil-fuel output into a rare decline for the first time this century; solar and wind led the surge (solar alone met roughly three-quarters of demand growth, with wind adding much of the rest), storage expanded as costs fell, and China and India drove much of the expansion. Coal’s global share fell below one-third, while the US and Europe posted modest solar gains. The report suggests renewables can reliably meet rising demand while enhancing energy security, even amid political headwinds against clean energy in some countries.
Britain awarded a record 4.9GW to 157 solar projects in a renewables auction (also funding onshore wind and tidal bids) as part of a push to hit about 45-47GW of solar by 2030 and expand storage, while local opposition to large solar farms and lingering questions about meeting the 2030 clean-power target persist; the package includes plans for a Local Power Plan and up to £1bn for local energy projects to empower communities.
An Oregon cattle ranch has installed a unique, cattle-friendly solar array that provides ample clearance for grazing, supporting sustainable land use and creating additional revenue streams through agrivoltaics, with ongoing studies and plans to expand this innovative approach.
Despite efforts by the Trump administration to slow renewable energy development through policy and permit restrictions, the sector is experiencing a surge in installations driven by companies rushing to utilize expiring federal tax credits, leading to a record pipeline of solar, wind, and battery projects in the US, although future growth may slow down post-2027 and could result in higher energy prices.
The first half of 2025 saw a significant shift in the global energy landscape, with renewable energy sources, especially solar and wind, surpassing coal for the first time and driving a decline in fossil fuel use, despite ongoing political support for coal in the US. This marks a crucial turning point towards cleaner energy, supported by falling costs and increased capacity, although challenges remain in fully transitioning away from coal and addressing policy and market dynamics.
For the first time globally, renewable energy sources like solar and wind have surpassed coal in power generation in the first half of 2025, driven by rapid growth in renewables and a decline in fossil fuel use, marking a significant shift towards cleaner energy and a potential decline in fossil fuel dependence.