solar power

California is studying solar panels installed over irrigation canals, an approach that generates renewable energy while shading water to reduce evaporation. Early results from pilot projects are offering lessons on costs, maintenance and how much water and power such installations can realistically save as the state weighs wider rollout.

A Washington Examiner report argues that the rapidly growing energy and cooling demands of AI data centers could eventually push this infrastructure into orbit, where solar power is constant and heat can be radiated away. The idea is drawing attention amid rising concern over the strain AI computing places on terrestrial power grids and land.

The US Energy Information Administration projects that solar power will generate more electricity than coal in Texas in 2026, marking a historic shift in the state's energy mix. Texas, the leading US energy producer, has seen rapid solar capacity growth alongside declining coal generation. The projection highlights the accelerating pace of the energy transition in a state long defined by oil and gas.

Google has unveiled Project Suncatcher, an initiative to run machine learning infrastructure in space, with details published on its research blog. The plan points to solar-powered data centers orbiting Earth to expand computing capacity for AI. The announcement is drawing attention among technologists debating the feasibility, cost and environmental logic of moving AI compute off-planet.

Politico reports that an unexpected figure has become influential in the growing battle over solar projects on agricultural land. Conflicts between renewable energy developers and farmers over land use continue to intensify across the United States, and new players are shaping how these disputes play out at the state and local levels.

Texas is turning its attention to solar power as part of a broader shift in its energy mix, long dominated by oil and gas. The move highlights how the state, already a leader in wind generation, is increasingly adding large-scale solar capacity to meet growing electricity demand and diversify its power sources.

Researchers have successfully generated solar power from panels placed 10 metres below the sea surface, according to a Euronews report. The experiment suggests underwater photovoltaic systems could one day complement offshore wind and floating solar farms, though questions remain about efficiency losses, maintenance costs and marine impact. The findings have drawn interest as countries look for new ways to expand renewable energy capacity.

A UK study has found that silicon solar cells, a cheaper and more mature technology than the specialist cells currently used in space, could reduce satellite power costs by up to 90%. The finding points to silicon as a viable alternative for powering satellites, potentially lowering the cost of space missions.

Questions are being raised over whether the rapid expansion of solar power in the United States is finally losing momentum. Analysts and readers are debating the state of the industry, its growth trajectory, and what factors could be holding back new installations after years of strong gains.

A new report argues the next wave of American battery demand will come not from electric vehicles but from grid-scale storage, as utilities add batteries to balance growing amounts of wind and solar power and to stabilize an aging electricity network under rising demand from data centers. Industry watchers see this as a structural shift in where battery manufacturing and investment will flow next.

An analysis published by the Observer Research Foundation examines how solar activity can trigger disasters on Earth, warning that solar storms threaten power grids and digital infrastructure. The piece highlights the vulnerability of modern electricity networks and communications systems to severe space weather events, and the potential scale of disruption if a major storm were to hit.

Researchers have tested underwater solar panels at a depth of ten metres in the South China Sea, according to an industry report. The trial explores whether photovoltaic technology can generate usable power beneath the surface, where light is weaker but conditions are more stable. Observers are watching to see if the approach could support offshore installations, marine research stations or subsea equipment in the future.

Scientists are testing whether solar panels can generate electricity when submerged about 10 metres below the sea surface. The experiment explores whether sunlight penetrating water can be harvested in marine environments, potentially opening new sites for renewable energy where land and surface space are limited. Interest in the project reflects broader curiosity about unconventional ways to expand solar capacity worldwide.

At New York Climate Week, analysts highlighted lessons Indonesia could draw from the rapid solar power growth across ASEAN countries and Pakistan, where falling costs and distributed installations have driven a boom. The discussion urged Indonesia to accelerate its own solar adoption as it weighs its energy transition amid rising regional competition for clean investment.

CGTN's RAZOR programme explores whether solar technology can play a role in protecting global water supplies. The report examines how solar power could be used to address water scarcity, from powering desalination plants to pumping and purification systems. As droughts and water shortages intensify worldwide, the intersection of renewable energy and water security is drawing renewed attention from researchers and policymakers.

Turkey's Parliament plans to meet all of its electricity needs through solar power supplied from Konya, according to Hürriyet Daily News. The project would make the legislature fully reliant on renewable energy generated in the central Anatolian province, a notable step in the country's push to expand solar capacity.

Noor Energy 1 has announced a refinancing of Phase 4 of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, one of the world's largest concentrated solar power projects. The move is expected to lower financing costs and support the park's continued expansion under Dubai's clean energy strategy. Further details on the financing terms have not yet been disclosed.

Google is moving forward with an unusual experiment to test running data centers in orbit, a project long discussed as a way to harness continuous solar power and ease the energy and cooling demands of AI computing. The news that the project is finally leaving Earth is drawing attention across the tech press, with observers weighing whether space-based infrastructure could become a realistic answer to data centers' growing power needs.

Downing Street is considering a proposal from green energy businessman Dale Vince to install solar panels on council house roofs across the UK. The plan would aim to cut energy bills for social housing tenants and expand renewable power generation. Vince, founder of Ecotricity, has long pushed for faster home-grown renewable energy, and the idea is now reportedly under active review by government officials.

Construction of the Barkham solar farm is set to begin in November, according to BBC reporting. The project marks a step forward for renewable energy development in the area, with work on site expected to get underway next month. Local interest centres on what the build will mean for the surrounding community and the wider push to expand solar power capacity.

Google is reportedly testing AI chips for what it calls 'fractionalized' space data centers, an approach that would split computing workloads across satellite-based infrastructure rather than relying solely on terrestrial facilities. The idea points to a growing push among tech giants to move data center capacity into orbit, where solar power and cooling are more abundant. Details on the testing and timeline remain limited.