Solar energy stocks have been blistering hot this year. The Invesco Solar ETF, an exchange-traded fund that holds more than 20 solar-focused companies, has surged more than 50%, doubling the return of the S&P 500. As a result, these renewable energy stocks aren’t quite as attractive as they were to start the year. However, solar is still in the early innings of its growth, with many in the industry expecting that development will accelerate over the next several years. Thus,

The solar economy continues its dramatic growth, with over a half-terawatt already installed around the world generating clean electricity. But what happens to photovoltaic (PV) modules at the end of their useful life? With lifespans measured in decades, PV-waste disposal may seem to be an issue for the distant future. Yet, the industry ships millions of tons every year, and that number will continue to rise as the industry grows. Total e-waste—including computers, television

Amidst all the discussions about using renewable sources of energy such as wind or solar power to save the environment, there is also a school of thought that highlights the drawbacks of using solar energy. Although the overall consumption of solar energy for electricity is 2.8% currently, the international organizations and even the Conference of the Paris 24 or COP 24 are continually pushing towards increasing it. The current target is to increase this consumption to 32% wo

Sometimes solar power seems just years away for the average homeowner, other times it feels like it’s just around the corner. Whether you intend on installing them on your roof or just like the idea, let’s look at some solar energy facts. One of the biggest problems solar power had starting out was its initial cost. Many homeowners were turned off by the hefty installation fee despite the eventual savings. Today, the advances in manufacturing have slashed prices to a more aff

Arlington County Public Schools signed a contract on Thursday night that they say will save them millions of dollars. Five of their schools will be made over with solar panels as part of a power purchase agreement, or PPA, with a Charlottesville, Virginia firm called Sun Tribe Solar. Arlington schools said the deal is a financial and energy win as the solar panels will come with a fixed rate and be installed at no cost to the district. Cathy Lin, APS’ Energy Manager and Storm

Solar energy-produced electricity is poised to grow exponentially as solar panels get cheaper to install, more efficient batteries are developed to store the sun’s energy and investors pour more money into an increasingly reliable energy source. Energy produced by the sun is already providing electricity to about 30 percent of the United States, and investors have taken notice of the investment potential. Big banks, pension funds and insurance companies are seeing opportunity

They produce an average of 5,340 kilowatt hours of solar energy a day. As a result, Malouf has achieved a zero score in the Zero Energy Performance Index, a measurement developed by the nonprofit Zero Energy Project. A zero energy building is one that produces the same amount of energy that it uses in a year. “Being responsible as a business and as a member of the community is something that will always be important to us,” said Sam Malouf, chief executive officer. “We’ve gro

A year ago, 2017 and 2018 were supposed to be down years for the solar industry as the U.S. and China pulled back from extremely high installation levels and adjusted solar policies. Instead, this year will be a record year for the industry, and 2018 could be even better. The Q4 2017 Global PV Market Outlook report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) estimates that 92 GW to 97 GW of solar will be installed globally in 2017, up from 75 GW a year ago. In 2018, they expect

Many consider the sun the energy source of the future. But one challenge is that it is difficult to store solar energy and deliver the energy ‘on demand’. A research team from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, has shown that it is possible to convert the solar energy directly into energy stored in the bonds of a chemical fluid — a so-called molecular solar thermal system. The liquid chemical makes it possible to store and transport the stored solar ener

A recent letter by Mark Maassel, president of Indiana Energy Association, requires corrections to his distortions and exaggerations. Senate Bill 309 was written specifically to benefit commercial electric power utilities in Indiana, and it makes solar power unaffordable for most Hoosiers. By weakening and eventually eliminating net metering, SB 309 makes solar energy uneconomical for most residential customers while giving commercial utilities the benefits of solar energy pro

Capturing the sun’s rays and converting them into electricity is a complicated process. But it’s one that humans have actually almost mastered at this point. The solar industry is still growing and evolving. But basic solar panels, those made from crystalline silicon, are now about as efficient as they physically can be. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t still room for improvement though. The latest panels can convert more than 26 percent of sunlight into usable electricity.

Michigan’s solar industry workforce grew by 48 percent in 2016, the Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census found. The improvement came mostly from strong growth in project development jobs and the declining cost of solar power, according to energy labor experts. Companies created 1,339 solar-related jobs this past year, up to 4,118 from the previous year’s 2,779, the study said. About 161 companies employ solar workers in Michigan, which ranks 15th in the country in te