USA

The recycling industry volume is expected to increase ten times by 2030, driven by vast battery usage in electric vehicles and portable electronic devices. Reusing of valuable materials is becoming a vital necessity. Scores of companies around the world are ready to give second life to the used lithium batteries.

University of New Mexico and Air Force Research Laboratory scientists have teamed up to prolong the life of solar modules by harnessing the Atom Ant-like strength of carbon nanotubes.

For third-quarter 2019, First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA – which makes thin-film photovoltaic modules based on cadmium telluride (CdTe) as well as providing engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) services – has reported net sales of $547m, down 6.5% on $585m last quarter and 19% on $676m a year ago, due primarily to lower systems revenue from project sales in the USA, offset partially by higher module sales volume.

A technique based on optical imaging has been used by an international research team to illuminate strains in lead halide perovskite solar cells without harming them. The scientists claim the approach helped them discover misorientation between microscopic perovskite crystals was the main cause of the strains.

Google pre-qualified bidders and used reverse auctions to obtain the lowest price for renewable energy. Reverse auctions for corporate purchases could potentially benefit solar developers, if their transparency and simplicity can influence more corporations to procure green power.

The latest figures released by BloombergNEF show new solar and onshore wind power plants have reached parity with average wholesale prices in California, China and parts of Europe. The technologies are winning the race to be the cheapest sources of new generation for two-thirds of the world’s population.

SB Energy Global Holdings, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group, has signed off on a deal with Intersect Power that will see SB Energy acquire a portfolio of five US PV projects with a combined capacity of more than 1.7GW from Intersect.

Dominion Energy is adding a 150MW PV project in Prince George County, Virginia, that will stand as the largest solar installation in Dominion Energy's portfolio within the state.

This has been a breakthrough year for non-battery storage, with key advances in pumped hydro, power-to-gas, and thermal storage technologies. Many industry players are moving beyond pilot projects to contracted projects, which could lead to increased scale and lower costs.

Enphase’s Q3 results show a company that has turned its fortunes around, with revenues more than doubling and high profitability, but questions remain around growth potential.

US renewables developer Origis Energy revealed on Tuesday that it had hired Renewable Energy Systems (RES) for engineering, procurement and construction of its 57.5MW solar farm in Mitchell County, Georgia.

Despite promises by President Trump to save the coal industry, the crisis in the sector is clear. Solar, wind and batteries have the world to gain.

Enphase’s current growth is based around its core solar microinverter business. But in discussing the company's Q3 earnings Tuesday, CEO Badri Kothandaraman focused on how Enphase's soon-to-launch integrated energy storage system could aid Californians facing the state’s unfolding wildfire and grid blackout emergency.

America’s cranberry industry is looking to solar power for relief as it struggles with plummeting fruit prices.