Solar Energy News

June 8, 2025

Top Headlines

Self-Powered Artificial Synapse Mimics Human Color Vision

June 2, 2025 — Despite advances in machine vision, processing visual data requires substantial computing resources and energy, limiting deployment in edge devices. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a self-powered artificial synapse that distinguishes ...

Research Shows How Solar Arrays Can Aid Grasslands During Drought

June 2, 2025 — New research shows that the presence of solar panels in Colorado's grasslands may reduce water stress, improve soil moisture levels and -- particularly during dry years -- increase plant growth by about 20% or more compared to open ...

Does Renewable Energy Reduce Fossil Fuel Production in the US?

May 20, 2025 — Increasing renewable energy may not reduce the use of fossil fuels in the United States, according to a new study ...

Agrivoltaics Enjoys Comparatively High Acceptance

May 20, 2025 — Photovoltaic systems are increasingly being installed not only on roofs but also on open land. This does not always meet with citizens' approval. What is known as agrivoltaics (Agri-PV), however, is viewed more favorably, as researchers have now ...

Latest Headlines

updated 3:38am EDT

Investment Risk for Energy Infrastructure Construction Is Highest for Nuclear Power Plants, Lowest for Solar

May 19, 2025 — The average energy project costs 40% more than expected for construction and takes almost two years longer than planned, finds a new global study. ...

Designing the Future of Clean Energy: Janus Heterobilayers Lead the Way

May 16, 2025 — Janus heterobilayers -- dual-sided materials with unique properties -- may be the key to efficiently creating clean hydrogen ...

Helping Birds and Floating Solar Energy Coexist

May 12, 2025 — How might floating solar energy projects impact wild birds and vice versa? A paper outlines key considerations for a growing floating solar ...

Dust in the System -- How Saharan Storms Threaten Europe's Solar Power Future

May 2, 2025 — New research reveals how Saharan dust impacts solar energy generation in Europe. Dust from North Africa reduces photovoltaic (PV) power output by ...

In US, Saving Money Is Top Reason to Embrace Solar Power

Apr. 22, 2025 — Financial benefits, such as saving on utility payments and avoiding electricity rate hikes, are a key driver of U.S. adults' willingness to consider installing rooftop solar panels or subscribing to ...

Should Farm Fields Be Used for Crops or Solar? Or Both

Apr. 21, 2025 — As farmers debate whether fields should be used for agriculture or solar panels, new research says the answer could be both. Scientists analyzed remote sensing and aerial imagery to study how fields ...

Government Urged to Tackle Inequality in 'Low-Carbon Tech' Like Solar Panels and Electric Cars

Apr. 11, 2025 — The UK government needs to go beyond offering subsidies for low-carbon technologies (LCTs) like electric cars and solar panels for energy and ...

Potable Water Happy Byproduct of Low-Cost Green Hydrogen Technology

Apr. 9, 2025 — Engineers have hit the trifecta of sustainability technology: A group has developed a low-cost method to produce carbon-free 'green' hydrogen via solar-powered electrolysis of seawater. A happy ...

Decarbonization Improves Energy Security for Most Countries

Apr. 9, 2025 — Researchers analyzed trade-related risks to energy security across 1,092 scenarios for cutting carbon emissions by 2060. They found that swapping out dependence on imported fossil fuels for increased ...

Strain 'Trick' Improves Perovskite Solar Cells' Efficiency

Apr. 3, 2025 — Researchers have found a way to dramatically reducing energy loss and boosting efficiency perovskite solar cells by incorporating rubidium using lattice strain -- a slight deformation in the atomic ...

Solar Cells Made of Moon Dust Could Power Future Space Exploration

Apr. 3, 2025 — The same dirt that clings to astronauts' boots may one day keep their lights on. Researchers created solar cells made out of simulated Moon dust. The cells convert sunlight into energy ...

Study Documents Impacts of Large-Scale Entry of Rooftop Solar Panels on Competition

Mar. 25, 2025 — Fossil-fuel plants are increasingly being forced to stop and start production in response to changes in output from renewables. In a new study, researchers developed a dynamic competitive benchmark ...

3D Nanotech Blankets Offer New Path to Clean Drinking Water

Mar. 24, 2025 — Researchers have developed a new material that, by harnessing the power of sunlight, can clear water of dangerous ...

Nanocellulose Treated With Red Onion Dye Provides Effective UV Protection for Solar Cells

Mar. 19, 2025 — Researchers investigated how to use bio-based materials to produce effective UV protection films for solar cells. The study was the first to compare how the properties of different bio-based UV ...

Lords of the Molecular Rings: An Innovative Shortcut to High-Performance Organic Materials

Mar. 18, 2025 — Scientists have unveiled an innovative approach for synthesizing azaparacyclophanes (APCs), a class of highly advanced ring-shaped molecular structures with immense potential in material science. ...

Scientists Crack the Code to Longer-Lasting Perovskite Solar Technology

Feb. 27, 2025 — Perovskite solar cells could last ten times longer thanks to new research, which suggests alumina nanoparticles significantly enhance the lifespan and stability of these high-efficiency energy ...

Critical Nanoscale Phenomena for More Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

Feb. 26, 2025 — In a significant advancement for boosting renewable energy generation development, engineers have examined nanoscale properties of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This initiative has resulted in the ...

Scientists Design Battery That Runs on Atomic Waste

Feb. 25, 2025 — Researchers have developed a battery that can convert nuclear energy into electricity via light emission, a study ...

Perovskite Solar Cells: Thermal Stresses Are the Key to Long-Term Stability

Feb. 21, 2025 — Perovskite solar cells are highly efficient and low cost in production. However, they still lack stability over the decades under real weather conditions. An international research collaboration has ...

Rooftop Panels, EV Chargers, and Smart Thermostats Could Chip in to Boost Power Grid Resilience

Feb. 20, 2025 — After a cyber attack or natural disaster, a backup network of decentralized devices -- like residential solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and water heaters -- could restore ...

Solar-Powered Device Captures Carbon Dioxide from Air to Make Sustainable Fuel

Feb. 13, 2025 — Researchers have developed a reactor that pulls carbon dioxide directly from the air and converts it into sustainable fuel, using sunlight as the power ...

The Next-Generation Solar Cell Is Fully Recyclable

Feb. 12, 2025 — Researchers developed a method to recycle all parts of a solar cell repeatedly without environmentally hazardous solvents. The recycled solar cell has the same efficiency as the original one. The ...

Solar and Electric-Powered Homes Feel the Effects of Power Outages Differently

Feb. 7, 2025 — An expert in energy technologies uses AI tools to investigate the impact of extreme weather on solar-powered and electrified homes and uncover their unique vulnerabilities and develop insights on how ...

New Record for CIGS Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells

Feb. 4, 2025 — Combining two semiconductor thin films into a tandem solar cell can achieve high efficiencies with a minimal environmental footprint. Teams have now presented a CIGS-perovskite tandem cell that sets ...

Why Do Plants Transport Energy So Efficiently and Quickly?

Feb. 4, 2025 — Photosynthesis -- mainly carried out by plants -- is based on a remarkably efficient energy conversion process. To generate chemical energy, sunlight must first be captured and transported further. ...

Role of Barrier Films in Maintaining the Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells

Jan. 30, 2025 — Flexible perovskite solar cells are promising for lightweight and versatile applications but their sensitivity to humidity and temperature poses a challenge to long-term durability. To address this, ...

A Look Into the Dark

Jan. 29, 2025 — How can the latest technology, such as solar cells, be improved? An international research team is helping to find answers to questions like this with a new technique. For the first time, the ...

Performance-Improvement Mechanisms of Tin-Based Perovskite Solar Cells

Jan. 29, 2025 — Researchers have used electron spin resonance technology to observe the state and movement of the charge inside Ruddlesden-Popper tin -based perovskite solar cells, an emerging technology for ...

Researchers Propose Novel Approaches for Improved Microgrid Management

Jan. 28, 2025 — Scientists have developed a new optimization model to improve microgrid operation. This model adapts to unexpected changes in power supply and demand, ensuring stable and efficient energy systems. By ...

Floating Solar Increases Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Small Ponds

Jan. 27, 2025 — While floating solar -- the emerging practice of putting solar panels on bodies of water -- is promising in its efficiency and its potential to spare agricultural and conservation lands, a new ...