Solar energy
🍽️ The naive optimist who turned out to be right – lunch with Ramez Naam
Two failed hugs framed an interesting conversation with the polymath and renewable energy expert Ramez Naam.
🛰️ Startup successfully transmits solar energy with laser from aircraft – a step toward space-based solar power
Overview Energy has tested transmitting thousands of watts from an aircraft to a ground-based receiver using near-infrared laser light. The technology makes it possible to deliver solar energy to existing ground-based solar facilities when the sun is not shining.
☀️ Africa reaches record levels for solar panel imports
Africa's solar panel imports increased by 60 percent during the past 12 months. Twenty countries set new records for solar panel imports during the period.
📉 Solar power with batteries became 22 percent cheaper in one year
The cost of solar power with batteries dropped 22 percent during 2024 and 43 percent since 2019. Solar power with batteries now costs around 100 dollars per megawatt hour in sunny cities, which is cheaper than coal and nuclear power.
🏭 Ireland shuts down its last coal power plant – becomes the 15th coal-free country in Europe
Ireland became the 15th coal-free country in Europe when the Moneypoint power plant was shut down on June 20. The country now generates 37 percent of its electricity from wind power according to energy think tank Ember.
☀️ Now over one million balcony solar installations in Germany
Germany now has over one million balcony solar installations in operation producing environmentally friendly energy. The installations together deliver almost 1 gigawatt of power, equivalent to 956 megawatts.
☀️ Solar energy with batteries now delivers electricity around the clock in several countries
17 kWh battery storage is enough to convert 5 kW solar panels into constant 1 kW clean electricity around the clock. Sunny cities like Las Vegas can reach 97 percent of the way to constant solar electricity every hour throughout the year.
🔋 Solar panels and batteries dominate new power generation in the US in 2025
Solar energy and battery storage will account for 81 percent of the total capacity increase, with solar energy representing over 50 percent. While renewable energy grows, coal power continues to decrease. The US will decommission twice as much coal power capacity this year compared to last year.
🐦 Solar farms benefit bird life more than agricultural land
Well-managed solar parks have been shown to host more bird species and individuals per hectare than surrounding farmland. Solar parks that maintain a mix of habitats, uncut grass, and preserved hedges had almost three times more birds compared to nearby farmland.