Perovskite photovoltaics (PVs) are among the most potentially disruptive technologies in the solar industry and the latest test devices from Great Britain were just verified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE as being 27.3 percent efficient at converting sunlight into electricity.

In professional sports, it’s clear one thing is a winner, solar power. New research out today (June 27) shows that 37 professional sports facilities across the US host a total of more than 46 megawatts (MW) of solar power. 

Last week a group of bipartisan Senators introduced the Energy Jobs for our Heroes Act of 2018 to train veterans for jobs in renewable and clean-energy industries jobs. The bill aims to connect servicemembers with employers in solar, wind, nuclear and cyber energy industries.

Last week it became more apparent than ever that renewable energy is growing quickly in the US. California is making sure that as it transitions to solar on every home, that the policy will also benefit low-income residents in the state and William Shatner spoke up on behalf of a company that will use solar power to create cryptocurrency. 

In May 2018 California’s energy commission approved a new policy that will ensure all new homes in the state will have solar power installed on them starting in 2020. Now the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has announced new programs ensuring that low-income people have access to affordable solar power as well. 

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Captain Kirk, aka William Shatner, supports mining cryptocurrency with the sun, it’s quite Star Trek-kish. As the spokesperson for Solar Alliance, he’s supporting their purchase of a 165,000-square foot warehouse facility in Murphysboro, IL, for the specific purpose of using a 3 megawatt solar power array to mine cryptocurrency. 

Utilities and energy producers in the US are moving to renewable and clean energy production faster than ever before. By 2017 the amount of electricity produced by renewable energy reached 17.1 percent of the nation’s electric supply. 

SunPower announced that its X-Series solar panels, which are 22.7 percent efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, will now be available to residential customers. The company said they are the most efficient commercially available panels for the residential market. 

Last week the solar industry showed its resilience as the amount of solar added in 2018 was higher on a year-over-year basis in 2017, despite President Trump’s 30 percent tariffs on imported solar panels and cells. Things could be even better for solar if a bipartisan bill introduced in Senate last week passes. Meanwhile states continue to look to solar and renewable energy to grow their economies. 

Yesterday (June 14) the Massachusetts Senate voted to pass S.2545, An Act to promote a clean energy future, unanimously. The bill, which now heads to the state’s House, would make some important changes expanding clean energy in the state, including eliminating net metering caps expanding the state’s renewable portfolio standard by 3 percent annually through 2030.