A new study shows that solar farms can increase local biodiversity, which benefits wildlife and even surrounding crops. The new study in Britain shows that solar farms can have benefits in addition to providing clean, renewable energy without the need for mining for fuel. While the study, in this case was conducted in the U.K., it should also hold true for U.S. and international solar installations.

As solar cells, particularly silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells produce energy in the heat of the day, they actually become less efficient at turning the sun’s photons into electrons and electricity in a sort of ironic twist. But researchers at Stanford University think they may have found a way to cool the cells, helping them increase their efficiency by harnessing nothing less than cooling power of the universe.  

Today (May 12) international companies and four non-governmental organizations officially introduced the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA) aimed at deploying 60 gigawatts of renewable energy like wind and solar power for their businesses by 2025. Already REBA has more than 60 corporations involved in efforts to green their power sources. 

Institutional investors are increasingly supporting solar power and renewable energy. In fact, just last month multiple investment organizations announced support for the International Solar Alliance’s (ISA’s) goal of a $1 trillion investment in photovoltaic solar power by 2030 and they have the power to support that goal. 

New Jersey utility, Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), has filed with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to install 100 megawatts of new solar power on landfills and brownfields by the end of 2021. The projects would be an extension of the utility’s Solar 4 All program and the utility said it would invest roughly $275 million in the projects. 

The Snake River Alliance has partnered with AltEnergy and Site Based Energy to launch the Solarize the Valley campaign to reduce the cost of solar installations in Ada and Canyon Counties in Idaho. The solarize program will use the power of group purchasing to lower the cost of solar in the regions covered in the campaigns. As more people who sign up for solar rooftops in the regions the discounts can become greater.

Last week, just ahead of its quarterly results, SolarCity announced that it is entering the utility-scale market with solar and energy storage offerings. It also announced a new, 6 megawatt hour  energy storage project with Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC). Both moves help the company, the nation’s largest rooftop solar company, expand its product offerings. 

Last week IHS reported that Europe passed an impressive solar energy milestone—surpassing 100 gigawatts (GWs) of solar power. That’s well over a third of the 256 gigawatts of solar panels installed worldwide by the end of 2015.  

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) partnered with the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz on a new energy storage project powered by the sun. The new, 217 kilowatt solar panel system includes a battery storage project, which together will provide power for the university’s Elting Gymnasium and will serve as a test project for the battery storage system. It’s part of many efforts New York is taking to boost the amount of clean energy in the state.

NRG Energy, is ending its NRG Home Solar subsidy as it has operated. However, the new Jersey-based energy company’s residential solar company will live on under newly announced partnerships with Sunrun and Spruce Financial.