solar

World News

China dominates the solar power industry. The EU wants to change that

5:00am May 17, 2023

by Rob Schmitz

Germany was a pioneer in the solar power industry, but succumbed to competition from China. Now, Germany — and the European Union — are trying to revitalize the industry once again.

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Environment

Boone plans new climate action plan to help meet 2050 clean energy targets

3:59pm August 26, 2022

by Keri Brown

The Voyager spacecraft have ventured far outside our solar system. Now a team of scientists is hoping to take the next interstellar mission even farther.

Science

If NASA greenlights this interstellar mission, it could last 100 years

10:48am October 26, 2021

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Scientists who want to understand what's beyond our solar system have designed an interstellar spacecraft that could go out farther and faster than the famous Voyager probes.

Duke Program Lets Big Users Buy Renewable Energy Elsewhere

3:12pm August 21, 2019

by David Boraks, WFAE

Duke Energy is rolling out a new program that clears the way for large customers to buy solar or wind energy from independent power producers.

T.K. Thorne says the $20 monthly solar fee she pays to Alabama Power will double the time it will take to pay off her rooftop solar system.

To Some Solar Users, Power Company Fees Are An Unfair Charge

5:11pm June 02, 2019

by Julia Simon

Alabama has some of highest solar fees in the U.S. and critics say it's hurting solar customers. It's one of several states where utilities are proposing or raising fees for homes with rooftop solar.

A solar-powered cellphone charger is part of a new program called "Kazi na Zola," which provides devices that can help small businesses — say, a barbershop — earn more revenue.

Health & Safety

This $6-A-Month Plan Brings Solar Power To People Living Off The Grid

2:13pm June 24, 2016

by Malaka Gharib

That's the price for a solar energy package from Off-Grid Electric, who's lit up the homes of 100,000 people without electricity in Tanzania.

Supermassive Black Holes May Be More Common Than Anyone Imagined

4:41pm April 06, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

A black hole with about 17 billion times the mass of our sun has turned up in another remote galaxy. Astronomers now think these mass-eating monsters may not be so rare after all.

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SolarReserve's Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Plant, located near Tonopah, Nev., features an array of 10,347 mirrors arranged in a circle 1.75 miles across. A 640-foot-tall tower glows when the sun's energy is concentrated and directed to the top.

Solar And Wind Energy May Be Nice, But How Can We Store It?

9:19am April 05, 2016

Renewable energy is taking off across the nation, but storing the energy is still a problem that is challenging companies to innovate, with solutions ranging from molten salt to ice.

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National

Nevada Solar Power Business Struggles To Keep The Lights On

5:55pm March 11, 2016

by Jeff Brady

Since Nevada regulators began phasing out incentives, the solar power business has been in turmoil and many workers have been laid off. Now some worry what happened there will spread to other states.

Wind turbines outside Caledon in Cape Town, South Africa. Solar and wind farms are filling in the gaps during power shortages.

Wind And Sun Come To The Rescue In Power-Short South Africa

4:34pm December 11, 2015

by Don Boroughs

Is renewable energy worth the cost? This is a question being debated in Paris this week. Though there's no simple answer, in South Africa the verdict is in.