News and Events
Can the U.S. Make Solar Panels? This Company Thinks So.
First Solar kept producing them in Ohio after most of the industry moved to China. President Biden wants many more domestic manufacturers.
Young Philly activists excited about American Climate Corps
In its first year, the new corps could put 20,000 young people to work in areas such as forestry and clean energy. “We did it,” a Philly activist said.
ReImagine Appalachia Hails Biden’s American Climate Corps
The American Climate Corps will create jobs, skills, and opportunities throughout Appalachia while simultaneously tackling the climate crisis
Solar giants bet big on US Manufacturing
Major solar panel suppliers have announced the construction of three new factories, collectively adding 15 GW of manufacturing capacity. In 2021, there was only 7 GW of module manufacturing capacity in the United States.
Solar Prize Round 7 Deadline Is Approaching!
Do you have a big, bold idea for a technology that will help deploy more solar energy?
Sign up by October 6 to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy’s American-Made Solar Prize Round 7! This $4 million competition is designed to accelerate solar innovations and help budding entrepreneurs power the clean energy revolution.
Drexel U: 1 of 4 Winners of DOE’s American-Made High-Voltage Direct Current Prize
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity announced the four winners of the American-Made High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Prize. This $200,000 prize—$50,000 awarded to each winning team—incentivized competitors to share new technology solutions that improve the performance and resilience of the U.S. energy grid
DOE to Fund Research to Reduce Costs of High-Voltage Direct Current Transmission
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) and Office of Electricity (OE) plan to fund research to drive innovation and reduce costs of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) voltage source converter (VSC) transmission systems. HVDC transmission systems are more efficient than traditional alternating current (AC) transmission systems for transmitting electricity over long distances while minimizing power losses.
Careers in Clean Energy
Join the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy on September 7th / 12 - 2 PM ET for their first webinar in the Careers in Clean Energy series.
Solarize Philly plans for hundreds more solar panels by 2026
The Philadelphia Energy Authority released a Request for Proposals Monday that could see 750 low- to moderate-income households get solar panels installed on their roofs.
Shape the future of building science! Join the 2023-2024 “JUMP into STEM” Student Contest
JUMP into STEM is back with three new challenges and more opportunities for university students interested in building science. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies Office’s annual competition kicks off its sixth year August 1, 2023.
Biden-Harris Administration launches $7 billion “Solar for All” Grant Competition …
… to fund residential solar programs that lower energy costs for families and advance environmental justice through Investing in America agenda.
Agrivoltaics finds new fans in US Senate
Agriculture and solar: a winning combination for farmers, the climate and now — thanks to two recently introduced bills — maybe the Senate, too.
U.S. senators on both sides of the aisle have recently proposed two bills to boost agrivoltaics, the double-duty climate solution that pairs solar panels (photovoltaics) with agriculture — or closely related land uses that benefit farmers and ecosystems.
Philly teens learned to install solar panels. Then asbestos closed their school.
The celebrated Bright Solar Futures program went on, but without its key hands-on element.
Hyper-efficient solar panels are 1000X > powerful!
Researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) have discovered a new method to increase the efficiency of solar cells by a factor of 1,000. The team of scientists achieved this breakthrough by creating crystalline layers of barium titanate, strontium titanate, and calcium titanate, which were alternately placed on top of one another in a lattice structure.
Solar Energy Technologies Office
Did you know that transitioning to a clean energy economy protects every American’s fundamental human right to a clean, healthy environment?
Biden Administration Announces $13.5m Investment in Solar Workforce
Funding from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Will Support Creation of Quality, Clean Energy Careers, and Supercharge America’s Clean Energy Future.
Pennsylvania’s largest coal plant is shutting down in July
The Homer City coal-burning power station – Pennsylvania’s largest coal plant – is going to be retired permanently in July 2023.
NBC Covers Philly Students Building Solar Cars
Philadelphia students are building cars powered by solar panels to take part in a race from the Philadelphia Solar Energy Association.
Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Support Agrivoltaics R&D
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research, are introducing the bipartisan Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Act of 2023.
US invests in alternative solar tech, more solar for renters
The Biden administration announced more than $80 million in funding Thursday in a push to produce more solar panels in the U.S., make solar energy available to more people, and pursue superior alternatives to the ubiquitous sparkly panels made with silicon.