Qcells to supply Microsoft with 12 GW of solar panels in expanded partnership

Microsoft is committed to going carbon-negative by 2030 and aims to achieve 100% electricity consumption coverage with renewable energy by 2025.

By Sara Samora • Jan. 9, 2024

Delaware agency suggests multistate offshore wind procurement to curb financial risks

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control released a report Jan. 3 with 11 recommendations on how the state might procure offshore wind to meet its decarbonization needs.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 5, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

The Energy Transition to Renewables

New policy and business actions are giving a significant boost to renewable energy in the U.S., but opposition is growing and grid interconnection, permitting, labor and other challenges remain.

By Utility Dive staff

Equinor, BP scrap offshore wind contract over economic problems but hint at rebid

The troubled offshore wind industry was bolstered, however, by Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners announcing on Wednesday that Vineyard Wind has begun to deliver power to Massachusetts.

By Diana DiGangi • Jan. 4, 2024

As reliability concerns with renewables rise, upgrading inverters is urgent, analysts say

The variable output of renewable energy resources requires “grid-forming” inverters to protect power system current flows, engineers and others agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 2, 2024

Industry leaders blast Treasury’s draft guidance for clean hydrogen tax credits

Some leading hydrogen producers are already talking about suing to stop the implementation of the Treasury Department’s proposal, according to Mona Dajani, a partner at Baker Botts.

By Emma Penrod • Dec. 22, 2023

Wind turbine market improves, but higher costs may linger in 2024: BNEF

The wind turbine industry is also looking to better manage risk in the future with contracts fixed to price indexes, said BloombergNEF analyst Leo Wang.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 21, 2023

Good policy by grid operators can address reliability concerns with EPA’s power plant rule

There is an opportunity through the proposed rule to create more certainty around the timeline for the clean energy transition.

By Michelle Solomon • Dec. 21, 2023

Plant-based resin could make wind turbine blade recycling cheaper and simpler: NREL

National Renewable Energy Lab researchers found that plant-based resin is easier to break down than the traditional epoxy used in turbine blades and outperforms it in stress tests.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 20, 2023

The solar PTC is the game-changer that hasn’t been

But as the market internalizes post-Inflation Reduction Act practices and procedures and adjusts to broader structural changes, optimism remains for the solar production tax credit.

By Akshat Kasliwal and Jesse Gilbert • Dec. 20, 2023

To be truly net-zero, buildings must buy 100% renewable energy, global council says

A globally consistent definition of net-zero buildings is needed, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development says, while analysts note current carbon compliance ambiguities.

By Nish Amarnath • Dec. 19, 2023

How offshore wind wins

The path forward for this sector is to rapidly go to scale with a business model that delivers net positive impacts for nature and people.

By Johan Bergenas • Dec. 18, 2023

Renewables profit margins are shrinking, but not for reasons you might expect: report

Companies that aren't prepared to generate their own cash flow could struggle in the coming year, an AlphaSense analyst says.

By Emma Penrod • Dec. 18, 2023

Treasury finalizes guidance on IRA clean energy tax credits

Solar panel and battery manufacturers can receive a tax credit on a percentage of their production costs until 2033.

By Joelle Anselmo • Updated Oct. 25, 2024

Google, AES, others to create marketplace for 24/7 hourly renewable energy certificates

A new form of RECs, called granular certificates, won't replace power purchase agreements but could change where and how renewable energy is generated, LevelTen COO Jason Tundermann says.

By Emma Penrod • Dec. 15, 2023

California appeals court rejects challenge to state’s updated net metering rules

The changes were necessary to modernize California’s grid and “[reduce] the amount customers without solar pay to support the program” — as well as to incentivize solar plus storage, a CPUC spokesperson said.

By Diana DiGangi • Updated Dec. 21, 2023

Clean energy developer energyRe raises $1.2B for expansion

The company said it will use the new capital to expand its renewable energy portfolio and advance its goals of decarbonizing cities in the U.S.

By Lamar Johnson • Dec. 14, 2023

Michigan’s new clean energy package is historic for the country, not just the Midwest

The state is now a test case for the country on how to take a set of bold clean energy policies and realize its goals to decarbonize the electric grid.

By Laura Sherman • Dec. 14, 2023

Meta partners with SRP, Ørsted to procure 100% renewable energy for Arizona data center operations

The company will receive the majority of the solar energy Ørsted's 300-megawatt solar farm produces to continue operating its data centers on solar power.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 13, 2023

BOEM drops proposed Maryland area from offshore wind auction amid Defense, NASA concerns

Conflicts with Department of Defense and National Aeronautics and Space Administration activity in the lease area rendered offshore wind development there unworkable, but an alternative area will be identified, the agency said.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 12, 2023

NYC removes zoning restrictions for rooftop solar, energy storage and electrification equipment

The "City of Yes" initiative, which took effect Dec. 11, is expected to help facilitate environmentally friendly retrofits for over 50,000 buildings.

By Joe Burns • Dec. 12, 2023

Aspen Creek Power, Oakhurst Energy merge to maximize solar project returns for the long haul

The new company will take solar projects in the Southeastern U.S. from the earliest stages of development to construction to maximize financial returns, incoming CEO Patrick Leibach says.

By Emma Penrod • Dec. 12, 2023

US wind installations see slowest quarter in years, with 288 MW connected: report

The third quarter of 2023 was the slowest quarter for wind energy capacity additions that the sector has seen since 2018, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 8, 2023

Blue hydrogen won’t hit DOE price target without byproduct sales and low fuel costs: report

But the right circumstances could see blue hydrogen, derived from natural gas, sell for $1/kg by 2031, the report says.

By Emma Penrod • Dec. 8, 2023

US solar installations hit record 6.5 GW in Q3, but slowdown expected starting in 2026: report

As supply constraints for solar modules ease, the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie project that limited availability of other components will hamper installation growth. 

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 7, 2023

States and federal agencies shouldn’t wait for Congress to act on clean energy infrastructure: report

Clean energy group Evergreen Action released a suite of proposals for speeding up the permitting, siting and approval of transmission projects without an act from Congress.

By Diana DiGangi • Dec. 7, 2023