panels
US-China trade tensions hit Southeast Asia’s solar industry, impact EU
US tariffs on Southeast Asian solar panel exports may disrupt Chinese-owned solar companies in the region, complicating the EU’s solar expansion efforts.
In short:
- Southeast Asian solar producers face rising US tariffs, which could reduce solar panel exports to the US.
- Chinese solar firms in the region have scaled back operations, affecting the EU’s solar manufacturing ambitions.
- Some manufacturers are shifting production to other Southeast Asian nations not currently facing tariffs, like Indonesia and Laos.
Key quote:
"Southeast Asian solar panels could flood the EU market as they are squeezed out of the US."
— Indra Overland, head of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs' Center for Energy Research
Why this matters:
US tariffs could undermine the EU's solar industry by increasing competition from Southeast Asia. These shifts may also reshape global solar supply chains, influencing renewable energy access worldwide.
Related: American solar firms request federal action against Asian competitors
The US plans solar panels over canals on tribal land in Arizona
A pilot project on tribal land in Arizona will cover a half-mile of the Casa Blanca Canal with solar panels, aiming to generate clean energy and reduce water evaporation.
In short:
- The Casa Blanca Canal project will be the first U.S. solar-covered canal, generating 1.3 megawatts of power.
- The project, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to demonstrate benefits like reduced evaporation and algae growth.
- If successful, it could pave the way for similar installations nationwide, potentially generating 25 gigawatts of clean energy.
Key quote:
“Canal solar allows for greater power production per land size, cleaner water, less power transmission losses, and significant reduction in evaporation.”
— Ben Lepley, founder of Tectonicus
Why this matters:
Solar panels over canals offer a dual benefit of producing renewable energy and conserving water. This innovation could significantly contribute to the U.S. clean energy goals while addressing environmental concerns.
Solar for Pennsylvania schools gets bipartisan support
A proposal in the state legislature would help boost renewables in Pennsylvania by easing the process for schools to install solar panels.
“We each have a commitment to the community”: Solar resilience in a Puerto Rico town
Residents in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, have built the island’s first community-owned solar microgrid. The project is the latest effort in a grassroots movement to build energy security in Puerto Rico in the form of solar power.
Untapped solar potential on warehouse roofs
Inflation Reduction Act stackable tax credits could mean huge benefits
SolarShare Wisconsin Cooperative aims to make investing in clean energy accessible to all
Solar farms are popping up across Wisconsin, and a new cooperative wants to make sure that everyone can benefit from the growing industry.