Renew. Rethink. Read.
Exploring the future of legacy commercial solar.
A 30-year field study from Switzerland shows many solar panels still produce over 80% of their original output after three decades, with degradation closer to 0.25% per year. The findings challenge common financial assumptions and reshape how we think about mid-life solar assets.
Puerto Rico has shown that distributed solar and batteries can deliver real reliability at scale, supporting the grid and preventing blackouts after years of system failure. Now, federal cuts to rooftop solar and storage programs risk undermining one of the clearest real-world examples of how distributed energy protects households, especially the most vulnerable.
A new Synapse Energy Economics study finds that expanding distributed solar paired with battery storage could save New Yorkers up to $1 billion per year by 2035. The analysis highlights how local solar and storage can cut bills, ease winter peak stress, and reduce reliance on natural gas as electrification accelerates.
As early solar projects age, the industry is confronting an uncomfortable truth. Most solar panels were never designed to be repaired, upgraded, or taken apart. With global solar waste projected to reach up to 250 million tonnes by 2050, extending asset life through repair and repowering may matter more than recycling alone.
After coming up roughly 6.6 GW short in its latest capacity auction, PJM is moving toward an emergency reliability backstop auction to secure new generation outside the normal market. The move reflects how sharply demand from data centers and large loads is outpacing supply, and raises hard questions about who pays, what gets built, and whether short-term fixes risk locking in costly solutions.
Maryland’s proposed Affordable Solar Act pairs a clear solar growth target with a firm commitment to affordability. By using competitive procurement and existing clean energy funds, the bill aims to add 1.3 GW of new solar by 2035 while protecting ratepayers and expanding access to renters and underserved households.
