NVC proudly featured the solar field on the cover of its 2005-06 Report to the Community. Accolades followed. A Korean TV crew came to film a segment in spring 2007, and the 2007-08 Napa County Grand Jury report commended the college for the solar installation as well as a new cooling system that worked by circulating chilled liquid, saying both could serve as national models for reducing emissions.
A combination of increasing populations, the widespread development of heating and cooling, a reliance on modern electronics, and the introduction of new energy-intensive technologies (such as the blockchain, smart technology, and artificial intelligence) are among the factors driving our rising energy needs. Sure, we can always build more power plants, but what about the simple solution of increasing the efficiency and production of already-existing plants, particularly the ones that only see part-time usage: wind and solar.
The super project in southern Nevada was set to cover set to cover 185 sq miles a footprint close to the size of Las Vegas and include seven solar projects proposed by different companies, including NextEra Energy Resources, Leeward Renewable Energy, Arevia Power and Invenergy. Together, the network of solar panels and batteries was set to produce 6.2 gigawatts of energy, or enough to power nearly 2m homes.
Microsoft is buying 100 megawatts of solar capacity from Japanese developer Shizen Energy, the latest in a string of renewable energy deals designed to power the tech company's growing compute needs. The agreement, which the companies announced late last week, covers four different solar developments; one is already operating and three are under construction. The deal covers output from the plants for 20 years. Seattle-based Microsoft already operates two data centers in Japan. Microsoft's compute capacity is slated to expand as the company invests $2.9 billion in the country over the next year.
The architectural form immediately catches your attention with four dramatic, arching concrete composite segments that echo the rolling hills of California wine country. Large glass sections bridge these arches, creating expansive views while maintaining the sculptural integrity of the design. Sustainably grown wood slatted pathways weave throughout the vineyard and flow up and over the house itself, serving as both circulation routes and natural shading devices.
Jaza Energy Hubs, created by the Nigerian‑based studio Nonfiction Design, have quickly become a model of clean, affordable energy for off‑grid villages. The project showcases a modular solar hub that can be shipped flat, unpacked and assembled in a single day with only basic tools. Each hub generates enough electricity to run lights, phones, fans and small shop equipment, replacing costly and polluting diesel generators and kerosene lamps.
Like most of South Dakota, Walworth county is built on farming. To the east of Selby, the county seat, vast fields of soybeans and wheat grow between roads that run straight to the horizon. To the west, beyond the county line, the Standing Rock Indian Reservation spreads across miles of rumpled green prairie studded with creamy erratics and dark clumps of trees.
Richard Muyungi, the climate envoy and adviser to the president of Tanzania, said: Africa is ready to be part of [the global fight to stave off climate breakdown] provided we are supported with finance, technology and capacity-building. There has been an increase of investments in some areas but Africa still needs a lot of financing to be able to be part of the global solution, and to address the challenges we are facing.
"The aim of The Solar Movement is to establish solar design as a recognized design driver worldwide, focusing on cultural dimensions rather than purely technical aspects."
Homes with owned solar panels are rarely harder to sell and can be a selling point that helps the home sell faster. According to a 2024 National Association of Realtors survey, real estate agents found that rooftop solar panels can increase perceived home value as buyers look to save money on energy costs.
Solarix, based in the Netherlands, has secured €4.2M in funding to advance its innovative coloured solar panels, focusing on in-house assembly and colour technology.
Those companies came and it gave us a completely different type of industry and manufacturing for our community, suggesting the transformative potential of these investments.
This is exactly the kind of leadership we need from major public bodies to unlock investment in clean energy infrastructure. TfL is helping to bring forward large-scale UK solar - the cheapest and quickest form of new electricity generation.
