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December 2018
News Release: NREL Details Great Potential for Floating PV Systems
While the United States was the first to demonstrate floating PV panels--with the first installation occurring 10 years ago on pontoons on an irrigation pond in Napa Valley, California--the idea has not received widespread national acceptance.
Better Explanation of Coalescence-Related Defects Garners Journal Spotlight
New paper aids researchers in understanding defects in coalescing materials, helping to develop low-cost substrates for solar cells.
Costs Continue to Decline for Residential and Commercial Photovoltaics in 2018
Two new reports from NREL track the evolving costs of PV and establish a new cost benchmark for PV-plus-storage.
November 2018
REopt Lite Adds New Energy Optimization Capabilities with Wind, Custom Rate Tariff, Critical Load Builder, and User Dashboard Features
The REopt Lite web tool's new wind optimization module lets building owners and energy managers evaluate the economic viability of grid-connected wind at a site, in addition to solar photovoltaics and battery storage.
October 2018
For Work on High Efficiency Photovoltaics, Dan Friedman Named APS Fellow
Dan Friedman, manager of NREL's High Efficiency Crystalline Photovoltaics Group, has been elected as a fellow of the American Physical Society for this work on III-V semiconductor physics and multijunction photovoltaic science, including numerous device efficiency records.
New III-V Device Concept Combines Two Structures for Lower-Cost Impact, More Applications
NREL has recently combined two structures of III-V materials into one, providing a "two-for-the-price-of-one" benefit. The combination enables novel, potentially record-setting, multijunction solar cells.
September 2018
PV Cities Training Program Powers Solar Adoption Across America's Cities and Counties
To aid cites in solar adoption, NREL launched the City and County Solar PV Training Program, or PV Cities, in January 2018. The five-month program was designed specifically for cities and counties and aimed to increase the deployment of midscale solar PV systems by engaging stakeholders to develop deployment solutions and empowering city and county staff.
For PhD Students, HOPE Workshop Highlights Real-World Applications of Solar Technology
The Hands-On PV Workshop brings graduate students from across the United States to NREL each year to increase their knowledge about photovoltaics and see practical applications of PV technologies.
July 2018
Community Banks and Credit Unions Report Success with Solar Loans, NREL Report Finds
A new NREL report finds that community and regional financial institutions , such as community banks and credit unions, are experiencing positive early performance of loans for photovoltaic systems.
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Last Updated May 5, 2025