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Solar Energy News — US
Curated from pv magazine, SEIA, Canary Media, Renewables Now, and the US DOE. Filter by state or topic below.
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Installation
2026 Cost Analysis: Microinverters Now Just 18% Premium Over String Inverters After Enphase Price Drop
The installed cost premium for microinverter-based solar systems over string inverter systems has narrowed to approximately 18% in 2026, down from a historical gap of 25–35%, primarily driven by Enphase Energy's IQ8 price reductions following US tariff adjustments and increased domestic assembly. On a typical 10 kW residential installation, this translates to a cost difference of roughly $1,800–$2,400 versus $3,500–$5,000 in prior years. The narrowing changes return-on-investment calculations significantly by roof type. For simple south-facing unshaded roofs in Sun Belt states, string inverters with a single power optimizer remain the better value: the premium for microinverters adds 1.2–1.8 years to payback without meaningful production gains. For complex roofs with multiple planes, east-west split orientations, partial shading from chimneys or dormers, or where panels must be split across different azimuths, microinverters or DC optimizers typically recover their premium within 3–5 years through improved shade tolerance. Enphase IQ8 microinverters carry a 25-year warranty versus the 12-year warranty standard on most string inverters, with 25-year extended warranties available for an additional $200–$400. SolarEdge HD-Wave and Fronius Primo remain the primary string inverter competitors. For homeowners pursuing battery backup, Enphase IQ Battery systems integrate natively with IQ8 microinverters, providing a cost and complexity argument beyond pure panel-level optimization.
SRP Updates E-27 Solar Rate Plan: New Demand Charges and Strategies to Maximize Savings
Salt River Project has issued updated rates for its E-27 solar plan effective April 1, 2026, the primary rate schedule for SRP residential customers with rooftop solar. The revised plan retains SRP's controversial demand charge structure but adjusts the demand measurement window: demand charges will now be assessed on the highest 15-minute interval of import from the grid between 5 PM and 9 PM on weekdays rather than the previous 30-minute window, making peak demand spikes more costly. The base demand charge remains at $18.87 per kW per month of peak demand. Export compensation under E-27 is set at $0.029 per kWh, unchanged. A homeowner who imports even briefly at 3 kW during the evening peak pays $56.61 in demand charges that month regardless of total solar generation. Strategies to minimize demand charges include: sizing battery storage to fully cover the 5–9 PM peak window, setting EV charging to off-peak overnight hours, pre-cooling homes before the peak window using solar power, and using smart thermostats and load controllers that respond to grid signals. SRP serves approximately 1.1 million customers in the greater Phoenix area and operates outside Arizona Corporation Commission rate-setting authority as a political subdivision, meaning customers cannot appeal its rate structures to state regulators. Customers dissatisfied with E-27 may switch to APS service territory only if they relocate.
Florida Legislature Debates Capping Net Metering Credits Amid Utility Lobbying
The Florida legislature is currently debating House Bill 1247 and a companion Senate measure that would cap net metering export credits at 75% of the retail rate, down from the current full retail-rate compensation that Florida restored after a brief rollback attempt in 2022. The bills are backed by Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy Florida, which argue that non-solar ratepayers are subsidizing solar owners through fixed grid-cost recovery. A coalition of homeowner associations, solar contractors, and environmental groups including the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association has organized in opposition, citing an estimated 120,000 Florida households who made purchase decisions based on current net metering policy. As of March 2026, the House version passed committee with a 12–8 vote and is headed to the full House floor. The Senate version remains in the Commerce Committee. Governor DeSantis has not publicly committed to signing or vetoing either bill. The legislation would grandfather existing solar customers for five years from the bill's effective date if passed. Florida added approximately 1.4 GW of residential solar in 2025 and ranks second nationally in residential solar installations. Homeowners currently considering solar in Florida are advised to complete installations before any bill takes effect, as existing customers would retain current rates under the grandfathering provision.
EcoFlow and Anker SOLIX Cut Portable Power Station Prices 20–35% in 2026 Price War
EcoFlow and Anker SOLIX have each reduced US list prices on flagship portable power stations by 20–35% since January 2026, continuing a price compression trend driven by falling LFP battery cell costs in Chinese manufacturing and intensifying competition between the two brands. EcoFlow's DELTA Pro 3, offering 4 kWh capacity and 3,600 W AC output, is now listed at $2,499, down from $3,299 at launch in mid-2025. The Anker SOLIX F3800, a 3.84 kWh unit with 6,000 W surge output, dropped from $3,499 to $2,299. Both units support expandable capacity through add-on battery modules, reaching 12–16 kWh when fully stacked. Solar input rates have improved significantly: the DELTA Pro 3 accepts up to 2,600 W of solar, while the F3800 tops out at 2,400 W, making both viable for semi-permanent whole-home backup rather than purely portable use. The price reductions follow US tariff adjustments under the March 2025 trade framework that reduced Section 301 tariffs on LFP battery imports from 25% to 14%, savings manufacturers are passing through to retail. Jackery, the third major player, has not yet matched these reductions and has seen market share decline. For homeowners considering emergency backup without a full solar installation, analysts note that current pricing puts whole-home backup portable stations within 30–40% of a permanent battery installation cost, making them a practical alternative for renters and those in unsuitable properties.
ERCOT Credits Rooftop Solar With Preventing Three Rolling Blackouts During February 2026 Heat Event
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) released an after-action report crediting distributed rooftop solar generation with preventing three separate rolling blackout events during an unexpected late-February 2026 heat surge across the state. Afternoon temperatures reached 98–102°F across the Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston metro areas, driving record February demand exceeding 73 GW. At peak, ERCOT's grid operations team reported that approximately 4.8 GW of distributed solar generation — primarily from the estimated 850,000 residential and commercial rooftop installations across Texas — offset what would have been a 6.2 GW supply shortfall after two utility-scale gas peaker units experienced unplanned outages. The distributed nature of the resource proved critical: unlike centralized plants, rooftop solar cannot be tripped by a single failure point. ERCOT's Distributed Energy Resource (DER) visibility program, expanded in 2024, gave operators real-time estimates of rooftop solar output for the first time during a high-stress event. The report recommends accelerating residential solar permitting timelines across Texas municipalities and calls for legislation enabling ERCOT to formally include aggregated DER capacity in reserve margin calculations. Texas installed approximately 3.2 GW of new residential solar in 2025, with no statewide net metering policy but with most utilities offering some form of avoided-cost credit.
TOPCon Panels Capture 65% of US Residential Installations in Q1 2026
Tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar panels have reached 65% of US residential solar installations in the first quarter of 2026, surpassing PERC technology for the first time since crystalline silicon panels became the residential standard. The shift reflects falling TOPCon manufacturing costs — now within $0.02–$0.04 per watt of PERC — alongside efficiency gains that allow more power from smaller roof footprints. Leading TOPCon manufacturers including Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar, and LONGi now offer residential modules rated between 420 W and 450 W in standard 60-cell form factors, with temperature coefficients of around -0.30%/°C compared to -0.35%/°C for PERC. The practical advantage is meaningful in hot climates such as Arizona, Texas, and Florida, where panels routinely operate above 50°C. PERC production lines are gradually being retooled rather than scrapped, with manufacturers noting a 2–3 year transition runway. N-type PERC variants briefly served as a bridge technology but have largely been bypassed. HJT (heterojunction) panels continue to occupy a premium niche at 22–23% efficiency but carry a 15–20% price premium that limits mainstream adoption. Analysts project TOPCon share will reach 80% of US residential installations by end of 2027 as remaining PERC inventory clears.
Con Edison Launches $1,500 Battery Storage Rebate Stackable With Federal ITC and NY-Sun
Consolidated Edison has launched a $1,500 upfront rebate for residential battery storage systems installed in its service territory covering New York City and Westchester County, available to customers who pair a battery with a new or existing solar installation. The rebate is designed to stack with multiple concurrent incentives: the federal 30% Investment Tax Credit under the IRA, which applies to the full battery cost when charged exclusively by solar; the NY-Sun Megawatt Block incentive administered by NYSERDA, which provides an additional $0.20–$0.35 per watt of solar capacity; and New York State's 25% solar tax credit capped at $5,000. A homeowner installing a 10 kW solar system with a 13.5 kWh battery in Con Edison territory can currently access approximately $15,000–$18,000 in combined incentives before financing. The Con Edison rebate is funded through the utility's Distributed System Implementation Plan approved by the New York Public Service Commission and is limited to 2,500 participants in the first program year. Applications opened March 1, 2026 and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible batteries must have a minimum usable capacity of 10 kWh and UL 9540 certification. The program also requires a grid interconnection agreement allowing Con Edison to request controlled discharge during grid emergencies up to 10 times per year.
via New York State Energy Research and Development AuthorityRead →
Policy
One Year of NEM 3.0 in California: Battery Adoption Soars as Export Rates Plummet
One year after California's NEM 3.0 net billing tariff took full effect, the data reveals a dramatic reshaping of residential solar economics in the state. Export compensation rates under the avoided cost calculator average $0.05–$0.08 per kWh, down roughly 75% from the flat retail-rate credits homeowners received under NEM 2.0. The practical result: a solar-only system without storage now has a simple payback period of 12–15 years in California versus 7–9 years previously. However, the market has adapted sharply. Battery storage attachment rates on new residential solar installations climbed to 74% statewide by Q4 2025, up from approximately 15% before the transition, representing a 400% increase. The average system now pairs a 7–10 kW array with a 10–13 kWh battery, primarily to maximize self-consumption during peak-rate evening hours under time-of-use tariffs. For existing NEM 2.0 customers, grandfathering protections remain in place through April 2028, making system expansions a near-term priority. Financial advisors and solar contractors recommend homeowners on NEM 2.0 consider adding battery storage now to extend grandfathered status. Homeowners on NEM 3.0 should program battery charge windows between 9 AM and 3 PM to capture low-cost solar and discharge during peak TOU periods of 4–9 PM when rates can exceed $0.45 per kWh.
Eight US States Introduce Solar Panel Recycling Mandates Modeled on EU WEEE Directive
Eight US states — California, Washington, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon, Minnesota, and New Jersey — have introduced legislation in early 2026 requiring solar panel manufacturers and importers to fund and operate end-of-life recycling programs, closely modeled on the EU's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. California's bill, SB 914, is the most advanced, having passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee in February 2026. Under SB 914, manufacturers would be required to register with CalRecycle, fund a producer responsibility organization, and guarantee free panel take-back for residential customers within 200 miles of a certified recycling facility by 2028. Silicon in crystalline panels is 90%+ recoverable; silver, present at roughly 15–20 mg per watt, is the highest-value recovered material. Glass constitutes approximately 76% of panel weight and requires specialized separation from the ethylene-vinyl acetate encapsulant for reuse. The Solar Energy Industries Association supports extended producer responsibility frameworks in principle but has raised concerns about implementation timelines and potential small-manufacturer exemption thresholds. No federal recycling mandate exists for solar panels, though the EPA published voluntary guidance in 2025. An estimated 3–5 GW worth of first-generation panels installed in 2005–2012 will reach end-of-life by 2030, making policy frameworks increasingly urgent.
NREL Certifies First Commercially-Viable Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Cell at 33.2% Efficiency
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has certified a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell at 33.2% efficiency produced by a manufacturing-compatible process, marking the first time a cell in this technology class has been certified at efficiencies above 33% under conditions consistent with commercial fabrication rather than laboratory optimization only. The cell uses a 1.68 eV bandgap perovskite top layer paired with a silicon heterojunction bottom cell, with a transparent recombination junction between layers. The certification is significant because prior record cells relied on small areas of under 1 cm² and processes incompatible with roll-to-roll or large-format manufacturing. This cell was produced on a 4 cm² substrate using a vapor-deposition process. Oxford PV, which holds several commercial perovskite tandem patents, stated it plans to begin US residential module qualification testing by Q3 2026 at its Brandenburg, Germany facility, with US-market modules projected for 2027. First Solar, the dominant US-headquartered panel manufacturer, has disclosed an internal perovskite-on-CdTe tandem roadmap targeting 2028 commercial availability. At 33%+ efficiency, a standard residential array footprint could generate 35–40% more power, significantly improving economics for space-constrained rooftops. Stability and 25-year durability certification remain the primary commercial hurdles for perovskite technology.
Tesla Clears Powerwall 3 Waitlist Nationwide as Gigafactory Nevada Scales Production
Tesla has announced that its Powerwall 3 waitlist has been fully cleared across all 50 US states, with the company now able to fulfill new orders within 4–8 weeks depending on installer availability. The milestone follows a significant ramp in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell production at Gigafactory Nevada, which Tesla expanded by 40% in late 2025. The Powerwall 3 launched in mid-2024 at $9,200 before installation and represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor: continuous power output has increased from 5 kW to 11.5 kW, enabling whole-home backup for most homes without a separate inverter, as the unit integrates a solar gateway and EV charger compatibility. Usable capacity is 13.5 kWh, unchanged from Powerwall 2. A Gateway 2 or Gateway 3 is required for islanding capability. Current installed pricing including the Gateway typically runs $14,000–$18,000 depending on region and installation complexity. After the 30% federal ITC, net cost ranges from approximately $9,800–$12,600. Tesla's certified installer network has grown to over 600 companies nationally following program reforms in 2025 that reduced exclusivity requirements. The company projects US residential battery installations of approximately 350,000 units in 2026, roughly double 2025 volume, as both supply constraints and awareness barriers have eased.
IRS Confirms Residential Solar Tax Credit Remains at 30% Through 2032
The IRS has reaffirmed that the residential clean energy credit established under the Inflation Reduction Act remains at 30% of total system cost for solar installations completed through December 31, 2032. The credit then steps down to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034 before expiring for residential systems. Homeowners claim the credit on IRS Form 5695 filed with their annual federal income tax return for the year the system is placed in service. The 30% applies to the full installed cost including panels, inverters, mounting hardware, labor, and battery storage systems installed simultaneously with solar. A battery added after the fact qualifies separately under the same 30% rate. There is no maximum dollar cap on the credit. If the credit exceeds a homeowner's tax liability in a given year, the unused portion carries forward to subsequent tax years indefinitely. Eligible improvements beyond panels include solar water heaters certified by SRCC, geothermal heat pumps, and small wind turbines. Renters do not qualify, and the property must be a US residence — vacation homes qualify but rental properties do not unless the owner also uses the property personally. The IRS notes that leased systems are ineligible; the tax credit flows to the system owner, which for a lease or PPA is the third-party financier.