Clean energy manufacturing

Solar

Qcells aims to build a giant factory for next-gen tandem solar

Layering perovskites onto regular silicon panels unlocks higher efficiency. Qcells hopes to beat the competition to market by leveraging its legacy manufacturing skills.

By Julian Spector . 13 October 2026

piece of solar equipmnet — An LED light room simulates sunshine to test the efficiency of Qcells’ tandem solar cells. (Qcells)

Energy efficiency

This hidden device could free up gigawatts of power for the US grid

Millions of electric motors run inside the country’s buildings, often inefficiently. Variable frequency drives can slash motors’ power use and reduce grid strain.

By Maria Gallucci . 5 October 2026
Solar

Meet the solar industry’s new Republican evangelist

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty took the helm of the Solar Energy Industries Association this summer with a mandate to build durable political power.

By Julian Spector . 24 September 2026
Green steel

Hyundai breaks ground on Louisiana steel mill. Is it green enough?

The plant will cut CO₂ emissions compared to traditional coal furnaces. But Hyundai's use of gas and resulting pollution show the messiness of cleaning up steel.

By Maria Gallucci . 3 September 2026
Solar

Tesla ditches solar roof — and embraces regular solar panels

The product that was supposed to redefine both roofing and home solar never moved beyond expensive niche status. Does the new plan reflect lessons learned?

By Dan McCarthy, Julian Spector . 24 August 2026
Green steel

Trump turns $500M grant for clean steel into funding for coal furnace

The money was mandated by Congress to help manufacturers like Cleveland-Cliffs adopt low-carbon tech. Now it’ll be used to extend the life of a polluting facility.

By Maria Gallucci . 21 August 2026
Batteries

In Michigan, LG opens one of America’s biggest battery cell factories

Trump officials touted the storage and EV plant as an example of “energy dominance,” underscoring increasing bipartisan acceptance of grid batteries.

By Claire Hao . 19 August 2026
Clean energy manufacturing

How Qcells’ Georgia factory is surviving US solar policy whiplash

American solar manufacturers are navigating shifting federal policies on tariffs and tax credits, all while demand for their product continues to grow.

By Emily Jones, Grist . 19 August 2026
Clean aluminum

US aluminum is poised for a comeback — if it overcomes these hurdles

Tariffs and rising grid demand are spurring a revival, but high electricity costs and community concerns threaten to stall key new smelter projects

By Maria Gallucci . 13 August 2026
Offshore wind

Trump’s war on offshore wind is robbing a generation of workers

Building trades spent the past five years preparing for an offshore wind boom that went bust, leaving workers to mourn good-paying jobs that may never come back.

By Ajani Stella, Inside Climate News . 11 August 2026
Heat pumps

World’s oldest cheddar-maker slashes energy bills with novel heat pumps

Innovative tech from U.K.-based Arkaya Energy cools fresh milk and redirects the resulting heat, saving Barber’s Farmhouse Cheesemakers more than $90,000 a year.

By Alison F. Takemura . 10 August 2026