Solar News & Insights

DOE reports that industry estimates for solar-panel operating life increased from about 20 years in 2007 to 25–35 years in 2025. That range is not a warranty or a promise for every module. EPA says retired panels may require regulated handling and can contain recoverable materials. Homeowners, businesses and developers should ask who owns removal responsibility, what the written warranty covers, and whether reuse or recycling options exist locally before signing a contract.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s newly posted August 2026 generator inventory lists the 7-megawatt Esky Solar project in Gloucester County, New Jersey, as operating. In the July inventory, the same project was listed as construction complete but not yet in commercial operation.

This is a project-status update, not evidence of lower customer bills or a forecast of future output. EIA also labels the monthly inventory preliminary and says estimates may be corrected later. Customers and developers should distinguish operating capacity from actual electricity generation, which depends on weather, equipment performance, curtailment and other conditions.

EIA reported October 16 that estimated U.S. generation from solar systems smaller than 1 megawatt rose from 18,812 GWh to 92,979 GWh over the last decade. Florida climbed from 205 GWh in 2016 to 5,198 GWh in 2025, placing it among the four leading states.

The trend shows rooftop and small commercial solar are no longer marginal. Customers should still judge a proposal by roof conditions, utility rules, production assumptions and total price—not national growth alone.

EIA reported October 15 that PJM reached a record 162.6 gigawatts of hourly demand on July 2, 2026, 1.3% above its previous peak. Heat-driven cooling demand was a major factor. The result does not mean solar alone can solve peak demand, but it strengthens the case for planning solar, batteries, demand response and firm generation together. Pennsylvania and New Jersey customers should ask when their building peaks—not just how much electricity it uses annually—before sizing solar or storage.

DOE’s October 15 explainer shows that solar can serve more than electric loads. Mirrors can concentrate sunlight to produce heat for food processing, desalination, chemicals and other industrial work, at temperatures ranging from below 400°C to above 1,000°C depending on the technology. For commercial customers, this is a separate design question from rooftop photovoltaic panels: first map the facility’s heat temperatures and operating hours, then assess whether solar thermal, electric heating or a combination fits.

Northwestern University reported on September 24 that researchers used paired molecular treatments to address two kinds of imperfections in perovskites, materials being studied for solar cells. The university says tests improved conversion efficiency and stability. The paper was published September 23.

Tower Solar’s take: the useful question for homeowners and businesses is whether progress moves from experimental cells into dependable commercial panels. This research announcement does not establish a product available for your roof or a delivery date. When comparing a proposal, ask about the specific equipment being offered and its documented performance rather than treating a laboratory advance as a ready-to-install upgrade.