c3f0d1b5

Perovskite-silicon tandem cells move from theory to reality with Hanwha Qcells' breakthrough

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:37:21 GMT

Recent studies have improved all-perovskite tandems to achieve over 29% efficiency.

Solar energy is transforming the global energy landscape, driving the shift to renewables and accelerating decarbonization. Since the invention of the first practical silicon solar cell in 1954, solar technology has surged to a global capacity of 1.6 terawatts in 2023 — now supplying 5.5% of the world’s electricity . This remarkable growth underscores solar’s pivotal role in reshaping how we generate and consume energy.

However, this progress has not come without challenges . Historically, the cost of solar panels was a significant barrier to adoption, but today, solar is far more affordable and accessible. While progress has been made, the industry continues to grapple with other issues, including pushing the limits of efficiency and modernizing grid infrastructure to support renewable energy at scale. Today, silicon-based solar cells achieve an average efficiency of 22% , a significant improvement from 15% to 16% in 2013 . However, improvements in their efficiency are now plateauing due to the material's inherent properties, which limit silicon’s theoretical maximum conversion rate to about 30%.

Despite these hurdles, solar energy continues to drive progress toward a renewable energy future. As solar panel installations continue to grow and land use becomes increasingly important, the need for greater efficiency has never been more critical. Perovskite presents a solution to these challenges when stacked with silicon in tandem cells, capturing a broader spectrum of light and generating significantly more electricity. By pushing solar efficiency beyond its current limitations, this technology promises to transform solar power, setting the stage for even greater progress.

EPA Delivers Additional 100 Top Environmental Accomplishments, 300 Environmental Wins Now Highlighted Since President Trump Took Office in January

sites@tailorbrands.com — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 12:41:17 GMT

National Progress on Delivering Clean Air, Land, and Water

Contact Information

Stephen McBay ( mcbay.stephen@epa.gov )

929-243-0417

New York, N.Y. - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin shared 100 additional environmental accomplishments EPA has achieved in the last 100 days, recognizing 300 days of fulfilling the agency’s statutory obligations, and delivering clean air, land, and water for all Americans under President Donald Trump's leadership.

This progress includes announcing a proposed rule today that establishes a clear, durable, common-sense definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS), completing 100 days of "pressure testing" Tijuana-San Diego wastewater projects from the July 2025 U.S.-Mexico Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and accelerating timelines by nine months, secured our border from dangerous illegal pesticides through enforcement action, led emergency response efforts and cleanup efforts in communities across the nation, and so much more.

These 100 actions build on Administrator Zeldin’s list of 100 pro-environmental actions taken by the agency during President Trump’s First 100 Days in office and another 100 pro-environmental actions highlighted at the 200-day milestone to total 300 featured accomplishments.

"We are thrilled to announce another 100 top accomplishments from the last 100 days in our mission to meet our statutory duties and defend human health and environmental quality," said EPA Administrator Zeldin . "The Trump EPA is showing that we can be exceptional environmental stewards while Powering the Great American Comeback. 300 days, 300 major environmental wins – this is the energy that propels us forward and the pace that motivates us. We will keep working tirelessly to secure success after success for America's environment and families nationwide."

This snapshot represents the great work done by the agency on a daily basis as EPA continues to fulfill its core mission of protecting human health and the environment, while committing to commonsense policies that drive down prices, unleash American energy, advance permitting reform and cooperative federalism, make America the AI capital of the world, and revitalize the auto industry.

Announced a proposed rule that establishes a clear, durable, common-sense definition of WOTUS under the Clean Water Act.
Completed 100 days of "pressure testing" Tijuana-San Diego wastewater projects following the July 2025 U.S.-Mexico MOU, accelerating timelines by nine months while advancing funding discussions with Mexico that will contribute to permanently ending the flow of raw sewage from Mexico into the United States.
Issued an Interim Final Rule to cut red tape on the temporary-use Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators (CISWI) for natural disaster debris removal, providing state, local and Tribal governments with the ability to quickly and effectively clean up their communities
Issued guidance directing regional offices to work with local, state, Tribal, and federal partners to remove barriers in State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that discourage prescribed fires.
Established orders under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 5(e) for 68 new chemicals that may present unreasonable risk.
Proposed 144 and finalized 170 significant new use rules (SNURs) under TSCA for chemicals approved in the new chemicals program, ensuring these chemicals do not pose unreasonable risks to human health or the environment.
Decreased the backlog of pesticide submissions under review by over 5,200 from the start of the Administration to the beginning of November, ensuring growers and other users have the tools they need to protect our food supply, combat pests and respond to other public health and environmental issues.
Hosted a webinar for almost 400 building code officials covering lead hazards, EPA lead-safe work certification requirements, and protective practices during home renovations.
Streamlined review processes for over 3,000 company chemical risk notifications (including PFAS and pesticides), distributing 900+ to improve regulatory decisions protecting human health and the environment.
Issued vital guidance needed for publishing bilingual labels to better protect farmworkers and other users from pesticide exposures and ensure proper use.
Held a webinar attended by 882 participants aimed at training farmers, applicators, and other users on how to comply with Endangered Species Act label mitigations.
Secured U.S. border from dangerous pesticides and chemicals through enforcement actions resulting in 13 total defendants, $6.3 million in financial penalties, and 29 months imprisonment.
Concluded 1,778 enforcement cases, which will reduce, treat, or eliminate nearly 86 million pounds of air, chemical, and water pollution.
Concluded 41 enforcement cases totaling more than $714.4 million for past and future Superfund cleanup work addressing more than 58.8 million cubic yards of contaminated soil and water.
Conducted 6,457 inspections and 3,807 offsite compliance monitoring activities.
Issued the Residential Lead Directive for CERCLA Sites and RCRA Hazardous Waste Cleanup Program Facilities.
Announced the selection of 25 communities to receive assistance through the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities.
Distributed $86.2 million in supplemental Hurricane Helene recovery funds to support debris removal, management, and property reuse evaluation.
Hosted the biennial Brownfields conference with over 2,600 stakeholders, offering 185 sessions and eight workshops focused on sharing best practices for contaminated property remediation and redevelopment.
Signed 10 Clean Air Act regulatory actions in New England including 5 final State Implementation Plan (SIP) rulemakings.
Issued nine TSCA PCB Cleanup and Disposal Approvals to support New England infrastructure and redevelopment.
Finalized a consent order requiring removal of PFAS foam and system cleaning at Brunswick Executive Airport in Maine.
Signed Interim Record of Decision for the Tinkham Garage Superfund Site in New Hampshire to address contamination in drinking water.
Signed an Action Memo to mobilize cleanup efforts of PCBs and lead in a Dartmouth, Massachusetts, residential neighborhood.
Completed decision document for cleanup at Lower Neponset River Superfund Site in Massachussetts to remove contaminated soil and sediment, stabilize and restore riverbanks.
Conducted outreach on the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP) to 689 companies and individuals in Maine with lapsed certifications, sponsored training, and approved training provider accreditation.
Approved revised Clean Water Act Section 320 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan to protect and restore Great Bay and Hampton-Seabrook estuary watersheds in New Hampshire.
Installed 108 Point of Entry Treatment water systems to address PFAS contamination and sampled over 350 wells and provided bottled water to almost 200 residents near the Route 31 Sludge Superfund removal site in New Jersey.
Finalized agreement with NRGY Development, LLC, requiring asbestos contamination removal to secure the former Goudey Power Station Site in New York.
Issued a Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for EcoEléctrica, a company that produces about 15% of Puerto Rico’s electricity.
Reached settlement with the Newark Housing Authority requiring lead testing and abatement across 11 pre-1978 properties housing about 5,500 residents in New Jersey.
Issued a Safe Drinking Water Act order to the City of Syracuse, New York, requiring improvements and public education to address lead in the water.
Issued a Unilateral Administrative Order under Superfund law requiring Messer LLC to perform vapor intrusion mitigation for the Cinnaminson Groundwater Contamination Superfund Site in New Jersey.
Responded to a serious fire in Gorham, New York, establishing air monitoring and developing plans to address flareups while working to remove hazardous substances (primarily expired hand sanitizer).
Completed removal of approximately 100,000 gallons of expired hand sanitizer and 30 cubic yards of contaminated soil from Niagara Falls, New York.
Gained full accreditation to perform a sophisticated analysis for toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air in Region 2.
Expedited evaluation of Maryland's Animal Feeding Operations Discharge Permit in just 27 days, reducing permit review time by 70%.
Conducted extensive sampling at Atlantic Wood Industries Superfund Site in Virginia, analyzing over 1,500 oysters to evaluate remedial success.
Hosted over 60 federal and state stakeholders for collaborative training on environmental remediation, groundwater investigation, and radon risk reduction in Region 3.
Strengthened multi-agency preparedness with training on train derailments, radiological security, oil spills, and hazardous materials emergency planning and response.
Advanced clean water protections through approved selenium criteria in Virginia and new sediment total maximum daily limits.
Completed oyster reef recovery in 10 target tributaries and restored more than 2,900 acres of habitat with Chesapeake Bay partners.
Forged first-ever Agriculture Memorandum of Understanding with Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to expand collaboration on agricultural practices that benefit the environment, regulatory and compliance programs, training, communication, and education.
Launched a new macroinvertebrate subsampling station at Fort Mifflin in Pennsylvania to strengthen regional Clean Water Act monitoring.
Removed 1,815 pounds of contamination at Southern Solvents Superfund Site in Tampa, Florida, and achieved the Remedial Action goal.
Sampled 515 residential properties, remediated 161 properties, and disposed of more than 30,000 tons of contaminated material to safeguard residents from lead exposure at the Southside Chattanooga Lead Superfund Site in Tennessee.
Completed a $1.98 million cleanup at Continental Cleaners Superfund Site in Miami, Florida, that protects the Biscayne aquifer, Miami-Dade's sole source of drinking water.
Provided Risk Assessment training to 40 state project managers in Columbia, South Carolina.
Finalized a report on particulate Action Levels related to metal emissions from lithium-ion battery fires to enhance and guide protective actions.
Enhanced EPA's partnership with Citrus County, Florida, to advance $1.2 million for the Septic-to-Sewer program.
Distributed $685 million for recovery in partnership with FEMA and local officials, resulting in 122 pre-application projects in 59 communities for flood risk reduction and resiliency enhancement, as we recently marked the first anniversary since the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
Worked to collect 54,000 gallons of oil-water mix, stabilize nearby waterways and drinking water sources, and prevent further contamination following the UPS Flight 2976 crash in Louisville, Kentucky.
Collaborated with Department of Energy (DOE) on the first land lease in the nation under the Hall Amendment for beneficial site redevelopment with lease of 100-acre parcel of Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Superfund site.
Completed two-year residential cleanup project addressing PCB-contaminated soil at 56 properties on the Ten Mile Drain Superfund site in Kentucky.
Approved Michigan's regional haze state implementation plan revisions, addressing pollution that causes visibility issues at national parks and wilderness areas.
Completed a time-critical cleanup of a former balloon factory to remove hundreds of containers of hazardous materials in Malvern, Ohio.
Excavated more than 5,000 tons of PCB-contaminated soil discovered by the city of Detroit during construction of the Joe Louis Greenway.
Cleaned up properties contaminated by a fire at a Newburgh, Indiana, manufacturing facility which spread caustic ash over a large part of the community.
Removed Muskegon Lake, Michigan, from the list of the most environmentally degraded areas in the Great Lakes.
Reached a settlement to resolve alleged lead-paint renovation violations in South Bend, Indiana.
Reached settlement for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act requiring company to reduce lead and particulate matter emissions.
Sailed more than 8,000 miles, sampled 382 sites and hosted hundreds of students and visitors during EPA research vessel Lake Guardian's 2025 survey of Great Lakes water quality.
Collaborated with the state of Ohio and numerous local partners to begin the long-anticipated process to remove Cuyahoga River's Gorge Dam.
Removed more than 2,100 tons of spilled asphalt from the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal.
Led emergency response at Smitty Supply explosion and fire in Louisiana deploying 464 EPA employees and contractors to conduct air monitoring and recover 7,622,181 gallons of oily waste and 3,769,668 gallons of CERCLA waste from the Tangipahoa River.
Signed final Clean Air Act Minor New Source Review permit for Texas GulfLink Deepwater Port, the first use of an offshore support vessel to house VOC vapor control technology.
Conducted oversight of the depressurization of four flanged tritium waste containers at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.
Signed proposed approval of Oklahoma SIP Revisions for New Source Review permitting and general SIP updates, addressing 13 SIP submittals.
Provided expedited sample results for 61 indoor air samples for volatile organic compounds from 16 residential properties in the CCI Superfund site in Kansas.
Awarded task order contract that reduces mobilization time by approximately 280 days for the Superfund Removal and Remedial Program in Region 7.
Awarded $148,000 to the City of Cambridge, Nebraska, for rehabilitation of Cambridge's Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Collected fish tissue samples at four locations near Montrose, Missouri, to address potential concerns with the Montrose facility and fly ash storage.
Signed a final action to approve revisions to the Missouri SIP to resolve a discrepancy between federal and state requirements.
Signed a final action to approve revisions to the Kansas SIP to redesignate the Salina Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 2008 Lead (Pb) NAAQS.
Collected and analyzed bacterial samples at 48 sites on the Maquoketa and upper Iowa River watersheds in northeast Iowa.
Finalized agreement with liable parties for cleanup of a 15,000-ton pile of elemental sulfur in Peru, Kansas, resulting in site cleanup at no taxpayer cost.
Approved an aquifer exemption for the Lisbon Valley Mine Project in Utah to include underground recovery of copper, expanding current mining operations with less surface disturbance.
Signed North Dakota's Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) final rule, allowing the state to permit CCR disposal in surface impoundments and landfills.
Signed a proposed rule approving a SIP revision for Montana, addressing regional haze and visibility requirements related to the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard.
Approved revisions to Montana's water quality standards in House Bill 664, maintaining narrative criteria to protect against harmful effects of nutrient pollution.
Signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Blackfeet Tribe in Montana and Idaho to create NPDES permitting efficiencies for the Clean Water Act Section 401 Process.
Supported Colorado’s efforts in a chemical removal action at Otero County schools, with over 3,400 containers added to collection efforts.
Reached a settlement with Kennecott Utah Copper requiring the mining company to monitor wetlands, study groundwater contamination, and pay oversight costs at the Kennecott North Zone Superfund Site near Salt Lake City, Utah.
Hosted Proposed Plan public meeting in Billings, Montana, with record attendance, identifying EPA's Preferred Alternative for addressing contaminated indoor air detected in homes, schools, and commercial buildings in the downtown area.
Paved the way toward cleanup at the Northeast Church Rock site near Gallup, New Mexico, by concluding a consent decree to remove approximately one million cubic yards of uranium mine waste.
Completed removal of approximately 150,000 pounds of illegally stored fireworks, nitrous oxide gas, and hand sanitizer at a warehouse in Commerce, California.
Completed Dededo waste piles removal action in Guam, removing approximately 31,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and installing new fencing to prevent future dumping.
Concluded an agreement with owners of a supermarket chain to remove multiple unregistered pesticides illegally sold throughout Arizona, California, and Nevada.
Completed four PFAS treatment systems to safeguard drinking water in southern California's Irvine Ranch and Orange County Water Districts to protect over 9,500 households from PFAS.
Began oversight of unprecedented lithium-ion battery removal from the Moss Landing, California, energy storage facility damaged in a January 2025 fire.
Completed transfer of almost one million tons of Maui wildfire debris to permanent disposal two months ahead of schedule, transitioning to the restoration phase.
Issued five orders to drinking water systems in Arizona, California, and Nevada for failing to complete lead service line inventories and customer notifications.
Completed remediation of 413,000 cubic yards of mine wastes and restoration of 17 acres Bunker Hill Superfund Site's Tamarack Complex project in northern Idaho and eastern Washington.
Completed the Gray's Meadow Remedial Action in Idaho restoring 695 acres of former agricultural land to clean wetland habitat.
Approved Alaska's Air Quality Plan for Fairbanks North Star Borough, providing cleaner air while saving Alaskans from costly provisions.
Issued Cooperative Agreements to advance cleanup of contaminated Alaska Native Corporation lands, with 296 sites remaining to be verified out of nearly 1,200.
Remobilized to the Cosmo Specialty Fibers site in Washington to conduct an expanded removal evaluation assessing risks to nearby fish-bearing waters from hundreds of thousands of gallons of chemicals remaining in over 47 above-ground storage tanks after mill closure.
Awarded the City of Seattle $3 million to help implement their South Park Drainage Improvements Project, that will manage stormwater, reduce flooding, and protect Seattle residents, property, and public infrastructure from contaminants like BETX, VOCs, and various metals.
Awarded a $965,000 Community Grant to the Town of Washtucna in Washington State to design and construct a new community well and pump station, bolstering the reliability of a safe drinking water supply for the community.
Approved Texas SIP for SO2 interstate transport requirements.

Incentivizing photovoltaic panel cleaning in green building standards

sites@tailorbrands.com — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 12:40:28 GMT

A Policy Framework

In the built environment (BE), green building rating systems (GBRSs) serve as effective policy tools for promoting and ensuring sustainability across various aspects, including energy. These systems already reward the incorporation of renewable energy technologies , which are foundational to sustainable practices. Among these technologies, photovoltaic (PV) panels are widely integrated into the BE in various configurations. However, their performance is significantly impacted by environmental factors such as soiling, which can drastically reduce their efficiency. This work introduces a proposed policy framework within GBRSs to award points for the cleaning of PV panels. This “PV Cleaning and Maintenance Credit” introduces an innovative approach to elevate the role of renewable energy systems in GBRSs by emphasizing regular, sustainable maintenance. By guaranteeing optimal energy generation , this credit not only enhances the energy efficiency in green buildings but also addresses a critical gap in existing rating systems. Nonetheless, implementing such a credit presents challenges, including water usage concerns and cost implications. Overcoming these obstacles will be essential to fully realizing the potential of this proposed improvement to GBRSs.

Graphical abstract

Introduction

Today, the world increasingly recognizes the critical importance of sustainability. Governments worldwide demonstrated their commitment to this issue through significant initiatives, such as signing agreements like the Paris Agreement, organizing conventions like the COP under the UNFCCC umbrella (UNFCCC, 2024), and creating financial mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund to promote sustainability (Green Climate Fund, 2024). Additionally, global strategies, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), further emphasize the need for comprehensive and actionable measures to address sustainability challenges (THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development, 2015).

Energy is a key focus area in sustainability initiatives. Sustainable energy involves production, distribution, and consumption in ways that fulfill present demands while preserving the resources and capabilities needed for future generations to meet their needs (Isabelle dos Santos et al., 2024). This concept has become a trending topic in research and development, attracting significant attention and boosting the visibility of related studies (Moustakas et al., 2020). Moreover, major energy corporations, such as TotalEnergies (TotalEnergies, 2024) and QatarEnergy (QatarEnergy, 2024), have undergone rebranding to signal their commitment to diversifying portfolios beyond oil and gas and embracing renewable solutions, an ambitious effort to keep pace with sustainable energy requirements.

Renewable energy plays a pivotal role in meeting sustainability targets, although related technologies vary in their maturity and readiness for widespread deployment (Østergaard et al., 2022). Resources such as solar, wind, and hydropower play a vital role in the global shift toward sustainable energy (Ang et al., 2022) and significantly contribute to the goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 (Obobisa, 2022), as advised by the IPCC (IPCC, 2018). Among these, photovoltaic (PV) systems have emerged as a key component in electricity generation. Their versatility spans applications from small residential setups to expansive solar farms, solidifying their importance in the renewable energy sector (Marques Lameirinhas et al., 2022).

However, when exposed to real-world conditions, PV panels often experience performance losses due to soiling, among other factors, which is caused by the accumulation of dust, dirt, snowfall, bird droppings, and other contaminants (Younis & Alhorr, 2021). The primary reason for this power loss is that particles accumulating on the panel surface form a mesh-like layer, scattering solar rays and reducing the amount of light that reaches the PV cells (Younis et al., 2024). A study by Fernández Solas et al. (2025) produced a soiling loss map for Europe, showing an average annual performance loss of 0.9 % due to soiling when rain is considered. In Northern Africa and the Middle East—regions that, along with China and India, are projected to host 60 % of the global installed PV capacity by 2050—dust accumulation reduces panels' capacity factor by as much as 60 % compared to the clean panels (Alkharusi et al., 2024). Furthermore, Wan et al. (2024) comprehensively reviewed the literature to reveal that dust can reduce the PV performance in a varying manner depending on the geographic locations by a loss percentage ranging from 7 % to 98.13 %.

As technologies supporting PV systems are advancing rapidly to match innovations in solar panel materials and performance improvements, cleaning methods are also evolving. For instance, Fan et al. (2022) tested a novel water-free robotic system to clean a 2 kW PV installation on a building's roof. The robot achieved cleaning effectiveness of 92.46 %, resulting in an efficiency increase of 11.06 % to 49.53 % in the PV panels. However, conventional methods, such as manual cleaning with water and natural cleaning through rain, continue to demonstrate superior reliability compared to newer self-cleaning techniques like specialized coatings (Liu et al., 2024). For example, a study by Majeed et al. (2020) used pressurized water to recover 98 % of the performance of a group of monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar panels prepared specifically for experimentation.

The built environment (BE) includes human-made settings essential for daily living, such as homes, neighborhoods, urban areas, and the infrastructure supporting them, including water systems, energy grids, transportation networks, and other facilities (Locke et al., 2023). Within BE, buildings are the largest energy consumers, accounting for 40 % of global annual energy consumption and 36 % of worldwide carbon emissions (Somu et al., 2021). Hence, the concept of green buildings has emerged as a modern approach to achieving sustainable BE, and adjointly the sustainable energy goals. Green buildings are defined as structures designed to promote sustainability through environmentally responsible.

construction practices and by providing a better quality of life (Izam et al., 2022). In response to this modern sustainability need, experts have introduced green building rating systems (GBRS). These systems are tools designed to evaluate the performance of green buildings (Izam et al., 2022). A more detailed definition characterizes GBRSs as voluntary certification systems that assess green building performance by assigning credits and weightings to environmental factors, categorized into distinct groups (Sartori et al., 2021). The primary aim of GBRSs is to extend the lifespan of buildings while promoting sustainability. Prominent GBRS frameworks include LEED, BREEAM, and GSAS (Younis et al., 2025).

In LEED Building Design and Construction (BD + C) version 4.1, the renewable energy credit category offers up to five points across three tiers: on-site renewable energy generation, new off-site renewable energy, and off-site renewable energy (U.S. Green Building Council, 2024). While this credit aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 7, “Affordable and Clean Energy” (SDG7) (Chen et al., 2023), it lacks any allocation for maintenance practices associated with renewable energy systems. Similarly, in BREEAM International New Construction version 6, under the energy category, the issue “Ene 04 Low Carbon Design” offers three credits aimed at maximizing on-site renewable energy generation (BREEAM, 2024). Yet, this rating system also overlooks the cleaning or general maintenance of PV systems and other renewable energy installations.

Building on the points discussed so far, it becomes clear that current GBRSs do not account for maintenance practices such as the periodic cleaning of PV systems installed in the BE, whether building-integrated or building-applied PV systems (BIPV or BAPV), even though they reward their installation. The blunt reality is that PV systems lose efficiency due to the accumulation of dust, dirt, and other pollutants on the panels. Cleaning, which can be costly, significantly impacts the overall cost-effectiveness and practicality of these systems. To address this gap, this research proposes a framework for introducing PV cleaning credits into GBRSs. This framework would evaluate buildings equipped with PV panels that follow a regular cleaning schedule. By integrating the widely studied issue of PV soiling into a standardized evaluation system, this approach would help mitigate its effects. Furthermore, this framework would shift the focus from theoretical discussions to practical, real-world solutions, providing clear and actionable guidelines for implementation.

It is important to note that operation and maintenance (O&M) requirements differ among renewable energy technologies. This paper presents a credit specifically designed for PV systems, reflecting their unique O&M needs. While the broader concept may be relevant to other technologies, implementation must be adapted accordingly.

The remainder of this article is structured as follows: Photovoltaics in the built environment section provides an overview of PV integration within the BE. Proposed framework for cleaning credits section introduces the proposed framework for PV cleaning credits. Policy implications and discussion section explores the implications of this proposed update, and Conclusion section concludes.

Solar in West Sacramento — The Smart Shift Away From the Grid

sites@tailorbrands.com — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 11:38:31 GMT

Taking control of your home’s energy and eliminating unnecessary utility costs

If you live in West Sacramento or anywhere in the Sacramento Valley, you’ve seen firsthand what happens to electricity bills year after year — they go up. Rates keep rising, and customers on solar are now under NEM 3.0 , which drastically reduced solar export credit rates for homes that send power back to the grid.

Meaning:
Solar alone isn’t enough anymore.
Solar with a battery is the winning formula moving forward.

�� West Sacramento electricity

Traditional electric bills are for:

electricity production
distribution fees
transmission fees
wildfire liability surcharges
regulatory fees
customer charges
and even “power line transportation charges”

Even if electricity costs 12¢…
They can charge you 28–40¢ after line fees and penalties.

⚠️ NEM 3.0 — The Quiet Change That Affects Your Wallet

Under NEM 2.0, excess solar sent back to the grid was credited generously.
Now under NEM 3.0:

export rates dropped by ~75%
selling power back to the grid is barely worth it
daytime credits are pennies
night-time imports are expensive

Result:
Solar-only customers are still dependent on PG&E .

�� The New Era: Solar + Battery = Energy Autonomy

With our updated approach, every new client installation includes at least one home battery , which enables:

✔ storing solar you generate
✔ using your own power at night
✔ avoiding evening peak rates
✔ almost eliminating grid reliance
✔ stopping transportation charges
✔ avoiding future NEM revisions

When you own your stored power —
PG&E doesn’t get to resell it back to you for a massive markup.

�� Why pay for transporting fossil-fuel power…

…over aging power lines
…controlled by a centralized utility
…subject to wildfire shutdowns
…and unpredictable rate hikes

…when you can produce your own clean energy
right on your roof
and store it in your garage?

This is the energy shift of the next 25 years —
from centralized dirty energy to distributed clean energy .

�� Real Benefits for a West Sacramento homeowner

Let’s say your summer power bill is $350.
With solar + a battery, that might drop to:

$90
$60
even $0 depending on usage and storage capacity

And here’s the big one:

You avoid the costly evening peak rate —
the 5pm–9pm window where PG&E really gouges customers.

Your solar charges your battery.
Your battery powers your home.
Your home avoids the most expensive hours.

�� “Does my house qualify?”

If your home has:

decent roof space
good sunlight
no extreme shading

…then you are an ideal candidate .

If you want, I’ll look up your address and run:

projected production
shading analysis
battery storage recommendations
estimated bill reduction
ROI timeline
payback period
and independence factor

No sales pressure — just data.

�� Let’s talk energy freedom

If you’re in West Sacramento and tired of:

paying for outdated grid infrastructure
covering wildfire liability
funding PG&E shareholder profits
and being charged for power transportation

…you don’t need to tolerate it.

You can step into a cleaner, smarter, cheaper energy model.

If you want a personalized solar + battery evaluation, just reach out:
�� dnolan2003@gmail.com
�� 818-439-3696

New Paragraph

Industry Insights: The Digital Transformation of Pathology

sites@tailorbrands.com — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 11:37:25 GMT

Digital Technologies, AI, and Automation in the Lab

The digital transformation of pathology has been long anticipated but slow to materialize due to technical, regulatory, and operational challenges. Now, advances in whole-slide imaging, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation are beginning to bridge the gap between potential and practice.

Here, Prasanth Perugupalli – Vice President and General Manager of Digital Pathology at Evident – discusses the field’s challenges and opportunities, offering a valuable perspective for pathology labs navigating this rapidly changing landscape.

Meet Prasanth Perugupalli

With a background in electrical engineering, I worked in the wireless semiconductor industry before venturing into imaging, microscopy, and software. In 2016, I co-founded and led a digital pathology company called Spectral Insights in Bangalore, India.

After a buy-out, I led the spin-out company, Pramana, as Chief Product Officer, and we successfully built it into a major supplier of digital pathology systems in the US. Evident acquired Pramana in September 2025, and I now have the privilege and opportunity to lead its digital pathology business.

We are bringing together Pramana’s cutting-edge autonomous whole-slide imaging technologies with Evident’s longstanding leadership in clinical and research microscopy and optical excellence, empowering pathology labs worldwide to embrace digital transformation and modernize workflows.

What's holding back digital pathology adoption, and how is the industry tackling it?

Technology adoption is rarely a straight line. When the value proposition isn’t immediately clear, competing perspectives emerge and alignment becomes elusive. Digital pathology has lived through this dynamic for nearly 15 years. Since glass slides remain the foundation of pathology workflows, early digital efforts largely centered on enabling pathologists to work remotely and sign out cases from afar.

The first generation of scanners prioritized image delivery speed – how quickly a digital slide could appear on a pathologist’s screen—even if that meant accepting compromises in accuracy and workflow efficiency. Laboratories absorbed the extra burden of manual slide handling and quality checks because these systems solved immediate problems like staff shortages and remote access.

But as digital pathology enters the mainstream of primary diagnostics, those early compromises are no longer sustainable. Added labor, software overheads, and workflow complexity are now triggering difficult conversations about scalability and return on investment.

The next wave – the second generation of digital pathology – is addressing these very issues. By embedding AI directly into imaging systems, these solutions automate quality control, optimize data capture, and enable smarter, more efficient whole-slide imaging. The shift marks a turning point: from merely digitizing slides to truly transforming pathology workflows through data-driven automation.

What do you see as the main drivers of innovation in digital pathology right now?

The strongest driver of innovation today is automation. Laboratories are increasingly recognizing untapped opportunities to streamline operations and eliminate inefficiencies. Modern automation technologies now enable seamless handling of diverse samples, minimizing variability well before slides are prepared for imaging. In-line, real-time analytics are taking this further – producing quality-assured images that are immediately ready for diagnostic and analytical use.

As these foundational challenges are addressed, innovation is shifting toward empowering the pathologist. The conversation is no longer just about digitization – it’s about democratizing pathology. Intelligent systems are allowing every pathologist to benefit from the collective expertise of specialists, driving greater consistency, accuracy, and accessibility across the field.

AI has become the defining catalyst of this movement. Over the past five years, AI has rapidly evolved from an experimental aid to a critical enabler of scalable, connected, and data-driven pathology.

How do you see AI reshaping digital pathology capabilities over the next five years?

Many pathologists express a strong desire for AI-assisted prescreening and triaging tools that can help them deliver faster, more accurate patient care. They want to minimize time spent on repetitive tasks and focus on cases that require deeper expertise and mindful presence. They also seek time for continued learning, research, and collaboration.

This is where AI will serve as a powerful enabler. Report generation – currently dependent on dictation and transcription – will soon be handled by intelligent AI agents. On the imaging front, we will see the tokenization of images, with AI systems classifying, enriching, and generating first-pass inferences. Early applications in tumor detection, glandular segmentation, and morphological assessment are already demonstrating what’s possible.

In the coming years, the focus will expand from answering single questions to performing multidimensional analyses at the case level. AI-driven whole-slide imaging systems will enable this seamlessly, supporting faster and more confident diagnoses.

Five years from now, imaging systems will look entirely different – robotic, adaptive, and intelligent. They will autonomously capture the most relevant images for a case, eliminating the need for technicians to adjust settings manually. Tissue imaging will effectively gain an “easy” button, freeing human expertise to focus on interpretation and insight.

This vision is closer than it seems. The core components already exist – the next big step is integration.

Which emerging technologies are you most excited about, and why?

Advances in robotics are particularly exciting – they’re inspiring a shift toward modular, compartmentalized system design that makes complex technologies more adaptable and manageable. The field is also borrowing principles from adjacent industries to build underlying architectures that better address the unique needs of digital pathology.

A pathology report typically draws from multiple data modalities – not just a single 2D image. Enabling this data to flow into a unified platform for triangulation and cross-verification is key to advancing diagnostic precision.

Meanwhile, AI-driven image enrichment and inference continue to accelerate, fueled by the semiconductor industry’s year-over-year computing gains. Combined with the growing accessibility of high-quality datasets – extending beyond elite research centers – this is unlocking innovation from a broader pool of developers and institutions than ever before.

Given that digital pathology uptake has been slower than anticipated in North America, what would make the most difference in expediting adoption?

Most pathology labs in the US are eager to digitize but remain cautious due to the challenges discussed earlier. Workforce shortages and economic pressures make efficiency critical, yet many current digital workflows add complexity instead of reducing it.

The key to accelerating adoption lies in transitioning from “best-effort imaging” to “quality-assured imaging.” When digital workflows integrate validated screening tools, they deliver tangible and measurable value to institutions. A comprehensive solution that combines a scanner, quality-control mechanisms, and accurate AI algorithms for identifying negative or positive cases benefits both high-volume institutions and smaller, resource-limited labs.

More importantly, value grows exponentially when digital pathology begins to mirror how pathologists and oncologists naturally approach a diagnosis – not one slide at a time, but across an entire case composed of multiple slides and contextual data. When digital systems integrate and present this information cohesively – linking related slides, clinical metadata, and relevant analytics – they transform the diagnostic experience from a digital copy of the microscope to a more powerful, unified, and insight-rich platform.

This convergence – delivering information in the way clinicians think, decide, and collaborate – marks a fundamental inflection point. As digital pathology aligns more closely with traditional diagnostic reasoning, adoption becomes self-reinforcing, because it’s not just about technology – it’s about enabling better medicine.

To what extent do you think DICOM compliance will solve interoperability issues in digital pathology?

The most critical need in digital pathology is standardized data delivery. In the analog world, data came as stacks of printed reports from various lab tests. In the digital world, it must arrive through a well-structured, interoperable software ecosystem.

DICOM – long established in radiology – is now emerging as the preferred standard in digital pathology. While some challenges remain in scaling DICOM to handle multi-magnification, multi-modal datasets and AI-derived annotations, its adoption has already reduced system integration timelines dramatically – from months to days.

This shift empowers labs to adopt digital workflows with greater confidence and flexibility. Moreover, DICOM is paving the way for seamless AI integration, enabling a hybrid future that balances cloud and edge computing – similar to the architectures now defining autonomous vehicle systems.

What is your view on the potential for digital pathology data partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and digitally enabled labs?

My view begins and ends with patient safety, ethical data use, and a commitment to progress. When guided by these principles, data sharing between digitally enabled labs and pharmaceutical companies can unlock tremendous value for research and clinical advancement.

Digital labs produce cleaner, better-structured datasets that can accelerate discovery and reduce sample waste. When data is used responsibly, these partnerships can drive breakthroughs in diagnostics, therapeutics, and precision medicine.

As an engineer at heart, I’m deeply optimistic about the future of fully digital labs – and I look forward to continuing to contribute to that vision.

From Incentivized Solar to Market-Driven Solar: What It Means for Homeowners

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:10:00 GMT

Why Solar Still Wins After 2026 — Even Without Tax Credits

Is Solar Still Worth It After the Tax Credit Ends? Absolutely — and Here’s Why

For years, the federal solar tax credit helped homeowners go solar by reducing installation costs. But as we approach 2026 and beyond, many people are asking:

“Will solar still make financial sense after the tax credit is gone?”

The short answer is:
Y es, because we’ve entered the era where solar stands on its own economic power.

Utilities Keep Raising Rates — Solar Locks Them

Utility companies raise electricity rates almost every year , and in California, the increases can be dramatic.

Solar — primarily through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) — allows homeowners to:

lock in a lower rate than the utility
avoid upfront system costs
pay only for the power they actually use
be protected from future rate hikes

Instead of owning the panels, you basically own the savings.

The End of the Tax Credit Means the Beginning of Real Competition

Here’s something most people don’t realize:

When solar was subsidized by a tax credit,
�� Homeowners depended partly on the government.

Now, the market is shifting.

Solar must:

compete on price,
compete on quality,
compete on reliability,

And that’s a good thing.

It forces providers to get smarter, leaner, and more accountable.

Real-World Savings That Don’t Depend on Subsidies

I’ve worked with homeowners who cut bills from:

$480/month down to $108/month
$325/month down to $140/month
$610/month down to $250/month

These savings are not tax-credit-dependent — they are rate-dependent.

Even without incentives, it still comes down to a straightforward equation:

�� Energy you create yourself vs. energy you are forced to buy.

PPAs: The Friendly Future of Solar

With a Power Purchase Agreement:

NO equipment cost
NO maintenance fees
NO repair expenses
NO risk of system failure
NO dealing with warranties

We handle the performance — and if the system underperforms, that’s our problem, not yours.

You simply pay for cheaper, cleaner power.

That’s it.

Your Home Becomes Energy-Smart, Not Energy-Dependent

You don’t have to become an engineer.
You don’t have to study kilowatt-hours.
You don’t have to get lost in technical jargon.

You just need to answer one question:

Do you want energy independence — or utility dependence?

If You Want Straight Answers, Not a Sales Pitch

I help homeowners understand solar with real numbers, not pressure.

If you ever want:

a free usage analysis
a customized solar profile
a PPA vs. ownership comparison
a breakdown of real projected savings
a no-nonsense recommendation for your property

Just reach out. I’m always happy to look at your address, your roof layout, your shade factors, and your utility rate history and tell you honestly:

whether solar makes sense for you,
which structure would benefit you most,
and what your actual monthly savings would be.

Here’s how to reach me:
�� dnolan2003@gmail.com
�� 818-439-3696

Final Thought

Tax credits accelerated the solar revolution.
Now the economics sustain it.

Whether you go solar with ownership or with a PPA, the shift is already happening:

�� from fossil-based utilities
�� toward distributed, local energy
�� from fluctuating rates
�� toward predictable stability
�� from old-grid dependence
�� toward power autonomy

The future isn’t coming — it’s already here.