For the third consecutive year, Antenna Group has announced its top 10 energy technology areas to watch in the coming year. Four out of Antenna’s top 10 trends are in the solar sector, spurred by solar’s record-breaking year of growth.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced over $13 million for five projects to strengthen domestic solar manufacturing and speed commercialization of efficient, affordable photovoltaic and concentrating solar power technologies.

GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA®) has released U.S. Solar Market Insight: 3rd Quarter 2013, which shows that the third quarter of 2013 was the second largest quarter in the history of the U.S. solar market and the largest quarter ever for residential PV installations.

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) announced that its new standard IAPMO/ANSI S1001.1, Design and Installation of Solar Water Heating Systems, has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as an American National Standard.

Two reports from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) find that non-hardware costs for solar — often referred to as soft costs — now comprise up to 64 percent of the total price of residential solar energy systems.

With its solar panels, wind turbines, and a geothermal system, Walgreens celebrated the official opening of what is believed to be the nation’s first net zero energy retail store, anticipated to produce energy equal to or greater than it consumes.

Renewable energy sources could account for nearly half of the increase in global power generation through 2035, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 2013 edition of the World Energy Outlook. Solar energy and wind energy could make up 45 percent of that expansion in renewables.

Scientist Myles Steiner has announced that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has set a new world record at 31.1 percent for a two-junction solar cell. The research team at NREL beat Alta Devices` previous record by 0.3 percent.

Despite waning government support, the threat of international trade wars, and high-profile bankruptcies, the solar photovoltaic (PV) market continues to grow, according to a report from Navigant Research.

Some homeowners are turned off by how solar panels affect the appearances of their homes. Building-integrated photovoltaics — basically solar panels incorporated into the structure of new buildings — can eliminate the negative visual impact of traditional solar panels, improve appearance, and boost resale value.