Space-based solar potential endorsed by UK researchers.

Researchers at the Universities of Surrey and Swansea have reported demonstrating the viability of low cost lightweight solar panels in space.

The study was based on the following of a satellite over almost six years, observing how the panels generated power and weathered solar radiation over 30,000 orbits.

In particular, the researchers found that the solar cells showed no signs of cell delamination and no deterioration in short circuit current or in series resistance.

However, the cell’s fill factors were observed to decrease over the duration of the mission, caused primarily by a decrease in their shunt resistance, which has been attributed to an aspect of the cell design.

(Photo courtesy: Nicholas Doherty/Unsplash)

Four Gulf of Mexico federal tracts designated for wind power development by BOEM.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Four tracts of federal Gulf of Mexico waters of the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, ranging in size from nearly 57,000 acres (23,100 hectares) to over 495,000 acres (200,230 hectares), were designated Thursday for development of wind energy by the Biden administration.

Friday’s announcement follows the first Gulf sale of leases for wind development earlier this year. That sale drew a $5.6 million bid from one company for one Gulf tract, a modest start for wind energy in the Gulf, which lags behind the Northeast in offshore wind power development.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announcement said its next step will be to issue a formal notice for a proposed lease sale, which will be followed by a 60-day comment period.