Renewable Development in the “Golden Age” of AI
by Elle Nicholson, TXSES Researcher The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence over the past few years has often been described as the “golden age” of AI. Companies have been racing to innovate, using AI to cut costs and improve efficiency. This surge in AI usage, along with an ever-growing interest in cryptocurrencies, has accelerated construction […]
Closing the Loop: The Rise of Solar Panel Recycling
by Elle Nicholson, TXSES A common concern about solar energy is that the technology is less environmentally friendly than it seems once panels reach the end of their life cycle. With an average lifespan of about 30 years, solar panels are projected to generate up to 80 million tons of waste by 2050—a challenge for landfills […]
Balcony Solar Panels: The Future of Urban Energy?
By Elle Nicholson, TXSES Researcher Historically, solar panels have not always been feasible in urban environments due to spacing issues. However, new solar technology has recently emerged that can provide renewable energy even in limited spaces. Balcony solar panels are compact (300–800 watt) systems consisting of a few PV panels, an inverter, and battery storage. […]
SB 819: A Threat to Renewables and Texans
By Elle Nicholson. A multitude of energy-related bills have been filed in the 89th Texas Legislative Session, but one particular bill has gained notoriety rarely seen amongst energy bills. Senator Lois Kolkhorst’s Senate Bill 819 has triggered significant backlash from a variety of opponents due to the widespread negative consequences it would have for the […]
Renewables in the 89th Texas Legislative Session – Presentation
TXSES intern Elle Nicholson gave a virtual presentation to TXSES local chapter North Texas Renewable Energy Group (NTREG) about “Renewables in the 89th Texas Legislative Session,” during their April 2025 monthly meeting. Her overview of legislation currently winding its way through the Texas legislature provided insight into several pieces of legislation and their potential affects on […]
Small But Mighty: Small-Scale Battery Storage Saves the Day
By Elle Nicholson Battery energy storage systems, commonly referred to as BESS, have quickly become an invaluable tool in the energy industry, for both utilities and small-scale applications alike. The systems work by drawing energy from the grid (or a localized power source), storing the charge, and later releasing it to provide electricity or other […]
On the Horizon: Streamlined Regulation for Small-Scale Solar
by Elle Nicholson TXSES is working on a new regulatory development that should improve the solar installation process for homeowners and smaller companies in Texas, if implemented. As distributed energy has increased in popularity throughout the state, the Public Utility Commission of Texas’ (PUC) rules for connecting distributed energy resources (DER)—small-scale energy sources like solar […]
The Explosive Energy Demand from AI, Data Centers & Crypto on Texas’ Grid
By Elle Nicholson Data centers are on the rise in Texas due to a variety of technologies. The foundations of the internet run on data centers, as do artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency mines, all of which are booming. Since data centers require copious amounts of energy for operation, they are drastically increasing levels of energy […]