The move is a direct extension of a vision Elon Musk has been building for months. At the World Economic Forum in Davos this past January, Musk announced that both Tesla and SpaceX were independently working to establish 100 gigawatts of annual solar manufacturing capacity inside the United States. Days later, on Tesla’s Q4 2025 earnings call, he made the ambition concrete: “We’re going to work toward getting 100 GW a year of solar cell production, integrating across the entire supply chain from raw materials all the way to finished solar panels.”

Job postings on Tesla’s website reflect that same target, with language explicitly calling for 100 GW of “solar manufacturing from raw materials on American soil before the end of 2028.”

Tesla job listing for Staff Manufacturing Development Engineer, Solar Manufacturing

The urgency behind the latest solar manufacturing target is rooted in a set of rapidly emerging pressures related to AI and Tesla’s own energy business. U.S. power consumption hit its second consecutive record high in 2025 and is projected to climb further through 2026 and 2027, driven largely by the explosion in AI data centers and the broader electrification of transportation. Tesla’s own energy division, which produces the Megapack utility-scale battery storage system, has been growing rapidly, and solar supply is a critical companion component for the business to scale. Musk has argued that solar is not just a clean energy option but the only one that makes economic sense at the scale AI infrastructure demands.

Tesla lands in Texas for latest Megapack production facility

Ironically, the path to domestic solar independence currently runs through China. Sort of.

Despite Tesla’s stated push to localize its supply chain, mirrored recently by the company’s plan for a $4.3 billion LFP battery manufacturing partnership with LG Energy Solution in Michigan, Tesla still relies on China-based suppliers to keep its cost structure intact.

The $2.9 billion equipment deal underscores a tension Musk himself acknowledged at Davos: “Unfortunately, in the U.S. the tariff barriers for solar are extremely high and that makes the economics of deploying solar artificially high, because China makes almost all the solar.” Building the factory in America requires buying the machinery from the country Tesla is trying to reduce its dependence on.

Tesla named by U.S. Gov. in $4.3B battery deal for American-made cells

The regulatory pathway adds another layer of complexity. Suzhou Maxwell has been seeking export approval from China’s commerce ministry, and it remains unclear how quickly that clearance will come. Still, the market has already reacted, with shares in the Chinese firms reportedly involved in the talks surged more than 7% following the Reuters report that broke the story.

Whether Tesla can hit its 2028 target of 100GW of solar manufacturing remains an open question. Though that scale may seem staggering, especially in such a short timeframe, we know that Musk has a documented history of “always pulling it off” in the face of ambitious deadlines that may slip. But, rest assured – it’ll get done.

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While Tesla’s energy products, particularly its commercial Megapack system, dominate the field, the same cannot be said for its residential solar systems, which have faced an uphill battle in the highly competitive market. Now, in a further blow to the business, Reuters reports California is cutting the pay residential solar owners will receive from the power they contribute to the grid. Luckily, Tesla Energy may come out unscathed thanks to a new incentive program for energy storage products.

California, which is by far the largest solar market in the United States, constituting over 38% of all solar capacity in the country, will be cutting incentives for residential solar system owners. While currently, these owners are paid an elevated rate for whatever power they generate for the grid, that will change on April 15th. Owners henceforth receive compensation equivalent to what utilities pay to acquire renewable energy from any other source.

This incentive cut particularly damages homeowners who hope the solar system can pay for itself over a long enough timeframe. As noted by the Reuters report, the average residential solar system will pay for itself in just 3-5 years, but with this new pay structure, the average system will take roughly 9 years to achieve the same thing.

While many have called this move a roadblock to California’s carbon neutrality goals and have rightly pointed out that this policy change comes at a vulnerable time for the California energy grid, new incentives are being put in place to balance out this change.

Most notably, California will be increasing the incentives for battery energy storage systems, such as the Tesla Powerwall, meaning that despite the decrease in solar demand, Tesla may still benefit from the upcoming change.

California regulators defend the change stating that this focus on battery energy storage will help reinforce the grid, which has been severely damaged in recent years by seemingly unending wildfires. As for consumers, this change could mean that energy storage systems are more critical than ever to help their home energy systems pay for themselves in a given amount of time.

It should be noted that this upcoming change to incentives comes at an inopportune time for solar installation businesses, who have already been dealing with record interest rates and persistent inflation, both of which have dramatically cooled the demand from residential and commercial consumers alike.

What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!

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“Tesla installed a new roof for our Family Life Center Gymnasium wing, solar panels, and power wall! It is our prayer that this large-scale project will encourage other churches to install clean and sustainable energy on their campus and continue the battle for environmental justice.”

“Our deepest thanks to Rob McCafferty, Zach Hill and the Tesla team, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Assemblymember Mia Bonta for providing gracious proclamations, and especially to our Trustees Ministry, Buildings & Grounds Committee, and Trustee Leonard Medley, who shepherded the project,” Allen Temple said on its Facebook page.

On January 15, Allen Temple held a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new energy storage project at its Family Life Center in Oakland, California. The project, in partnership with Tesla, was completed on December 21, 2022.

The church said in a press release that Tesla’s sponsorship of the sustainability project would help it serve the community. These savings will enable it to direct more of its resources to community support and outreach. During power outages within its community, the Family Live Center will be continuously operational as a space for residents to receive services and support.

Reverand. Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson, who serves as Senior Pastor, spoke of the lack of equitable access to clean air, water, healthy food options, and clean energy for the Flatland communities in East Oakland.

“At the heart of the issue is access. Equitable access to clean air, clean water, healthy food options, and clean energy. But there is a growing movement in California and nationwide to provide this access in overlooked and underserved communities. Dr. Ambrose Carroll and Green The Church have stood at the intersection of the Black Church and this movement creating critical connections that promote sustainability,” she said.

“Tesla’s willingness to commit their time, talent, resources, and technology to projects in the community reflects the power and potential of business and faith-based partnerships. When equity and justice for all is the goal, we all win. I am thankful for the leadership and support of our Trustee Ministry in making this vision a reality. May this be the first of many.” she added.

Reverand Dr. Ambrose Carroll, the Founder and CEO of Green The Church thanked Tesla for its involvement in the community.

“We are thankful to see our friends at Tesla involved in work that empowers the community. Through this partnership with Allen Temple, Tesla has shown its desire to ensure that in the Bay Area, when it comes to clean tech, they want all boats to rise as the clean energy sector thrives. This project brings Allen Temple one step closer to being a ‘Resilience Hub’ for its community.”

“When the neighborhood loses power due to fires, rain, storms, floods, or earthquakes, this faith community can be ready to provide food, shelter, and health aid, all of which are standards for resilience. Gentrification and marginalization have drastically affected Deep East Oakland for a long time. The black community owns many faith buildings, some of which are storefronts and others great Cathedrals, and all these buildings across the country need retrofitting. Many, like Allen Temple, can and will become Resilience Hubs!”

Tesla’s Senior Global Director of Public Policy, Rohan Patel, said that he was proud of the Tesla partnership with Allen Temple and thanked Green The Church for helping it to make it happen.

Proud of this @tesla partnership with @allentemplebc in Oakland. Thanks @greenthechurch for helping to make it happen https://t.co/Ir4a79DxiZ

— Rohan Patel (@rohanspatel) January 21, 2023

You can view the photos from the ribbon-cutting ceremony in the gallery below.

[rl_gallery id=”229394″]

Disclosure: Johnna is a $TSLA shareholder and believes in Tesla’s mission.  

Your feedback is welcome. If you have any comments or concerns or see a typo, you can email me at johnna@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter at @JohnnaCrider1.

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As automakers have realized the benefits of renewables in reducing the cost of manufacturing, many have invested in massive energy projects alongside their production locations. Tesla has famously implemented solar at each of its production locations, while Mercedes has invested in a massive wind energy project in Germany. Ford has now jumped into the mix with a new solar energy project just outside its production location in Valencia, Spain.

According to the Ford press release, the new solar plant can produce 2.8MW of power, but that will increase by 2.2MW in the coming months, and by 2024, this site alone will produce 10MW of energy for the Spanish plant. Ford states that this new project will aid the company in achieving its aggressive 2035 carbon neutrality goal across its facilities, logistics, and suppliers.

While this new solar project is a new implementation of renewables for Ford, the company has already made massive leaps in renewable energy use. The press release states, “All electric energy purchased by Ford manufacturing plants now comes from renewable sources; [the Valencia] plant achieving the landmark since January 1, 2022.”

While this project is a meaningful creation of renewable energy, perhaps an automaker’s biggest investment in clean energy in Europe is coming from Mercedes. The German luxury brand announced last year that it would construct 100MW of wind power at one location in Northern Germany, with more wind power projects from the German automaker proposedly in the works. This power hopefully will amount to enough to power all of the automaker’s operations shortly.

It’s unclear the savings that are possible for manufacturers. Still, suppose projects like these become large enough to supply excess power to the grid. In that case, automakers will have the opportunity to profit from the energy they generate. And with such a clear financial benefit from the investment, there is no doubt that more projects from more manufacturers should be expected in the future.

What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!

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Tesla made big headlines yesterday after announcing that its solar and energy storage businesses had seen significant growth in Q3 and over the past year. And while the company is often known for being a supplier of renewable energy sources, they have also been implementing them at each of its U.S.-based gigafactories. Of the 14 energy projects being built on Tesla facilities, nine are awaiting regulatory approval, two are in construction, and three have been completed and are starting energy production shortly.

Each month, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes a list of all current and upcoming energy generation and storage projects in the U.S. According to their most recent report from September of this year, most Tesla projects are being constructed at Tesla facilities.

The vast majority of Tesla energy projects are awaiting regulatory approval, and of those, most of them are planned for Giga Texas. The EIA lists 5 Tesla solar projects at Giga-Texas, adding up to 8.6MWh of output. Tesla’s Freemont facility has one solar project awaiting approval with a capacity of 0.4MWh, and Giga-Nevada has three projects pending approval with a total of 8MWh output.

The EIA report also includes numerous Tesla projects being produced for Tesla customers. A 6.4MWh solar project for the Berrenda Mesa Water District in California and a 4.5MWh solar project for the University of the Pacific in California are both listed as “construction completed but not in commercial operation.”

Interestingly, Tesla was not named as a part of any energy storage projects in the U.S., even though numerous Megapacks are currently being installed around the country. Perhaps most famously, a Megapack is now beginning operation in Hawaii, helping the island end coal power production. This could be because Tesla supplies the battery packs instead of constructing them, but the report was unclear about the sourcing of the battery systems.

As Elon Musk noted in yesterday’s earnings call, Tesla’s energy division will only become more critical as the business continues to grow. And with such consistent growth over the past four quarters, it is certainly hard to argue with him.

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A critical part of Aptera’s hyper-efficient vehicle design is the implementation of solar cells that cover the vehicle. Every upward-facing surface, from the roof to the interior dash, is equipped with solar cells, allowing maximum energy to be collected at any given time. And according to a video posted today, Aptera has begun producing solar parts as it hopes to start full vehicle production in the coming year.

Aptera’s youtube channel posted today that the company has begun producing the needed solar components that will be part of their upcoming vehicle.

The video also highlights some of the design goals Aptera set for its solar design. Longevity; capable of 15 years of use, durability; able to withstand impact and the environment, manufacturability; being able to produce the cells in large quantities, and efficiency; maintaining the brand’s dedication to efficient transportation.

With this announcement, they may only be capable of manufacturing roughly ten complete panels daily. Still, they have conquered the most significant design challenge of the vehicle and can move forward into vehicle production (hopefully) before the end of the year.

As the engineers in the video correctly point out, this is a significantly different approach to vehicle-mounted solar than ever before and is on a scale not attempted by legacy manufacturers on any production vehicle. The real test will come not in the lab but on the market when the car is released; will consumers recognize the benefits of vehicle-mounted solar? Only time will tell.

What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!

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One of the biggest challenges facing EV charging is the question of profitability. EV charging suppliers are torn between energy costs, expansion needs, and remaining price competitive (to name a few factors). Renewables offer a great way to help balance the scale. With cheap energy generation, one high cost of EV charging can be removed, assisting organizations in achieving profitability. The Pennsylvania Turnpike plans to do just that.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette, the Turnpike is currently building out three solar power generation facilities along the highway; Jeanette, New Stanton, and Harrison City. The Turnpike has already constructed its first solar facility in Jeanette, capable of 1.3 megawatts of power, and its power generation capabilities are only expected to grow. One estimate from a solar installation consultant told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette that with all of the available land the Turnpike owns, they could theoretically produce 1,513 gigawatts of power from solar alone.

The Turnpike was motivated to begin placing solar after a state auditor informed the organization that it needed to cut costs and pay down its $13.2 billion debt. And while the Turnpike will save on energy costs in EV charging, the solar facilities may also generate profit. When the system produces an excess of power, it can help support the local grid and could return up to $650,000 a year via electricity sale to the utility, once again helping to minimize costs. However, it is unclear what the total savings from the solar projects that have now been installed are.

The Turnpike is also pursuing future technology. While physical EV charging remains the only viable option, the organization is investing in wireless charging tech that they hope to place in certain sections of roadways in the coming years.

According to the US Department of Energy, “Solar energy is the fastest growing and most affordable source of new electricity in America,” and they have invested considerable resources into helping state and local governments implement their own solar projects, much like the Turnpike’s. The agency has numerous grants for community solar projects, and they supply “Local Government Guides for Solar Deployment” on their website.

As other states expand EV charging, organizations may use solar and other renewables more and more to minimize costs and help communities limit their CO2 footprint.

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After choosing to move to the New Zealand countryside years ago, Mike and Rebecca Casey chose to buy a 9-hectare farm, complete with an irrigation pond and 4 bedroom house. From there, they decided to farm a regional delicacy: cherries. Neither had a background in farming, with Mike being a computer programmer and Rebecca being an accountant. Nonetheless, they quickly got to work establishing a 9,250 cherry tree orchard. In an interview with the local news outlet, the Otago Daily Times, Mr. Casey stated his disappointment with the diesel equipment.

“The issue was, in order to run a productive cherry orchard using all of the diesel technology everybody uses, you probably emit between 50 to 80 tonnes of carbon emissions,” Casey said, pointing out his obvious concerns with what his equipment was putting in the atmosphere.

There are many electrified upgrades available in agriculture, but the couple’s first purchase was to replace their diesel water pump with an 18.5 kW electric one. However, this upgrade required three-phase power, while they only had a single phase on the property. When they looked into upgrading their connection, they were told it would cost them close to $100,000. Instead, they chose to invest in a solar array with a battery system that could power the pump and some of their own home. The solar array was a great first step, but the couple stated that it was only capable of covering 80% of their needs. This is when Mr. Casey decided to “bite the bullet” and upgrade their connection to cover their remaining needs.

The next upgrades came quickly; a set of 30kW fans to help fight frost on the trees, 2 electric vehicles, 2 electric golf carts, and a 40-year-old electric forklift to top it off. With their existing setup, they can almost run without the need for any fossil fuels at all, and the power that they sell back to the grid helps them continue to cover costs and pay back their electrified upgrades. This, paired with them selling under their new NZ Zero brand at supermarkets around the island, means they will be able to pay off what they owe under 2 years of full production. Their costs have significantly decreased thanks to the transition to electrification. A cost breakdown shows:

• Fossil Fuels – $59,054
• Electric (Grid) – $24,341
• Electric (Grid, Solar/Battery) – $5,910

The couple says their last upgrade will be an electric tractor which they will take delivery for next summer.

What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com.

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Dubbed ‘campfires,’ what looks like miniature solar flares were spotted near our star’s surface and appear throughout the latest images. “The campfires are little relatives of the solar flares that we can observe from Earth, a million or billion times smaller,” explained David Berghmans, Principal Investigator of the instrument that captured the first image set of the mini flares, the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI).

The naming of these features is actually a bit ironic. Coronal heating is essentially the opposite effect of what’s experienced around a campfire on Earth – the fire’s heat is highest when near the flames and cools as one moves farther away. On the Sun, the opposite is true. While its surface is a 10,000° F inferno, the upper atmosphere (corona) is measured in the millions of degrees.

One of scientists’ preliminary theory about the new flares is that they may play a part in creating the excessive coronal heat. “These campfires are totally insignificant each by themselves, but summing up their effect all over the Sun, they might be the dominant contribution to the heating of the solar corona,” proposed Frédéric Auchère, Co-Principal Investigator of the EUI. As more observations are made by the Solar Orbiter’s other instruments, along with more images from the EUI, the project’s scientists hope to find those answers and more.

ESA’s Solar Orbiter was launched on February 10, 2020, aboard an Atlas V rocket. Its primary missions are studying the Sun up close, taking the first high-resolution images of the Sun’s poles, and understanding connections between the Sun and Earth. Along with the EUI, nine other instruments are aboard the orbiter including a Solar Wind Plasma Analyser and X-ray Spectrometer/Telescope.

These latest findings bode well for the Agency’s goals overall and add to the growing body of science surrounding our Sun. You can watch an animation of the campfires in the below video published by the ESA.

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Tesla now holds an over $185 billion market capitalization, meaning the total value of all of the automaker’s shares of stock is worth more than any other carmaker on Earth. Toyota now sits in second place, with its $178 billion market cap.

Interestingly enough, Tesla’s solidification as the most valuable carmaker is eye-opening simply because the company does so much more than build sustainable vehicles. Tesla has become a leader in energy storage and solar solutions, something that no other carmaker in the world can say. While car companies continue to chase after Tesla’s industry-leading efficiency and technology, its focus remains on accelerating sustainability as a whole, and not just through vehicle manufacturing.

https://twitter.com/ElonsWorld/status/1270712021357658114

At the time of writing, Tesla shares were trading a few dollars above the $1,000 per share mark. At that price, the market cap stands at $185.10 billion.

Tesla overtook German automaker Volkswagen for the second-most valuable carmaker label in February. Volkswagen currently sits in third with an $85.53 billion market cap.

TSLA stock has continued to rise amid rising production rates and sales figures in China, the world’s largest automotive market. However, developments in battery technology and rumors of an upcoming million-mile capable battery pack have helped the electric automaker’s stock price soar in the past months.

On the energy front, Tesla has ramped its Solar Roof to a 4 MW per week production rate. The company indicated in the Q1 2020 Update Letter that this is enough for 1,000 homes. The implementation of rental and subscription services has also helped the company’s solar initiatives be affordable for more people.

On the morning of June 10, TSLA stock officially crossed the $1,000 per share threshold for the first time after rumors of a production push of the company’s Semi circulated. The talks, which were confirmed by company CEO Elon Musk, indicated production volumes would no longer be limited. The Semi was geared for initial deliveries in 2021, but Musk has decided to ramp up the manufacturing of the company’s commercial vehicle.

Meanwhile, Model 3 continues to dominate in nearly every country it is available. The car was the best selling electric vehicle in China in May, selling over 11,000 units during the month. In the United States, the Model 3 was the most popular vehicle in California through the first quarter of 2020.

After Tesla managed to reopen its vehicle production facility in Fremont, California, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has ramped up production of the Model Y, which has become the company’s main focus for the coming months.

Tesla is also looking to increase its production rate by opening up a series of new manufacturing facilities across the globe. Not only will the company open a new U.S.-based factory in the Central United States. Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Austin, Texas, are the two finalists for the new factory, with a decision expected to be made within the coming months.

Additionally, the company’s foreign presence is being ramped up. Not only is Giga Shanghai’s Model Y facility, known as Phase 2A, coming along in a timely fashion, but Tesla’s construction crews also recently broke ground on Giga Berlin in Germany. Tesla plans to manufacture half-a-million vehicles a year in Germany, and rumors have even suggested another European production plant will be built somewhere in the United Kingdom.

Tesla is riding a wave of momentum that has taken it from a small, likely unsuccessful car startup that was plagued with issues in 2008, to the most valuable automaker in the world in 2020. Not only has Tesla established itself as the leader in American EV manufacturing, but the company has launched itself into an international powerhouse that has combined electric mobility with sustainable energy solutions to become an international sensation.

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