Direct-fired heaters are popular with manufacturers because they quickly warm large areas in plants, while taking up limited floor space.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy recently launched a $3 million prize to revitalize domestic solar panel manufacturing. The program will support entrepreneurs as they develop transformative ideas into concepts and then into early-stage prototypes ready for industry testing.

HAGERSTOWN, MD—Volvo Group has installed a 5,000-panel solar canopy in the parking lot of its power train assembly plant here. The canopy will produce 1.3 megawatts of electricity for the facility.

WARREN, MI—General Motors is collaborating with DTE Energy to build a new 800-kilowatt solar array at its Warren Transmission plant here. The 2,800 solar panels will generate clean electricity that will go back to the grid.

HAGERSTOWN, MD—Volvo Group North America has installed 5,000 solar panels at its power train assembly plant here. The company erected a canopy of solar panels above its parking lot to generate approximately 1.3 megawatts of electricity, enough power for 200 homes.

The General Motors’ Orion Assembly Plant sits in the shadow of a large landfill. But, the 4-million-square foot factory, which is home to the Chevrolet Sonic and the Buick Verano, uses that to its advantage. The plant derives a significant portion of its power from landfill gas.

ALTONA, Australia—Toyota has installed a 500-kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof of its assembly plant here. The 2,000-panel system will provide approximately 10 percent of the factory’s energy needs.

CHATTANOOGA, TN—Volkswagen’s assembly plant here is now getting as much as 9.5 megawatts of electricity from a massive solar panel installation.

FREMONT, CA—Silevo Inc. has created a new solar cell that is more than 21 percent efficient converting sunlight into electricity.

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC—Boeing’s new assembly plant here is getting much of its power from a 2.6-megawatt solar panel array on its roof. The largest rooftop solar installation in the Southeast, the array generates enough power for 250 homes.