American firms Wittman Estes and NODE have created a prefabricated accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, that is wrapped in charred wood and runs entirely on solar power. More about Wittman Estes and NODE use prefab elements to create rentable backyard cottage in Seattle
IKEA has partnered with Little Sun – the social business co-founded by artist Olafur Eliasson – on small domestic solar panels that store energy to provide light and power, and inspire action on climate change. More about Olafur Eliasson joins with IKEA to encourage people to harvest their own solar power
US researchers have invented a nanogenerator that could one day be added to solar panels to keep them producing energy when covered in snow. More about Snow nanogenerator would allow solar panels to generate energy on wintry days
IKEA's research lab Space10 has crafted a miniature wooden village to demonstrate how communities could create their own circular clean energy system. More about Space10's SolarVille project proposes communities generate and share energy
Concrete facades could soon capture solar energy to power buildings, using a prototype photovoltaic cladding developed by materials company LafargeHolcim and electronics manufacturer Heliatek. More about Photovoltaic concrete facade uses sunlight to generate energy
Finnish designer Robin Falck has created an A-frame mirrored holiday home on Vallisaari, an island near Helsinki. More about The Nolla cabin by Robin Falck is a zero-emissions escape in Finland
Renewable energy is now used to power all of Apple's retail stores, offices and data centres in 43 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, China and India. More about Apple now operating on 100 per cent renewable energy
Danish architecture firm COBE has unveiled a concept for modular electric-car charging stations, which are set to be built in all three Scandinavian countries. More about COBE's tree-shaped electric-car charging stations will be rolled out across Scandinavia
Dutch designer Pauline van Dongen has created a backpack from a single piece of knitted fabric, which incorporates tiny solar power beads enabling wearers to charge smart devices on the go. More about Pauline van Dongen designs backpack using "energy harvesting textile"
Steven Holl Architects is teaming up with Rüssli Architekten to create a new headquarters for a major humanitarian organisation in Geneva, which will feature walls of tinted photovoltaic glazing. More about Steven Holl unveils winning design for Doctors Without Borders operation centre in Geneva
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban has completed a music complex near Paris, featuring an egg-shaped auditorium and a wall of solar panels that move to follow the path of the sun. More about Shigeru Ban's La Seine Musicale incorporates a wall of moving solar panels
German automaker Audi is working with Chinese solar-cell specialist Hanergy to develop thin-film solar cells that can be integrated into the panoramic glass roofs of its cars. More about Audi set to unveil car with solar roof by end of 2017
Blue-tinged solar panels almost completely cover this school that Scandinavian firm CF Møller has completed on Copenhagen's waterfront, providing half of the electricity needed to power the building. More about CF Møller covers Copenhagen school in 12,000 solar panels
IKEA is expanding its solar panel offering with a battery-storage solution, which it claims could help homeowners cut their electricity bills by 70 per cent. More about IKEA launches solar battery packs to rival Tesla's Powerwall
US President Donald Trump has suggested that his controversial wall proposed for the country's border with Mexico could be covered with solar panels, to provide cheap energy and help foot the bill. More about Trump touts solar-panelled Mexico border wall as cost-saving solution
Crystal has been 3D-printed into vases, upcycled into terrazzo and channelled into solar panels by the three winners of the Swarovski Designers of the Future awards for 2017. More about Swarovski crystal gets 3D-printed, upcycled and turned into gadgets by emerging designers
Filigreed carbon-fibre shutters fold around the oriel window of Foster + Partners' Apple Store in Dubai, shading the shop floor during the day but opening at night to views of the Burj Khalifa. More about Foster + Partners completes Dubai Apple Store with carbon-fibre "solar wings"
Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson has previewed a third design in his series of solar-powered mini lamps made for people without access to reliable energy. More about Olafur Eliasson reveals his latest pocket-sized solar lamp, the Little Sun Diamond
New York-based architectural design practice Jenny Sabin Studio has won MoMA PS1's Young Architecture Program competition with plans for a shelter made of robotically knitted textile solar panels. More about Jenny Sabin to create robotically knitted canopy for MoMA PS1 Young Architects Program 2017
This portable charger features a photovoltaic panel that powers phones and laptops using only the sun's rays. More about Portable Solartab C charger uses sunshine to keep laptops powered on the go