Vertical Bifacial PV Outperforms Tilted PV Systems in the UK
A year‑long study by the University of York shows that Over Easy Solar’s vertical bifacial photovoltaic system outperforms traditional tilted monofacial panels across all UK seasons. The bifacial array delivered up to 26.9% more electricity during morning hours and 24.5% higher output in winter, thanks to rear‑side light capture and white‑gravel reflectors. Despite a higher upfront cost of $1,630 per kilowatt versus $1,200 for conventional systems, the extra yield translates into faster payback and greater alignment with peak residential demand. The findings position vertical bifacial PV as a compelling option for the UK and Irish markets.
Vaillant Launches Space-Saving Residential Heat Pump
German heating specialist Vaillant has introduced the Arotherm Pro, a compact air‑to‑water heat pump that uses propane (R‑290) as a low‑GWP refrigerant. The product is offered in 5 kW, 7 kW and 11 kW models, delivering a maximum coefficient of performance of 5.03 at...
Australian Developer Moves Ahead with Modular Green Hydrogen Production Plant
InterContinental Energy (ICE) announced it has secured up to AUD 1.6 million ($1.14 million) in Australian federal funding to develop a digital twin for its patented P2(H2)Node modular system. The company also signed the first licence for the node, marking the transition from...
Halocell Energy, Sofab Inks Advance Perovskite Collaboration
Halocell Energy and U.S. startup Sofab Inks have demonstrated that perovskite modules using Sofab’s Tinfab electron transport layer retain roughly 100% of their normalized efficiency after 1,300 hours of accelerated light and damp‑heat exposure. In contrast, comparable control devices lost...
St. Kitts and Nevis Tenders Major Solar-Storage Project
St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) has opened a tender for the island’s first utility‑scale solar‑plus‑storage project, the Basseterre Valley development. The plan calls for 50 MW of solar generation paired with a 30.5 MW/30.5 MWh battery system, marking a major expansion beyond the...
Dismantled 28-Year-Old PV System Reveals Wasps Nest in Junction Box
Researchers in Austria uncovered a wasp nest inside the junction box of a 1998 rooftop PV module, demonstrating that insects can breach even sealed electrical components. The module exhibited backsheet discoloration, burn marks and partial failure, yet the overall design...
First Solar Project Backed by EU’s Cross-Border Tender Starts Operating
The EU’s first cross‑border renewable tender has funded the 20 MW Loukkaanaro solar park in northern Finland, granting €2.35 million (about $2.7 million) toward a €10 million (≈$11.5 million) project. Managed by regional cooperative Oulun Seudun Sähkö, the park—featuring roughly 30,000 panels—will supply about 4%...
Cooling Solar Modules with Nanofluids Based on Graphene Oxide, Mxene
An international research team combined a three‑dimensional oscillating heat pipe (3D‑OHP) with a surfactant‑free hybrid graphene‑oxide (GO) and MXene nanofluid to passively cool photovoltaic (PV) modules. Field tests on a 50 W panel in Mashhad, Iran, achieved temperature reductions exceeding 24 °C,...
MyNu Energy Launches Mobile Solar and Battery Energy Storage System
MyNu Energy has introduced the PowerQub‑M, a trailer‑mounted solar and battery energy storage system that pairs a 3 kW demountable solar array with configurable battery packs ranging from 60 kWh to 240 kWh. The unit can supply between 25 kVA and 160 kVA of power...
Cyber Threats for PV: What Are Man-in-the-Middle Attacks and How Do They Work
Man‑in‑the‑middle (MITM) attacks are emerging as a critical cyber threat to network‑connected photovoltaic (PV) plants, allowing adversaries to intercept, modify, or block communications between controllers, inverters and monitoring systems. Such attacks can cause operational failures, physical damage to equipment, and...
Jupiter, AMPIN Open 1.3 GW Solar Factory in India
Jupiter International and AMPIN Energy Transition have opened a 1.3 GW solar cell and module manufacturing plant in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, under their joint venture AMPIN Solar One. The facility, inaugurated by Odisha’s chief minister, was developed under India’s Production‑Linked Incentive (PLI)...
The Hydrogen Stream: BMW Unveils Tank for iX5 Hydrogen
BMW unveiled a 700‑bar hydrogen tank for its iX5 Hydrogen, storing seven kilograms of hydrogen for up to 750 km range and refueling in under five minutes. The design can be built on the same line as conventional and electric drivetrains,...
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Polysilicon Prices Extend Decline
State-owned CECEP issued 29.5 million convertible bonds, raising ¥2.95 bn ($432 million) to fund six photovoltaic plants and storage projects totaling 900 MW. The total project outlay is about ¥4.57 bn ($670 million). Meanwhile, China’s polysilicon market saw its seventh consecutive weekly price drop, with N‑type...
Key Takeaways From SolarEx Istanbul
The 18th SolarEx Istanbul gathered more than 400 exhibitors and over 1,000 global solar brands, underscoring Turkey’s rise as a solar manufacturing and innovation hub. Domestic PV players are scaling to gigawatt‑level output while the country’s own installations reached about...
U.S.-Israeli Conflict with Iran Tests Solar Supply
The U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran is not yet derailing solar manufacturing projects in the Middle East, but it is creating logistics uncertainty. Analysts note that container shipping schedules are becoming unpredictable, leading exporters to reroute cargo around the Cape of...
Turkish Manufacturer Presents Photovoltaic Water Heater
Turkish heating solutions provider Water Heating Systems (WHS) unveiled its DC Sunboil photovoltaic water heater at SolarEX Istanbul. The system converts up to 1.6 kW of DC solar power directly into heat without an inverter, delivering about 3 kWh of thermal energy...
‘I Joined the Management Team the Day After Returning From Maternity Leave’
Women in Solar+ Europe highlighted Ilse Cappelle, Libra Energy’s Head of Marketing & E‑commerce, who stepped onto the management team the day after returning from maternity leave. Her story showcases the company’s commitment to career growth, work‑life balance, and gender‑inclusive...
Sodium-Ion Battery Study Claims Zero Thermal Runaway Breakthrough
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have demonstrated a polymerizable non‑flammable electrolyte that eliminates thermal runaway in ampere‑hour‑scale sodium‑ion batteries. Published in Nature Energy, the study reports the first zero‑thermal‑runaway performance for sodium‑ion cells using the new PNE material....
Japanese Rail Operator to Procure 98 MW of New Solar via Corporate PPA
Japanese transport conglomerate Tokyu Corp. announced a corporate power purchase agreement to supply Tokyu Railway with approximately 98 MW (DC) of newly built solar power. The PPA, managed with Tohoku Electric, will begin delivering electricity in fiscal 2026 and run for...
Chinese Module Trading Slows After Export Tax Rebate Cancellation
OP IS reported a modest dip in the FOB China TOPCon spot price to $0.119/W, down 0.83% amid post‑Lunar New Year slowdown. The decline follows China’s removal of export tax rebates on PV products effective April 1, prompting manufacturers to absorb higher...
Envision Unveils 12.5 MWh BESS, Begins 790 Ah Cell Output
Envision announced the launch of a 12.5 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and the start of production for a 790 Ah lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) cell at the ESIE 2026 expo in Beijing. The AI‑energy‑systems platform bundles battery cells, power conversion, energy‑management software, SCADA...
Anker Solix Launches 7 kWh Plug-In Battery Targeting Rooftop Solar Retrofits
Anker Solix introduced the Solarbank Max AC, a 7 kWh plug‑in home battery with a 3.5 kW bidirectional inverter that can be expanded to 42 kWh. Priced from €2,229 ($2,657) in Germany, it targets retrofitting existing rooftop PV systems without replacing the whole...
Data Center Energy Spend Rivals Global Solar Investment
Rystad Energy reports that global data‑center capital expenditure reached $770 billion in 2025, equalling worldwide photovoltaic investment and overtaking upstream oil and gas spending. Roughly 40% of that spend now goes to energy‑related systems such as cooling, power distribution and thermal...
How to Delaminate End-of-Life Solar Modules with Ultrasonic Cavitation
A German‑Turkish research team introduced a solvent‑free ultrasonic cavitation process to delaminate end‑of‑life crystalline‑silicon photovoltaic modules. The technique fully separates the glass from the front EVA layer and partially releases silicon fragments, achieving an 82.2% mass‑based delamination efficiency. Laboratory tests...
Aggreko to Deliver ‘Australia’s Largest’ Off-Grid Renewable Hybrid Power Plant
Aggreko announced a landmark 15‑year power purchase agreement with Harmony Gold to supply the Eva copper project in northwest Queensland. The off‑grid hybrid plant will combine a 118 MW solar farm, a 250 MWh battery storage system and a 104 MVA thermal generator,...
How LECO Process Could Push TOPCon Solar Cell Efficiency Beyond 26%
Researchers at UNSW and Chinese specialist Laplace have demonstrated that laser‑enhanced contact optimization (LECO) can lift industrial TOPCon solar cell efficiency beyond 26%. By applying intense laser pulses to under‑fired contacts while maintaining a reverse bias, LECO dramatically lowers contact...
Singapore Installs 504 MW of Solar in 2025
Singapore recorded a record solar rollout in 2025, installing 504 MW of new capacity and bringing cumulative photovoltaic capacity to 2.09 GW. The surge pushed the nation past its original 2030 goal, prompting the Energy Market Authority to raise the target to...
UK Government Approves Record 800 MW Solar Plant over Local Opposition
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband granted a Development Consent Order for the 800 MW Springwell Solar Farm, the largest solar installation approved in the United Kingdom to date. The project, developed by Luminous Energy and EDF Power Solutions, will include battery...
Negative Electricity Prices Return to France, Germany
Negative hourly electricity prices resurfaced in France and Germany last week, with Germany posting a daily average of -$19.0/MWh and France -$4.2/MWh. Seven major European markets recorded weekly average prices below $116/MWh, the lowest level of the year, while Italy...
Batteries Reshape Solar Pricing in California Market
Aurora Energy Research reports that California’s growing battery fleet is lifting the value of negatively priced solar electricity by up to $42 per megawatt‑hour in the CAISO wholesale market. On March 20, 2026, more than 3 GW of storage assets bought electricity, injecting...
Voltalia Secures €100 Million Financing Amid Restructuring
Voltalia, the French independent power producer, secured a €100 million ($116.8 million) shareholder loan to fund its “Spring” transformation plan. The non‑dilutive financing, structured as a one‑year repayable advance, will back a targeted asset‑divestment program aiming to sell $350‑$410 million of assets by...
Vertical Rooftop PV Debuts in the U.S.
Norwegian specialist Over Easy Solar has launched its first U.S. rooftop vertical photovoltaic system, a 100 kW bifacial array installed on a green roof in Queens, New York. The super‑light, ballast‑free design delivers between 100,000 and 140,000 kWh annually, depending on albedo,...
Which Power Markets Are Most Impacted by the Middle East Conflict?
Wood Mackenzie’s analysis of 13 major power markets shows that those heavily reliant on imported coal and gas could see generation costs jump by $8.30 per megawatt‑hour if current fuel price spikes persist through 2026. Japan, South Korea and Italy...
Bluetti Launches EnergyPro 13K Home Storage System in US
Chinese battery maker Bluetti has introduced the EnergyPro 13K (EP13K) home storage system in the United States, marking its latest generation of whole‑home backup solutions. The EP13K delivers 13 kWh of usable capacity, higher output power, and a modular, semi‑portable design...
Titanium Emerges as a Vanadium Alternative for Redox Flow Batteries
A Japanese‑Chinese research team unveiled a titanium molten‑salt redox‑flow battery (TMSRB) that uses abundant Ti ions and high‑conductivity molten salts for grid‑scale energy storage. The prototype delivers over 97% coulombic efficiency, stable cycling at 300‑450 °C, and a theoretical cell voltage...
Bangladesh Plans 442 MW Solar Facility Near Coal Power Plant
Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will build a 442 MW solar farm adjacent to the 1.32 GW Rampal coal plant, marking the nation’s largest solar project. The $200 million development will be financed 15% by BPDB and 85% from the government’s Power Development...
Spark Secures Australian Approval for Massive Solar and Battery Project
Spark Renewables, owned by Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional, received final state planning approval for the Dinawan Solar Farm and battery project in New South Wales. The hybrid development will install 800 MW of photovoltaic capacity and a 356 MW/1,574 MWh battery storage system, representing...
Solar Keeps Slimming Down While Power Rises
An international study shows commercial silicon solar modules have tripled their specific power, rising from about 8.5 W/kg in the early 2000s to 23.6 W/kg today. The gain stems from advances in module architecture, bifacial designs, and improved temperature management, while glass...
Inverter-Based Resource Performance History Leads to US Regulatory Change
North American Reliability Corp. (NERC) has issued three new standards—PRC-028-1, PRC-029-1 and PRC-030-1—to tighten inverter‑based resource (IBR) performance after a series of disturbances, notably the 2022 Odessa event that shed 2,555 MW of solar and synchronous generation. PRC-028-1 mandates high‑fidelity disturbance...
Solar, Mining Groups Partner to Improve Mineral Traceability
The Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to boost traceability and sustainability across solar supply chains. The partnership will span the entire value chain, from mineral extraction to...
‘Photovoltaics Are, First and Foremost, About Energy Security’
Moldova’s Ministry of Energy announced that the country’s solar capacity reached 1 GW, a twelvefold increase over five years, as part of a broader push to hit 30% renewables by 2030. The government launched a 170 MW wind tender coupled with 44 MWh...
Conductive Smart Hydrogels as Battery Electrolytes: Promising for Lithium, Sodium, and Zinc-Ion Chemistries
A new systematic review of 186 studies (2008‑2025) positions conductive hydrogels as viable battery electrolytes, especially for lithium, sodium, and zinc chemistries. Water‑based hydrogels eliminate the fire risk of flammable organic liquids and can self‑repair, offering a safety advantage for...
Electrification Alone May Not Shield Firms From Gas-Linked Prices
Electrification initiatives are increasingly vulnerable because U.S. electricity prices remain closely linked to natural‑gas markets and grid constraints. Companies that assumed solar and storage would fully insulate them from fossil‑fuel price swings are seeing costs rise in tandem with gas....
All Emerging Cyber Threats Targeting Power Infrastructure at a Glance
Researchers at Morocco's Higher School of Technology examined emerging cyber threats to smart grids, highlighting AI‑driven detection and defense methods. They cataloged attacks such as DDoS, false data injection, replay, and IoT‑based intrusions, emphasizing their potential to disrupt power operations....
The Impact of Annealing on Copper-Plated Heterojunction Solar Cells
A University of New South Wales team examined how different annealing regimes affect copper‑plated contacts on heterojunction (HJT) solar cells. Fast annealing at 205 °C for 45 seconds increased microstrain in both the copper and the underlying indium tin oxide (ITO),...
New Time Targets Large-Scale Perovskite Production in Italy
New Time announced a four‑year plan to industrialize perovskite solar cells in Italy, targeting pilot‑scale production within three years and full‑scale output by the fourth year. The roadmap includes formulation optimization, small‑scale certification runs, and the development of an industrial...
Neoen Unveils Large-Scale Battery Projects in France, Japan
Neoen, a Brookfield subsidiary, announced two large‑scale battery energy storage projects: a 248 MW/496 MWh system in Vernou‑la‑Celle‑sur‑Seine, France, and a 100 MW/400 MWh facility in Hyogo, Japan. The French battery will be the country’s largest and the first to connect to the 400 kV...
TCL Zhonghuan to Acquire Control of DAS Solar in Consolidation Move
TCL Zhonghuan agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Chinese solar maker DAS Solar for $182.7 million, securing 59.14% equity and 66.34% voting rights. The deal values DAS at roughly $116 million—about 10% of its 2025 peak—while injecting $145 million in new capital....
Malaysia’s Solar Capacity Surpasses 5.7 GW
Malaysia’s solar capacity topped 5.78 GW by the end of 2025, driven by a 1.45 GW surge across large‑scale, feed‑in‑tariff and net‑metering schemes. The Large‑Scale Solar (LSS) programme now has 6.0 GW approved for 117 developers, with a fresh 2 GW auction launched in...
Hydro-Québec Launches Grant for Residential, Commercial Solar
Hydro-Québec unveiled a new grant that reimburses up to CAD 1,000 ($718) per kilowatt installed, covering as much as 40% of eligible residential and commercial solar projects. The incentive lowers typical residential system costs of CAD 5,000‑6,000 ($3,590‑$4,300) and business installations of...
