Transparent Superhydrophobic Self-Cleaning Coating Increases Solar Cell Efficiency by 4.75%
Researchers have created a transparent, PFAS‑free dual‑layer sol‑gel coating that renders solar panels superhydrophobic while preserving high light transmission. Laboratory tests showed the coating raises photovoltaic efficiency from 13.90 % to 14.56 %, a 0.66‑point gain, and demonstrates strong abrasion, chemical and environmental durability. The coating combines a thin adhesive silica sol base with hydrophobic silica nanoparticles that create microscopic roughness, causing water to bead and roll off, removing dust and debris. The team plans field trials in diverse climates and aims for commercial rollout within five years.
NanoMalaysia Unveils Sodium-Ion Prototype Surpassing 300 Wh/Kg
NanoMalaysia Berhad unveiled a sodium‑ion battery prototype that delivers over 300 Wh/kg, placing it among the world’s most advanced sodium‑ion systems. Developed under the NanoMalaysia Energy Storage Technology Initiative in partnership with International Battery Centre Sdn Bhd, the prototype demonstrates performance...
Wales First Part of UK to Mandate Solar Panels on New Buildings
Wales will become the first UK region to require solar panels on new domestic and commercial buildings, with the rule taking effect on 4 March 2027. The updated building regulations mandate a "system for renewable electricity generation," which industry analysts say will...
Hizenergy Launches Four-Product C&I Storage Lineup with 300 kW PCS
Hizenergy has unveiled a four‑product commercial‑and‑industrial (C&I) energy storage portfolio, highlighted by a 300 kW low‑voltage PCS that plugs directly into 400 V distribution networks. The lineup also includes a 460 kW PCS and two storage systems delivering 627 kWh and 1,172 kWh respectively. By...
Netherlands Hits Record Electricity Production and Exports in 2025
The Netherlands set a new electricity production record in 2025, generating 132 billion kWh – a 10% increase over 2024. Renewables accounted for 49% of output, driven by a 17% jump in solar generation and the first full year of offshore wind...
Japan’s 27th Solar Auction Concludes with Average Final Price of $0.029/kWh
Japan’s Green Investment Promotion Organization wrapped up its 27th utility‑scale solar auction, allocating 79 MW at an average price of JPY 4.61/kWh ($0.029). The auction saw a zero‑yen bid for a 400 kW project and a highest bid of JPY 6.49/kWh, well below the...
‘Battery Atlas 2026’ Maps Europe’s Cell, Pack and Battery Manufacturers
The third edition of the Battery Atlas 2026, released by RWTH Aachen University, maps Europe’s entire lithium‑ion battery value chain. While more than 2,000 GWh of cell capacity was announced in 2023, the realistic outlook for early 2026 is about 1,190 GWh,...
Midsummer Secures Second Order for CIGS Production Line Equipment
Swedish thin‑film specialist Midsummer landed its biggest contract to date, a SEK 236 million deal for a complete DUO CIGS solar‑cell production line. The order follows a May 2025 SEK 143 million purchase for a 15 MW turnkey line from the same undisclosed Swedish defense...
Small 24/7 Clean Power Commitments Could Cut Costs for Long-Duration Storage
Researchers at TU Berlin and Princeton demonstrate that early 24/7 carbon‑free electricity commitments can dramatically lower the cost of emerging clean‑energy technologies such as iron‑air batteries and Allam‑cycle generators, creating a virtuous learning loop. Their model shows that commitments equivalent...
Thermocold Debuts Air-to-Water Heat Pump for Commercial Buildings
Thermocold has launched the AWA HP SEA/XEA, an air‑to‑water heat‑pump series for commercial buildings. The line spans 124‑644 kW heating and 128‑632 kW cooling capacities, delivers a COP of 3.05‑3.49, and can operate at outdoor temperatures as low as –15 °C. Units are...
Hinen Releases Residential Off-Grid Inverter
Hinen has launched the N3300S, a 3 kW residential off‑grid inverter that merges a pure‑sine‑wave inverter with an integrated MPPT solar charge controller. The unit is offered in 2.4 kW, 3.0 kW and 3.3 kW variants and can deliver up to 6 kVA surge power...
Jackery Introduces SolarVault 3 Series of Residential Solar Storage Solutions in the Netherlands
Jackery unveiled its SolarVault 3 series of residential solar storage solutions in the Netherlands, offering three models tailored for apartments, larger homes, and existing PV installations. The S3 Pro and S3 Pro Max deliver up to 4000 W solar input with...
Key Takeaways From Italy’s Key Energy Trade Show
The Energy Transition Expo in Rimini attracted 1,065 exhibitors and 530 buyers, marking a 10% rise in overall attendance and a 9% increase in foreign visitors. The show highlighted energy‑as‑a‑service models and a surge of interest in agrivoltaic projects, with...
Growing Pains: Grid Congestion as a Renewables Bottleneck
Grid congestion in the U.S. is becoming a major bottleneck for renewable energy projects, limiting revenue for IPPs and C&I owners even when assets are fully built and financed. The article highlights that while utilities focus on technical solutions, the...
Energy Storage Inspection 2026: Fox ESS, SMA, SAX Power, Kostal and BYD Impress with High Efficiency
The Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW Berlin) and spin‑off Aquu released the 2026 Energy Storage Inspection results, testing twelve 5 kW and 10 kW photovoltaic storage systems. Fox ESS topped the 10 kW DC category with a record 97 % System Performance Index...
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Longi Tops 800 MW Hexi Solar Module Tender
Longi’s subsidiary Longi Solar Technology secured the top spot in an 800 MW PV module tender for Gansu’s Hexi new energy base, offering a bid of CNY 0.754 ($0.104)/W and committing to delivery by June 2026. Canadian Solar announced that its 2 GW heterojunction...
Freight Costs Increase Following Military Strikes in the Middle East
Freight rates from the Far East to the U.S. and Europe rose sharply after recent military strikes in the Middle East, according to Xeneta data. Spot prices jumped about 10% on West Coast routes and 9% on East Coast routes,...
Solis Launches New Residential Storage System Portfolio
Chinese inverter maker Solis has introduced the SolisStorage residential battery portfolio, adding three product lines—IntelliHome, FlexHome and FlexAIO—to its lineup. All units use lithium‑iron‑phosphate chemistry, support a 90% depth of discharge, and are rated for up to 8,000 cycles with...
TCL Sunpower Presents Shingle TOPCon Solar Panels for Rooftop PV
TCL Sunpower has launched two new shingled‑module TOPCon series for rooftop solar, expanding its P Class portfolio. The residential RES Black line offers 465‑475 W modules with up to 23.8% efficiency, while the commercial COM series delivers 580‑600 W and up to...
Trina Solar Unveils 485 W TOPCon PV Panel with 24.3% Efficiency
Trina Solar unveiled its third‑generation Vertex S+ G3 dual‑glass TOPCon modules at the Key Energy trade show in Rimini, delivering up to 485 W power and a record 24.3% conversion efficiency. The five variants span 465‑495 W, feature a –0.26% /°C temperature coefficient,...
Germany’s Texxecure Launches Standardized Quality Rating for PV Systems
Germany’s Texxecure Rating Foundation has launched a standardized quality rating for photovoltaic (PV) systems that grades modules, inverters and whole projects on a AAA‑to‑D scale. The two‑step process combines a document review with an on‑site inspection, producing a single risk...
Ecoflow Debuts 5 kWh Residential Inverter Battery with 100% Depth of Discharge
EcoFlow unveiled the Ocean 2 all‑in‑one battery inverter at the Key Energy show in Rimini. The system pairs a 5 kWh LiFePO₄ battery with a single‑phase inverter, delivering 3.4 kW continuous discharge and 100 % depth of discharge. Units are compact, IP66‑rated and can...
Austria’s Accupower Launches Residential Sodium-Ion Battery
Austrian firm Accupower has launched Natec Home, a residential sodium‑ion battery offering 7.68 kWh capacity, 3.8 kW power output, and a €3,990 price comparable to lithium systems. It operates from –30 °C to 50 °C, holds an IP65 rating, and can be paralleled up...
PV-Powered Refrigerated Trailer Completes Long-Distance Australian Trial Run
Protran Solutions successfully completed a 1,671 km round‑trip between Sydney and Brisbane using a battery‑electric refrigerated trailer equipped with roof‑mounted solar panels. The Sunswap Endurance trailer consumed 85.9 kWh total energy, generating 58.9 kWh from solar while retaining 62 % battery capacity after 32 hours...
CHN Energy Switches on 2 GW Solar Plant at Coal-Mining Subsidence Area
China Energy Investment Corp. (CHN Energy) has commissioned the 2 GW Phase II of its Lingwu photovoltaic project, bringing the site’s total capacity to 4 GW and completing half of the planned 6 GW mining‑subsidence solar cluster in Ningxia. The base will deliver roughly...
PV-Assisted Heat Pump Prototype with Dual Condenser Reaches 7.59 Coefficient of Performance
Spanish researchers have built a dual‑condenser air‑to‑water heat pump that synchronises domestic hot‑water production with daylight, dramatically increasing photovoltaic self‑consumption. The prototype replaces the single condenser with an additional top‑mounted unit and uses a minute‑level control algorithm. Tests showed solar...
Osaki Electric Signs EMS Development Pact with Kyocera, Taiwan Plastics
Osaki Electric has entered a development pact with Kyocera and two Taiwan Plastics Group affiliates to co‑create an AI‑driven energy management system called SmaRe:C. The platform integrates solar generation, lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery storage and an edge AI terminal to optimise electricity...
RENA Secures 1.2 GW TOPCon Equipment Order in India
RENA Technologies won a contract to deliver a 1.2 GW TOPCon wet‑chemical processing line for Celloraa Energy’s new solar‑cell factory in Gujarat, India. The equipment suite includes InEtchSide 4+, BatchPolyClean N600, BatchEtch N600 and BatchTex N600, and is designed to halve water consumption while eliminating...
The Hydrogen Stream: ACES 220 MW Utah Project Nears Completion
HydrogenPro announced that its 220 MW ACES Delta project in Utah is nearing completion, with all 40 electrolyzers operating at full load. The hub, co‑developed by Chevron New Energies and Mitsubishi Power, will produce up to 100 tonnes of green hydrogen per...
Global Energy Transition Hits a Hardware Bottleneck
Transformer supply is hitting a critical bottleneck as lead times for large units have more than doubled since 2019 and U.S. prices have surged 79%. Hitachi Energy is responding with a $1.5 billion investment in new manufacturing capacity, part of a...
The Richest Silver Mine Isn’t Underground but in Solar
Silver has become a strategic material for the clean‑energy transition, with solar photovoltaics now accounting for roughly 17% of global silver demand. Primary ore grades are falling, pushing the industry toward higher‑grade, above‑ground sources such as retired solar panels that...
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Polysilicon Prices Slide Amid Low Operating Rates
The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association reported polysilicon operating rates fell to just 32% of capacity, extending an oversupply that pushed polysilicon prices lower and softened wafer prices across all grades. Wafer prices dropped 3‑8% after the Chinese New Year,...
Malaysia’s TTVision Enters India’s Solar Manufacturing Market
Malaysia’s TTVision Holdings Berhad will launch a joint‑venture manufacturing plant in India in the second half of 2026 to produce automated optical inspection and high‑speed processing systems for photovoltaic production lines. The facility will act as a localized integrator linking...
Vanadium Flow and Lithium-Ion Combine in World’s Largest Grid-Forming Hybrid Storage Plant in China
China’s Inner Mongolia region has commissioned a 300 MW/1,200 MWh hybrid battery energy storage system that blends lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) modules with vanadium redox flow cells. The plant, located in the Kubuqi Desert, uses Sineng Electric’s grid‑forming converters to deliver rapid response, virtual...
Chinese Academy of Sciences Achieves World Record Efficiency of 15.45% for Kesterite Solar Cell
The Chinese Academy of Sciences has set a new world record for kesterite (CZTSSe) solar cells, achieving a 15.45% power conversion efficiency and a certified 15.04% efficiency. The breakthrough stems from an interfacial phase equilibrium strategy that introduces a lithium‑tin‑sulfide...
Chinese Scientists Build ‘Ultra-Stable’ Polymer Solar Cell with 19.1% Efficiency
Chinese researchers at Wuhan University of Technology have demonstrated a polymer solar cell with a record‑high power conversion efficiency of 19.1%. By blending a small fraction of linearly packed small‑molecule acceptors into a polymeric macromolecular acceptor matrix, they achieved ordered...
Ideal Heating Launches New Monobloc Propane Heat Pump for Commercial Buildings
Ideal Heating has added a 65 kW monobloc air‑source heat pump to its Ecomod 290HT line, targeting commercial buildings that need higher temperature output. The unit runs on propane (R290), delivers up to 70 °C flow temperature and achieves a COP of...
German Startup Launches Gateway to Block Inverter Kill Switches
German startup Solarsecure Tech introduced the SolarSecure Vision gateway, a hardware‑agnostic device installed at the meter connection point that intercepts and validates inverter‑to‑cloud communications. The gateway blocks unverified kill‑switch commands while allowing authenticated signals, including mandatory grid‑operator directives, to pass via a...
Tongwei Plans to Acquire Polysilicon Competitor Qinghai Lihao
Shanghai‑listed polysilicon producer Tongwei announced plans to acquire 100% of Qinghai Lihao through a combined share‑issuance and cash transaction. The deal is still at a preliminary stage, with an intention agreement signed but valuation and final terms yet to be...
Switzerland Streamlines Construction of Large-Scale Solar Plants
Switzerland's Federal Council will enact a draft law on April 1, 2026 to accelerate permitting for large‑scale solar, wind and hydropower projects. The legislation centralizes cantonal approvals into a single procedure and limits appeals to superior cantonal courts. It also...
AlphaESS Releases Containerized C&I Storage System
AlphaESS has launched the Aster TB250/TB500, a containerized battery energy storage system aimed at Europe’s commercial and industrial market. The unit fits in a standard 20‑foot container and delivers 250‑500 kW of power with 705‑1,410 kWh of energy. It is compatible with...
JinkoSolar Achieves Record-Breaking 26.66% Efficiency for TOPCon Solar Cell Based on M10-Size Wafer
JinkoSolar announced a 26.6% power conversion efficiency for an industrial‑scale TOPCon solar cell built on an M10‑size wafer, setting a new world record for this technology class. The result, validated by an independent Chinese third‑party, stems from a dual‑side electrical...
‘Garbage in, Garbage Out’ – Solar Industry Debates Reality of AI
The Solar Quality Summit in Barcelona highlighted AI’s ability to accelerate photovoltaic project planning, construction, and operations, but stressed that its value hinges on high‑quality data. Attendees warned that “garbage in, garbage out” can magnify mistakes, making validation and human...
Sodium-Ion Batteries Key to EU Competitive Edge, Says EESC President
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is pushing sodium‑ion batteries to the forefront of the EU’s industrial strategy, urging the next 2028‑2034 Multi‑Annual Financial Framework to allocate dedicated funding. EESC President Séamus Boland argues that sodium‑ion technology offers a...
When Hail Hits PV: New Research Maps Damage, Testing, and Mitigation
A new European‑led review maps how large hail damages photovoltaic (PV) modules, summarising laboratory tests, simulations and field studies across Europe and the United States. The paper cites 9,882 hail events in Europe in 2023, a €6 billion loss in northern...
Fox ESS Releases Hybrid Inverters for Commercial PV
Fox ESS has launched the H3‑Pro series, a line of five three‑phase hybrid inverters targeting commercial photovoltaic installations. The models handle 30‑50 kW PV input and 15‑30 kW AC output, support up to 200% PV oversizing, and can be paired with two CQ6...
High-Temp Sodium-Zinc Batteries Reveal Causes of Rapid Capacity Loss
Researchers at Germany's Helmholtz‑Zentrum Dresden‑Rossendorf used operando X‑ray radiography to watch sodium‑zinc molten‑salt batteries function at 600 °C, uncovering hidden aging mechanisms. The imaging revealed liquid‑metal movement, dendrite formation, and electrolyte breakdown that together drive rapid capacity loss. Although the chemistry...
The Redefined Role of Steel in Solar Energy Projects
Solar installations are scaling up, prompting steel to shift from a simple commodity to a strategic engineering component. Project developers now demand steel that meets strict quality, traceability, and performance standards over 25‑year service lives. Integrated production models—combining high‑volume manufacturing,...
Morocco Sets Net‑metering Tariffs for High, Medium‑voltage Systems
Morocco’s electricity regulator ANRE announced net‑metering tariffs for high, medium and extra‑high voltage solar plants effective 1 March 2026‑28 February 2027. Plant owners will receive MAD 0.21/kWh during peak hours and MAD 0.18/kWh off‑peak, with the low‑voltage residential rate to be set later. The regime permits...
Cleaver-Brooks Unvelis Air-to-Water Heat Pump for Hydronic Heating
Cleaver-Brooks has introduced the ClearAir air‑to‑water heat pump, targeting hydronic heating across residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The unit delivers up to 103 kW of thermal output and can heat water to 80 °C, eliminating the need for distribution upgrades. It features...
