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 inverter and offers DIY‑friendly plug‑in installation where local rules allow. The unit delivers up to 10 kW peak power for short bursts, supports five additional 7 kWh LFP modules, and is rated for 10,000 cycles with a 10‑year warranty. Management is handled via the Anker app, which includes energy‑optimization software and a voice‑assistant feature.
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...
Heat Dome and High Pressure Boost Southern US Solar as Polar Vortex Clouds the North
Solcast’s March analysis shows a stark solar divide across North America, with the southern half—northeastern Mexico, southeastern Texas and much of California—recording 20‑25% above‑average irradiance, while Canada, the Great Lakes region and the northeastern U.S. suffered below‑normal solar levels. The...
Agratas Advances 20 GWh Battery Plant in Western India
Agratas, the Tata Group’s global battery arm, has finished the steel frame of its Sanand manufacturing complex in western India. The first phase will deliver up to 20 GWh of advanced cells annually for electric vehicles and energy‑storage systems. Spanning 105,000 sq m...
Rooftop Solar Now Accounts for One-Fifth of Puerto Rico’s Generation Capacity
Rooftop solar now supplies roughly one‑fifth of Puerto Rico’s total generation capacity, overtaking natural gas to become the island’s second‑largest source. Distributed solar accounted for 81% of all new capacity added between 2016 and 2025, reaching 1,456 MW across 191,929 installations...
Terabase Energy Advances Automated PV Construction with Robotics, AI Tools
Terabase Energy announced that its upgraded Terafab V2 automated solar‑construction system has completed field testing and is ready for commercial deployment. The AI‑assisted robotics platform can assemble and position panel‑tracker modules at a two‑minute cycle, delivering roughly 20 MW per week...
Bauer Solar Launches 480 W Back-Contact Solar Module
German solar module maker Bauer Solar introduced a new 480‑watt back‑contact panel with a record‑high conversion efficiency of 23.52%. The full‑black glass‑glass module incorporates 108 bifacial half‑cells, 2 mm anti‑reflective glass on both sides, and a robust anodized aluminum frame, weighing...
Key Takeaways From Chile’s Re+ Cono Sur
Chile’s Energy Minister Ximena Rincón used the RE+ Southern Cone Summit to urge a shift from a passive to a proactive stance on renewables, storage, and electrification. She highlighted recent policy steps such as net‑billing legislation and stressed the need...
Germany’s Heat Pump Public Discourse Is Positive but Volatile
A new study of 33,131 German news articles shows heat pumps are generally portrayed positively, yet public sentiment is volatile. Sentiment dipped sharply after the 2022 Russian gas cut and again during the early‑2023 debate over Germany’s heating law (GEG)....
Solar Fabrik Launches 400 W Red-Brown Module for Heritage Roofs
Solar Fabrik unveiled the Mono S4 Halfcut Chroma Orange, a 400‑watt red‑brown glass‑glass PV module tailored for heritage roofs. The panel delivers 20.02% efficiency using bifacial n‑type TOPCon half‑cells and meets strict aesthetic standards by matching traditional red tiles (RAL 8004)....
BBDF: German Network Agency to Release BESS Grid Fee Framework Soon
Germany’s Federal Network Agency announced it will publish the first framework for future electricity network fees in late May or early June 2026. The guidance will outline how fees apply to battery energy storage systems (BESS) and interact with flexible...
Can Sodium-Ion Storage Drive Energy Flexibility in France?
France’s Association Environnement Juste has urged the government to mandate on‑site energy storage for any renewable project larger than 10 kW, aiming to embed flexibility directly at the source. The proposal highlights sodium‑ion batteries as a cost‑effective, metal‑independent solution, with cell...
Solbian Launches Solar Kit for Boat Davits
Solbian has introduced the SunBoard solar kit for boat davits, offering 80 W and 108 W rigid‑frame modules built with high‑efficiency SunPower Maxeon cells. The panels mount to unused davit surfaces using rope‑secured eyelets and can tilt from 0° to 90° for...
Sassmann Develops ‘Solar Panel Grid’ for Pigeon Protection
Sassmann, a German specialist, has launched a modular solar‑panel grid that mechanically blocks pigeons from nesting under photovoltaic modules. The system uses clamp‑clips to attach without drilling or gluing, preserving manufacturers' warranties. It can be retrofitted to existing residential and...
Abu Dhabi Extends Solar Self-Supply Policy to Residents
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy has launched the second phase of its solar self‑supply policy, extending the scheme to villa owners and eligible residential buildings. The new rules let households install rooftop photovoltaic systems with optional battery storage, while streamlining...
SolarEdge Outlines Path to 800 V (DC) Data Center Infrastructure
SolarEdge released a March 2026 white paper proposing a five‑stage roadmap to replace legacy AC power with integrated 800 V DC infrastructure in data centers. The paper argues that current AC‑to‑DC conversion chains waste 10%‑30% of input power, limiting AI workload...
Middle East Conflict Lifting PPA Valuations, Says Pexapark
Swiss analytics firm Pexapark reports that recent LNG strikes in the Middle East are pushing up long‑term power purchase agreement (PPA) valuations across Europe. The conflict creates a structural supply‑side risk that tightens medium‑term fundamentals, especially in markets with limited...
Azerbaijan Commissions 500 MWh Battery Storage Project
Azerbaijan’s state utility AzerEnergy inaugurated a 250 MW/500 MWh battery energy storage system, part of a two‑site rollout at the 500 kV Absheron and 220 kV Agdash substations. The Absheron installation houses 50 battery containers and 13 inverter units, all monitored by a SCADA‑enabled...
BBDF 2026 Opening Session: Optimism, Caution, and Grid Fees
At the Battery Business Development Forum (BBDF) 2026 in Frankfurt, investors reaffirmed confidence in Europe’s fast‑growing battery‑energy‑storage market while flagging regulatory uncertainty, especially Germany’s pending grid‑fee rules, as a potential drag on project economics. The two‑day event featured more than...
EU Energy Regulator Opens Consultation Into PPA Market
The European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has opened a public consultation running from March 31 to May 8 to map the EU power purchase agreement (PPA) market. The consultation seeks detailed input on regulatory frameworks, financial guarantees,...
Italy, Spain Set Solar Records in March
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting reported that weekly average electricity prices fell across most major European markets, with the average dipping below €90 ($103) per MWh in seven countries. Record‑low prices of €0.18/MWh ($0.21) were logged in Portugal and Spain, the latter...
Solar Above 60° North: The Arctic as PV’s Next Frontier
The International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme reports that solar installations above 60° N are expanding rapidly, with capacity reaching roughly 1,400 MWp by 2023 and annual growth rates of 46‑145% in key regions. Cold temperatures boost panel efficiency, while bifacial...
IFC Loans $125 Million for Polysilicon Factory in Malaysia
The International Finance Corporation is extending up to $125 million in financing to OCI TerraSus, a Malaysian subsidiary of Korean polysilicon giant OCI, for a new semiconductor‑grade polysilicon plant in Sarawak. The facility, built with Japanese partner Tokuyama, targets a 10,000‑metric‑ton...