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 be stacked up to six per tower for a total of 30 kWh, with cloud‑based monitoring and predictive maintenance. The product launches across Europe with a 10,000‑cycle life and 15‑year warranty.
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...
The Hydrogen Stream: Dutch Agribusiness Installs 1 MW Electrolyzer
Dutch tulip nursery Rainbow Colors has become the first agricultural firm to commission a 1 MW solid‑oxide electrolyzer for on‑site hydrogen generation, integrated with a solar array and battery storage. The system, built with Denmark’s Dynelectro and Ekinetix, can produce hydrogen...
China Wafer Prices Fall for Fourth Week as Discounting Deepens Under Inventory Pressure
Chinese photovoltaic wafer prices fell for a fourth consecutive week, with n‑type M10 wafers dropping 2.38% to $0.164 per piece and n‑type G12 falling 4.98% to $0.191. Operating rates at major wafer producers have slipped below 50%, while inventory levels...
Sunoyster Offers Lightweight 440 W Glass-Covered TOPCon PV Panel
German solar tracker developer Sunoyster Systems has launched the G440, a 440‑watt TOPCon photovoltaic module that weighs just 12 kg and features a 2 mm tempered‑glass cover. The panel delivers 22.2 % efficiency using 108 half‑cut monocrystalline cells and can be glued directly...
Luxembourg Launches New Tender for C&I Solar
Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Economy has opened a €3 million tender to fund commercial and industrial solar projects between 30 kW and 200 kW. Applications are accepted until April 17 and are split into three lots covering rooftop, façade and car‑port installations. Projects that...
Long-Term Trade-Offs of Agrivoltaics on Pear Farming
A four‑year study in Victoria, Australia examined overhead solar panels in a blush‑pear orchard. The agrivoltaic systems cut sunburn and hail damage and boosted energy output, especially with a 5° west tilt that produced about 10% more electricity. However, shading...
Octopus Energy Invests $1 Billion in California Clean Technology
Octopus Energy Generation is committing nearly $1 billion to clean‑technology projects in California’s Bay Area, including the acquisition of a solar‑plus‑battery installation slated to be online by July. The investment forms part of a broader $2 billion U.S. energy‑transition plan the company...
Guatemala PEG-5 Tender Draws 51 Bidders for 4.7 GW of Capacity
Guatemala’s Generation Expansion Plan 5 (PEG‑5) tender attracted 51 bidders submitting nearly 4.7 GW of capacity, more than three times the 1.4 GW the government sought. About 2 GW of the offers are solar, including hybrid projects with storage, while roughly 700 MW are natural‑gas‑fired...
Silver-Saving Efforts Ramping up in Solar Industry, Says Heraeus
Rising silver prices, now 187 % above early‑2025 levels, are pressuring solar manufacturers as silver paste can account for up to 30 % of cell costs. Heraeus forecasts a decline in photovoltaic silver demand despite stable global installations, citing ongoing substitution efforts....
Key Takeaways From Solaire Expo Maroc
The 14th Solaire Expo Maroc in Casablanca highlighted Morocco’s push toward an integrated renewable ecosystem, featuring electric‑vehicle pavilions and a strong Chinese presence in solar equipment. Local distributors reported a dynamic market with rising prices after China ended VAT rebates,...
French Startup Launches ‘Universal’ Home Energy Management System
French startup PvPilot has launched a fourth‑generation home energy management system (HEMS) that claims universal compatibility with all major solar inverters, batteries and EV chargers. The solution, delivered via a USB‑connected relay device, measures real‑time generation and demand to orchestrate...
IEC-Based Technical Specifications Needed for Second-Life PV Module Market
The IEA‑PVPS Task 13 report warns that the second‑life photovoltaic module market remains fragmented due to missing IEC‑based qualification standards, costly manual repairs, and absent policy support. It recommends fast‑tracking IEC specifications, investing in automated testing hubs, and creating financial instruments...
Spain Hits 50 GW Solar Milestone
Spain’s installed solar capacity hit the 50 GW milestone in early 2026, after adding roughly 8.7 GW in 2025. Solar now represents 33.9% of the country’s total installed power capacity and supplied 18.4% of electricity last year. The expansion was led by...
The New Rationale of the EU PV Market
Solar photovoltaic installations continued strong growth in 2025, with Europe reaching a record 70 GW and global cumulative installations surpassing 700 GW, led primarily by China’s over‑half share. The market is increasingly bifurcated: mature regions stagnate while emerging economies accelerate, and battery...