Author: solarenergy

The Dutch startup, founded by former Tesla leaders, takes a new approach to sodium-ion battery technology and optimizes it for integration with solar power plants. The technology will be deployed for the first time later this year in a Dutch solar-plus-storage project. January 29, 2026 Marija Maisch By ESS news Amsterdam-based Moonwatt has developed a new type of battery storage system based on sodium-ion NFPP chemistry, purpose-built for seamless solar hybridization. The system integrates battery enclosures with hybrid string inverters, enabling efficient DC-coupled integration of solar and storage. The company gained attention in March 2025 when it raised $8.3 million…

The British government has opted to press ahead with a change in the way old subsidy payments account for inflation, a move that has been widely criticized by the solar industry.Trade body Solar Energy UK said it was “frustrated by the inadequate consultation period provided for such a significant policy change”, noting that the request for an extension “was ignored”.In December 2025, the government opened a consultation on moving the indexation of payments under the Renewables Obligation (RO) and Feed in Tariff (FiT) schemes from the Consumer Price Index (RPI) in favor of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It would…

AIKO has achieved a global industry milestone by becoming the world’s first back-contact (BC) module to receive explosion protection certification from TÜV SÜD with its 66-cell double-glazed ABC Stellar product.The certification not only validates the exceptional safety and high performance of the company’s ABC modules in extremely high-risk environments, but also provides critical technical support for the integration of PV systems in hazardous areas, such as oil and gas facilities, chemical plants and gas stations, which have long been restricted by strict safety regulations.The TÜV SÜD certification verifies that the modules will not act as an ignition source in flammable…

Envision Energy has unveiled what it describes as a fully integrated energy storage solution that combines hardware, software and market-facing capabilities, arguing that deep vertical integration is essential for the next phase of battery deployment as energy systems evolve towards an AI-powered energy system. The company says its approach goes beyond battery system sales, instead offering an end-to-end platform that includes cell innovation, power conversion, system controls, artificial intelligence and electricity trading, directly connecting physical assets to real-time intelligence and market decision making. The company’s storage portfolio includes battery cell technology, power conversion systems (PCS), medium-voltage substations, energy management systems…

Iberdrola has put the first Spanish batteries into large-scale use in Alarcón, while Spain’s battery pipeline is growing as major utilities develop new projects at negative electricity prices. January 29, 2026 Marija Maisch By ESS news Iberdrola España has put the first Spanish battery systems into large-scale operation in Alarcón, Cuenca. The Romeral and Olmedilla batteries, located next to the 50 MW Romeral and 50 MW Olmedilla photovoltaic power stations, each have a capacity of almost 30 MW and a storage capacity of 60 MWh. Construction of the batteries generated more than 100 jobs and involved several national suppliers, including…

No country has influenced global solar panel supply chains as much as the United States. Since the rise of solar energy in the early 2010s, the U.S. government has pursued Chinese companies around the world, initiating tariffs on products that are “dumped” into the U.S. market at uncompetitive prices. Elite solar cell factory in Egypt. Credit: Solar Power World When the Commerce Department first imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar panels in 2012, manufacturers shifted production to Taiwan and then to Southeast Asia. Regardless of China’s involvement, Southeast Asia became the main production location for solar panels until the United…

Sunlight has a wide range of wavelengths, but many solar technologies utilize only part of that spectrum, limiting their efficiency. Researchers have now shown that small self-assembled gold spheres known as supraballs can capture almost all wavelengths in sunlight, including those that conventional photovoltaic materials often miss, and can significantly increase the absorption of solar energy when used as a coating on standard devices. Gold and silver nanoparticles are attractive for solar energy applications because they are relatively simple and cost-effective to produce. However, the light absorption of conventional metal nanoparticles is largely limited to visible wavelengths, meaning they affect…

New 2.4 GWh Adiabatic Energy Storage Plant (CAES) now operational in Jiangsu Province. The large-scale CAES uses molten salt and pressurized thermal water storage to achieve high efficiency, with power generated via two 300 MW units. January 27, 2026 Matthew Lynas Image: Harbin Electric Corp. By ESS news The world’s largest compressed air storage facility in a salt cave in China has been switched on, significantly strengthening the region’s renewable energy storage capacity, according to a statement from Harbin Electric Group. The Guoxin Suyan Huai’an salt cave compressed air energy storage demonstration project consists of two 300 MW non-combustion compressed…

Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a safer and cheaper alternative to lithium-ion, with a recent international study highlighting their competitiveness in stationary energy storage. The research shows that continued investment and supply chain development could enable wider adoption within the next decade. January 28, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are increasingly seen as a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion (Li-ion) storage, especially as global demand for lithium is expected to exceed supply by 2028, according to a recent report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Despite this potential, achieving broad commercial success, especially outside niche applications, remains a challenge.…

New data from the Rhodium Group and MIT/CEEPRs Clean Investment Monitor shows that investments in clean technology manufacturing in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia have reached their lowest point in almost three years. Credit: Keystone Research Center Established investments in clean technology manufacturing in the region fell to $1.35 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025 – a 21% decline from the peak of $1.69 billion just two quarters earlier. This represents the lowest quarterly investment since the second quarter of 2023. “These numbers tell a clear story of missed economic opportunity for Appalachia,” said Diana Polson, senior policy…