Author: solarenergy

TurningPoint Energy (TPE) and Standard solar energy will collaborate on 11.2 MW of community solar built across two projects in Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware. In 2022, TPE has committed to investing more than $100 million in projects across the state. The projects, located in Harrington and Bridgeville, each have a capacity of 5.6 MWdirect current single-axis tracker systems and are designed to collectively produce approximately 18,875 MWh of clean energy. Together, these projects will provide electricity to almost 1,700 households annually. TPE developed the projects and Standard Solar will own and operate them for the long term. “This…

A team of scientists has developed a new hydrogel solar panel coating that can reportedly reduce hotspot temperatures by up to 16.2 C, outperforming conventional hydrogels. According to the research group, the hydrogel also showed superior durability and improved performance by up to 13%. January 28, 2026 Patrick Jowett Researchers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have developed a new hydrogel coating for solar panels. The new coating, presented in the study “Improving photovoltaic efficiency and sustainability with advanced hotspot management”, published in the magazine Advanced energy materials, is so-called able to improve heat dissipation in solar panels to cool…

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has signed two executive orders directing state regulators to accelerate utility-scale solar, expand community solar to 3 GW and promote up to 750 MW of battery energy storage as part of an effort to contain rising electricity prices and address expected capacity shortages. January 28, 2026 John Fitzgerald Weaver By pv magazine USA On her first day in office, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 1 And No. 2which respectively focus on maintaining electricity prices and providing solar energy and energy storage. Governor Sherrill issued Executive Order No. 1 to address rising…

A new report from Wood Mackenzie identifies five key trends that will define the energy storage industry by 2026, including supply chain restructuring and the rise of non-lithium batteries. January 27, 2026 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA The global energy storage market reached a major milestone in 2025, with annual installations exceeding 100 GW for the first time. The growth comes despite major policy changes in the world’s two largest markets, China and the United States. Image: Wood Mackenzie China has withdrawn its mandate to link storage to new renewable energy projects. The country is moving towards market-based mechanisms.…

PureSky energy has achieved commercial operation of its Heath Brook and Sand Brook community solar projects in Corinth, New York. The two solar farms – which together total approximately 12.92 MWDC (approximately 5 MWAC each) – now supply clean, renewable energy to the grid. Sand Brook’s community solar project. PureSky energy Combined, Heath Brook and Sand Brook will generate approximately 18.8 million kWh of electricity per year, enough to power approximately 2,725 homes annually. The projects are expected to generate nearly $8 million in utility bills for local subscribers over their 30-year lifespan. Both solar farms in Corinth participate in…

Researchers have studied the potential of combining photovoltaic systems with compressed air energy storage (CAES) to power a commercial building in South Africa. They found that a co-optimized system could reduce total capital costs by 15-20% compared to traditional sequential sizing approaches. January 27, 2026 Lior Kahana Researchers from South Africa’s University of Pretoria have conducted a multi-objective optimization study to combine commercial and industrial (C&I) PV systems with compressed air energy storage (CAES). The research aims to minimize total system investment (Capex) and operational costs (Opex), while improving reliability and maximizing renewable energy penetration under South African conditions. “The…

By Martin McConnell January 27, 2026 Lighting manufacturer Street magazine and home builder Lennar Huizen have reached a national supplier agreement to provide solar street lighting in Lennar-built communities across the US The partnership, announced on January 22, is a “major milestone” for Streetleaf, the company says. The agreement will accelerate the company’s mission to provide sustainable alternatives to many traditional on-grid lighting services for American communities. “It is an honor to partner with Lennar to light up its communities, especially as demand for sustainable yet cost-effective solutions continues to grow,” said Liam Ryan, CEO of Streetleaf. “We strive to…

A new association will reinvigorate a viable community solar and storage program in California. Californians for local, affordable solar and storage (CLASS) will work to expand access to local, affordable clean energy, lower electric bills for families and small businesses, and create new income opportunities for farmers and landowners across the state. Founding members of the new association include Chaberton Energy, Dimension Energy, ECA Solar, Fieldworks Power, Nexamp, Renewable America, Renewable Properties and White Pine Renewables. While California has historically been at the forefront of distributed energy projects, significant investments in community solar have left the state for more favorable…

Doral renewable energy sourcesThe Great Bend Solar project became commercially operational on January 6. The project was largely completed in December 2025. Large solar powered bend. Doral renewable energy sources Located in Meigs County, the 48 MW project was built in the Great Bend of the Ohio River, near the state line with West Virginia. Doral Renewables commissioned PCL Construction to build the project in April 2024. “We are very pleased to be able to commercially operate this facility,” said Amit Nadkarni, SVP of project and asset management at Doral. “As demand for electricity continues to rise, this facility will…

Hongyuan Green Energy says it has produced an initial batch of 40µm monocrystalline silicon wafers supporting full-size and half-cut formats, with cutting completed using the company’s in-house wafer equipment. January 27, 2026 Vincent Shaw Hongyuan Green Energy said it has produced an initial batch of 40µm ultra-thin monocrystalline silicon wafers at its smart wafer manufacturing base in Baotou, China, which it describes as a production-oriented step in wafer thinning rather than a record-breaking demonstration. The company dates the milestone as January 23, 2026. In an official disclosure, Hongyuan said the wafers are compatible with both full-wafer and half-cut processing and…