Author: solarenergy

PepsiCo UK has partnered with energy infrastructure specialist Ineco Energy to install solar panels on 30,000 square meters of its southern region distribution center in Leicester.The project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in September 2026.Once completed, the 3.56 MWp solar PV project is expected to meet 100% of the centre’s annual electricity demand. Angus Rose, director of Ineco Energy, explains: “Once operational, it will be one of the largest rooftop systems of its kind in the UK food production sector, generating the same amount of electricity as the SRDC (Southern Region Distribution Center) uses in…

Researchers in Japan have achieved an efficiency of 12.28% in a copper gallium selenide solar cell, the highest reported for wide bandgap indium-free chalcogenide absorbers in the 1.65–1.75 eV range. The device uses backfield aluminum films and optimized cadmium sulfide buffer layers to improve strain, reduce recombination and improve overall performance. March 13, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Sciences and Technology (AIST) in Japan have achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 12.28% in a solar cell based on an absober made of copper gallium selenide (CuGaSe2). CuGaSe₂ is a chalcogenide semiconductor belonging to the…

Researchers from the Australian National University and Longi used photoluminescence imaging to analyze the distribution of dopants in RCz-grown silicon wafers doped with antimony, phosphorus and gallium, finding highly uniform radial concentration profiles suitable for high-efficiency solar cells. The study also found that antimony-doped wafers provide more stable axial doping along the rod, highlighting their potential for next-generation photovoltaic manufacturing. March 12, 2026 Emiliano Bellini A research team from the Australian National University and Chinese solar module manufacturer Longi used high-resolution steady-state photoluminescence (PL) imaging to assess doping concentration in Czochralski (RCz) silicon wafers and found that antimony (Sb), phosphorus…

The American International Trade Commission (ITC) announced this final decision in an anti-dumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigation involving battery components – U.S. anode material producers are not harmed by Chinese imports. The ITC’s negative determination negates the ability of the Department of Commerce and Customs and Border Protection to impose tariffs on active anode material (AAM) from China. The AD/CVD study was requested in December 2024 by American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP), a group of start-up companies seeking to initiate domestic production of AAM, a necessary component of lithium batteries used in the energy storage and EV markets.…

Eastman Auto & Power has started production at an 800 MW solar panel factory in the Indian state of Haryana. March 12, 2026 Uma Gupta Image: Eastman Auto & Power By pv magazine India Eastman Auto & Power has opened an 800 MW solar panel manufacturing facility in Sonipat, Haryana, as part of its efforts to expand domestic solar energy production. The company says the new factory supports its strategy to offer integrated solar energy solutions, combining PV modules with grid-tie, off-grid and hybrid inverters, as well as energy storage batteries. The modules produced at the Sonipat plant comply with…

PowerHive, the energy storage subsidiary of Vikram Solar, has launched the VION lithium battery range for homes, e-rickshaws and distributed energy projects, marking the company’s entry into the electric mobility and residential backup storage space. March 12, 2026 Uma Gupta By ESS news PowerHive, the battery and energy storage business of Vikram Solar, has launched its VION lithium battery product range, marking the company’s entry into distributed battery storage for electric mobility and residential energy backup. The company says its VION battery solutions are designed to deliver reliable, high performance for everyday power needs. The initial portfolio includes five commercial…

Toshiba has unveiled a PV management platform within its Spinex for Energy portfolio that enables real-time monitoring and O&M of multiple solar power plants.The system uses AI to track plant performance, detect errors, calculate capacity and PR metrics, automate reporting and support troubleshooting. March 12, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Japanese industrial conglomerate Toshiba has launched EneTogo, a new management platform for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of multiple solar power plants in real time. EneTogo is part of the company Toshiba Spinex for energy portfolio, a digital services suite aimed at utilities and industrial companies. The PV management platform collects operational…

Solar manufacturer Swift Solar has acquired Meyer Burger’s heterojunction technology (HJT) intellectual property and manufacturing assets to ramp up domestic cell production. March 12, 2026 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA California-based Swift Solar has announced the acquisition of core manufacturing assets and the heterojunction (HJT) patent portfolio from Swiss company Meyer Burger. The deal includes the transfer of Meyer Burger’s specialized engineering team and executive leadership to Swift Solar as the company transitions to gigawatt-scale manufacturing in the United States. The acquisition provides Swift Solar with a vertically integrated path for silicon-perovskite tandem cells. HJT is a high-efficiency silicon…

German multinational energy company Uniper is developing plans for an onshore solar project near Sutton Bonington and has launched pre-application consultations with the local community and key stakeholders. The proposed development would cover approximately 72.9 hectares, of which approximately 30 hectares would be dedicated to solar panels. The project is expected to have a total installed capacity of 71.42 MWp (49.7 MWac). If planning permission is granted, a community fund will be established once the site becomes operational. The PV project is expected to operate for approximately 40 years, after which the site will be decommissioned and the land restored…

Heat pumps are quickly becoming a standard solution for hot water (DHW) production across Europe. Driven by decarbonization targets, electrification policies and the rapid growth of rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV), many buildings are replacing conventional gas boilers with efficient electric systems. The technology offers clear advantages. Heat pumps require much less electricity than direct electric heating and significantly reduce CO2 emissions2 emissions and can be easily integrated with modern building management systems. In combination with PV systems, they can shift hot water production to periods of solar energy surplus, increasing self-consumption and reducing demand on the electricity grid. However, the…