Author: solarenergy
Google plans to deploy a 300 MW/30 GWh iron-air battery system in Minnesota under an agreement with Xcel Energy, along with 1.6 GW of new wind and solar power. February 25, 2026 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA Google has reached a definitive agreement with Xcel Energy to deploy a massive 300 MW/30 GWh iron-air battery system in Pine Island, Minnesota. The project, which uses technology from Form Energy, will be the largest battery system announced worldwide in terms of energy capacity. It will provide a blueprint for how Big Tech plans to boost intermittent renewables to meet the relentless…
Night time in solar PV systems lasts an average of 16 hours, requiring significant storage or alternative generation to meet demand. Hydropower plants and batteries are critical, with hydropower plants providing long-term, cheap storage for cloudy or windless periods. Complementary strategies include wind, load shifting and dispatchable generation, while the high penetration of solar and wind is reshaping grid operations and pricing. February 25, 2026 International Solar Energy Association (ISES) From a solar perspective, the night lasts an average of 16 hours, longer in winter and shorter in summer. How can we cover night-time electricity demand in a sustainable energy…
The Department of Commerce has done that issued the provisional countervailing duty (CVD) amounts in an investigation into imports of solar cells from India, Indonesia and Laos. India has an overall subsidy rate of 125.87%, Indonesia’s overall subsidy rate is 104.38% and Laos received a subsidy rate of 80.67%. CVDs are placed on imports to eliminate subsidies to producers in and through the exporting country. In this case, the trade decided that solar panel manufacturers in all three countries were incentivized by their own markets to make solar panels for the US market. These provisional duties will be enforced by…
The Chinese manufacturer said its new airMono indoor monoblock heat pump is tailor-made for urban renovations with limited space, providing heating, cooling and domestic hot water without an outdoor unit. The system’s coefficient of performance ranges from 2.5 to 4.1, while the seasonal coefficient of performance is 4.5 to 4.7. February 25, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Chinese heat pump manufacturer Phnix has launched airMono, an indoor monoblock heat pump designed for urban renovations with limited space and multi-storey residential buildings. The system is built entirely indoors, so no outdoor unit is required. It provides heating, cooling and hot water for domestic…
A new report calculates the average power loss of 373 GW of utility-scale solar and commercial and industrial solar in the US at 5.08%, more than double the level five years ago. The average power loss in projects where robotics and automation are used drops to 3%. February 25, 2026 Patrick Jowett A U.S.-based solar company facing average power losses through 2025 could lose up to $5,070 per MW in annual revenue, according to a new report from a robotics analytics company. Raptor Cards. Raptor Cards Global Solar Energy Report 2026 includes an analysis of power losses across 373 GW…
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will soon vote to update a tool that could make integrating grid-level distributed energy resources, such as solar, easier for the state’s utilities. To achieve more transparency on the electricity grid, an Integration Capacity Analysis (ICA) was devised. It was released in 2019 but has reportedly received updates after the integration. ICA can show how much space is available at a certain point on the electricity grid for additional capacity or new energy loads. Substation data is shared on how much capacity a system already has, is waiting to be connected and can be…
French utility Engie has acquired 100% of British electricity distributor UK Power Networks (UKPN) for a share value of £10.5 billion.According to Engie, the enterprise value of UKPN, which manages the electricity grid in London, the South East and East of England, is £15.8 billion. Engie said the acquisition is part of a strategy to strengthen its position in regulated electricity networks “to become the best energy transition company.”The acquisition also expands Paris-based Engie’s UK presence, making it its second largest country of operations.UKPN, a distribution network operator (DNO), has been owned for the past fifteen years by a Hong…
The Irish heating specialist has launched a high-temperature heat pump that delivers hot water up to 110 C and heating capacities from 100 kW to 370 kW for industrial and district heating applications. The system achieves a temperature coefficient of up to 4.63. February 26, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Ireland-based heating technology manufacturer Trane has launched a new range of high-temperature water-to-water heat pumps for industrial and commercial applications. The City RTSF HT heat pump operates in heating mode with source-side temperatures ranging from 30 C to 62 C and can deliver heat sink temperatures up to 110 C, making it…
By Martin McConnell February 26, 2026 Amy Harder, national energy correspondent for Axios and hosting the keynote panel on Thursday, February 19 at Intersolar and energy storage North America 2026opened the day’s discussion with an extremely blunt – and largely true – statement. “We live in fractured times, to say the least, with regard to virtually everything on this planet, including clean energy.” Since President Trump’s retaking of the Oval Office in November 2024, the solar industry has been on somewhat shaky footing. Federal policy changes like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) have eroded Biden-era renewable energy policies…
The Viennese company’s new battery storage system SALT 110 has a usable capacity of up to 110 kWh. The storage system is reportedly capable of 6,000 charge cycles at a 95% depth of discharge. February 26, 2026 Sandra Enkhardt By ESS news Salzstrom has unveiled a sodium-ion energy storage system for use in commercial applications. Salzstrom had previously launched a residential photovoltaic storage system based on its sodium ion technology. The market reaction to that system significantly exceeded Salzstrom’s expectations. Even before the market launch of its new battery storage system, the company reported strong interest from commercial and industrial…