Author: solarenergy
Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed ultra-thin perovskite solar cells that are approximately 50 times thinner than conventional designs using a vacuum-based thermal evaporation process. The devices can be semi-transparent and generate energy under diffused light, making them promising for integration into windows and building facades. May 20, 2026 Jose Pedrosa A research team from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has developed perovskite solar cells that are “about 10,000 times thinner than a human hair and about 50 times thinner than conventional hair,” according to a study published in ACS Energy Letters. “Buildings are responsible for around 40% of global…
Thailand’s Consumer Protection Council is supporting homeowners in three different parts of the country who have reported substandard solar installations, including signs of melting and burning equipment. May 19, 2026 Patrick Jowett Inverters that do not meet the distances recommended by the manufacturer and are installed in a warehouse without separation. Image: Y Tu ThailandThe Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) opens an investigation into substandard solar system installations. The investigation follows reports of equipment failure, including signs of melting and burning. An update published by OCPB confirms that Thailand’s Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is currently helping 17 homeowners…
Australia is in the grip of a consumer-driven energy storage boom. New figures show that more than 400,000 batteries have been installed nationwide in the past ten months, providing 11.2 GWh of storage capacity. May 19, 2026 David Caroll By ESS news The Australian government has confirmed that more than 400,000 batteries, representing a combined storage capacity of 11.2 GWh, have been installed in just over 10 months under its Cheaper Home Batteries program. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirmed the milestone this weekend, saying it shows Australians are embracing practical upgrades that make better use of rooftop solar and…
Bluetti has launched the Balco 260 and Balco 500, two integrated PV storage systems for balconies that combine MPPT, inverter, battery storage and smart control in a plug-and-play architecture for urban households. May 19, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Bluetti, a California-based provider of portable solar plus storage systems, has launched two new energy storage systems for balcony PV applications. The Balco 260 and Balco 500 integrate core power electronics, including MPPT (Maximal Power Point Tracking) controllers, microinverters, battery storage and safety modules, into a unified architecture. The Balco 260 is positioned as an entry-to-mid-tier unit aimed at apartment and small household…
The gigawatt-scale solar, wind and battery project, developed by O-Green Energy, is expected to provide power 24 hours a day. It is part of a commitment by Nama Power and Water Procurement to secure 7 GW of solar and 3 GW of battery storage capacity by 2030. May 19, 2026 Matthew Lynas Image: Silas Baisch/Unsplash Oman’s state-backed renewable energy developer, O-Green Energy, has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the country’s sole electricity buyer for a hybrid renewable energy project in Mahmout and Duqm. The 2.7 GW Continuous Renewable Energy Project will include solar, wind and battery energy storage.…
Solar photovoltaic (PV) power is becoming an increasingly prevalent energy source in the UK. In 2025, 6.3% of Great Britain’s power was supplied through solar, a 30% rise on 2024, and as of May 2026, over 22 GW of solar capacity has been installed around the UK. This capacity is spread between fields that house larger farms and over 1 million rooftops. While there’s a lot of focus on the panels themselves, each one relies on a solar PV inverter that converts the power generated into usable output for household appliances and for distribution to the grid.Understanding solar PV inverters:…
Carbon’s giant project in Fos-sur-Mer, designed to build a 5 GW integrated solar production chain in France, has been halted due to insufficient regulatory visibility and insufficient investor guarantees. Despite efforts to scale down the project and build partnerships, including with Chinese manufacturer Longi, the project collapsed due to uncertainty over EU industrial policy and market preference mechanisms. May 19, 2026 Gwénaëlle Deboutte From pv magazine France “The story ends here, but our beliefs remain.” With these words, the founders of the French startup Carbon announced the termination of their gigafactory project. The module giant, which was designated a “Project…
Hydropower plays an important role in the energy transition. It is a renewable energy source and contributes to reducing global emissions. In Switzerland, hydropower supplies almost 60% of domestic electricity generation. According to the Swiss government statisticsSwitzerland is the fourth largest hydropower producer in Europe, after Norway, Austria and Iceland. Hydropower also plays a major role in balancing the electricity grid, compensating for fluctuations in solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy generation through pumped storage. Electricity is used to pump water to reservoirs at higher altitudes during periods of low energy demand. When demand is greatest, water is routed through…
The latest report from Renewables First shows that solarization in Pakistan continues to grow, with households, farms and businesses turning to distributed solar energy to reduce their dependence on the electricity grid. May 19, 2026 Patrick Jowett According to a new report from Renewables First, Pakistan had deployed an estimated 51 GW of solar power by March 2026, while imports of solar panels reached 54 GW by the end of the same month. The estimated use of solar energy in Pakistan compared to the import of solar panels Image: Renewable energy first The latest edition of the think tank’s flagship…
Researchers in India developed a predictive framework that combines degradation experiments, weather data and environmental stress models to assess how rainfall affects anti-pollution solar coatings. They discovered that the lifespan of coatings is highly dependent on the local climate, the slope of the installation and the pH of the rainwater. May 19, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have assessed the impact of rain on anti-fouling coatings for solar panels and found that their lifespan can vary significantly depending on the local climate and installation scenario. “The main novelty of this work is the development…