Author: solarenergy

By Brad Kramer January 12, 2026 This week’s edition of Projects Weekly highlights the largest behind-the-meter solar project in the history of the state of Arizona in the form of SOLON Corp.’s new solar array near Tucson. Also on the list, Coach and Kate Spade parent company Tapestry Inc. has partnered with Pivot Energy to construct three community solar projects worth 13.475 MWac in Illinois. Elsewhere around the U.S., Treaty Oak Clean Energy has begun construction on two solar projects in Louisiana, and Altus Power closed a deal for 12 MW of commercial-scale solar assets across the Mid-Atlantic and the…

In November, energy groups filed a lawsuit against Sec. of Energy Christopher Wright and other government agencies involved in canceling Department of Energy funding during the 2025 government shutdown. The lawsuit – signed by the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota; Interstate Renewable Energy Council; Connect America; Increase energy; Southeast Community Organization; and the Environmental Defense Fund – alleged that the White House cut off clean energy funding for Democratic-led states. This was a violation of the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment. This week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the administration violated the…

While completing pilot projects in the US and Europe, Mirai Solar has certified its lightweight PV module designed to work as a shade screen in agricultural voltaic applications, such as greenhouses. January 13, 2026 Valerie Thompson Mirai Solar, a US-based specialty module manufacturer and spin-off of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), has certified its new 115W solar shade module with TüV Rheinland. The patented design is a foldable, glass-free module with vacuum-laminated solar cells on lightweight flexible polymer plates. It has been developed for new greenhouses and as a retrofit for greenhouses that already have…

A Swiss research team has developed a low-temperature sintering and interface coating process that significantly improves the durability of argyrodite-based solid-state batteries. The approach delivers high ionic conductivity and long life, with 75% of capacity retained after 1,500 cycles. January 13, 2026 Lior Kahana A research team from Switzerland’s Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) has developed a new approach to improve the stability and longevity of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). The work focuses on the argyrodite-type solid electrolyte Li₆PS₅Cl (LPSCl), which is widely considered one of the most promising materials for sulfide-based solid-state batteries. The researchers combined a new sintering technique with…

Solar Media Market Research analyst Josh Cornes looks back at solar progress in Britain by 2025, noting that despite this being the best year ever for deployment, there is a lack of projects due to grid connection until 2030 following the National Energy System Operator’s grid connection reform.UK Solar was booming in 2025, with record numbers of submissions and approvals, projects being completed at a pace not seen since 2015, and construction of projects worth more than 4 GWp underway.Clean Power 2030 generated a lot of activity, with deadlines set by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) for applications due…

Renewable energy developer Elements Green has completed the acquisition of the 148.8MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project in West Sussex from developer Envirotech Energy Solutions.The company, located near Wineham, has secured full ownership of the Bolney Green Energy Hub after signing a share purchase agreement (SPA). The BESS project will last four hours and is expected to be fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2027.Planning approval for the project was received from Mid-Sussex District Council in September 2024.The acquisition of the Bolney Green Energy Hub follows the recent financial close of another BESS project in Nottinghamshire, the 360MW/720MWh…

The use of native perennial ground covers for utilities – from solar sites to transmission rights (ROWs) to data centers – represents a critical evolution in grid hardening and vegetation management. Rather than being a superficial environmental initiative, extensive field data and financial analyzes now show that native rangelands are a quantifiable, cost-effective tool for reducing operating costs, optimizing energy output and improving critical infrastructure resilience. The financial liability of ecological neglect Revegetation of native plants at a solar project in Texas. Credit: McCarthy Building Companies For utility finance teams and policymakers, the financial consequences of rejecting nature-based resilience are…

The Chinese manufacturer unveiled its new TOPCon bifacial TNC3.0 module at WFES 2025. The 1,500 V, IP68-certified panel offers more than 85% bifaciality, a temperature coefficient of 0.26%/C and a 30-year warranty that guarantees an output of 88.85%. January 13, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Chinese solar module manufacturer Tongwei has launched a new TOPCon bifacial solar module for applications in large-scale and C&I PV projects during this week’s World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi. “The TNC3.0 module is the most powerful product of our TWMNF-66QD,” a company spokesperson said pv magazine. “It should be in mass production soon.” “The…

International Renewable Energy Agency Director General Francesco La Camera says the “door remains open for further cooperation” following the announcement that the United States is withdrawing its membership. January 13, 2026 Patrick Jowett The United States withdraws its membership from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). IRENA is one of 66 international organizations from which President Donald Trump ordered the US to withdraw via an executive order last week. The full list, which is mainly aimed at organizations dealing with climate, labor and migration, also includes the International Solar Alliance and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. A statement published…

Ola Electric has rolled out Ola Shakti, a residential energy storage system (BESS), from its gigafactory in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. Powered by Ola Electric’s indigenous 4680 Bharat cells, Ola Shakti is India’s first residential BESS that is completely indigenously designed, developed and manufactured. January 13, 2026 Uma Gupta Ola Shakti residential BESS Image: Ola Electric By ESS news EV manufacturer Ola Electric has rolled out Ola Shakti, a home energy storage system (BESS), from its gigafactory in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. The launch marks the company’s entry into the Indian residential BESS market and marks its expansion…