Author: solarenergy

Generating hydrogen from sunlight offers a route to low-carbon fuel production by converting solar energy into chemical energy stored in hydrogen. Researchers use photocatalysts to absorb light and split water into hydrogen and oxygen, but many existing systems harvest only part of the visible spectrum, leaving much of the incoming solar energy unused. To increase the efficiency of solar energy to hydrogen, researchers are investigating photocatalysts that respond to a wider range of visible wavelengths. A team led by Professor Kazuhiko Maeda and graduate student Haruka Yamamoto of the Institute of Science Tokyo has developed a dye-sensitive photocatalyst that absorbs…

China will remove value-added export rebates for PV products from April 1, 2026, while battery rebates will be reduced in anticipation of a complete phase-out, raising export costs for manufacturers and potentially pushing shipments to early 2026. January 9, 2026 Vincent Shaw China will abolish export value-added (VAT) rebates for photovoltaic products from April 1, 2026, according to a joint notice released on January 9 by the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China and the State Tax Administration. As a result of the policy adjustment, VAT export discounts for solar products will be completely abolished from April…

RWE has started commissioning a 100 MW electrolyzer in Germany to supply renewable hydrogen under long-term contracts, while Hydrogen Utopia International and Hydrogen Systems are advancing plans to build waste-to-hydrogen plants in Saudi Arabia. January 9, 2026 Sergio Matalucci RWE has started commissioning a 100 MW electrolyzer in Lingen, with full capacity up to 300 MW expected in 2027, the German company confirmed to pv magazine, explaining that it is one of the largest renewable hydrogen plants in Europe. The Essen-based multinational will supply hydrogen to industries including TotalEnergies’ Leuna refinery under a 15-year offtake contract. The gas will be…

By 2050, sodium-ion batteries with fast learning rates could offer a storage capacity of €11 to €14/MWh – cheaper than lithium-ion batteries priced at €16 to €22/MWh – while also offering a higher energy-to-power ratio and high cycle endurance, new research shows. January 9, 2026 Marija Maisch Image: Southern electricity grid By ESS news Any technology seeking to compete with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) faces the challenge of rapidly declining costs for this already ubiquitous technology. While LIBs continue to expand their market dominance, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are still waiting for their moment to shine. However, a new study led by…

Plug-in solar, also called balcony solar, is a popular option in Europe and is now being introduced in the United States. Utah introduced legislation last year and became the first state to enable 1.2 kW plug-in solar panel systems without utility approval. Now, plug-in solar is finding interest in the nation’s largest solar state. Earlier this week, Senate Bill 868 was introduced in the California Senate, written by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). The “Plug Into the Sun Act” would eliminate red tape and set statewide safety standards for portable solar energy systems – commonly seen on balconies across Europe.…

China’s antitrust regulator has halted an industry-led effort to reduce polysilicon capacity and coordinate prices, ordering a full rectification of actions that contributed to rising market prices. Futures fell sharply after the intervention. January 9, 2026 Vincent Shaw China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) convened a closed-door meeting in Beijing on January 6 with the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA) and key participants involved in a $7 billion plan to reduce polysilicon overcapacity, sources told pv magazine. The plan involved China’s six largest polysilicon producers – Tongwei, GCL, Daqo, The six companies together have a capacity of almost 2.5…

The 500 MW/1 GWh Jiayuguan NingSheng project combines lithium batteries and supercapacitors to support power grid stability and the integration of renewable energy sources. January 9, 2026 Vincent Shaw By ESS news China’s largest supercapacitor-based hybrid energy storage system has been successfully connected to the power grid in northwest China, marking a milestone for hybrid energy storage systems based on supercapacitors and lithium. The Jiayuguan NingSheng 500 MW/1,000 MWh independent energy storage project, invested by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), completed commissioning and achieved grid connection in the early hours of December 30, 2025, according to official disclosures. The project…

According to the latest report from Aurora Energy Research, Europe needs €600 billion in investments by the end of this decade, rising to €1.5 trillion by mid-century, to support the continent’s renewable energy expansion. January 9, 2026 Patrick Jowett According to analysis by Aurora Energy Research, more than 1 TW of renewable capacity is currently waiting for grid connection across Europe. The global energy markets analytics provider says permit periods in some European markets are reaching up to ten years, adding to the growing pipeline. Of the 1 TW of projects awaiting approval, Italy accounts for around 370 GW. The…

The UK government has launched a call for evidence on companies’ power purchase agreements (CPPAs), as it takes steps to support businesses with high demand for electricity.The call for evidence asks how the market for CPPAs in the UK can be developed and improved for industry. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) are jointly seeking views on the experiences of current and potential market participants, and on approaches that would strengthen the market.Industrial energy prices in Britain are the highest in the world. In its call for evidence, the…

A Husqvarna researcher developed a fast, interpretable PV hotspot detection method using IR thermography and Lab* color space features instead of heavy neural networks, achieving up to 95.2% accuracy with shallow classifiers. The lightweight system works in real time on drones or edge devices and could save 17,620 kWh and 8.9 tons of CO₂ annually by improving fault detection in solar panels. January 9, 2026 Lior Kahana A researcher at the Husqvarna Group, a Swedish manufacturer of outdoor power products, has developed a new, lightweight and interpretable framework for a real-time PV fault detection method. The technique uses infrared (IR)…