Author: solarenergy

China’s Astronergy says its ASTRO N7 Pro module targets utility-scale PV installations and commercial rooftops, offering quarter-cell architecture, bifacial benefits and a 30-year performance warranty. January 7, 2026 Sandra Enkhardt Astronergy, the solar module unit of China’s Chint Group, has introduced a new tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar panel with a power output of up to 670W, with a maximum conversion efficiency of 24.8%. The product, marketed as the ASTRO N7 Pro, is designed for utility-scale photovoltaic installations, as well as commercial and industrial rooftop installations. Astronergy said the module is based on the TOPCon 5.0+ cell technology, without…

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a revised “smart solar” law (S4100/A5264) in December. The Senate and the State Assembly previously unanimously passed the amended legislation. The legislation will have to be implemented by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) under the new administration of newly elected Governor Mikie Sherrill. The bill will speed up the approval process for residential solar and battery systems, creating more solar installations and energy bill savings for families across the state. This legislation would require the DCA to make available an online, automated permitting platform for rooftop solar and battery installations statewide within 18…

More than 1.2 GWh of new behind-the-meter energy storage capacity was installed across Australia in December 2025, as households and businesses sought to take advantage of the federal government’s revised AUD7.2 billion ($4.9 billion) Cheaper Home Batteries Program. January 7, 2026 David Caroll By pv magazine Australia This is evident from the latest figures from energy sector data analyst SunWiz Australia registered 1,203 MWh of behind-the-meter battery energy storage capacity through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) in December 2025, exceeding 1 GWh for the second consecutive month. The national market grew by 19% in December 2025, slowing from 42%…

Sweden-based renewable energy company Orrön Energy has secured grid connections for three solar PV projects with a generation capacity of approximately 1.8 GW. In addition to the three solar projects, the company has also secured grid connections for three data center projects with a cumulative capacity of 1.1 GW. Orrön Energy did not confirm the location or individual size of any of the projects, but did say they are greenfield sites.The company said it expects more binding details on the network connections in the third quarter of 2026. After approval of the network and secured land, the locations are now…

UNSW researchers developed an experimentally validated model that links UV-induced degradation in TOPCon solar cells to hydrogen transport, charge capture and permanent structural changes in the passivation stack. They show that thicker alumina layers significantly improve UV resistance by limiting hydrogen migration, providing clear guidance for more robust TOPCon designs. January 7, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have investigated this ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID) in TOPCon solar cells and have discovered that a thicker layer of aluminum oxide (AlOx) prevents this kind of “Our new work provides a comprehensive, experimentally validated model for UV…

The GWh-scale long-term energy storage project is expected to reduce curtailment in Xinjiang, a region in China with high solar and wind power generation and transmission bottlenecks. The flow battery installation is located at the same location as a PV installation. January 7, 2026 Matthew Lynas Image: WeChat, Xinjiang local government By ESS news The world’s first gigawatt-hour scale vanadium flow battery energy storage project has gone into operation in China, with a total installed capacity of 200 MW/1,000 MWh. Located in Jimusar Province, Xinjiang, the solar and storage project represents a total investment of CNY3.8 billion ($520 million) and…

Huawei and Sungrow are ranked as the world’s top two solar inverter manufacturers for the first half of 2025, based on Wood Mackenzie’s ‘Global Solar Inverter Manufacturer Rankings H1 2025’ report. The ranking assesses 23 leading manufacturers from seven countries based on eight performance criteria. Manufacturers accounted for approximately 90% of global shipping volume in 2024. “The 2025 global inverter landscape will be led by a diverse group of power electronics leaders who combine scale with innovation,” said Timothy Shen, senior research analyst at Wood Mackenzie. “Competitive advantage is increasingly determined not only by shipping volume, but also by the…

Chinese manufacturer Fox ESS has launched a modular battery energy storage system with a capacity of 5.99 kWh that can be scaled up to 83.86 kWh per stack. January 6, 2026 David Caroll By pv magazine Australia Energy technology manufacturer Fox ESS has released its CQ6 high-voltage battery energy storage system which it claims offers a capacity of 5.99 kWh in a stackable design that makes it ideal for Australian homes and businesses. “The battery is a high-performance, scalable battery storage system,” said Fox ESS. “This flexibility makes it suitable for a variety of environments, whether suburban rooftops, regional properties…

Ampion manages the subscriptions for two new community solar projects recently brought online in Illinois by ENGIE North America. The Knox 2A and Knox 2B projects in Galesburg are 2 MWAC each. “Community solar is about more than just clean energy. It’s about ensuring that households – including those with the greatest need – share in the benefits of the shift to clean energy,” said Kristen Fornes, Head of Distributed Solar and Storage at ENGIE. “These projects in Knox County demonstrate how renewable energy can strengthen communities, reduce costs and create a healthier future for families.” More than 60% of…

China’s Longi says it will begin mass production of base metal PV modules in the second quarter of 2026, as rising silver prices increase pressure to reduce metallization costs. January 6, 2026 Vincent Shaw Chinese module manufacturer Longi has revealed that it will begin mass production of base metal PV cells in the second quarter of 2026, with rising silver prices and cost pressures on the solar manufacturing supply chain pushing towards copper-based metallization. The company announced in investor communications on January 5 that it has already started building some of the production capacity needed for the service. Longi described…