Author: solarenergy

Researchers led by Michael Grätzel of the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland recently led efforts to improve the optoelectronic properties of perovskite using small-radius rubidium ion chemistry to enable more stable and efficient perovskite solar cells. January 6, 2026 Valerie Thompson Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland recently led efforts to improve the optoelectronic performance of perovskite using small radius rubidium ions (Rb+) chemistry. In two recent studies, targeting two different structural locations and operating through different physical mechanisms, the researchers described methods using Rb+ in perovskite films to increase the stability of…

Consumers Energy has commissioned a 250 MW solar project in western Michigan, built on an active municipal wastewater treatment site, using a dedicated 138 kV grid connection. January 6, 2026 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA Consumers Energy has powered the Muskegon Solar Energy Center, a move that underscores the industry’s shift toward large-scale utility development in unconventional landscapes. The 250 MW facility, located in Moorland Township, Michigan, is now the largest solar facility in the utility’s fleet and marks a major milestone in the state’s transition to a coal-free capacity mix by 2025. The project was led by owner-operator…

The Poland-based module manufacturer has developed Photonwall, a building-integrated solution for ventilated facades. It also offers Photonroof, a ceramic PV roof tile solution. Both BIPV products are available in colors and finishes to match the aesthetics of modern and historic buildings. January 6, 2026 Valerie Thompson Poland-based manufacturer of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules ML System has developed Photonwall, a ventilated facade module. Available in a wide range of sizes, colors and finishes, it is certified to multiple building code, electrical and environmental standards. The glass-glass solar facade module is suitable for use as an exterior building shell component. It is…

A 250 MW solar project is now online in Michigan, located on 1,900 acres on the Muskegon Resource Recovery Centera wastewater treatment plant, a landfill and an additional environmental location. Credit: Burns & McDonnell Muskegon Solar is the largest solar project for Consumer Energy. “Consumers Energy is building the electric grid of the future to serve Michigan homes and businesses. Muskegon Solar is an example of the reliable, cost-effective projects we create to ensure we continue to meet our customers’ needs,” said Sri Maddipati, president of Consumers Energy’s electric utility. Burns & McDonnell acted as EPC for the project. The…

In two separate projects, Japan’s Kyuden Mirai Energy and Nissan Motor are demonstrating the use of flexible, glass-free chalcopyrite PV panels supplied by PXP Corporation. January 5, 2026 Valerie Thompson At Fukuoka International Airport, Kyuden Mirai Energy, the renewable energy subsidiary of Japanese utility Kyushu Electric Power Company, and PXP Corporation, a Japanese startup developing chalcopyrite and perovskite solar technologies, installed glass-free flexible chalcopyrite (CuInSe2) modules on the airport terminal roof. “The test location is 2 x 6 m and the power is 1.2 kW,” says Hiroki Sugimoto, CTO of PXP Corporation. pv magazineadding that the duration of the project…

A Malaysian research team proposed new concepts such as cow voltaic, sheep voltaic, goat voltaic, veggie voltaic, fruit voltaic, and fish voltaic to better define the diverse applications of solar photovoltaic in dual land use. Their overview outlines four main categories – livestock solar, crop-based agricultural voltaics, aquavoltaics and zoovoltaics – and presents several business cases. January 5, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdulla have conducted a comprehensive study on agrivoltaic systems and proposed a new taxonomy for their classification. “This study is the first in the world to present a conceptual framework for the next…

British consultants GlobalData say Singapore could add between 300MW and 400MW of solar power annually by 2035, taking its cumulative capacity to the 5GW threshold from about 1.9GW today. January 5, 2026 Patrick Jowett Singapore According to analysis from GlobalData, the company is on track to deploy 5.3 GW of solar energy by the end of 2035. The British consultancy expects Singapore to deploy around 300 MW of solar energy by 2025, increasing its cumulative capacity from 1.6 GW to around 1.9 GW by the end of 2024. The analysts expect annual deployments of between 300 MW and 400 MW…

Wood Mackenzie’s ranking for the first half of 2025 shows that the top 10 leading inverter manufacturers have a global market share of 71%. January 5, 2026 Patrick Jowett Wooden Mackenzie has published its global inverter manufacturing rankings for the first half of 2025. The ranking puts Chinese manufacturers Huawei and Sungrow at the top of the list, with almost identical scores of 93.9 and 93.7. Germany’s SMA is in third place, followed by Austria’s Fronius in fourth place and China’s Ginlong/Solis in fifth place. The top ten is completed by China’s GoodWe in sixth place, Japan’s TMEIC and Israel’s…

Storio Energy has enabled behind-the-meter (BTM) industrial battery systems to participate in Automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR), a service that has until now been dominated in France by front-of-meter storage. January 5, 2026 Gwénaëlle Deboutte By ESS news Storio Energy, specialized in battery energy storage systems for large electricity consumers, has reached a new milestone in France by having its behind-the-meter batteries participate in the aFRR. The aFRR is used to automatically correct deviations around the target grid frequency of 50 Hz. Until now, batteries providing aFRR services in France were almost exclusively front-of-the-meter, standalone systems connected directly to the…

The Chinese company said the new Z-type mounting supports installation angles of 5°, 10° and 15° and withstands wind speeds of up to 45 m/s. It claims a lifespan of more than 25 years. January 5, 2026 Lior Kahana The mounting solution for Z-brackets for flat roofs Image: Mibet Chinese solar mounting system supplier Mibet recently launched a Z-type mounting system designed for installations on concrete flat roofs. The new mounting structure, called Flat Roof Z Bracket Mounting Solution, supports installation angles of 5°, 10° and 15° and can withstand wind speeds of up to 45 m/s. “The design offers…