Author: solarenergy
The energy transition is often shaped through technology, policy and capital. Yet one message always emerged in the Women in Solar+ Europe 2025 (WiSEu Network) series: the transition will only succeed if it is also a human transition. Gender equality, diversity, equality and inclusivity are no longer marginal discussions; they are critical to how resilient, innovative and future-proof our industries can be. In the testimonies shared in 2025, neither women nor men spoke in abstract terms. They talked about lived experiences: outdated expectations, invisible barriers, moments of allyship, and leadership decisions that perpetuated or consciously challenged old power structures. Together,…
Perovskite solar cells are gaining attention as cheaper, high-efficiency alternatives to silicon solar cells, but defects in their thin films hinder charge transport, waste energy and reduce device stability. One approach to reducing these defects is a passivation treatment, in which simple salts or organic molecules are introduced into the perovskite film so that small molecules or ions bind to defect sites and limit their impact on electrical conduction. However, most existing characterization techniques only examine the film surface or provide average macroscopic measurements, making it difficult to confirm how well different passivation strategies work within the film volume. Researchers…
Chinese battery manufacturer LiTime has introduced its 12V 320Ah Mini Smart Self-Heating Battery, which offers an energy capacity of 4,096 Wh and a continuous output power of 2,560 W. January 2, 2026 Lior Kahana Chinese battery manufacturer LiTime has introduced a new battery called the 12V 320Ah Mini Smart Self-Heating Battery. The company’s new lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePO4) has a nominal capacity of 320 Ah. “It delivers an energy capacity of 4,096 Wh and a maximum continuous output power of 2,560 W,” the company said in a statement. “It supports 4P4S expansion, allowing for an energy capacity of 65.5…
A team from the University of Exeter has tested single-axis floating solar tracking systems at twelve sites in Britain. This showed that azimuthal tracking provides the greatest energy gain and the lowest levelized energy costs (LCOE). January 2, 2026 Lior Kahana Researchers from the University of Exeter compared east-west (EW), north-south (NS) and azimuthal single-axis tracking floating PV systems, simulating 10 MWp installations on lakes and reservoirs from northern Scotland to southern Cornwall, UK. Systems with a fixed tilt are included as a reference. Azimuthal tracking rotates a fixed-tilt array, similar to a turntable. “While Britain continues to prioritize wind…
Waaree Energies said it has secured an order for the supply of 1.5 GW of solar panels and has started production of newly installed PV inverter production lines. Earlier this week, the company surpassed 20 GW of approved solar panel manufacturing capacity after its Chikhli plant was added to India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), a requirement for participation in many domestic utility-scale projects. Waaree said the latest contract includes 1,000 MW of Domestic Content Requirements (DCR) compliant modules and 500 MW of non-DCR modules. The customer was described as a…
A team from Tokyo University of Science (TUS) has identified a structural mechanism by which adding small amounts of scandium to layered sodium manganese oxide cathodes slows degradation, which typically limits the life of sodium-ion batteries. January 2, 2026 Brian Public A new materials study from Japan shows that targeted scandium substitution in layered sodium manganese oxide can reduce the lattice voltage responsible for rapid capacity decay in sodium ion battery cathodes. The research focuses on layered sodium manganese oxide (Na₂⁄₃MnO₂), a high-capacity cathode material that is widely studied as a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion chemistry due to its abundance…
Wood Mackenzie’s solar module ranking for the first half of 2025 places JA Solar and Trina Solar joint number 1 and introduces a new “Grade A” benchmark focused on purchasing and project financing decisions. January 2, 2026 Vincent Shaw Wood Mackenzie has published its Global Solar Module Manufacturer Ranking for the first half of 2025, putting JA Solar and Trina Solar nearly tied for the top spot according to their weighted scoring model. JA Solar scored 91.7 points, narrowly ahead of Trina Solar with 91.6, in an assessment of 38 crystalline silicon module manufacturers on 10 core performance dimensions. The…
Octopus Energy Group has secured an investment that values its newly spun-off technology company Kraken at $8.65 billion (£6.43 billion).Marking the first round of financing since the split in Septemberinvestors led by D1 Capital Partners, with new investments from Fidelity International, Sustainable Capital Partners and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, will acquire approximately US$1 billion (£743 million) of Kraken shares to fund both Octopus and Kraken. Investors led by Octopus Capital are also injecting an additional $320 million into Octopus for innovation and growth.Octopus retains a 13.7% stake in Kraken, which was founded in 2016 as part of the Octopus…
By pv magazine USA The energy storage industry took a bumpy road in 2025, but eyes are on the tech stack of 2026. While lithium-ion remains dominant, pressure is mounting for longer-duration storage, safer chemistry, and more resilient supply chains in the face of AI-driven tax growth, data center demand, wildfire risk, and tightening domestic content regulations. pv magazine USA spoke with leaders from across the energy storage industry to learn about what’s next for batteries in 2025. Long-term storage will shift from a niche solution to a strategic necessity. “As we look to 2026, the industry is moving towards…
According to the latest analysis from GlobalData, the US will add between 41 and 52 GW of solar energy annually through 2035. December 31, 2025 Patrick Jowett The USA is on track to deploy 737.8 GW of solar energy by the end of 2035, according to an analysis by the London-based consultancy Global data. GlobalData says the US will add 47.9 GW of solar power in 2025, slightly less than current record of 49 GW deployed in 2024. Annual deployment is then expected to decline, with GlobalData projecting an increase of 42.2 GW of solar in 2026, 44.8 GW in…