Author: solarenergy

Australian researchers developed a low-cost reflective coating for semi-transparent solar roof tiles that reduces surface temperature by up to 20 C and increases power output by up to 11.7%. Simulations in five global cities showed energy savings of up to 5.85%, highlighting the coating’s strong potential for improving both building cooling efficiency and solar energy performance in BIPV systems. February 11, 2026 Lior Kahana An Australian research team has developed a reflective coating strategy for semi-transparent solar-integrated roof tiles, aiming to improve both thermal regulation and electrical performance in building-integrated solar photovoltaics (BIPV). According to corresponding author Mohammad A. Alim,…

Ofgem has said it will not provide relief to the National Energy System Operator (NESO) after it said it would not meet its obligations for projects eligible for Gate 2 network connection offers. NESO has informed the energy regulator that it will not be able to fulfill its commitments for 210 of the energy projects that have been granted “protected” status under the Gate 2 provisions – 62% of the 340 projects that were eligible. Protected projects would keep their contractual connection dates in 2026 or 2027 as part of the connection reform process designed to prioritize projects ready for…

German researchers found that the costs of agrivoltaic energy far outweigh the agricultural benefits, raising questions about subsidies and highlighting the need for more cost-competitive system designs. February 11, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Scientists from the German Thünen Institute for Agricultural Technology have proposed including the costs of land conservation in the modeling of the levelized energy costs (LCOE) for agricultural voltaic projects “Agrivoltaic energy can preserve agricultural land more effectively than standard land‑mounted PV installations by enabling the simultaneous use of land for electricity generation and agriculture,” said the lead author of the study. Jonas Bohmtold pv magazine. “However, our…

The Government will pledge up to £1 billion to support community ownership of new clean energy projects. The Local Power Plan will be managed by government-backed Great British Energy (GBE) and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (NESNZ) to expand local and community ownership of renewable energy plants across the UK. It will provide direct financing through a combination of grants, loans and local investments to community energy groups, local and devolved governments and community members in what Energy Minister Ed Miliband called “the largest public investment in community energy in the history of this country.” GBE said…

This contributed article by Kevin Byrne, BESS consultancy manager at global consulting, engineering and quality control firm Enertis Applus+ addresses the key challenges that slow BESS deployment in the UK, suggesting various systemic actions to equip the planning system to better support developers.The United Kingdom’s ambitious 2050 Net Zero targets have created an urgent need for energy storage and government policy describes it as “essential infrastructure”. Yet, developers find themselves trapped in a planning system defined by inconsistent regulation, scarce technical expertise and rising local opposition. As a result, battery energy storage system (BESS) projects are delayed for years, or blocked, and costs…

In this article, Josh Cornes, analyst at Solar Media Market Research, discusses the results of AR7 from the government’s Contracts for Difference program, announced yesterdayin which both the awarded projects and the developers are discussed.The UK government’s Contracts for Difference (CfD) program has been a driving force behind UK solar, with 60% of capacity built over the last three years receiving a CfD. More than 70% of Allocation Round 4 (AR4) is now under construction or operational and more than half of AR5 is in the same phase. AR7 has become the most successful round ever, with two award-winning projects…

Single-phase inverter products manufactured in Texas are now being shipped to multiple European markets as SolarEdge adjusts its international export strategy. The manufacturer tells pv magazine Key components will increasingly be manufactured in the United States in the coming years. February 11, 2026 Matthew Lynas US-made SolarEdge inverters are now shipping to the United Kingdom as the manufacturer expands the number of European markets served by factories in the United States. SolarEdge’s single-phase residential inverters, manufactured at its Austin, Texas facility, are now shipping to the United Kingdom, Italy, France and the Netherlands. According to SolarEdge, shipments of commercial and…

Switzerland-based Energy Vault has secured an initial supply of 1.5 GWh sodium-ion batteries from Peak Energy to develop integrated storage systems for artificial intelligence-focused data centers. February 11, 2026 Marija Maisch By ESS news Switzerland-based Energy Vault has partnered with US-based Peak Energy to co-develop an AI infrastructure-dedicated, full-stack energy storage platform based on sodium-ion battery technology. Would you like to know more about matching renewable energy sources with the demand for data centers? Join us on April 22 for the 3rd SunRise Arabia Clean Energy Conference in Riyadh. The event will spotlight how solar and energy storage solutions are…

ALL RESIDENTS Silver Falls Library District | Resilience of construction | $589,147Installation of a 71 kW solar PV system, estimated to produce 82,359 kWh annually, along with a 240 kWh battery storage system to supplement energy consumption. The project will offset costs and allow the building to function as an emergency response and community support center during disruptions. This project has previously received a grant to support the planning activities for this construction project. City of Gresham | Resilience of construction | $998,766Installation of a 155 kW net-metered PV solar system capable of producing up to 173,160 kWh annually, including…

The Silver Institute has said the amount of silver used in production will fall this year, driven by developments in the solar energy sector. The institute also says the silver market will remain in deficit for the sixth year in a row. Philip Newman, managing director of independent research consultancy Metals Focus, explains pv magazine the fact that prices have recovered quite well after the late January correction shows the underlying strength of investor interest in silver. February 11, 2026 Patrick Jowett According to an analysis published by the Silver Institute, the photovoltaic industry is expected to use less silver…