Author: solarenergy

Oxford PVa solar perovskite company operating in Europe has opened its patent portfolio to the US panel manufacturer First solar energy. First Solar has signed a patent licensing agreement with Oxford PV, which gives First Solar access to Oxford’s existing issued patents and currently pending patent applications. First research and development in solar thin film The non-exclusive license allows First Solar to continue its development of solar PV devices using a perovskite semiconductor for potential applications in the U.S. utility, commercial and residential markets. The scope of the license includes the potential manufacturing and distribution of such products in the…

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) wants to put sodium batteries at the heart of the EU’s industrial strategy and calls for rapid action. Opinion papers, debates with stakeholders and a specific study are planned. February 24, 2026 Matthew Lynas Image: Carl Grüner, Unsplash By ESS news Sodium-ion batteries are becoming a new focus for the European Union, and according to EESC President Séamus Boland, the next EU budget should provide funding for the sodium batteries sector. “Sodium batteries, and batteries more broadly, are crucial for the EU’s competitiveness, and it is urgent that the next Multiannual Financial Framework…

GreenSpark solar energy And Encore renewable energy have completed a capacity of 13 MWdirect current portfolio of solar projects for the agricultural voltaic community in New York and Vermont. The three-project portfolio includes the 3.8 MW Constable Solar (Constable, New York), 2.9 MW Boardman Hill Solar (West Rutland, Vermont) and 6.3 MW Danyow Solar (Sheldon, Vermont). This portfolio includes Encore’s first completed solar project in New York and GreenSpark Solar’s first completed projects in Vermont, expanding each company’s geographic footprint while strengthening its shared commitment to community-based renewable energy development. Under the partnership model, Encore conceives, develops and designs the…

By Martin McConnell February 24, 2026 Last year’s Intersolar & Energy Storage North America (IESNA) flagship show took place in something of a limbo period. With President Trump having just retaken office a month prior — and promising to “drill, baby, drill,” largely doing away with the renewable energy policy advancements of the previous Biden administration — many feared the solar space, even as a mature market, was on unsteady ground going into 2025. So far, 2026 has been largely more of the same, with good vibes abound, but that sinking feeling that the other shoe could always drop very…

The Massachusetts House released its redesign of a climate omnibus bill (H.4744). The bill contains provisions recommended by advocacy groups, including Vote for solar energyThat would make the electricity grid more resilient and affordable, but it still calls for dramatic cuts to the Commonwealth’s flagship energy efficiency program. While many of the solar provisions in the bill will help meet Massachusetts’ climate goals, the bill misses an opportunity to rein in costs by reducing spending on fossil fuels and utilities, Vote Solar officials say. Instead, the bill cuts Mass Save by $1 billion, focusing on a short-sighted cut rather than…

Weidmuller USA has launched the WM4 C PV connectors, designed for residential, commercial and utility-scale solar systems. The connectors support a maximum of 1,500 V, are equipped with crimp contacts, an anti-tampering lock and IP67 protection. February 24, 2026 Lior Kahana The WM4 C PV connectors Image: Weidmuller VS Virginia-based industrial connectivity and automation products manufacturer Weidmuller USA has introduced a new connector designed for solar applications. The WM4 C PV connectors are equipped with crimp contacts that support a maximum of 1,500 V. “These UL-approved PV connectors are compatible with residential, commercial and utility-scale photovoltaic systems,” the company said…

Zenobē received the first Gate 2 Phase 1 connection offer, the company’s public affairs and policy leader Georgina Morris-Rowbottom announced this afternoon at the Energy Storage Summit.Rowbottom announced the news at a panel entitled ‘The UK’s new market design: opportunities for storage’. She later confirmed that Solar energy portal that the company received the bid for one of its Scottish projects. We reported last week that the first official offer had been made.Zenobē did not reveal which project is involved, but there are only three major projects underway in Scotland. They are: The 400MW/800MWh Eccles project, under constructionThe 100MW/200MWh phase…

Vattenfall says it will connect a 7.6 MW solar power plant to a 17 MW wind farm in Germany, allowing both to operate via a single grid connection point. February 24, 2026 Sandra Enkhardt By pv magazine Germany Barrel trap plans to build a 25 MW hybrid power plant in the southern Eifel region of Germany. The “Hommerdingen-Biesdorf” project will include four wind turbines with a combined capacity of 17 MW and a solar power plant with approximately 12,000 PV modules totaling 7.6 MW. The wind farm will be built in the municipality of Hommerdingen, while the solar panels will…

Sun run has formed a distributed power plant partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), leveraging more than 1,000 customers’ solar and storage systems to export energy to reduce grid constraints. Sun run “Sunrun’s groundbreaking program with PG&E shows that distributed power plants can help communities avoid the high costs of adding more poles and wires to accommodate load growth,” said Sunrun CEO Mary Powell. “We saw time and time again that our customers’ batteries delivered location-specific load lighting with high precision and consistent performance.” Sunrun’s Local PeakShift Power distributed power plant is part of PG&E’s Seasonal Aggregation of…

An agrivoltaic energy zoning plan in Israel specifies that solar panel coverage should not exceed 30% of the built-up area. The bottom edge of panels should be a minimum of 1.5 meters above the ground for field crops, increasing to 4.5 meters for orchards and other crops. February 24, 2026 Patrick Jowett Israel’s National Planning and Construction Council has approved an outline plan for agricultural voltaics. The plan, prepared under the guidance of Israel’s Planning Administration and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, represents the country’s first attempt to define rules that comprehensively regulate agricultural installations. It specifies that solar…