Author: solarenergy

Duke Energy Florida has completed two new solar sites: Half Moon Renewable Energy Center in Sumter County and Rattler Renewable Energy Center in Hernando County. Rattler Renewable Energy Center The two solar sites each produce 74.9 MW of clean energy added to the grid. These sites are part of the first phase of an agreement with the Florida Public Service Commission to build twelve new solar sites between 2025 and 2027. Together, these 12 sites will generate 900 MW of energy and save customers a total of approximately $3 billion over their lifetime. “Our customers are the motivation for our…

Researchers in Munich and international partners have increased the efficiency of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells to 31.4 percent by adjusting the molecular contacts at the interface between the absorber and charge collection layers. The team reports the result in the journal Joule, noting that the tandem cell was manufactured entirely in the Munich region on crystalline silicon bottom cells representative of industrial devices. The work involved scientists from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munich (LMU), the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen, the City University of Hong Kong and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi…

By pv magazine USA The devastating impact of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 has fundamentally changed the way the electricity industry approaches preparing for cold weather. This unprecedented event, which caused the largest controlled load reduction in U.S. history, exposed critical vulnerabilities in the Bulk Electric System (BES) and catalyzed sweeping regulatory changes that renewable energy facilities now must navigate. The storm affected generator owners and operators, transmission owners and operators, balancing authorities and reliability coordinators in multiple regions. The comprehensive response from FERC and NERC resulted in new standards to increase the availability of generating facilities during extreme…

Manufacturer of floating solar racks Ciel & Terre has developed WattRack, a new line of racks with a higher panel density than the company’s previous models. WattRack is capable of placing 2.2 MW of solar energy on one hectare of water (almost 2.5 acres). Credit: Ciel & Terre This new rack places modules in an east-west orientation, has a new rail mounting system and no longer has maintenance corridors between the panel rows. Instead, Ciel & Terre has created a trolley that moves over the solar panels, so that operators can still gain access for maintenance. The trolley has a…

If you’re mulling over the ideas of long-term sustainability and energy-efficiency, residential solar systems should be on your list. It’s crucial to recognize the best system that caters to your needs, as the decision has wide-ranging implications. Residential solar systems come in two main variants – grid-tied and off-grid. Each has its unique benefits and drawbacks. This comprehensive guide provides a deep dive into both systems, helping you grasp the intricacies to make an informed choice. A Closer Look at Grid-Tied vs. Off-Grid Solar Systems When it comes to powering your home with solar energy, you have two main options:…

Researchers from Beijing Normal University and Qingdao University have developed a non-fused ring electron acceptor (NFREA) called TT-Ph-C6 that improves the performance of thick-film organic solar cells. The material addresses limitations in film thickness tolerance and fill factor that have held NFREAs back compared to fused ring acceptors. The team, led by Prof. Zhishan Bo, Prof. Cuihong Li, Prof. Yahui Liu and Prof. Hao Lu, used an asymmetric side group engineering strategy on TT-Ph-C6. This design led to devices with a fill factor of 80.1 percent, reported as the highest value yet for NFREA-based organic solar cells. TT-Ph-C6-based devices achieved…

The sustainable energy sector is evolving at an extraordinary pace. We are navigating technological disruption and regulatory complexity as we race to achieve the energy transition. In this context, gender diversity is not only ethically right, but also commercially essential for innovation and adaptability. Research consistently shows that gender-diverse teams make better decisions, identify risks more effectively and innovate more successfully. Companies with diverse leadership are 25% more likely to be profitable. In an industry that is building new systems and institutions, we have a unique opportunity to build equity in from the start rather than retrofitting it into existing…

Sunny energy storage systems will now have access to the Energy Toolbase software suite. This will enable energy storage developers to model Sungrow’s commercial energy storage systems ETB Developer to analyze performance, savings and optimal shipping strategies in practice. Once deployed in the field, the systems are fully equipped and managed by ETB controllerEnergy Toolbase’s energy management system, which provides intelligent, real-time control. Both from Sungrow PowerStack 255CS And PowerTitan 2.0 can work with the Energy Toolbase suite. Designed for small to medium commercial applications, the 257 kWh PowerStack features a fully integrated, liquid-cooled cabinet with batteries, PCS, BMS and…

The Chinese company said the Power Max 1800 SE has a nominal power of 1.8 kW and a peak power of 2.4 kW. It weighs 15.5 kg and measures 39 cm x 23 cm x 25.4 cm. December 10, 2025 Lior Kahana The PowerMax 1800SE Image: Oscal Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer Oscal has launched a new portable energy storage system. The Power Max 1800 SE has a lithium iron phosphate cell (LiFePO4) with a capacity of 1,024 Wh. On the output side, it has a nominal power of 1.8 kW and a peak power of 2.4 kW. “Weighing just 15.5…

Industry leaders at PV magazine Week Europe 2025 said manufacturers are implementing measures to limit ultraviolet-induced degradation of TOPCon (tunnel oxide-passivated contact) solar panels and strengthen resilience against hail damage to protect performance and reduce financial risk. December 10, 2025 Patrick Jowett Manufacturers are working to address the impact of ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID) on TOPCon cells, according to a webinar held as part of pv magazine Week Europe 2025. Analysis during a session on module quality and risk held as part of pv magazineLast week’s virtual conference highlighted the growing concerns surrounding UVID on n-type TOPCon solar panels as a…