Author: solarenergy

Germany continues to lead the European battery energy storage market, with 18 GW of utility-scale demand and 8 GW from commercial and industrial applications over the next decade. December 12, 2025 Marija Maisch By ESS news The European BESS market is poised for a major jump in annual additions, with 11 GW deployed in 2024 and an expected 45% increase to 16 GW in 2025, according to Wood Mackenzie. Furthermore, the research and consultancy firm expects European BESS deployment to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9% over the next decade, reaching 35 GW in 2034. Within this…

REC Group has third-party tested its REC Alpha Pure-RX solar panels for resistance to 45mm hailstones, according to IEC61215 MQT 17 protocols. The industrial baseline requires certification for 25 mm hailstones hitting the front of the panel at 83 km/h. REC says the REC Alpha Pure-RX has demonstrated its strength against 45mm hailstones traveling at 110 km/h, as tested by Changzhou Huayang Inspection and Testing Technology Co., the official laboratory of TÜV SÜD in China. Already certified to IEC 61215 for resistance to 35mm hailstones, the REC Alpha Pure-RX panel was subjected to 44 impacts from 40 and 45 mm…

The Chinese manufacturer said its new Astro 7 TOPCon module has an innovative self-cleaning frame and an energy conversion efficiency of 23.2%. December 12, 2025 Vincent Shaw Astronergy, the solar module unit of China’s Chint Group, has launched Astro N7, a new series of anti-dust modules aimed at the fast-growing residential and commercial rooftop markets. The design aims to maximize generation efficiency and reduce pollution-related losses. The Astro N7 CHSM78RN(DG)/F-BH bifacial module is based on n-type TOPCon cell technology and delivers 725–750 W with a maximum efficiency of 23.2% under standard test conditions. The module uses a 210R rectangular wafer…

Energy think tank Ember says the cost of utility-scale batteries outside China and the United States has fallen to $65/MWh, allowing solar power to be delivered when needed. December 12, 2025 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India Battery costs have fallen sharply over the past two years. A steep decline in 2024 was followed by further declines in 2025, putting storage within reach for dispatchable solar, Ember said. The energy think tank’s analysis, based on October 2025 auctions in Italy, Saudi Arabia and India and interviews with active developers, shows the cost of a fully grid-connected battery system at $125/kWh…

South Korean researchers developed a process that enables the use of aluminum-doped zinc oxide film in radiation-resistant quartz glass. A demonstration in III-V solar photovoltaic space modules showed that the shielding effect of bare quartz glass was significantly improved. December 12, 2025 Valerie Thompson A South Korean research team led by the Korea Electronic Technology Institute (KETI) reported that quartz glass with a thermally annealed aluminum-doped zinc oxide film can provide electron beam protection for III-V space photovoltaic modules. “Our work shows that aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO)-coated quartz glass can serve as an effective radiation-shielding cover glass for space photovoltaic…

By SB staff December 12, 2025 A former EPA Superfund site got a facelift thanks to a new solar and storage facility that transformed a contaminated property in Acton, Massachusetts, into a solution to meet grid resiliency goals. Distributed energy infrastructure (DEI), an EPC provider for large-scale solar and storage projects, recently completed a new 7.1 MW solar + 4 MW battery storage project in Acton, located on land previously occupied by a chemical manufacturing facility. The project site was previously designated an EPC Superfund site due to significantly contaminated soil, including asbestos. “Projects like Acton demonstrate what it takes…

German energy company Uniper has announced plans to build its first solar PV project in Scotland, a 68.8 MW project north of Dundee.Uniper expects to begin construction of the Berryhill Solar Farm in early 2026 and begin commercial operations by the end of the year. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), the local district network operator (DNO), is responsible for connecting the project to the Charleston substation in Dundee.The grid connection obligation for the grid connection will be an important part of the project’s commissioning, because in new projects a lack of grid capacity often hinders commissioning. Earlier this year,…

In a new weekly update for pv magazineOPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a brief overview of the major price trends in the global PV industry. December 12, 2025 OPIS The Chinese Module Marker (CMM), the OPIS benchmark rating for TOPCon modules from China, remained stable at $0.088/W Free-On-Board (FOB) China, with indications between $0.085-0.093/W, according to the OPIS Solar Weekly Report published on December 9. The forward curve indications of the FOB China TOPCon module for Q4 2026 cargo loading weakened this week, falling 1.11% to $0.089/W. Cargo loading in the first quarter of 2026 remained at $0.088/W, while…

The Hungarian government says its new HUF 100 billion ($305.4 million) program will support 10 kW home battery systems to boost solar self-consumption and reduce demand during the evening peak. December 12, 2025 Marija Maisch By ESS news The Hungarian government has launched a residential energy storage program with a budget of HUF 100 billion. Under the initiative, households can install energy storage systems with a capacity of 10 kW, with a non-refundable grant of HUF 2.5 million to support the purchase. Prime Minister Gergely Gulyás said this week that the program aims to help families with solar panels –…

The European Commission said Until 2040, €1.2 trillion will be needed for the EU’s electricity grids, including €240 billion for hydrogen networks, as the country launched its European Grids Package. The package outlines plans to strengthen cross-border infrastructure planning, accelerate permitting, improve cost and benefit sharing, and increase resilience and security. In addition, the commission announced streamlined approval for 100 hydrogen and electrolysis projects across Europe. In addition, the commission also approved a €1.5 billion Italian state aid scheme to expand clean technology production capacity, including support for decarbonization of industry through electrification, energy efficiency and renewable or electricity-based hydrogen.…