Author: solarenergy

The research project combines LiDAR measurements with advanced meteorological simulations to assess the climate impacts of large-scale photovoltaic installations in desert areas. May 15, 2026 Pilar Sanchez Molina Photovoltaic parks of sufficient size and appropriate design can influence climate processes in coastal desert areas and potentially increase rainfall. This hypothesis underlies a research project led by the University of Hohenheim in Germany. The initiative, which will be implemented in the Arabian Peninsula, is funded by the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), an international program that invests $5 million annually in technologies aimed at increasing rainfall in arid…

By Martin McConnell May 15, 2026 It’s a dream come true for the average homeowner. Walk into Walmart, Home Depot – any big box store – grab some solar panels, go home, plug them in and you’re good to go. What seemed like a dream just a few years ago is quickly becoming a reality across the country as balcony solar bills wind their way through state legislatures. But those bills will ultimately be meaningless if there are no products on the shelves. Swedish furniture giant IKEA has already started selling plug-in solar and storage systems in Germany, but the…

UK mobile battery storage company Allye Energy has upgraded its MAX300 product for fleet operators electrifying their depots.The MAX300 battery energy storage system (BESS) offers up to 300 kWh, thanks to the integration of 800V battery architecture. Allye uses waste EV batteries in its storage systems and says 800V is now the leading voltage standard used in most advanced EV platforms.Higher voltage batteries allow the portable BESS to support DC charging up to 400 kW. According to the company, that also offers higher capacity stationary storage Powered by recycled EV batteries, MAX300 means fleet operators can upgrade their depot charging…

Researchers from the German institute built a photovoltaic water electrolysis system based on photovoltaic microconcentrators coupled with proton exchange membrane electrolysis. Outdoor tests have shown a record solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 31.3%, achieved by a four-terminal CPV system that controls two PEM cells in series under real operating conditions. May 15, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) in Germany have developed a photovoltaic water electrolysis system that uses its proprietary microconcentrator photovoltaic technology (micro-CPV). The scientists explained that previous approaches using double- and triple-junction III-V concentrator cells achieved up to 19.8% solar hydrogen…

Ahead of next week’s Renewables Procurement & Revenue Summit, our colleagues from PV Tech Premium spoke to senior manager of PPA origination and structuring at EDF UK Ross Irvine on the UK Contract for Difference (CfD) and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) markets for solar projects.“Government CfD is currently the main route to renewables,” says Irvine, echoing industry sentiment that securing a government contract remains the most attractive option for most solar developers. “It is attractive for investors in sustainable energy [with] 20 years of fixed price certainty, with a government-backed entity.”However, this is not to say that there is no…

The $220 million project has a capacity of 305 MW and is located in the province of Mendoza, in the sunny Cuyo region. May 15, 2026 Luis Ini By pv magazine Latam The Province of Mendoza has inaugurated the El Quemado Solar Park, located in the department of Las Heras, in the province of Mendoza, in the sunny Cuyo region. With an installed capacity of 305 MW, the plant is now the second largest photovoltaic power plant in Argentina, after the 315 MW Cauchari complex. Originally developed by provincial utility Empresa Mendocina de Energía Sociedad Anónima (Emesa), the $220 million…

Fraunhofer ISE, in collaboration with Irish energy company ESB, has developed a methodology that demonstrates Ireland is a competitive location for sustainable energy-to-X and green hydrogen production with costs comparable to Morocco, South Africa and Brazil, supported by strong wind energy resources, policy support and infrastructure potential. May 15, 2026 Sergio Matalucci Germany Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) has developed a methodology to identify suitable locations in Ireland for renewable energy and large-scale power-to-X production. The study examined several hydrogen-based products, including liquid hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, dimethyl ether and e-kerosene (SAF), while also calculating full supply chain…

Chilean company Atamostec is testing heterojunction solar panels with low silver content under real desert conditions on the Atacama Desert Solar Platform (PSDA) in collaboration with France’s CEA-Ines. The ALPACA project has achieved up to 70% silver replacement by copper to date. May 15, 2026 Luis Ini By pv magazine Latam Atamostec, a private-public initiative supported by the Chilean government-run Production Development Corp, has begun testing heterojunction (HJT) solar modules produced with low silver content in the Atacama Desert, Chile’s Antofagasta region. The performance of the panels is assessed on the Atacama Desert Solar Platform (PSDA) in collaboration with the…

Mitsubishi has expanded its Hydrolution EZY R290 heat pump series with two models with a capacity of 10 kW and 14 kW. The new products use refrigerant R290 and can deliver supply temperatures of up to 75 °C. May 15, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioning Europe, Ltd (MHIAE), part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has expanded its Hydrolution EZY range with two new higher capacity products. Available from June, the two new models offer capacities of 10 kW and 14 kW and are designed for large residential and small commercial applications. They both offer a single-phase 230 V supply…

HY Solar has launched the HT3.0 quad-cut module at its base in Jiangyin, marking an upgrade of its n-type portfolio built on TOPCon 3.0 cell technology with cell efficiency of up to 27.5%. The manufacturer said that the new product has a PSP quad-cut architecture, high bifaciality and low degradation. May 15, 2026 Vincent Shaw Formerly known as Wuxi Shangji Automation, Chinese manufacturer HY Solar has rolled out the first unit of its HT3.0 high-efficiency quad-cut module at its Jiangyin manufacturing base, marking an upgrade of the Chinese manufacturer’s n-type module portfolio. The module is based on the company’s self-developed…