Author: solarenergy

The Japanese imaging and electronics company said tests of its perovskite solar cell technology will be conducted in a demonstrator system aboard an unmanned cargo spacecraft operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. November 4, 2025 Valerie Thompson Japanese imaging and electronics company Ricoh has announced that its perovskite solar cell technology will be evaluated on an unmanned cargo transfer conducted by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). “During the on-orbit demonstration, Ricoh’s perovskite solar cells will be exposed to space for approximately two months,” the company said in a statement. Tests of power generation, electrical performance and durability will be…

Ultra-black nanoneedles set new standards for light absorption in solar towers Concentrated solar energy is gaining ground as a future renewable energy source thanks to the efficient storage of thermal energy. Historically more expensive and complex than photovoltaic systems, advances have made concentrated solar energy increasingly viable and adopted for renewable energy production. Inigo Gonzalez de Arrieta from the Thermophysical Properties of Materials group at the University of the Basque Country (EHU) described their work on ultra-black materials for tower applications. “We are investigating ultra-black materials for use in solar towers.” In these plants, mirrors focus sunlight on an absorber…

Morocco could install up to 28.6 GW of distributed solar power, produce 66.8 TWh of electricity and create a $31 billion market, according to new research calling for swift regulatory action to unlock this potential. November 3, 2025 Gwénaëlle Deboutte Image: Kristijan Nikodinovski, Unsplash By pv magazine France A study from the Imal Initiative for Climate and Development, authored by Anas Hmimad and Rachid Ennassiri, assessed Morocco’s decentralized renewable energy systems (DERS) across 12 regions, with rooftop solar being the main focus. The researchers modeled three deployment scenarios – optimistic, median and pessimistic – estimating power, capacity, avoided emissions and…

The Chinese manufacturer said its new residential heat pump water heaters deliver a coefficient of performance of up to 4.2, with heating power ranging from 4.5 kW to 5 kW. The units are available with water tanks in sizes 200 L, 300 L and 500 L. November 3, 2025 Emiliano Bellini The GoodHeat R134a PV-powered heat pump boiler Image: GoodHeat GoodHeat, part of Chinese inverter and battery manufacturer GoodWe, has introduced a new line of heat pump boilers for residential use. “Our new heat pump boiler is designed to be powered by photovoltaic energy,” a company spokesperson said pv magazine.…

Equity Solar Illinois has announced the endorsement of Ducks Solar, the first community solar project paired with a battery energy storage system in ComEd territory. Ducks Solar’s subscribers consist primarily of small commercial businesses. “This project not only expands access to the benefits of affordable solar energy for small businesses and municipalities, but also demonstrates how storage technology can strengthen our state’s energy independence,” said Marcellus Moore, director of Equity Solar Illinois. “It’s another step forward in ESI’s goal to unite clean energy and community action and contribute to a reliable grid that works for everyone.” The 7.72 MW community…

The Allgäu-based company’s initiative targets owners of photovoltaic storage systems installed before the end of 2020. The value of the trade-in bonus depends on the capacity of the new Sonnen battery. Sonnen describes the campaign as a “targeted growth initiative in a new market segment.” November 3, 2025 Sandra Enkhardt By ESS news Sonnen is launching what it claims is the first German battery storage exchange program. The company is offering households that installed a photovoltaic storage system before December 31, 2020, the opportunity to replace their old systems with a new Sonnen battery – regardless of the condition or…

Ghana’s new clean energy programme, backed by Switzerland’s Klik Foundation, will install 4,000 rooftop systems with a total capacity of 137 MW to expand renewable capacity and reduce emissions. November 3, 2025 Patrick Jowett Image: Swiss Embassy in Ghana Ghana has launched its National Clean Energy Program (NCEP) to expand the deployment of rooftop solar systems. The initiative is a collaboration between the country’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and the Klik Foundation, a Swiss-based carbon offset group. The initiative, led by Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, will channel $200 million in Swiss investments to deploy approximately…

Illinois could soon get a BESS windfall if clean grid legislation passes in the Senate. Photo: AES DOE is ending hundreds of subsidies for clean energy projectsWashington, DC The Department of Energy announced it planned to end hundreds of grants awarded through the Offices of Clean Energy Demonstrations and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Many solar energy initiatives and projects could be affected by these cuts, including efforts to expand training for O&M technicians and more. Solar for All beneficiaries, states sue EPA over program terminationWashington, DC In October, multiple beneficiaries of the federal Solar for All grant program, along…

Grid-scale BESS projects with a total capacity of 1,358 MW and a capacity of 3,700 MWh were granted construction permits in October. The figure comes from Solar Media Market Research Battery Storage: UK Pipeline & Completed Assets Database Report. It is the largest approval by capacity for battery energy storage systems (BESS) since July, when around 5GW/10GWh was given the green light by local authorities or central government. The numbers are posted monthly by our sister site Energy-Storage.news’ on a subscription basis ESN premium to offer. Notable projects that received the green light last month include: Qair UK’s 342 MW…

Solar panel cleaning equipment company Objectif Drone has launched a new cleaning robot with double brushes weighing 7 kg and a speed of 5 km/h, made for small and medium PV installations. November 3, 2025 Valerie Thompson France-based solar panel cleaning equipment specialist Objectif Drone has launched a new 7kg, 5km/h double-brush robot for solar PV parking canopies and similar types of installations. “We wanted to offer a compact and affordable solution for companies that provide maintenance services for small and medium-sized PV installations, such as solar shading structures,” said a company spokesperson. pv magazine. The new cleaning system, called…