Author: solarenergy

The European Union added 27.1 GWh of battery energy storage capacity in 2025, with utility-scale systems accounting for the majority of new installations, as residential storage declined due to lower electricity prices and reduced support schemes, according to a new report from SolarPower Europe. January 28, 2026 Marija Maisch By ESS news The European Union’s battery energy storage fleet has grown for the twelfth year in a row, marking another record year for new installations. According to a new report from SolarPower Europe, 27.1 GWh was deployed in 2025, an increase of 45% year-on-year, largely driven by utility-scale systems. This…

The National Wealth Fund (NWF) has unveiled a plan it says could boost £100 billion of UK investment in clean energy. The new strategic plan will, among other things, prioritize battery production and energy storage, electricity grids and carbon capture projects, to deploy the Fund’s remaining £19.4 billion of capital over the next five years. The NWF – an operationally independent arm of the Treasury – said it expects the greatest impact in ten key sectors: ports and supply chains, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, battery and EV production, steel, electricity networks, energy storage, nuclear energy, transport infrastructure and ‘place-based…

Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have demonstrated 9.2% efficient printable semi-transparent, flexible halide perovskite solar cells with adjustable color and transparency. January 28, 2026 Valerie Thompson Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem developed a method to fabricate semi-transparent, flexible halide perovskite solar cells with tunable transparency and color via 3D microprinted structures in a low-temperature process. The devices have demonstrated good energy conversion efficiency levels, visible transparency and improved stability during long-term use and after repeated bending tests. Potential applications include building-integrated solar photovoltaics (BIPV) and indoor PV devices, the study found. “This study introduces several important…

A report from energy think tank Ember shows that India’s system operator had to regularly limit solar power generation as an emergency measure to maintain the safety of the electricity grid, as other sources were already reaching maximum capacity. January 28, 2026 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India. India had to curtail 2.3 TWh of solar energy between the end of May and December 2025, including 0.9 TWh in October alone, according to a new report from energy think tank Ember. The report states that a combination of incorrect forecasts, low daytime demand due to unusually mild temperatures and increasing…

TurningPoint Energy (TPE) and Standard solar energy will collaborate on 11.2 MW of community solar built across two projects in Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware. In 2022, TPE has committed to investing more than $100 million in projects across the state. The projects, located in Harrington and Bridgeville, each have a capacity of 5.6 MWdirect current single-axis tracker systems and are designed to collectively produce approximately 18,875 MWh of clean energy. Together, these projects will provide electricity to almost 1,700 households annually. TPE developed the projects and Standard Solar will own and operate them for the long term. “This…

A team of scientists has developed a new hydrogel solar panel coating that can reportedly reduce hotspot temperatures by up to 16.2 C, outperforming conventional hydrogels. According to the research group, the hydrogel also showed superior durability and improved performance by up to 13%. January 28, 2026 Patrick Jowett Researchers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have developed a new hydrogel coating for solar panels. The new coating, presented in the study “Improving photovoltaic efficiency and sustainability with advanced hotspot management”, published in the magazine Advanced energy materials, is so-called able to improve heat dissipation in solar panels to cool…

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has signed two executive orders directing state regulators to accelerate utility-scale solar, expand community solar to 3 GW and promote up to 750 MW of battery energy storage as part of an effort to contain rising electricity prices and address expected capacity shortages. January 28, 2026 John Fitzgerald Weaver By pv magazine USA On her first day in office, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 1 And No. 2which respectively focus on maintaining electricity prices and providing solar energy and energy storage. Governor Sherrill issued Executive Order No. 1 to address rising…

A new report from Wood Mackenzie identifies five key trends that will define the energy storage industry by 2026, including supply chain restructuring and the rise of non-lithium batteries. January 27, 2026 Ryan Kennedy By pv magazine USA The global energy storage market reached a major milestone in 2025, with annual installations exceeding 100 GW for the first time. The growth comes despite major policy changes in the world’s two largest markets, China and the United States. Image: Wood Mackenzie China has withdrawn its mandate to link storage to new renewable energy projects. The country is moving towards market-based mechanisms.…

PureSky energy has achieved commercial operation of its Heath Brook and Sand Brook community solar projects in Corinth, New York. The two solar farms – which together total approximately 12.92 MWDC (approximately 5 MWAC each) – now supply clean, renewable energy to the grid. Sand Brook’s community solar project. PureSky energy Combined, Heath Brook and Sand Brook will generate approximately 18.8 million kWh of electricity per year, enough to power approximately 2,725 homes annually. The projects are expected to generate nearly $8 million in utility bills for local subscribers over their 30-year lifespan. Both solar farms in Corinth participate in…

Researchers have studied the potential of combining photovoltaic systems with compressed air energy storage (CAES) to power a commercial building in South Africa. They found that a co-optimized system could reduce total capital costs by 15-20% compared to traditional sequential sizing approaches. January 27, 2026 Lior Kahana Researchers from South Africa’s University of Pretoria have conducted a multi-objective optimization study to combine commercial and industrial (C&I) PV systems with compressed air energy storage (CAES). The research aims to minimize total system investment (Capex) and operational costs (Opex), while improving reliability and maximizing renewable energy penetration under South African conditions. “The…