Author: solarenergy

Researchers in the United States found that shading from agrivoltaic systems reduces grain numbers in both sorghum and soybeans, but sorghum can partially compensate by increasing grain weight, while soybeans cannot. The study shows that sorghum and soybeans respond differently due to their physiology, and provides guidance for crop selection and management to minimize yield damage in the agricultural voltaic sector. December 4, 2025 Lior Kahana A research team from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States experimentally investigated how shade in agricultural voltaic systems affects sorghum and soybean yields, focusing on source-sink dynamics, the processes by which…

ABB has announced the completion of the acquisition of Gamesa Electric’s power electronics business in Spain from Siemens Gamesa, originally announced on December 18, 2024. Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquired portfolio includes power conversion products such as wind converters for dual-fed induction generators (DFIG), industrial battery energy storage systems (BESS) and utility-scale solar inverters. The transaction brings with it approximately 400 employees, including key employees in Spain, India, China, the United States and Australia, and two converter factories in Madrid and Valencia. ABB has also entered into a supply and services agreement with Siemens Gamesa. The acquisition increases…

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has started accepting submissions for new road surface PV technologies, with field verification planned in pedestrian areas at roadside stations to test performance and electricity consumption prior to societal implementation. December 4, 2025 Brian Publicover The Japanese government has started promoting renewable energy generation on and along roads as part of the country’s plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. MLIT has issued a call for technologies to confirm the performance of road surface PV systems. Previous field tests in areas where roads and parking lots were simulated showed cracks likely…

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 5, 2025 OPIS The Global Polysilicon Marker (GPM), the OPIS benchmark for polysilicon produced outside China, was valued at $18,319/kg, or $0.038/W, this week, remaining unchanged week-on-week, according to the OPIS Global Solar Markets Report published on December 2. Trading activity in the global polysilicon market remained limited, without significant fundamental shifts. Industry insiders describe current transactions as “intermittent.” Downstream manufacturers are reportedly discouraged by the high premiums on global polysilicon, while at…

When I think about the future of our industry, I am optimistic not only about the role we play in decarbonizing Europe, but also about our potential to redefine leadership, justice and opportunity in a rapidly evolving world. Solar energy and batteries are expanding at an extraordinary pace and will very soon become Europe’s main source of energy. The industry’s mission is to provide clean, affordable energy for all, but it must also be aligned with social objectives. By 2030, Europe’s solar workforce is expected to reach almost one million people, up from around 860,000 today. Unlike traditional industries that…

German start-up SPH has installed its ThermBooster heat pump at Philip Morris International’s Italian factory, which produces high-temperature steam of 139 C. The system increases energy efficiency, reduces gas consumption by up to 50% and recovers 20-30% of the water from the exhaust. December 4, 2025 Lior Kahana German heat pump start-up SPH has supplied one of its steam-producing heat pumps to tobacco giant Philip Morris International. The ThermBooster unit was installed at Philip Morris’ factory in Bologna, Italy, by Dutch system integrator JOA Air Solutions. The system upgrades the residual heat from 36 C through a two-stage compression and…

The U.S. Department of Energy has renamed it National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) de National Laboratory of the Rockies. The new name is effective immediately and will be reflected in all public communications and official correspondence. “The energy crisis we face today is different from the crisis that gave rise to NREL,” said Audrey Robertson, Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE). “We are no longer in the business of picking and choosing energy sources. Our top priority is investing in the scientific capabilities that will restore American manufacturing, reduce costs and help this country meet its rising energy demands. The National…

The two-terminal perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell was fabricated via a chemical polishing method that selectively removes residual lead(II) iodide from the perovskite film in the top cell. This focused interface engineering improved uniformity and stability, enabling a certified efficiency of 31.71% and improved long-term performance. December 5, 2025 Emiliano Bellini A group of researchers led by China’s Northwestern Polytechnical University has developed a two-terminal (2T) perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell via an interface engineering strategy that removes residual lead(II) iodide (PbI2) from the wide bandgap perovskite cell without damaging its lattice. PbI2 formation in wide band gap perovskite solar cells arises…

An international team of researchers has completed a preliminary techno-economic study on the global potential for offshore floating PV (OFPV). The results provide benchmarking of project costs, country-specific economic assumptions and a global assessment of the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for offshore solar. December 5, 2025 Valerie Thompson An international team led by researchers from the Australian environmental and energy focused unit of RINA Consulting, part of Italy-based RINA, has analyzed offshore FPV (OFPV) resources worldwide based on technical feasibility, energy production and costs in an effort to provide estimates on suitable locations, costs and energy generation potential. The…

The US-based manufacturer has completed certification of its latest glue-free, fluorine-free backsheet. December 5, 2025 Valerie Thompson US-based solar materials manufacturer Endurans Solar has announced its new HP D15T transparent backsheet for utility-scale bifacial projects. “Our unique U.S.-made backsheets provide domestic module manufacturers with improved supply chain stability and give developers the ability to increase their domestic content ratio, enabling a critical strategic advantage for projects targeting Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits and U.S. government procurement requirements,” said Nate Coleman, CEO of Endurans Solar, in a statement. The adhesive-free, fluorine-free backing, called HP D15T, has completed IEC 62788-2-1:2023 certification…