Author: solarenergy
A Chinese research team has developed a new sandwich buffer layer that improves carrier transport and efficiency in semi-transparent perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. Mini-modules incorporating this layer achieved efficiencies of over 26% while demonstrating both scalability and long-term stability. October 29, 2025 Patrick Jowett A research team led by the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a sandwich-like buffer layer to improve the performance and scalability of semi-transparent CsPbI3-based perovskite solar cells and four-terminal (4T) tandem solar cells. The MoOx/Ag/MoOx (MAM) buffer layer consists of a thin layer of silver (Ag) between molybdenum oxide (MoOx)…
Coral Reef Partners recently completed a 1.94 MW ground-mounted solar system within walking distance of the headquarters of D&H Distributing, an electronics and IT distributor. The project in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, includes racks from DCE Solar. “D&H has a long-standing commitment to investing in environmentally conscious and sustainable business practices,” said Michael Schwab, co-president of D&H. “We employ energy-efficient solutions and methods in our corporate offices and distribution centers, and actively purchase available green-certified technologies. Now, with the launch of the new solar park, we are strengthening our commitment to clean energy, sustainability and innovation.” “This solar farm is among the…
Solar tracker manufacturer Nevados says its articulated tracker systems and digital design software optimize energy production on slopes of up to 37%, reducing grading costs and environmental impact. October 29, 2025 Rahul Chandra By pv magazine USA The solar industry has historically thrived on nice, flat plots of land for project development. Viewed through a product development lens, the early “customer use case” – flat locations – shaped the product requirements for tracking technologies (favoring long, continuous torque tube designs for optimal economics) and the project design tools that supported them. But now the customer use case is changing –…
The Japanese electronics manufacturer said its new heat pump system is an ideal solution for central heating and hot water installations. It offers a heating power of 9 kW to 16 kW and a seasonal coefficient of performance of up to 4.31 at low temperatures. October 29, 2025 Emiliano Bellini The T-CAP All-in-One 185L DHW tank M heat pump Image: Panasonic Japan’s Panasonic has launched a new air-to-water heat pump for use in central heating and domestic hot water installations. The system consists of a complete propane (R290) heat pump and a domestic hot water (DHW) tank. It is available…
Japanese equipment manufacturer Yanmar says its new commercial rooftop units (RTUs) include a standard model, a dual-fuel heat pump and a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) with integrated energy efficiency ratios (IEER) up to 21.3. October 29, 2025 Lior Kahana Japanese heavy machinery company Yanmar has introduced a new line of commercial rooftop units (RTUs) manufactured in the United States. The range includes a standard RTU, a heat pump with dual-fuel capability and a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS). The standard RTU is available in 13 sizes, with an integrated energy efficiency ratio (IEER) ranging from 16.6 to 21.3. The…
Advances in semi-transparent solar cell technology drive future energy solutions for buildings Researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University have succeeded in setting a new benchmark for semi-transparent organic photovoltaic (ST-OPV) technology, an innovation that enables the integration of solar cells into windows, screens and other surfaces for urban environments. ST-OPVs address the crucial challenge of balancing transparency with high energy conversion efficiency, combining attractive visual design with effective energy generation for smart building integration. A major achievement of the PolyU team was the development of the dimensionless parameter FoMLUE, which screens photoactive materials by combining visual transmittance, band gap and…
The Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority is looking for a project developer to build a solar and battery mini-grid facility. The deadline for registration is December 3. October 28, 2025 Patrick Jowett Image: Aboodi Vesakaran, Unsplash The Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) is inviting private mini-grid developers to bid for a solar-plus-battery project. The tender details declare that the chosen developer will be responsible for designing, co-financing, building, operating and maintaining the mini-grid, which will be built in Bulimeni, southern Eswatini. The tender document states that the community has at least 168 potential customers and is remote and currently without access…
OMC Power and Honda Motor will jointly develop energy storage solutions using recycled batteries for electric vehicles, enabling mini-grid, rooftop and telecom applications to support India’s clean energy transition. October 28, 2025 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India OMC Power, a distributed renewable energy (DRE) company targeting a 1 GWp clean energy portfolio in India, and Honda Motor are collaborating on energy storage solutions and battery reuse from the electric mobility ecosystem. Building on preliminary studies conducted in recent years, Honda and OMC have demonstrated the potential of repurposing Honda’s detachable and portable batteries, originally used in electric two- and…
A German research team has developed a semiconductor-based security concept, tailored to sustainable energy systems, that forces a permanent short circuit in less than 1 millisecond in the event of a fault. The generated short circuit remains intact during the fault and reliably protects the components against overcurrent. October 28, 2025 Ralph Diermann Fraunhofer IMWS office in Halle, Germany Image: Fraunhofer IMWS by pv magazine Germany. A joint research project between the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, Infineon Bipolar and the Technical University of Dresden has developed a semiconductor-based protection concept tailored to the specific requirements…
Enphase Energy has announced support for complete off-grid system configurations which can operate without an electricity connection if necessary. The system requires the IQ Battery 5P with built-in grid shaping microinverters, IQ8 series microinverters with Sunlight JumpStart capability, and a third-party standby AC generator, all working together to power the home. Enphase’s comprehensive off-grid solution is designed to meet the unique energy needs of homeowners. For off-grid use cases, the Enphase Energy System components work together to power loads and charge batteries efficiently, with intelligent software that optimizes generator use when needed and prevents generator damage from feeding back power.…