Author: solarenergy

Next powerformerly Nextracker, is expanding its operations in the Southeast with a new remote monitoring center in Nashville, Tennessee, and increasing its U.S. steelmaking capacity in the region. The addition of a new production line, operated by Memphis-based MSS Steel Tubes USA, will double Nextpower’s production capacity with the contract manufacturer for solar tracking systems used in the Southeast. The existing steel production line at the plant currently supports 120 U.S. jobs, with an additional 150 expected as the new line grows. “The Southeast has entered a new era of energy infrastructure,” said Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextpower.…

France’s Genelios has developed an 8 kW modular awning for campers, offering French-made construction, multiple installation options and services including design, monitoring and maintenance for users throughout France, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg. December 4, 2025 Marie Beijer By pv magazine France French startup Genelios has unveiled a sun canopy specifically designed for campers. The GenPark Camp system integrates 16 solar panels with a total power of 8 kW. The modular design allows integration into larger structures and adapts to varied terrain using pile or concrete beam foundations, according to the company. “Our innovative mounting system enables rapid installation and simplified…

Renewable energy developer BayWa re has sold two of its UK solar farms to Capital Dynamics, an independent global asset management company.The sale includes the 49.9MW Clump Farm solar power station in Leicester and the 40MW Yanel development in North Somerset. Both were developed in a joint venture with Grüne Energien Solar and both projects have a building permit.Although Baywa re operates as an independent power producer (IPP), it is part of its business model to develop projects before they are delivered. Baywa COO Daniel Gaefke said the sales of Clump Farm and Yanel Solar Farm “build on a series…

Researchers from Fraunhofer ISE have developed a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell using a TOPCon bottom cell with standard structured front surfaces. Their results show that TOPCon bottom cells can perform comparably to heterojunction cells in tandem devices in terms of shunt resistance, supporting scalable, cost-effective industrial production. December 4, 2025 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) have fabricated a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell that relies on a bottom-mounted PV device with a TOPCon design and high passivation quality. “We have built the first perovskite-silicon tandem device that integrates a TOPCon bottom cell with…

AirWater and Luxor Solar KK have launched a 178 kW vertical PV system in a Tottori car park, operating under an on-site PPA. The Verpa-based system, a first for the San’in region, maximizes space, avoids snow damage and is said to provide power equivalent to that of rooftop solar installations. December 4, 2025 Emiliano Bellini Japanese medical equipment supplier AirWater and Luxor Solar KK, the Japanese division of German solar panel manufacturer Luxor Solar GmbH, have announced the completion of a 178.5 kW vertical PV system on a parking lot owned by a Japanese telemarketing company JP Two-Way Contact Co.,…

Perovskite solar cells are in development as candidates for next-generation photovoltaic modules, but commercial use remains limited by long-term instability caused in part by migrating ions in the absorber layer. A team from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the University of Potsdam has now measured the ion density in four commonly used perovskite compounds and found substantial differences between lead- and tin-based materials. Over the past decade, perovskite research has mainly focused on organometallic compounds in which lead occupies the B-position in the ABX3 crystal structure. Lead-perovskite solar cells have achieved energy conversion efficiency that has increased from about 4 percent…

A report from the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators shows that the average cost of renewable hydrogen remains around €8 ($9.33)/kg, about four times higher than that of conventional hydrogen from natural gas. A drop in natural gas prices has widened the price gap since the agency’s last hydrogen market report. December 3, 2025 Patrick Jowett Renewable hydrogen remains four times more expensive than conventional hydrogen produced from natural gas, according to a report by the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). That of the intergovernmental organization Monitoring report European hydrogen market 2025…

Enphase announced the first production shipments of its next-generation IQ EV Charger 2 to customers in the United States. Designed in a modern black form factor, the IQ EV charger 2 gives home charging a premium aesthetic and is designed to work seamlessly with Enphase solar and battery systems or as a powerful standalone charger. The IQ EV Charger 2 uses solar-aware charging that captures excess solar energy and adjusts charging in 1-amp increments to maximize the use of clean energy. A single SKU that supports a circuit breaker up to 60 amps simplifies inventory for installers. RFID access control…

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says battery storage capacity grew by 13,809 MW over the past twelve months and is expected to increase by another 22,053 MW as solar energy continues to dominate new utility-scale applications. December 3, 2025 Tristan Rayner Image: Arizona Public Service By pv magazine USA EIA figures show that battery energy storage and solar are dominating capacity additions, while fossil fuel capacity continues to decline. Another 22 GW of storage is expected for the coming year. U.S. battery energy storage capacity expanded by 13,809 MW in the past year, an annual growth rate of 59.4%,…

Dongkuk CM has introduced an ultra-high reflectivity colored steel sheet designed to improve the performance of dual-sided rooftop PV systems, increasing solar reflectance to 80-85. The new material also offers improved corrosion resistance, long-term durability and additional cooling benefits thanks to its advanced plating and dual-layer design, according to the manufacturer. December 2, 2025 Emiliano Bellini Dongkuk CM, a unit of South Korean steel manufacturer Dongkuk Steel, has launched new colored steel sheets for roof applications with dual-sided PV systems. Colored steel sheets, also called pre-painted or color-coated steel, are durable, visually versatile building materials widely used in roofing, wall…