Author: solarenergy

By Martin McConnell February 23, 2026 This week on a post-Intersolar Projects Weekly, New England—and especially Maine—have taken center stage. Swift Current Energy, Onyx Renewables, PowerFlex, and beverage giant Primo Brands have all put serious work into projects in Maine, to the tune of about 135 MWdc. Outside of Vacationland, the Coventry Landfill Solar Project has reached completion in Rhode Island. Elsewhere in the U.S., Tigo Energy has completed 1,500 installer engagements in its Green Glove program. Radial Power has commissioned two new rooftop projects in Texas, and Lydian Energy landed $689 million in financing for projects across the south…

If ever there should be an industry that supports the use of Made-in-America products in construction, it would be the federal government. For decades, the government had a kind of “Buy American” provision for projects funded with federal dollars. More recently, the Build America Buy America (BABA) Act of 2021 requires that all iron, steel, manufactured products, and building materials purchased for projects with federal funds must be made in the United States. Manufactured products are required to have 55% of their production costs sourced from America. In August 2025, a 13 MW solar project was completed for the US…

New research from France shows that the height of PV panels has a critical impact on airflow and evaporation in agrivoltaic systems, with panel heights of less than 3 meters affecting crops through altered airflow. The scientists emphasized the need for site-specific measurements and computational fluid dynamics to accurately estimate water and energy exchanges among PV panels. February 23, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from Cerea, a joint laboratory of French energy giant EDF and the École nationale des ponts et chaussées (ENPC), and the The Laboratory for Dynamic Meteorology (LDM) has investigated how solar panels affect airflow in agrivoltaic installations,…

The ClearAir air-to-water heat pump is designed for hydronic heating in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. It is capable of generating hot water up to 80 C with integrated controls and supports hybrid configurations for various applications. February 23, 2026 Emiliano Bellini US industrial heating company Cleaver-Brooks has launched a new air-to-water heat pump for hydronic heating applications. Hydronic systems circulate hot water through pipes to radiators, baseboards or underfloor heating pipes, heating spaces efficiently. The water, heated by a boiler or heat pump, flows in a closed circuit and provides energy-efficient heat. These systems are widely used in residential,…

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) have used operando X-ray imaging to reveal why sodium-zinc molten salt batteries, which operate at around 600 C and hold promise for stationary energy storage due to cheap, abundant materials, experience persistent capacity loss. February 23, 2026 Jochen Siemer By ESS news A research team from HZDR in Germany has directly observed previously hidden aging processes in sodium-zinc-molten-salt batteries for the first time, using operando X-ray radiography to image the cells while they were actively working at around 600 C. The technology has long been considered promising for stationary energy storage, given its low cost…

By Martin McConnell February 23, 2026 Renewable Energy and Decarbonization Platform Origis energy On February 19, the final commissioning and operation of three was announced Swift Air Solar facilities in west Texas. Origis officials say their company has planned and developed the facilities in three phases, with the final phase scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. The 500 MWdc project will give Origis’ partner a boost Western operations throughout the Lone Star State, including the STRATOS Direct Air Capture facility for air decarbonization. “We are proud of our partnership with Occidental, an industry leader with unparalleled technical depth…

Comstock Metals, a solar panel recycler with a delivery facility in Kings County, Californiahas received approval from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to join a list of recognized companies as universal waste recyclers that can process solar panels. Waste solar panels can be sent to the factory in California, and Comstock will then send the panels to the full recycling facility in Nevada. “Opening a facility in California will allow us to better meet the region’s increasing demand for waste solar panel disposal while providing a streamlined, cost-effective logistics solution for our customers,” said Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, president…

The product line, called H3-Pro, consists of five models with PV input powers ranging from 30 kW to 50 kW and AC output powers from 15 kW to 30 kW. “With 200% PV oversizing, dual independent battery inputs and three MPPTs, it delivers excellent solar energy generation and storage efficiency,” the company said. “For larger installations, the H3-Pro can support up to 144 kWh by combining two of our CQ6 battery stacks, each consisting of 12 modules, making it suitable for commercial applications.” On the DC side, all models have a maximum input voltage of 1,000 V and an MPPT…

The South Korean government has announced plans to invest KRW321 billion ($222.6 million) by 2026 to upgrade regional distribution networks, deploy 85 energy storage systems and expand solar energy integration, while testing microgrids and market reforms. February 23, 2026 Brian Public South Korea unveiled its next-generation distributed grid strategy at a recent discussion forum in Seoul, with plans to expand distributed generation and support region-specific electricity production and consumption. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said in an online statement that it will begin upgrading the regional distribution network to enable variable renewable energy and reduce congestion, deploying 85…

Solar module prices rose €0.01 ($0.012)/W to €0.015/W in February, leaving levels 15% to 18% above the December 2024 low, despite falling wafer costs as manufacturers try to restore margins after prolonged losses. February 23, 2026 MARTIN SCHACHINGER, PVXCHANGE.COM Module prices rose more than expected in February across all major technology classes. Most products increased by approximately €0.01/W to €0.015/W. Modules for small roof systems showed a greater increase than utility-scale products. Prices have risen above January 2025 levels and are now 15% to 18% above the December 2024 low. The increases are not related to higher raw material costs…