Author: solarenergy

Researchers from the School of Engineering at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have developed a robust coating layer that significantly improves the operational stability of perovskite solar cells while maintaining high efficiency. In accelerated tests simulating intense midday sunlight at 85 degrees Celsius, the coated cells retained more than 95 percent of their initial energy conversion efficiency after more than 1,100 hours of continuous use, demonstrating great potential for outdoor use in real-world conditions. Perovskite solar cells are known for their high efficiency and relatively low production costs, but their limited long-term stability is a major obstacle…

Software specialist Planno from the United Arab Emirates has launched software to automate the search for roof areas with potential for solar energy generation. January 19, 2026 Valerie Thompson Planno, a software company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has launched subscription-based prospecting software for commercial and industrial (C&I) solar developers and planners to use to identify and qualify promising rooftops in a growing number of countries. It automates several steps of the prospecting phase for commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop project developers, “making the process faster and more data-driven,” said Daniel Domingues, founder and CEO of Planno. “It…

Four agencies told 16 leading companies to curb irrational competition as China tightens oversight of power and batteries. January 19, 2026 Vincent Shaw The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Image: 維基小霸王, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 By ESS news China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said it has convened a high-level symposium with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) on January 7 to “further regulate” competition in the energy and energy storage battery sector. The meeting was chaired by MIIT Vice…

US-based Copeland has launched its Sensi Hydro sanitary water heat pump, designed to provide energy-efficient hot water for hotels, commercial buildings and public facilities. The units feature ZW scroll compressors, independent refrigerant circuits and a backup mode to ensure reliable hot water supply. January 19, 2026 Lior Kahana The Sensi Hydro Image: Copeland American heating specialist Copeland has launched a new sanitary water heat pump for applications in commercial buildings. The new product, called Sensi Hydro, is designed to provide a consistent hot water supply and is available in models ranging from 6 HP to 20 HP. According to the…

By Martin McConnell January 19, 2026 An Illinois utility company Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) has presented a second multi-year network plan (MYGP) to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), which outlines future “critical investments” in the Land of Lincoln’s electricity grid for the period 2028-2031. The new plan was developed with feedback from both stakeholders and customers in mind and is now aligned with the state’s renewable energy goals. The company plans to “make cost-effective investments in infrastructure that simplifies and accelerates the interconnection of solar and wind energy” with the ComEd system’s broader energy network, in addition to the system’s already…

The 300 MW solar and 1,200 MWh storage Pioneer Clean Energy Center is under construction in Arizona. The project was developed by BightNight and partner Cordelio Power and will use Fluence Energy Gridstack Pro BESS. “Pioneer will provide reliable, available clean energy that Arizona needs to support its rapid growth,” said Martin Hermann, CEO of BrightNight. “This project shows how large-scale renewables combined with advanced storage can deliver robust capacity and true grid resiliency. We are excited to work with partners who share our commitment to building the next generation of energy infrastructure.” Fluence’s Gridstack Pro solution will include U.S.-manufactured…

Egypt’s Kemet signed three agreements with Chinese companies in the past week, covering plans for a 5 GW solar cell complex, a 5 GWh battery energy storage factory and Egypt’s first solar inverter factory. January 19, 2026 Patrick Jowett Image: Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy Egyptian company Kemet has signed a cooperation agreement with Chinese clean energy conglomerate GCL to develop an industrial complex for the production of solar cells in Egypt. According to a statement published by the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the industrial complex will have a production capacity of 5 GW, cover…

The non-recourse debt will support Egg Power’s 250MW pipeline of solar and wind projects under construction, with capacity expected to be scaled to 500MW in the UK. Three UK solar projects – Grange, Rainsbrook and Rag Lane – are currently under construction.Egg Power acquired all three projects in 2025, with the Grange solar farm was last added to his portfolio in December.The portfolio is expected to become commercially operational between the second quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027, with projects also planned across Europe.Once operational, the initial UK portfolio, supported by long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), is…

TCL Zhonghuan has entered exclusive talks to acquire a controlling stake in module manufacturer DAS Solar. This marks one of the most significant consolidation moves in China’s photovoltaic manufacturing sector as the industry faces continued financial pressure and overcapacity. January 19, 2026 Vincent Shaw TCL Zhonghuan has signed a framework agreement to acquire Chinese module manufacturer DAS Solar. The proposed transaction would involve a combination of existing share transfers, a voting rights allocation arrangement and a subsequent capital increase, giving TCL Zhonghuan effective control of the company. The parties have agreed to a 90-day exclusivity period to negotiate final terms,…

Aazzum Yassir, director of technology & operations at Pulse Clean Energy, discusses the technological shift in BESS applications over the past decade as the importance of energy storage has been proven. When the Paris Agreement was finalized in 2015, it set the world on course to limit global temperature rise to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and ideally to 1.5°C. Few could have predicted how central battery energy storage systems (BESS) could achieve these goals. This groundbreaking agreement required a transformation in the way we generate, distribute and consume energy. Ten years later, we are witnessing the rise of…