Author: solarenergy
ArcelorMittal has started production of its Helioroof building-integrated PV modules in France. The steelmaker says the system aims to simplify energy retrofits for commercial and industrial roofs. October 14, 2025 Gwénaëlle Deboutte By pv magazine France After five years of research and an investment of €15 million ($17.3 million), steelmaker ArcelorMittal has inaugurated a production line for its Helioroof building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system in Contrisson, France’s Grand Est region. Helioroof combines steel roofing, thermal insulation and photovoltaic generation in a single, ready-to-use product for roofs with slopes of 7% or more. “Rooftop solar energy must become the norm. With Heliroof…
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 283, written by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), passed into law last week. The bill, sponsored by the California Professional Firefighters and the California State Association of Electrical Workers, strengthens safety standards surrounding the development of energy storage facilities and strengthens coordination with fire officials. File photo of Moss Landing and the inverters outside the building that houses the lithium-ion batteries. “California must prioritize safety every step of the way as it expands battery storage to achieve its clean energy goals,” said Senator Laird. “SB 283 ensures that future battery storage facilities are…
Commercial lender Sunstone credit has selected the solar design platform HelioScope Aurora solar energy as “bankable” and a reliable source for production estimates in the underwriting process. “We love it when solar installers use HelioScope to estimate a system’s production,” said Duncan Hinkle, Chief Commercial Officer at Sunstone Credit. “Once we know that HelioScope has generated the production estimate and optimized the system size, we basically accept the output into our system performance analysis – no questions asked.” Installers who choose HelioScope reduce preliminary design time from 2 hours to 20 minutes, creating 20% more proposals per year with the…
Developed by an international research team, the cell features a cadmium sulfide electron transport layer produced using a novel ozone doping strategy. This treatment improves the purity and stability of the material while increasing the energy band gap of cadmium sulfide. October 14, 2025 Emiliano Bellini A group of researchers from China’s Fujian Normal University and the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom have developed a carbon-based antimony trisulfide (Sb2S3) solar cell that achieved a record-breaking energy conversion efficiency of 9.0%. “We set a new benchmark for this cheap and stable device architecture,” said the study’s lead author, Guilin…
The energy transition debate is dominating the UK political and media cycle, as the conversation becomes increasingly polarized by differing views on costs, fairness and the pace of the transition.That was the view of Dhara Vyas, chief executive of industry association Energy UK, speaking at the group’s annual conference this morning (October 14).Despite a year of progress, with Vyas recording milestones such as the lifting the de facto ban on onshore wind energy in England and Wales, the reform of Contracts for Difference and the launch of Great British Energy, “the debate has become increasingly fractured and politically charged in…
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) says that PV systems within a 2 km radius of German railway stations can generate more than four times the annual power demand of the network. October 14, 2025 Sandra Enkhardt By pv magazine Germany Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE has identified significant potential for the deployment of solar energy along the German railway network. It found that areas within a 2 km radius of a substation could host up to 37.6 GW of solar capacity. The institute said converters that enable direct feed back into the rail network will be key to overcoming…
Zimbabwe’s energy regulator plans to introduce competitive bidding for power projects from 2026. The announcement coincides with plans to open Zimbabwe’s electricity retail market to private companies, which can sell and distribute electricity from next year. October 13, 2025 Patrick Jowett The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) is set to introduce a competitive bidding system for electricity procurement projects. The development aims to move away from unsolicited bids, also known as proposals made by companies without invitation, replacing a tender system. Speaking at the Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference in September, ZERA Chief Executive Officer Edington Mazambani revealed that there had…
In their annual RFPs, Dominion Energy Virginia (DEV) and Dominion Energy North Carolina (DENC) announced they are seeking proposals for new solar, onshore wind and energy storage projects in Virginia and North Carolina. The PPAs will support customers’ future energy needs, as outlined in the company’s latest Integrated resource plan. The company is interested in proposals for five categories: new photovoltaic solar energy new PV solar generation in addition to energy storage new onshore wind new onshore wind energy in addition to energy storage new stand-alone energy storage For solar proposals, the company is seeking both utility-scale projects larger than…
Researchers in Germany have investigated how battery storage could help facade PV systems expand beyond their niche market by 2030. Their findings show that a large majority of south-facing facades in Europe could be equipped with vertical solar panels in combination with batteries. October 13, 2025 Emiliano Bellini Scientists from the German Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH) have investigated how battery storage can improve the performance of south-facing photovoltaic (PV) facades and found that integrating batteries significantly improves the economic feasibility of these vertical solar systems, which are often dismissed as too expensive or insufficiently productive. “In our…
The single-phase system delivers power ranging from 3,680 W to 10,000 W and offers a storage capacity between 4,992 kWh and 19,968 kWh. The new product is based on LFP batteries. October 13, 2025 Lior Kahana Chinese storage solutions specialist WHES has launched a new single-phase, all-in-one energy storage system for home batteries. The PowerPod system offers a power range from 3.6 kW to 10 kW and a storage capacity between 4,992 kWh and 19,968 kWh. “The advanced inverter supports up to twice the photovoltaic overconfiguration, ensuring optimal use of solar panels,” the company said. “With a powerful charging and…