Author: solarenergy

A Chinese research group has demonstrated an electrical imaging technique using 3D tomographic conductive atomic force microscopy to investigate passivation strategies of perovskite films to improve the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells. January 5, 2026 Valerie Thompson Researchers in China have developed an electrical imaging technique using three-dimensional (3D) tomographic conductive atomic force microscopy (TC-AFM) to go beyond the indirect characterization of perovskite film and to investigate the effects of passivation treatments intended to improve the performance of perovskite solar cells. “The main novelty is the use of three-dimensional tomographic conductive atomic force microscopy to directly visualize how…

Denmark-based energy company Ørsted has sold a 50% stake in the 2.9 GW UK Hornsea 3 offshore wind project, but a co-located battery energy storage system (BESS) is not part of the deal. The transaction to sell 50% of the 2.9GW Hornsea 3 offshore wind project to asset manager Apollo, completed on December 30, does not include the 300MW/600MWh BESS, a spokesperson confirmed. Solar energy portal. Construction of the 300MW/600MWh unit, named Iceni, started in March 2025 and it is expected to come online by the end of 2026. Tesla supplies the BESS technology while Knights Brown handles the construction.…

Gresham House Energy Storage Fund has signed sales and purchase agreements (SPAs) to acquire two new battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Scotland and England. The company has signed agreements for the 240 MW Cockenzie project in East Lothian, Scotland, and the 57 MW Monet’s Garden project in North Yorkshire, England, together with a total capacity of 297 MW. In addition, the acquisition of Monet’s Garden has effectively been completed and ownership has been transferred to Gresham House Energy Storage Fund, which is listed on the Specialist Fund Segment (SFS) of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker ‘GRID’. The…

Chinese authorities plan to implement a series of policy measures to introduce stronger intellectual property protection in the country’s photovoltaic sector. Chinese enterprises are encouraged to accelerate technological progress and reserve basic patents for the development of technologies. January 5, 2026 Patrick Jowett China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MITT) have unveiled a package of policy measures aimed at Intellectual property (IP) protection in the country’s solar industry. The two sides jointly published a document committing to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights to “effectively solve the problem of involution competition,…

Greece has licensed around 900 MW of stand-alone, front-of-the-meter battery storage through three auctions, but no projects have yet been connected to the grid. January 5, 2026 Ilias Tsagas Image: Dominick Vietor, Pixabay By ESS news In 2023, Greece organized its first battery storage auction, awarding 412 MW for 12 projects. In 2024, it conducted a second tender awarding 300 MW of additional battery storage capacity for 11 projects, while in 2025 it also awarded 189 MW of battery storage through a third tender. None of this capacity is connected to the grid. Stelios Psomas, policy officer at the Hellenic…

China’s top wafer makers have raised prices on key n-type sizes, pointing to a potential module price increase to CNY1 ($0.14)/W by 2026, amid efforts to curb loss-making competition. December 31, 2025 Vincent Shaw Coordinated wafer price increases and upstream supply discipline lead to a potential reset in China’s solar price chain. The country’s leading wafer makers have collectively raised wafer prices by about 12%, a move that market participants see as a test of whether the solar supply chain can reset prices after two years of oversupply-induced deflation. According to multiple reports, Longi, TCL Zhonghuan, Gokin Solar and Shuangliang…

Adani Green Energy Ltd. (AGEL) has commissioned a total capacity of 307.4 MW of renewable energy at Khavda in Gujarat, India. January 2, 2026 Uma Gupta By pv magazine India AGEL has commissioned a combined 307.4 MW of renewable energy capacity at its Khavda site in the Indian state of Gujarat, expanding its operational clean energy portfolio. With the operationalization of these projects, AGEL’s total operational renewable generation capacity has increased to 17,237.2 MW. The newly commissioned capacity includes 100 MW of solar energy, 176 MW of hybrid renewable energy capacity and 31.4 MW of wind energy. In a statement,…

In a new weekly update for pv magazineSolcast, a DNV company, reports that early 2026 will bring mixed solar conditions globally, with strong prospects in eastern Australia and eastern China, but cloudier than normal prospects for much of Europe, Asia and parts of the US early in the year. January 2, 2026 Solcast The first half of 2026 will bring a mixed outlook for solar globally, according to analysis from data scientists at Solcast. Seasonal forecasts from multiple weather agencies indicate a challenging start to 2026 for solar companies in Europe, but early signs of a sunny start to summer,…

The energy transition is often shaped through technology, policy and capital. Yet one message always emerged in the Women in Solar+ Europe 2025 (WiSEu Network) series: the transition will only succeed if it is also a human transition. Gender equality, diversity, equality and inclusivity are no longer marginal discussions; they are critical to how resilient, innovative and future-proof our industries can be. In the testimonies shared in 2025, neither women nor men spoke in abstract terms. They talked about lived experiences: outdated expectations, invisible barriers, moments of allyship, and leadership decisions that perpetuated or consciously challenged old power structures. Together,…

Perovskite solar cells are gaining attention as cheaper, high-efficiency alternatives to silicon solar cells, but defects in their thin films hinder charge transport, waste energy and reduce device stability. One approach to reducing these defects is a passivation treatment, in which simple salts or organic molecules are introduced into the perovskite film so that small molecules or ions bind to defect sites and limit their impact on electrical conduction. However, most existing characterization techniques only examine the film surface or provide average macroscopic measurements, making it difficult to confirm how well different passivation strategies work within the film volume. Researchers…