Author: solarenergy
Groundbreaking double-layer design improves the performance of silicon batteries in electric vehicles Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have shown that a new double-layer electrode design, guided by operando imaging, significantly improves the cyclic stability and fast charging performance of automotive batteries. Their findings indicate that the new silicon-based composite electrodes can reduce battery costs by up to 30 percent while increasing capacity and lifespan. The research team, led by Dr. Xuekun Lu, introduced an evidence-based double-layer architecture to address long-standing hurdles with silicon electrode degradation. The high theoretical capacitance of silicon is offset by an expansion of up…
Mexico has opened a call for proposals for generation and interconnection permits to integrate new projects into the national electricity system under an accelerated review mechanism aligned with binding planning. October 24, 2025 Luis Ini By pv magazine Mexico The Mexican National Energy Commission (CNE) and the Ministry of Energy (SENER) published it phone conversation in the Official Journal, targeting projects with a capacity of 0.7 MW or more that require generation and interconnection permits and that meet the technical, territorial and commercial exploitation criteria defined in the technical annex of the binding schedule. Expressions of interest for the One-Stop…
Titan Energy and Greenskies Clean Focus have announced the completion of a unique renewable energy project with a Connecticut YMCA that will deliver both financial and sustainability benefits to the community-based organization. Unlike a traditional power purchase agreement (PPA), this project was structured as a roof lease. By placing solar panels on the roof, the… Soundview Family YMCA will receive approximately $20,000 annually from Greenskies, providing a consistent long-term revenue stream without the need for upfront investments or changes to existing energy systems. The Soundview Family YMCA branch already has a combined heat and power (CHP) system that covers a…
Next-generation solar cells use atomically thin materials to improve performance An international research team led by Professor Ghulam Dastgeer of Sejong University and Professor Zhiming Wang of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China has released a comprehensive review exploring how two-dimensional (2D) materials are transforming solar energy harvesting. Their work addresses the shortcomings of silicon-based photovoltaic technologies, emphasizing breakthroughs in efficiency, stability and flexibility. The review details how materials such as graphene, MoS2, MXenes and others enable precise bandgap tuning, fast charge transport and robust chemical stability. These properties help limit the energy losses that challenge traditional…
In a new weekly update for pv magazineSolcast, a DNV company, reports that southern and western China enjoyed above-average insolation in September, while eastern parts of the country experienced wetter conditions. October 24, 2025 Solcast In September, a notable shift in solar radiation patterns was observed across East and Southeast Asia, with a clear split in outcomes across China and emerging La Niña signals in the tropics. In eastern China and the Yellow Sea Basin, which have experienced above-average insolation year-round so far, conditions finally turned cloudy and wet, while the southern and western parts of the country remained sunnier…
The solar shingle game in the United States has always been an uphill battle – even “frontrunners” CertainTeed, GAF Energy and Tesla would probably agree. But New York-based SunTegra has carved out a niche for itself in the luxury residential market and has managed to run a successful business over the past decade, navigating Chinese tariffs, a pandemic and scaling up domestic production of a non-traditional solar product. Now SunTegra CEO Oliver Koehler is pulling the plug on his passion project, calling the events of the past year the final straw. Suntegra solar tiles “If you don’t have access to…
Bacteria breakthrough points to new path for battery self-recycling Scientists at Boston College have identified a previously unknown bacterium that thrives by feeding on waste from used batteries, suggesting a potential new path toward self-sustaining recycling systems for critical materials. The discovery could help reduce dependence on energy-intensive manufacturing and mining for essential metals used in electronics and renewable energy technologies. The bacterium was isolated by a multidisciplinary team investigating microbial metabolism in environments rich in battery discharge products. Their research showed that this organism not only processes the metal ions left in used battery cells, but metabolically, converting them…
South Korea has announced plans to introduce legislation next year to expand the deployment of agrivoltaics, allowing wider use of solar panels on agricultural land. October 24, 2025 Patrick Jowett Image: South Korean Ministry of Agriculture South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to introduce a law that will provide the legal basis for the deployment of agrivoltaic energy. Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung met with farmers and solar companies this week to discuss the upcoming agrivoltaic legislation. Song said the law is expected to be drafted this year and issued in the first half of next year.…
Despite recoil from minority shareholders, Hanwha now has a majority stake in REC Silicon. The majority share was acquired in early September by Anchor ASa Norwegian company that includes Hanwha Solutions and Hanwha Corp. represents. Hanwha acquired all outstanding shares in REC Silicon at the offer price of NOK 2.2 (US$0.21) per share. This puts a temporary peg in the ongoing saga involving REC Silicon, formerly one of the world’s largest polysilicon producers. The Norwegian company operated a solar polysilicon plant in Moses Lake, Washington, before market events forced its closure in 2018. In 2022, Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group became…
Europe opts for solar energy and energy autonomy A recently published study highlights Europe’s move towards solar energy and a decentralized electricity grid, emphasizing less dependence on imports. The research, conducted by ETH Zurich, the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the Research Institute for Sustainability, introduces an approach that integrates citizens’ preferences into energy system planning in addition to technical and economic data. Decision-making experiments in four European countries provided data for the study. By integrating preference data with existing energy system models, researchers predict which energy configurations people in Europe might choose. Tim Trondle of ETH Zurich explained that while…