Author: solarenergy
The transition to clean energy is changing economies, societies and the very idea of work. But as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reminds us in its 2025 report Renewable energy: a gender perspective (Second edition)progress towards equality remains uneven. The sector is growing rapidly, but not everyone is keeping up. Women now hold 32% of full-time jobs in renewables, compared to 23% in fossil fuels. Encouraging, but still below the global occupational average of 43%. More worryingly, this figure has remained unchanged since the first edition of the report in 2019. Six years later, the share of women in…
Wholesale of foodstuffs United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) has completed the eighth and largest installation of rooftop solar panels at its distribution center in Riverside, California. The 6.7 MW array is expected to generate approximately 80% of the site’s electricity needs. “Our on-site sustainable energy projects, especially our solar panels, are one of our key strategies to achieve our climate goals and support operational resilience,” said Kevin Alavi, Director of Sustainable Operations at UNFI. “This project reflects our broader approach to impact: delivering strong business value while reducing emissions. It also highlights the dedication of our internal teams who continually…
Japan’s SoftBank Corp. has launched a four-year program, supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), to develop high-density batteries and high-efficiency solar cells for high-altitude platform aircraft. October 24, 2025 Valerie Thompson Japanese telecom company SoftBank Corp, part of the SoftBank Group, has announced a new four-year project focusing on high-energy density battery technology and high-efficiency solar cells for high-altitude long-duration platform station aircraft (HAPS). The project partners are the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), battery energy storage technology specialist Enax, and solar panel manufacturer Choshu Industry. The research aims to reduce…
New X-ray technique preserves the chemistry of lithium-metal batteries for precise evaluation Researchers at Stanford University have developed a new method that allows scientists to analyze lithium metal batteries without changing their chemical composition. The team integrated a flash freezing step into the established X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy technique, allowing the analysis of battery anodes at cryogenic temperatures and avoiding unwanted chemical reactions caused by conventional measurements at room temperature. The new approach, known as cryo XPS, addresses a long-standing problem in battery research: the observer effect. Conventional methods for examining battery electrodes can alter the protective layer that forms on…
Energy China and PowerChina have secured $4.3 billion worth of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for gigawatt-scale wind and solar projects in Saudi Arabia. October 24, 2025 Vincent Shaw Chinese energy engineering group (Energy China) and Power Construction Corp. of China (PowerChina) have signed EPC contracts for gigawatt-scale renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia, worth CNY 31.273 billion ($4.3 billion). The deal includes several large-scale wind and solar power plants. Energy China, in partnership with ACWA Power, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Aramco Power, has secured three contracts worth a combined CNY 19.554 billion. The projects include 3…
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar) and Emirates Water and Electricity Co. (EWEC) have started construction on a solar-plus-storage project in Abu Dhabi that will provide 1 GW of continuous baseload energy from a 5.2 GW solar power plant combined with a 19 GWh battery system. October 24, 2025 Brian Public Masdar and EWEC have started construction on what they describe as the world’s first gigawatt-scale renewable energy project that provides continuous power 24 hours a day. The development combines a 5.2 GW solar power plant with a 19 GWh battery energy storage system. The two companies first announced plans…
Researchers at Wood Mackenzie say single-axis PV offers the lowest utility-scale generation costs globally, with efficiency gains and stable supply chains expected to reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of solar. October 24, 2025 Patrick Jowett According to analysis by Wood Mackenzie, solar energy will maintain its position as the most cost-competitive energy generation source in the world until 2025. The consultancy’s latest work assesses the LCOE for renewables in Europe, North America, Latin America, the Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa (MENA). It found that single-axis tracker systems in the MENA region were the most cost-competitive…
A new technical textile integrating 150 organic photovoltaic solar PV devices was demonstrated this month in a pavilion installation during Dutch Design Week 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. October 24, 2025 Valerie Thompson Image: Ronald-Smits, Studio Pauline van Dongen On display during Dutch Design Week 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands, the Umbra Pavilion, which provides cooling shade during the day and atmospheric lighting at night, features heliotex, a new technical textile that integrates flexible organic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells. The heliotex technology, previously known as Suntex, emerged from a four-year collaboration between Studio Pauline van Dongen and textile technology company Tentech, both…
Great British Energy and the UK Government will invest up to £30 million in 34 NHS trusts to support the deployment of new solar panels on their facilities.The investment will see panels installed at 70 NHS sites, although the government did not specify how much solar capacity would be deployed through this scheme. Great British Energy expects that the installation of these panels will save £65 million in energy bills for the relevant NHS trusts over their operational life, with the average site saving around £35,000 per year in energy bills.Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will receive the most…
Woodside Energy says the Beaumont New Ammonia Project is nearing completion, while Australia and India have agreed to collaborate on green hydrogen technology, supply chains and workforce development. October 24, 2025 Sergio Matalucci Woodside energy said the 1.1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) Beaumont New Ammonia Project is 97% complete, with Phase 1 targeting first ammonia production from late 2025. The Australian Petroleum Exploration and Production Company added that the completion of the project and associated payment of the rest 20% of the acquisition price is expected in 2026. The company defines the Texas project as “one of the world’s…