Author: solarenergy
Beyond Gravity stimulates Swiss production of solar panel mechanisms Beyond Gravity has expanded its Swiss production capacity for solar panel drive mechanisms (SADMs) by doubling the production area, enabling a fivefold increase in annual production from 36 to 200 units. The expansion underlines the company’s growing role in providing critical satellite hardware to the global space industry. “These mechanisms allow satellites to continuously point their solar wings toward the sun for maximum energy generation,” explains Oliver Grassmann, Executive Vice President of Satellites at Beyond Gravity. “By doubling our production area, we have increased our production capacity fivefold. We can now…
Canadian researchers investigated how the transparency of solar panels with cadmium telluride and crystalline silicon affects lettuce growth in agricultural voltaic systems. They found that 69% transparent silicon panels increased lettuce yield by 3.6%, while cadmium telluride panels led to a reduction in yield. October 16, 2025 Lior Kahana Researchers from Western University in Canada have investigated how the transparency of photovoltaic panels affects lettuce cultivation in agricultural voltaic systems. The team grew heart lettuce under different lighting conditions: uniform illumination of thin-film PV panels containing cadmium telluride (CdTe) and non-uniform illumination of bifacial crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV panels. “The…
The new BESS project is co-located with the Grant County solar project, pictured here. Credit: Alliant Energy Alliant Energy has announced the successful integration of its first 100 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Located next to the company’s 200 MW solar project in Grant County, the new operational battery captures excess energy generated by solar and other sources, then releases that energy to the electric grid as needed. “Energy storage systems like these complement our existing generation resources and serve as an incredibly important step toward creating a more intelligent and resilient electric grid,” said David de Leon, president…
A Chinese research group claims to have achieved remarkable efficiency and stability in a solar cell based on a perovskite absorber that incorporates MXene, a new type of 2D material known for its excellent conductivity, chemical stability and thermal resilience. The device reportedly retained 80% of its original efficiency after 500 hours. October 16, 2025 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) have fabricated a perovskite solar cell based on a light absorber containing two-dimensional titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx), also known as MXeen. MXeen compounds take their name from their graphene-like morphology and are…
Households in Vietnam could receive up to VND3 million ($113.9) in investment capital for solar plus home storage systems installed for their own use, or a preferential loan of up to VND40 million, based on proposals from the country’s Ministry of Industry and Trade. October 16, 2025 Patrick Jowett Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade is proposing a series of financial mechanisms to support the deployment of residential solar and storage installations designed for self-consumption. The ministry’s draft amendment includes plans to provide households with VDN1 million ($37.97) to VDN1.5 million in investment capital for home solar energy systems without…
Segen is expanding into Ireland and Northern Ireland with an exclusive distribution agreement for the Tesla Powerwall home energy storage system. The new facility will also stock a wide selection of energy storage solutions from Anker Solix, Fox ESS, Dyness, Sunsynk and Solis, in addition to solar panels and related equipment. The company said the Dublin warehouse will offer the widest range of solar and storage products available in the Irish market. The new warehouse in Dublin will be managed by Crane Worldwide Logistics and is designed to increase product availability and speed delivery. Additionally, working with logistics partner JMC,…
Researchers from the University of Dortmund are testing a high-voltage battery system operating up to 20 kV to reduce energy losses and improve efficiency. October 16, 2025 Jochen Siemer Image: FH Dortmund, Benedikt Reichel By ESS news A research team from the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences is developing a battery storage system designed to operate at up to 20 kV, which is about 20 times higher than conventional systems, to reduce resistance and energy losses. The KV-Batt project, led by professor of renewable energy Martin Kiel, aims to increase voltage levels in large-scale battery modules to improve efficiency and…
The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has released its publication Edition Q3 2025 from “The 50 States of Solar Energy.” The quarterly series provides insight into the state’s regulatory and legislative discussions and actions on distributed solar policy, with an emphasis on net metering, distributed solar rating, interconnection rules, community solar, residential fixed charges, residential solar demand and loads, financial incentives and third-party ownership. The report shows that 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have taken some form of policy action on distributed solar by the third quarter of 2025, with the largest number of…
Solar lighting keeps sea turtles out of fishing nets Studies have shown that lighted nets can reduce bycatch of sea turtles and sharks, but the idea has faced many hurdles to adoption. The batteries have a short lifespan, are expensive to replace and pose disposal problems. The lamps are too heavy and can easily get caught on nets. Fishermen find it difficult to work with it. To overcome these hurdles, researchers at Arizona State University worked with a team of coastal gillnet fishermen to develop solar-powered lights that function as buoys, just like any other strung on the drift line…
Resilicon says the basic engineering phase of the planned polysilicon plant in the Netherlands is underway after the project secured a technology supplier and an engineering, procurement and construction contractor. Once completed, the plant will produce high-purity polysilicon for solar energy supply chains. October 16, 2025 Patrick Jowett Dutch startup Resilicon has taken a step towards developing Europe’s first polysilicon factory powered by renewable energy. Resilicon has attracted US silicon specialists Advanced Material Solutions (AMS) as technology supplier and US-based engineering and construction company Fluor as engineering partner, which Resilicon says paves the way for starting the fundamental engineering phase…