Author: solarenergy
Belectric has signed a contract to act as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for a 210MW solar PV portfolio in the UK.The portfolio will consist of four projects, owned by Severn Trent Green Power (STGP), which are expected to be built in Shropshire, Warwickshire, North Yorkshire and Yorkshire. Belectric, a subsidiary of European energy company Elevion Group, expects to start construction work on the portfolio next month and plans to start commercial operation of the projects between August 2027 and January 2028.Belectric noted that some of the project sites “present specific technical challenges, including the presence of gas pipelines…
Researchers in Saudi Arabia ran a year-long simulation of fixed-tilt PV panels at different azimuth angles, finding that south-facing panels (180°) maximize energy production, while eastward shifts of up to 45° cause minimal losses. February 13, 2026 Lior Kahana Researchers from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in Saudi Arabia conducted a one-year simulation study of a fixed-tilt PV system at different azimuth angles to determine the optimal configuration for solar energy production under local conditions. “We aimed to systematically quantify the optimal annual energy production for azimuth angles of 180°, 150°, 135° and 120° for a fixed-tilt system in Dammam,…
The German battery manufacturer is expanding its portfolio with a modular scalable LFP storage solution with a new energy management system. The new product comes with the company’s proprietary “Varta.iq” software, which is designed to detect consumption anomalies, integrate dynamic electricity tariffs and enable bi-directional charging. February 11, 2026 Marian Willuhn By pv magazine Germany German battery manufacturer Varta is launching a new home energy storage system that uses artificial intelligence to detect anomalies in household energy consumption and adjust charging schedules accordingly. The product, called Varta.wall BM2, is described as a modular solution with a capacity that can be…
Brazilian scientists have developed a slope-based framework for agrivoltaics, finding that sites with slopes less than 15% offer the best balance between agricultural suitability and technical feasibility. Their review of 30 studies shows that steeper terrain is suitable for PV systems with modified designs, land use limits, erosion risks and increasing installation costs. February 13, 2026 Emiliano Bellini Researchers from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in Brazil have developed a framework to assess the suitability of soil agriculture for agrivoltaic energy, finding that slopes below 15% provide the most balanced conditions for project implementation. “Agrivoltaic systems have…
Plus power has brought online the two-hour 175 MW Cross Town Energy Storage facility in Gorham, Maine. This project is the largest of its kind on the ISO New England network. The 350 MWh Cross Town energy storage facility in Maine, featuring Sungrow PowerTitan BESS. Credit: plus power “Today, Maine welcomed the largest energy storage project of its kind in New England, delivering real cost savings and reliable power to Maine,” said Governor Janet Mills. “This project will help lower electricity costs by reducing the need for expensive fossil fuels when the electric grid is stressed, as we saw during…
Jupiter International Ltd has commissioned a 1 GW mono-passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cell manufacturing facility in India, increasing its total installed capacity from 959 MW to almost 2 GW. February 12, 2026 Uma Gupta Image: Jupiter International By pv magazine USA Jupiter International has commissioned a 1 GW mono PERC solar cell manufacturing facility at its Baddi site in Himachal Pradesh, increasing its total installed capacity from 959 MW to almost 2 GW. The new facility was developed by Jupiter Solartech, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jupiter International. The company said the expansion is expected to double…
French startup Jane Energie has introduced a software platform to automate and manage collective self-consumption projects, targeting installations from 100 kWp to 500 kWp as the segment transitions from feed-in tariffs to shared local consumption models. February 11, 2026 François Puthod By pv magazine France Paris-based Jane Energie said its subscription-based software-as-a-service platform is designed for local authorities, landlords, farmers, developers, companies and energy producers involved in collective self-consumption. Nathan Bouldoires, co-founder of Jane Energie, said the company is targeting projects between 100 kWp and 500 kWp in size, where production can be absorbed locally by nearby consumers. Bouldoires said…
In recent years, residential solar energy has acted as one of the most important growth anchors in the European solar market. Rooftop installations in key markets helped absorb production capacity, accelerate consumer adoption and normalize solar energy as a mainstream investment for households. During periods of market uncertainty, residential demand has repeatedly provided stability and momentum for the broader PV sector. However, that role is now evolving. As European solar markets focus on larger-scale C&I and utility projects, residential PV installations showed a year-on-year decline in 2025, due to a combination of market saturation, reduced support incentives, restrictions on network…
Solar engineer and ABC Solar founder Brad Bartz will deliver a keynote-style lecture titled “The Palos Verdes Landslide: Who Turned the Power Back On?” during an upcoming community event at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles on March 14, 2026. The presentation combines scientific storytelling with real-world engineering experience, exploring how fundamental physics principles translate into resilient energy solutions. Bartz, who founded ABC Solar more than 25 years ago, is known for emphasizing the practical use of solar and battery technologies under challenging conditions. His upcoming lecture starts with a surprising starting point: quantum mechanics. “Solar energy starts with…
The Dutch manufacturer of spatial atomic layer deposition equipment has launched a new sheet-to-sheet instrument for the pilot production of large-area perovskite solar panels on glass substrates. February 12, 2026 Valerie Thompson Dutch atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment manufacturer SALD BV has launched a new sheet-to-sheet spatial ALD tool for the pilot production of large-area perovskite solar devices on glass substrates. The scalable system for the deposition of functional thin film layers on glass plates is said to be able to achieve process speeds of up to 1 m per second and is described as suitable for substrates with dimensions…