Author: solarenergy

How outdated solar panels can fuel a second life The global adoption of rooftop solar in Australia is creating a growing waste problem, as many photovoltaic systems are prematurely retired and sent to landfill. A team from the University of South Australia outlines how standards, incentives, testing and certification for reuse can extend the life of panels and reduce the carbon footprint of solar energy. The study led by UniSA PhD candidate Ishika Chhillar assesses technical, economic and regulatory barriers to reuse and maps a mitigation pathway to build a credible secondary market for used panels. Recycling alone will not…

UAE-based Ignite has acquired Engie Energy Access, creating Africa’s largest off-grid solar and mini-grid operator, serving 15 million people. October 10, 2025 Marie Beijer By pv magazine France French energy group Engie has sold its off-grid energy business in Africa to UAE-based Ignite for an undisclosed sum. Ignite, based in Abu Dhabi since early 2025 and acquired together with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office Engie Energy Access (EEA), Engie’s division for solar mini-grid projects across Africa. The new entity, called Ignite Energy Access, will be the continent’s largest off-grid electrification company, serving 15 million users in 12 countries and aiming…

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has officially adopted a new U.S. national standard developed by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to increasing transparency of the solar and storage supply chain and help companies comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) traceability requirements. The newly approved standard, ANSI/SEIA 101provides a section that manufacturers and importers can follow to trace the origin of products, from raw materials to finished products. ANSI/SEIA 101 is based on real-world examples of solar product shipments detained and released by customs officials and includes input from numerous stakeholders, including manufacturers, developers and third-party auditors.…

The soil microbe mineral battery stores sunlight to break down antibiotics in the dark Researchers have discovered how soil communities can store sunlight as usable energy long after nightfall. A team from Kunming University of Science and Technology and the University of Massachusetts Amherst reports a bio-photovoltage soil microbe battery that stores solar charge and later drives the degradation of contaminating antibiotics without light. In laboratory tests, the common soil bacterium Bacillus megaterium interacted with iron minerals to form a living film that behaves like a rechargeable geochemical capacitor. Under illumination, the iron-bacteria matrix collected electrons; in the dark, the…

Solar PV is currently evolving as the main energy source. Many energy system models still do not take into account technologies that are already standard in today’s solar energy market. This article calls on energy system modelers to better reflect real-world developments in scenarios aimed at providing a perspective on the energy transition, by offering important research work by LUT University researchers as food for thought. October 10, 2025 LUT University Solar PV on the roof has been used central to the global energy transition since its origins, starting with Charles Fritts’ rooftop Selenium cell in New York in 1883.…

The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department is now accepting the measure grant applications from public entities that can demonstrate how new technologies can be deployed to develop a reliable modern electricity grid. The grant funding comes from the Community Benefits Fund that the state Legislature established during its 2025 term. The Legislature appropriated $70 million from the Community Benefit Fund to the Grid Modernization Program, administered by the Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECAM) of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD). “This infusion of the Grid Modernization Grant Fund is a game changer for New…

India’s Eastman Auto & Power has unveiled a plug-and-play inverter with a built-in lithium-ion battery, aimed at making solar energy easier and more efficient for households and small businesses. October 9, 2025 Uma Gupta Image: Eastman Auto & Power By pv magazine India Eastman Auto & Power Ltd has introduced Solar Access LIB, a 1,000 VA inverter with an integrated 150 Ah lithium-ion battery, designed to simplify the adoption of solar energy for homes and businesses. The compact, plug-and-play unit allows users to flexibly switch between mains and solar power, while maximizing available space. The system features a zero-drop maximum…

Red Eléctrica de España (REE) says sudden voltage variations in Spain’s electricity grid are linked to shifts in renewable energy generation, but there is no risk of power outages. October 10, 2025 Pilar Sanchez Molina By pv magazine Spain Spanish transmission system operator REE has warned regulators about sudden voltage fluctuations on the mainland grid, citing abrupt schedule changes in renewable energy generation and the response time of plants that provide dynamic voltage control. While the electricity grid remains within regulatory limits, REE says the variations could lead to interruptions in generation or demand, undermining supply stability. The operator has…

The University of Sydney team achieves a global record for large three-junction perovskite solar cells A team led by the University of Sydney has achieved another global solar energy milestone by developing the largest and most efficient perovskite-perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell ever reported. Led by Professor Anita Ho-Baillie, John Hooke Chair of Nanoscience at the University of Sydney’s Nano Institute and School of Physics, the project achieved a certified steady-state energy conversion efficiency of 23.3 percent for a 16 cm2 device, setting a world record for its class. A smaller 1 cm2 version achieved an efficiency of 27.06 percent while…

In a new weekly update for pv magazineOPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a brief overview of the major price trends in the global PV industry. October 10, 2025 OPIS According to the OPIS Solar Weekly Report published on October 7, FOB China TOPCon M10 cell prices held steady this week at $0.0402/W, with price guidance between $0.0380-0.0426/W, interrupting a four-week rally as trading slowed during China’s Golden Week. The recent rally has pushed TOPCon M10 cell prices up 29.3% since early July, although this still lags behind the increase in upstream wafer costs. According to data from OPIS, the…