Author: solarenergy
Enphase Energy has detailed the architecture of its IQ Solid-State Transformer (IQ SST), a distributed power conversion system designed to deliver regulated 800 VDC power to AI data center infrastructure. May 4, 2026 Brian Publicover Enphase Energy, best known as a maker of residential solar microinverters, is moving into AI power infrastructure for data centers with a new solid-state transformer designed to convert medium-voltage AC to regulated DC for high-density computing facilities. The AI data center industry is moving toward higher voltage DC architectures, including 800 VDC and ±400 VDC, to support the rapidly increasing power density of racks. Instead…
The 204MW Edenvale Solar Park in Queensland’s Western Downs region was last month identified by energy consultancy Rystad Energy as the best performing large-scale PV facility in Australia. May 4, 2026 Ev Foley The Edenvale Solar Power Station Image: GRS By pv magazine Australia New data from global energy consultancy Rystad Energy shows that all Australian large-scale solar power plants generated 1,730 GWh of clean energy last month, a 21% increase on the 1,435 GWh produced in April 2025, with Queensland hosting three of the top five performing utility PV installations for the month. The 204MW Edenvale solar parkco-owned by…
By Charles W. Thurston April 21, 2026 United Bakery has chosen to bake its iconic sourdough bread and other products with electricity generated on site Mechatron solar energy dual-axis tracker technology that will reduce electricity bills by 83%. The 13 M18KD-20 Dual-Axis Carport Trackers that recently started generating power are expected to provide a three-year return on investment, notes Michael Fakukakis, CEO of Stockton, California-based Mechatron Solar. Together the trackers will produce 1,273 MWh of electricity per year. The footprint of the M18KD Mechatron tracker’s concrete pillar is only 10 square meters, minimizing impact on land use and vehicle movements.…
The project is integrated into a larger 2GW first phase that combines solar, wind and storage, and uses dedicated transmission lines plus market trading to match renewable energy supply with data center demand. May 4, 2026 Vincent Shaw China Datang Corp. has officially commissioned a 500 MW solar power plant in Zhongwei, Ningxia, describing it as the country’s first large-scale green power project designed to directly power a data center cluster under a coordinated ‘computing-electricity coordination’ model. The project formally went into operation on May 2, following the connection to the electricity grid at full capacity and the start of…
By Martin McConnell May 4, 2026 Continue this week Projects weeklyCanadian solar power plant PowerBank Corp. offered a new update on its community solar project in Nova Scotia. Just south of the Great White North, Distributed Energy Infrastructure has completed two solar projects in upstate New York, near Syracuse. In Maryland, Ameresco and Montgomery County Public Schools cut the ribbon on two new roof installations that are part of a larger energy modernization for the district. After a successful VPPA deal in Spain, Graphic Packaging Holding Co.’s solar strategy has been updated. crossed the Atlantic for a new deal in…
An inter-laboratory comparison between nine metrology institutes found that there was generally good agreement in the calibration of solar cells on the world photovoltaic scale, but measurable differences in short-circuit current, voltage and power were still revealed due to different methods and conditions. May 4, 2026 Emiliano Bellini An international research team compared solar cell measurement methods from nine metrology institutes around the world and found a ‘relatively good’ degree of agreement between them. However, some discrepancies were still observed in important parameters such as short-circuit current, voltage and maximum power, highlighting the differences in measurement procedures and experimental conditions.…
The new policy is already in place and affects billions in European Investment Bank financing for sustainable projects, including standalone and co-located storage. May 4, 2026 Tristan Rayner Image: Carl Grüner, Unsplash By ESS news The European Commission has decided to limit EU financing, including through the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund, for solar, wind and energy storage projects using inverters from so-called high-risk countries, namely China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, citing cybersecurity risks. Media reports have highlighted the restrictions on financing solar photovoltaic projects; However, battery energy storage systems have now also been confirmed to…
The solar mini-grids, which will be developed by five renewable energy service providers, are expected to enable more than 494,000 new electricity connections in Nigeria. May 4, 2026 Patrick Jowett The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Norwegian investment fund Norfund offer a combined financing package of up to $83.2 million to scale up off-grid and distributed energy solutions Nigeria. The financing initiative will support five renewable energy service companies – Darway Coast Nigeria Limited, GVE Projects Limited, Prado Power Limited, PriVida Power Limited and StarTimes Energy – with the financing provided. towards the rollout of 315 solar hybrid mini-grid locations…
The 1.6 MW Nexus pilot project in California has shown that solar panels installed over irrigation canals can significantly reduce water evaporation and algae growth by 85%, while also demonstrating operational efficiencies. May 4, 2026 Pilar Sanchez Molina In September 2025, the Nexus pilot project was completed in California, United States. The 1.6 MW solar facility is located on canals managed by the Turlock Irrigation District (TID) and was developed through a public-private partnership between the California Department of Water Resources, TID, Solar AquaGrid and the University of California (UC), Merced. The project aimed to generate empirical data under real…
By Charles W. Thurston April 22, 2026 Solar energy and battery storage is booming in Nova Scotia. In April, Nova Scotia Power (NSP), the province’s largest energy provider, released figures for new installations in the province, including 99 new commercial solar installations completed in 2025, a 41% increase from 2024. The 2025 installations bring the number of commercial solar nosings to 342 commercial solar installations in the province, not including behind-the-meter installations that are not connected to the grid. Residential solar is surpassing commercial solar in both numbers and megawatts in Nova Scotia. There are now more than 13,000 solar…