Author: solarenergy

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued its first decision in a patent infringement complaint against Voltage, finding that Shoals Technologies Group’s cable management patents had been infringed. Credit: Shoals On February 6, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Doris Johnson Hines ruled that Voltage Sec. 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by importing its LYNX trunk bus products into the United States. One sec. 337 violation states that the infringement of certain patents leads to unfair competition in the import trade. The LYNX product would infringe on Shoals’ patents for its Big Lead Assembly (BLA) solution. This is the…

Won Kwang S&T has developed a mobile on-site solar panel recycling system for utility-scale PV installations. The SolreBorn unit can reportedly process up to 2.5 tons of modules per day and improve the economics of solar panel recycling through on-site dismantling and material recovery. February 10, 2026 Emiliano Bellini South Korea-based solar project developer Won Kwang S&T has developed a mobile on-site solar panel recycling system designed to reduce transportation costs, landfill waste and CO2 emissions associated with photovoltaic modules at the end of their life. The system, called SolreBorn, is currently operating in South Korea and targets large-scale solar…

Battery leasing is gaining traction in Europe as a way for households with rooftop solar to increase their own consumption without the upfront costs of purchasing a storage system. February 10, 2026 François Puthod By ESS news Although home batteries are becoming increasingly affordable, investing in a storage solution to maximize self-consumption of solar energy represents a significant expense. For example, for a 5 kWh battery you have to pay an average of almost € 5,000, depending on the brand, the integrated inverter and the connected energy management system. The battery has been the expensive relative of residential photovoltaic installations…

By Brad Kramer February 2, 2026 In this edition of Projects weeklyWe’re looking at a large-scale solar project being built near Dayton, Ohio, plus a series of financing and acquisition deals. First, Zelestra has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with AEP Energy Partners for the 49.9 MW Gem City Solar project in Ohio. Catalyze has closed tax equity financing for a 100 MW distributed solar portfolio. CleanCapital has acquired a majority stake in a battery storage portfolio through a joint venture with Osaka Gas. Aspen Power has acquired two community solar projects in New York State. Luminace…

Penn Engineers have proposed a solar-powered orbital data center architecture that can scale to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence without drawing electricity from terrestrial networks. The concept uses flexible, tether-based structures in orbit to house thousands of computing nodes for AI inference, relying on established space tether technology rather than massive rigid platforms or huge constellations of independent satellites. The design resembles a green plant, with multiple stems containing computer hardware and branching, leaf-like solar panels. Each trunk is essentially a long cable, populated with identical nodes containing computer chips, solar power systems and cooling hardware, forming a modular…

The ETS2 Frontloading Facility will provide €3 billion ($3.5 billion) to sectors that will be covered by the EU’s new emissions trading system. It will support low and middle-income households with the deployment of heat pumps and electric vehicles. February 9, 2026 Patrick Jowett Image: Christian Lua/Unsplash The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced a new €3 billion ($3.5 billion) facility to invest in cleaner heating and cooling and reduce energy needs in buildings and road transport. The ETS2 Frontloading Facility, jointly developed with the European Commission, will be available to EU Member States that have implemented the new EU…

By Brad Kramer February 9, 2026 Avangrid has energized two solar projects in Wasco County, Oregon, totaling 200 MWac. Plus, Zelestra has expanded its relationship with Meta in the United States, with a new PPA for the 176 MWdc Skull Creek Solar Plant in Texas. Lunar Energy has raised $232 million to scale home battery deployments and AI-powered VPP software to meet surging demand for affordable electricity. Alliant Energy has completed two BESS projects in Wisconsin. Crux has closed a $340 million tax equity investment for Origis Energy’s utility-scale solar development in Texas. TurningPoint Energy and Standard Solar are partnering…

For the first time in eight years, imported solar panels in the United States are no longer covered by Sec. 201 rates. The tariffs, introduced during President Donald Trump’s first term and extended by his successor Joe Biden, were set to expire on February 6, 2026. Rates under Sec. 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 are intended to protect American industries from damage caused by increased imports. In 2017, U.S. solar cell manufacturer Suniva and module maker SolarWorld requested the investigation, and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determined that an increase in imports of crystalline silicon cells and…

Clean energy project developer Sunraycer has signed a supply and service agreement for two standalone battery energy storage projects totaling 503 MWh in Franklin County, Texas. Credit: e-STORAGE The projects, collectively known as the Lupinus projects, will use BESS from Canadian Solar company e-STORAGE. Lupinus 1, a 202 MWh facility, will begin construction in the first quarter of 2027 and become commercially operational in the third quarter of 2027. Lupinus 2, a 301 MWh facility, will begin construction in the third quarter of 2026 and be commercially operational in the second quarter of 2027. David Lillefloren, CEO of Sunraycer, said,…

The Chinese manufacturer said its new OG02 series includes IP-65 rated inverters with AC output power from 3 kW to 6 kW. The new products also have a maximum efficiency of 97.6% and a European efficiency of 96.5%. February 9, 2026 Lior Kahana Chinese inverter manufacturer Deye has launched a new series of off-grid inverters The OG02 series consists of four models with AC output powers ranging from 3.0 kW to 6.0 kW. It’s an evolution of the company’s OG01 line, which was introduced last year. According to the manufacturer, the OG02 inverters can switch from mains to battery power…